The Transport Ministry launched yesterday the construction of the second part of Cairo Metro’s Line 3 Phase 4B which will run through Heliopolis to Salam City, Al Shorouk reported. Arab Contractors and Orascom Construction won the contract for this section, as we noted back in June, and Arab Contractors Chairman Mohsen Salah said yesterday the two parties are now lining up foreign contractors, according to Amwal Al Ghad. The EGP 5.9 bn Phase 4B is set to be completed by end of 2018, about half a year ahead of schedule, Transport Minister Galal Saeed said. Construction of Line 3 Phase 3 will start next September; France’s VINCI Construction Grands Projects won the bid.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Tunnels Authority will launch the construction of phase one of Cairo Metro’s fourth line by 2017 at a total cost of EGP 25 bn, authority chief Tarek Gamal El Din told Amwal Al Ghad. Line 4 Phase 1 stretches over 19 km from 6 October to Fustat and includes 17 stations, he added. The following phase, Line 4 Phase 2, will include 12 stations on a 23 km stretch and will cost EGP 30 bn. As for Lines 5 and 6, the transport ministry will be looking for sources of funding for their development, Saeed said, Amwal Al Ghad reported. Studies for Lines 5 and 6 will take up to two years to complete, the minister said.