Egged Israel Transport Cooperative Society Ltd. is preparing to bid in the tender for a new public transportation operator in Haifa even as the company says that it will take legal action against the state. Sources inform ''Globes'' that ten companies have so far purchased the tender documents for the prequalification stage in the tender to build an operate Haifa's Metronit - bus rapid transit (BRT) network of high-capacity electric buses. The Metronit will cost an estimated NIS 750 million.
Egged also bought the tender documents both directly and through its subsidiary, Egged Infrastructures Ltd., which it owns in equal shares with Taavura Holdings Ltd.
Other buyers of the tender documents include Dan Public Transport Company Ltd., Veolia Environnement SA (NYSE: VE; Euronext: VIE) subsidiary Connex Israel Ltd., Kavim Public Transportation Ltd., and Metropoline Public Transport Ltd.
The Ministries of Finance and Transport published the prequalification stage tender three weeks ago for the Metronit. Egged said at the time that it opposed the agreement with the government.
The Metronit will run for 20 kilometers from Bat Galim through downtown Haifa to Haifa Bay and the Krayot.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 15, 2008
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