GCC railways project on track: minister

Transport and Telecommunications Minister Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed said there are talks to establish the railways corporation in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

The minister in a statement to Al Watan said: "the project was still being studied by the GCC transportation ministers. The role of the corporation would be to coordinate and enact administrative policy, laws and regulations for final approval and compliance therewith by the member states during the phases of implementation".

"The GCC transportation ministers in their 24th session approved the tasking of the ministerial committee to compile the feasibility study for the GCC railways project which will contribute to boosting the GCC states economic growth. The study was finalized for this purpose which concluded the project's financial and economic viability," he added.

The ministers in their 30th session decided to move the project to the phase of detailed study compilation, including technical blueprints and studying the establishing of the GCC railway corporation to assume supervision over the project's implementation in coordination with the GCC member states.

The ministerial committee was tasked to intensify work to finalize this vital project as soon as possible up to the best international standards and coordinate between the relevant bodies in the national railway networks of member states to achieve harmony with the GCC railway network, the minister concluded his statement.