Contractors have submitted bids for both the Golden and Green Line contracts for the proposed Doha Metro in Qatar.

Qatar Railways Company (QRail) received the bids on 27 November, following the submission of bids for the stations package on 13 November and the bids for the Red Line North and South packages on 16 October.

The contract awards for the tunnelling packages are not expected to be announced before the second quarter of next year. A source close to the project says the stations contract winner is expected to be announced in March 2013.

In early 2012, QRail decided to divide the Doha Metro project into various packages covering the tunnelling works for specific lines.

It placed 18 prequalified contractors into four groups to bid on the four tunnel packages and a further group to bid for two stations packages. Each group had a maximum of eight consortiums.

All eight prequalified consortiums on the Golden Line package are said to have submitted bids, according to a source close to the project. It has not yet been confirmed whether all prequalified companies sent in bids for the Green Line.

QRail is now planning to issue tenders for the manufacture and supply of rail coaches as well as for a control systems package.

Expressions of interest have already been submitted for the railway systems package. The Portuguese electricity systems provider EFACEC is just one firm that has shown interest in providing power supply, communications, tunnel ventilation and control systems.

Construction on the metro is due to begin next year. Once completed, the 300-kilometre Doha metro network will have 80 stations and will connect the New Doha International Airport (NDIA), currently being constructed, to the centre of Doha, as well as link the various stadiums hosting the 2022 football World Cup.

The metro forms part of a wider $35bn Qatar Integrated Rail programme, which includes the 30km Lusail light railway, 340km freight rail line and a high-speed passenger line.