Bahrain's public transport system is set for a major uplift in a wide-ranging strategy that was given the go-ahead by HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa yesterday (May 11) as he chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting in the presence of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.

The bus service will be expanded threefold, from a current 25 per cent to top 75 per cent , reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Under the modernisation plan, the number of bus lines will also be doubled to 24, up from 12 at present.

A massive fleet of 140 new and comfortable buses will also hit Bahrain's streets as part of the effort.

An international firm will be hired through the law on auctions and tenders to operate a world-class public transport system.

An international consultancy firm will also be commissioned to construct world-standard bus stops across Bahrain.

The proposed track of a planned railway in Bahrain was also on the agenda, as part of the massive GCC rail project.

Deputy Premier and head of the ministerial committee for services and infrastructure and Transport Minister updated the session on the ambitious scheme. – TradeArabia News Service