(DNE Photo)
Leading Spanish infrastructure and technology solution consultation company, Indra, has affirmed it has been invited to participate in a Ministry of Transportation bid to take part in the second phase of the smart card machine project in the first and second metro lines.
The project is based on the automation of the ticketing system to operate through contact-less smart cards in the first metro line from Marg to Helwan, and the second line from Shubra Al-Khayma to Moneeb, including 65 metro stations.
In a statement on Saturday, Indra praised the Ministry of Transportation’s decision to offer the project in a public tender, and not assign it to a specific company by direct order, to prevent the waste of public funds.
Indra’s success in the first phase of the project to operate the smart card machines of the first metro line has allowed the company to be qualified in the bid.
Minister of Transportation Hany Dahi has already formed several committees of representatives from the Egyptian Metro Management and Operation, Ain Shams University and Indra for the final delivery of the project.
The Egyptian Company for Metro Management has formally requested Indra to extend the maintenance service contract for another six months, as it was scheduled for only two years.
The first phase of the project was officially inaugurated to the public in April 2013 and the number of the project’s beneficiaries reached 370,000 subscribers, according to official reports.
Furthermore, to date, revenues from the project have reached EGP 70m, as smart cards have been used in 50m trips.
