Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) has awarded a consortium led by the local Orascom Construction a deal for the construction of the third phase of the Cairo Metro’s Line 3.

The scope includes both civil and electromechanical work.

Consortium members include the UK’s Colas Rail, France’s Alstom and the local Arab Contractors.

Alstom has reported that its part of the contract is valued at about $204m, while Orascom said its part of the contract is worth about $113m.

Four phases: The Cairo Metro’s Line 3 is being built in four phases. Phase 3 will extend from Attaba to Kit Kat, via Rod el-Farag and on to Cairo University.

The total length of phase 3 will be 17.7 kilometres and will include 15 stations. The cost of this phase is estimated at $1.8bn.

Milestones: Phase 1 of Line 3 opened in 2012 and phase 2 was completed in 2014.