Bahrain is committed to improving urban road infrastructures, from the underground to the railway segment of the “GCC Railway Project”, up to the bridge between Bahrain and Qatar – all projects which Italy could contribute to with its expertise and know-how.
With regard to the underground, a group of experts is currently working on a route revision to take into account the construction of new urban spaces in areas originally not involved in the project. This revision is aimed at increasing the effectiveness and attractiveness of the infrastructure for citizens. The updated project will also include the construction of underground stations equipped with retail and entertainment facilities, as well as large car parks for easy access. The revision will still take about one and a half years to complete. Subsequently, a new call for tenders will be published after political approval.
In addition to the underground, the Intra-GCC Railway Project – a major infrastructural project aimed at achieving economic integration between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries – is currently being discussed. The project is at the heart of political negotiations between the Member States and is aimed at linking the future railway network with the underground.
At the same time, a group of experts is re-evaluating the project drawn up in 2008 for the bridge between Bahrain and Qatar, in order to update the costs on the basis of new technologies and to adapt it to current environmental regulations. Infrastructure of this kind would serve to decongest traffic, which, according to data from local authorities, has increased by 10%-15% on weekends (January 2024) due to incoming vehicles from neighbouring countries. In general, the number of cars on the road is said to have increased by 6%.
For these and other projects, Bahrain’s Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications has expressed interest in collaborating with Italian experts in urban planning, in particular to rethink and develop infrastructures such as drainage systems, recycling and wastewater disposal, up to the development of an integrated mobility plan in the capital Manama. The scope for strengthening economic cooperation between Bahrain and Italy is not limited to the areas already mentioned, as energy efficiency in buildings and the development of renewable energy have been identified as further areas of potential collaboration.
