A consortium headed by Spanish engineering and infrastructure contractor Técnicas Reunidas has won a RO57.47-million ($149 million) project management consultancy (PMC) contract from Oman government for its ambitious railway project.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications, which awarded the contract, said the winning consortium will now work alongside experts already recruited by Oman Rail and form an integrated project management team to help expedite the execution of Segment One (Sohar–Buraimi line) currently under tender, reported the Oman Daily Observer.

As per the contract, the Técnicas Reunidas will undertake a complete review of the preliminary design work of the rail network already prepared by Italferr, the preliminary design consultant for the Oman National Rail Project.

Additionally, the PMC will review the contract process, extend contract management and construction supervision, and provide project management services for the project, the report stated.

As the principal interface between contractors and the client, the PMC has a major role to play in ensuring the smooth, timely, and cost-effective implementation of the multi-billion-dollar national railway project.

Part of its brief is to oversee the procurement of rolling stock and procurement of the services of a rail transport operator in co-ordination with the government. Also as part of its remit, the PMC will be responsible for testing and commissioning of the completed railway system of each segment planned for the Oman Railway project, said the report.

Meanwhile, the ministry said a number of international contractors were vying for Oman Rail’s multi-billion-dollar design-and-build contract covering the 207-km Segment One of the national rail network.

Technical bids were submitted by January 18, with financial offers due by March 1, the report added.