Abu Dhabi: The tenders for the proposed Abu Dhabi monorail project are expected to be floated next year, an Abu Dhabi Municipality official told Gulf News yesterday.

"The length of the monorail track will be 30 kilometres. The traffic handling capacity of each monorail station will be about 1,000 commuters," said Ahmad Al Hosani on the sidelines of the 10th ministerial meeting of GCC municipalities which was held yesterday in the UAE capital.

Second system

Abu Dhabi's will be the second urban monorail system in the UAE and the first in the GCC.

Dubai has already started construction of its Dh14.5 billion light rail system that will stretch 70 kilometres and cover the entire emirate.

"The project has been fully approved by the authorities and is projected for completion by 2020. Fifteen two-coach trains have been proposed to be put to service.

"Interval between each service will be five minutes. The track will extend along the semi-diameter of Abu Dhabi," he said

"2006 is approaching its end and accordingly it will be difficult to expect any tenders issued this year," he added.

The UAE's railway network is expected to connect to a GCC-wide system that would boost cross-border travel and tourism as well as trading activities, as the region's six economies integrate into a single currency regime by 2010.

"This exhibition is the first of its kind and includes all the projects under way in the seven municipalities in the UAE.

"Besides the monorail project, we are also exhibiting the Dh1.5 billion Shaikh Zayed Bridge due for completion in two years. It is intended not only to serve as a traffic facilitator, but also become a landmark for the emirate," Al Hosani said.

"The mega project of Shaikh Zayed Mosque is also at very advanced stage and we expect the project to be open in 2007 during this Ramadan," he added.

Cargo and passenger railway network studied

The UAE government has also initiated studies for a cargo and passenger rail system that will connect all the emirates.

The project, still in the concept stage, will help the internal land transportation of cargo and freight while a passenger line would ease growing traffic between the major cities of the country.