$36 m AIIB loan to part finance Oman Railway project
FROM P13
Consultancy services contracts envisaged as part of the Railway System Preparation Project include the provision of technical, environmental, social and commercial advisory services for the entire railway system design and procurement. Also envisaged in the scope of this package are engineering services for the railway system development, including infrastructure, rail compatible mining and industrial terminals, and port rail terminals and facilities.
The selected consultants will be required to develop planning activities supported by specialised simulations in order to define the specific terminal and facility types required to develop the operations of Oman Rail heavy haul freight systems, mixed use systems and mass transit systems.
Yet another objective to ensure Oman Rail’s project readiness centres on the need for institutional capacity to operate and maintain the freight and networks. Selected consultants will be required to assist Oman Rail in creating the organization and ensuring operational readiness for freight and network operations and maintenance, and ensuring the provision of safe and efficient operation and maintenance (O&M).
Additionally, the consultants will support the development of a profitable business plan and a successful disengagement and handover of the freight and network to Oman Rail. Training and capacity building of Oman Rail staff is a key requisite as well.
“Activities under the (Railway System Preparation) Project will support the preparation of environmental and social studies for planning and preparation of the railway, training of (Oman Global Logistics Group) and Oman Rail staff on these issues, and advisory support.
It is anticipated that studies would include the preparation of a strategic environmental and social assessment, project specific environmental and social assessment, environmental and social management plan and a resettlement and land acquisition framework/ plan,” AIIB added in a statement.