French firms to build third Cairo metro line

Cairo: French firms won the tenders for Cairo’s third metro line, after already building the first two lines, officials announced Thursday. The 33-kilometer third line will bring the capital s underground network to a total 100 kilometers of tracks, with a target of five million daily users by 2020, the President of the National Authority of Tunnels Saad Shehata told reporters. The third line, which will run from the Imbaba district to Cairo international airport, is expected to open in 2010. The largest Arab capital s first metro line was opened in 1987 and line two was inaugurated in 1996. French giants Alcatel and Alstom secured the tender on signaling and telecommunication systems along with their Egyptian partner Orascom with a contract worth $37.6 million. French companies Vinci and Bouygues clinched the tender for civil works and engineering, in partnership with Orascom and Arab contractors for $319.8 million. Electromechanical works for the lifts were won by French groups Spie, Alstom, Thales, again in partnership with Orascom and Arab Contractors for $156 million. Works on the tracks have gone to Vossloh-Cogifer for $19.2 million, while supervision works are estimated at $6.4 million dollars. We are not very surprised, but absolutely delighted, an official from the French Vinci firm said.