29 November 2011
MUSCAT -- Arbind Kumar (pictured), a veteran of the Indian Railways, left here last week at the end of a roughly 33-month stint at the Supreme Committee for Town Planning (SCTP) where he served as 'Railway Expert'.
During his tenure at the Supreme Committee, which until recently oversaw the conception and planning of the Oman National Railway Project, Engineer Kumar was instrumental in the formulation of a blueprint for the development of the estimated $10 billion venture.
In addition to providing technical expertise in the planning of the 1,051-kilometre rail network, Kumar also assisted in the management of the feasibility study, preparation of project estimates, technical evaluation of the proposals of the GCC and the World Bank for their adaptability to Oman, prequalification of consultants, and preparation of RfPs for engaging consultants for design and project management.
Kumar's departure from the Supreme Committee comes on the heels of a recent decision by the Omani government to transfer the implementation of the Oman National Railway Project to the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
He returns to RITES Limited, the Indian government-run engineering consultancy major, where he held previously several high-ranking positions and oversaw the planning and execution of a number of ambitious railway schemes both within India and internationally.
Over a career spanning 30-plus years in the railway industry, Kumar managed a number of international rail-based projects on behalf of RITES India.
In the Gulf region, he headed the RITES' team in studying the feasibility of a freight line from Khor-Khuwair-Dubai to Jazeerath al Hamrah in the UAE. He also played a lead role in RITES' successful bid for the operational and maintenance of the Saudi North-South Railway Project.
In Malaysia, the industry veteran served as Lead Track Expert in the execution of the Rawang-Ipoh High-Speed Electrified Double Track project.
Earlier, he led the study of a World Bank-funded project for the rehabilitation of the Beira Rail Corridor in Mozambique, which was eventually awarded to a RITES-led consortium.
MUSCAT -- Arbind Kumar (pictured), a veteran of the Indian Railways, left here last week at the end of a roughly 33-month stint at the Supreme Committee for Town Planning (SCTP) where he served as 'Railway Expert'.
During his tenure at the Supreme Committee, which until recently oversaw the conception and planning of the Oman National Railway Project, Engineer Kumar was instrumental in the formulation of a blueprint for the development of the estimated $10 billion venture.
In addition to providing technical expertise in the planning of the 1,051-kilometre rail network, Kumar also assisted in the management of the feasibility study, preparation of project estimates, technical evaluation of the proposals of the GCC and the World Bank for their adaptability to Oman, prequalification of consultants, and preparation of RfPs for engaging consultants for design and project management.
Kumar's departure from the Supreme Committee comes on the heels of a recent decision by the Omani government to transfer the implementation of the Oman National Railway Project to the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
He returns to RITES Limited, the Indian government-run engineering consultancy major, where he held previously several high-ranking positions and oversaw the planning and execution of a number of ambitious railway schemes both within India and internationally.
Over a career spanning 30-plus years in the railway industry, Kumar managed a number of international rail-based projects on behalf of RITES India.
In the Gulf region, he headed the RITES' team in studying the feasibility of a freight line from Khor-Khuwair-Dubai to Jazeerath al Hamrah in the UAE. He also played a lead role in RITES' successful bid for the operational and maintenance of the Saudi North-South Railway Project.
In Malaysia, the industry veteran served as Lead Track Expert in the execution of the Rawang-Ipoh High-Speed Electrified Double Track project.
Earlier, he led the study of a World Bank-funded project for the rehabilitation of the Beira Rail Corridor in Mozambique, which was eventually awarded to a RITES-led consortium.
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
