The National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) has completed prequalification of contractors for the estimated £E 300 million ($83 million) job of extending the second line of the Cairo metro (MEED 18:8:00).

ANAT official says the main bidding groups will be the French Interinfra consortium and a team led by Germany's Philipp Holzmann. Interinfra, which has done most of the work on lines 1 and 2 of the metro, is led by Alstom and Campenon Bernard, working with the local Arab Contractors (Osman Ahmed Osman & Company).

The various aspects of the work include civil works, mechanical and electrical systems, telecoms and central control systems. The extension will run 2.5 kilometres from Giza station to the Moneib suburb.

France's Systra is now working on the designs for the project. Tender invitations are due to go out to the prequalified contractors towards the end of the year or in early 2001.