Makkah metro contract awards expected by 2015-end

Contracting bids for the first phase of the Makkah metro project have been technically and financially evaluated, the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) reported, citing Abdullah al-Marshad, deputy CEO of the Makkah Mass Rail Transit Company (MMRTC) who spoke at the MENA Rail & Metro Summit.

Bids were submitted by contractors earlier this year. MMRTC expects to award the contract by the year end, but is 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 ($67 billion) is being invested in developing Makkah over ten years, including SAR 100 billion for land acquisition and between SAR 100 billion to 110 billion for the Haram expansion.

Land acquisition is still underway, MEED added.