May 2, 2002
By Lucille Davie
GAUTENG premier Mbhazima Shilowa has announced that two teams of engineers and construction companies have been shortlisted to build the Johannesburg-Pretoria Gautrain.
They are Bombela Consortium and Gauliwe Consortium, chosen from 10 submissions received at the closing date, 5 April. The two will now meet with the Gautrain project team and prepare details of their second-stage proposals.
Shilowa said: "We are very satisfied with the two consortia that qualified. Both met all the qualification requirements and have the experience and ability to successfully design, finance, build, operate and maintain the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link Project."
Five criteria were used to evaluate the submissions: respondent capability and strength; government's socio-economic and development objectives, including black economic empowerment, the promotion of small and medium enterprises, and the promotion of local content; deliverability; project awareness; and other general issues.
The Bombela Consortium consists of:
- Bombardier Transportation - a major international rolling stock manufacturer and the lead member of the Consortium.
- Bouygues Travoux Publics - one of the world's largest international contractors.
Three of South Africa's largest civil engineering construction companies:
- Basil Read (Pty) Ltd
- Concor Holdings (Pty) Ltd
- Murray and Roberts Limited
- RATP International - the operator of the metro and commuter railways in Paris, France.
The Gauliwe consortium consists of:
- * Alstom (Pty) Ltd - a major international rolling stock manufacturer and the lead member of the consortium.
- * Dragados Concesiones, a leading civil contractor from Spain.
- * Grinaker LTA, one of the largest civil construction companies in South Africa.
- * Siemens, one of the major international suppliers of the rail industry.
- * SNCFI, a French operator of main line inter-city and suburban trains.
Both consortia have, in addition, secured the services of a number of banks and funding organisations, empowerment companies, consulting engineers and other advisers.
"They have three of the world's best and largest train and railway infrastructure companies, some of the largest and best international and South African construction companies and some of the best train operating companies in the world," adds Shilowa.
The 80-kilometre Gautrain will link Johannesburg, Pretoria and the Johannesburg International Airport. It is to be built at a cost of R7-billion and it is hoped that some 42 000 jobs will be created indirectly, with around 43 000 jobs created during construction.
It is thought that it will relieve the freeway congestion between Johannesburg and Pretoria, which sees 300 000 people travelling the road each week.
The environmental impact study of the proposed route is still in progress and is expected to be completed towards the end of the year. Shilowa emphasised: "We need to make the point clear that the study is not about whether or not the project will proceed, but how to minimise any impact on the environment on the chosen route."
It is estimated that some 650 houses will have to be expropriated in Johannesburg's northern suburbs to make way for the train, although 14 kilometres of the route will be underground.
A series of public meetings with affected residents was held in April, and good progress was made in establishing alternative routes based on residents' suggestions.
The project, which was conceived by the Gauteng government two years ago, was given authorisation to proceed with the procurement process by the National Treasury on 18 February. "What many thought was just a pipe dream is indeed becoming reality," says Shilowa.
The Request for Pre-Qualification (RPQ) invitation was advertised in the local and international media as well as on the Gautrain website. Some 250 people or organisations downloaded 570 copies of the RPQ from the website, indicating, says Shilowa, "the wide interest that the Project has created".
RELATED ARTICLES:
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
