Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) has extended to 31 July the deadline for the electromechanical systems package for the first phase of Cairo Metro Line 4.

The initial bids submission date was 10 June.

Four groups sought to prequalify for the systems contract. They were:

• Mitsubishi/Orascom Construction
• Marubeni (Japan)
• Hitachi (Japan)/Sumitomo (Japan)
• Toyo (Japan)/Mitsui(Japan)

On 16 May, NAT received a single bid, from Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation, for the rolling stock package for the metro line's first phase.

The other prequalified firm, Sojutz Corporation, did not submit a bid.

The first phase of Line 4 will comprise two civil works packages, and one package each for rolling stock and electromechanical systems.

It is understood NAT and a team comprising Japan’s Taisei Corporation and local firm Orascom Construction are still finalising the pricing for the first civil works package.

The bid for the second civil works package is under technical evaluation. The Taisei/Orascom team is also the sole bidder for that contract.

NAT awarded Nippon Koei the consultancy contract for the scheme in October 2016.

Line 4 will be constructed in two phases and will run for 43 kilometres from west to east Cairo.

It will connect 6th October and the New Cairo satellite cities with the existing metro network, catering to areas including Al-Ahram, Faisal, Giza, Nasr City and Al-Azhar University.

The first phase will have a total length of 18.8km and feature 17 stations. It will extend from the multimodal station west of the Ring Road to the Grand Egyptian Museum and on to El-Remayah Square to link with Giza station on Line 2, El-Malek el-Saleh station on Line 1, and to Al-Fustat station.

MEED understands Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) is providing a significant portion of the funding for the first phase of Line 4, which is estimated to cost $4bn.