Contracting bids for the first phase of the Mecca metro project have been technically and financially evaluated, Abdullah al-Marshad, deputy CEO of the Makkah Mass Rail Transit Company (MMRTC) said during the MENA Rail & Metro Summit. Medina metro also expects to progress also early in 2016.
Bids were submitted by contractors earlier in 2015. MMRTC expected to award the contract by the year end, but was waiting for higher level approval.
The first phase, which includes two metro lines running 45.1 kilometers (km) with 22 stations, is scheduled for completion by 2020 or 2021. The whole project will eventually have six lines, 88 stations, and will cover 182 km, Al-Marshad added.
“We are under huge pressure to perform this project in fast track,” said al-Marshad. “There is an urgent need to do fast as there is no modern public transport in Mecca.”
Nearly SAR 250 billion (USD67 billion) is being invested in developing Mecca over ten years, including SAR 100 billion (USD 27 billion) for land acquisition and between SAR 100 billion to 110 billion (USD 30 billion) for the Haram expansion.
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