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Image used for illustrative purpose. Workers are seen in the Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Programme (STEP) pumping station tunnel, developed by the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC), in Al Wathba area in Abu Dhabi February 4, 2013. STEP will be one of the longest gravity-driven wastewater tunnels in the world, according to local media. REUTERS/Ben Job
The Qatar Public Authority (Ashghal) is expected to issue the design and build tender for Drainage Tunnel Works at New District Doha project in the first quarter of 2023, according to a source close to the project.
“The prequalified bid evaluation is currently underway. The Authority will invite the successful applicants to participate in the main construction tender,” a source aware of the project details told Zawya Projects.
The source said the main construction tender is expected to be floated by mid of first quarter 2023 and contract award is expected by third quarter of 2023.
The expression of interest (EOI) was issued on 7 July 2022. The bid submission deadline was pushed from 14 August to 25 September 2022 and further to 23 October 2022.
The primary aim of the New District Doha strategic projects is to alleviate flooding issues and provide long term future stormwater management infrastructure in line with 2030 Vision and the Qatar Integrated Drainage Master Plan.
Existing and future projects will transfer storm and ground water flows onto strategic tunnel systems, where flows will gravitate to strategically located pumping stations. The water will then either be pumped to sea via a marine outfall and or stored within inland storage lagoon.
The project will be tendered in four contracts: Contract 1 – Marine pumping station & marine outfall tunnel; Contract 2 - Eastern tunnels; Contract 3 - Western tunnels, and Contract 4 - Inland pumping station and Inland wetland balancing lagoons.
Supporting buildings includes administration building, electrical and control building, two security rooms, a utility building for workshop and storage, standby power generator building, fire pump house, TSE pump house, inland pumping station, discharge stormwater to wetland, coarse screen with grabber mechanism and handling facility.
Halcrow (Consulting Engineering & Architects) has been appointed as the pre-contract consultant and design architect for the project. Gulf Laboratories Co. has been appointed as geotechnical contractor, the first source said.
The project is slated for completion by the first quarter of 2026, he said, adding that his estimate of the project cost is $400 million.
(Reporting by Senthil Palanisamy; Editing by Anoop Menon)
