Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels (Nat) is inviting companies to submit prequalification documents by 25 October for the construction contract for the third phase of line three of Cairo metro.

Nat was initially expected to start the tender process at the end of 2010. The political uprising in February that led to the resignation of former President Hosni Mubarak meant that the project was pushed further behind.

Phase three is broken down into four packages 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D. Phase four of Line 3 would involve connecting the centre of Cairo with the airport.

In February, work on phase one and two of Line 3 stopped temporarily due to the protests (MEED 14:2:11).

Work resumed on phases one and two in May.

Phase one involves the construction of a 5.5-kilometre section of track with five underground stations. Work is being carried out by a consortium of France’s Alstom and local Orascom Construction Industries. Phase one of line is scheduled for completion in October 2011.

Phase two of line 3 involves the construction of a 7.2km section of track with four underground stations. France’s Vinci leads the consortium that won the civil engineering contract for phase two in June 2010.

Line 3 will be 40km long when complete. France’s Systra is the consultant on the expansion of Cairo metro.