Substantial headway has been made in Bahrain’s Airport Modernisation Programme (AMP), Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal Ahmed said yesterday (April 29).

New pre-qualification tenders have been released and the award of new contracts is expected in the coming months, he said in a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

Ahmed said the latest developments are in line with the construction schedule for the new Bahrain International Airport (BIA) passenger terminal building and follow on from the first enabling works package signed last month.

Fifteen bidders who successfully fulfilled all the pre-qualification criteria have been shortlisted recently and all qualified bidders will be invited to participate in the tender where a contractor will be awarded to implement the main construction works project by October.

"The AMP is a vital economic driver for the kingdom and an essential move to strengthen BIA's competitive advantage as a prominent hub in the Gulf region.

"Embarking on a project of this scale requires the most experienced partners; we have received tremendous response from distinguished bidders in the industry and we are determined to enlist only the best for the job," Ahmed said.

The scope of work includes the construction of BIA's 214,000sqm passenger terminal building and adjoining multi-storey car parks, access roads and forecourts, central utilities complex, new aircraft stands and rehabilitation of existing aircraft stands and taxi lane.

The main works contract also dictates the overall management, supervision and co-ordination of specialist packages for the baggage handling systems, loading bridges, conveying systems, security-screening equipment and information and communications technology, most of which have already been released to bidders and will be awarded in the coming six months.

Awarding of the second enabling works package is expected later in April this year with plans for completion by early 2016.

The deliverables for this phase include the construction of a new fire station and associated support infrastructure; building a new access security gate and the re-provision of aviation fuelling facilities, in addition to new security gate and staff car parks.

The project is designed to elevate the airport's infrastructure, facilities and services and increase handling capacity, boosting the regional competitiveness of BIA and stimulating the growth of the local aviation sector as a result.

Once completed, the BIA passenger terminal will provide increased commercial and retail opportunities for business, enhanced facilities for passengers and will create ample employment opportunities for the local workforce. - TradeArabia News Service