Several alliances of local and international companies have started submitting prequalification applications to join the bidding process for the Makkah Metro service project.
“Fifteen national and multinational consortia have submitted their eligibility documents to be qualified for bidding for the civil works of the Phase 1 of the Makkah Metro project,” said Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Barr who is also chairman of the executive committee of the city’s public transport system.
The Development Authority for Makkah and Holy Sites received applications for prequalification for bidding.
The announcement about procedures were made on Nov.10 last year.
The first phase of the project comprises two lines (Green and Red lines) of 46 km with 22 stations.
While 60 percent of the lines will be hanging on elevated bridges, the rest of the lines will run through tunnels.
While the quotations will be invited in the first quarter of the year, contracts are expected to be signed in the last quarter of the current year, he said.
Saad Al-Qadi, executive president of the Makkah Trains Company for Public Transport and director general of the project, said the civil works have been divided into two contract packages with the aim of speedy completion of their works.
One package is for the underground lines of the ‘green category’ and part of the ‘red category’ while the other package covers the remaining ‘red category’ lines that run on hanging bridges.
The mass transit system in Makkah consists of four lines with a total length of 114 km and 62 stations in addition to a wide network of buses linking all districts with important areas.
