MAKKAH – Fifteen consortiums of local and global companies have submitted their profiles to the Makkah and Ritual Sites Development Commission for the first phase of the train project, which will be implemented in Makkah, Saudi Press Agency reported Monday. The first phase includes the construction of two metro lines, Green (B) and Red (C) with total length of 46 kilometers, according to Dr. Osama Al-Bar, chairman of the executive committee of public transport project in Makkah. “Sixty percent of the 22 train stations will be built over the ground while the 40 percent will be underground, where tunnels will be dug,” he said. The tender will put up fir the first phase in the first quarter of the year 2014 while the contract will awarded at the end of the year. Dr. Saad Abdul A. AlGadhi, CEO of Makkah Mass Rail Transit Company (MMRTC), said the works for the first phase will have two separate contract to speed up the implementation of the project. One of the contracts will cover the underground railways (Green Track and part of Red Track) while the other covers the suspended bridges of the Red Track. Makkah railway project consists of 4 lines with total length of 114 kilometers and 62 stations. — SG
