The local Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) has extended the deadline for prequalification entries for the contract to build and implement its planned Riyadh Bus Transit project.

Companies now have until 11 July to submit prequalification entries. The original deadline was 27 June.

The bus project is part of Riyadh Public Transport Project (PTP), which also covers the construction and implementation of the planned $7-8bn metro system. The PTP was approved by the Council of Ministers on 23 April. The plan has been prepared by the High Authority for the development of the city of Riyadh.

ADA, which is also the client for the metro project, received prequalification entries from contracting consortiums for the metro project in late June.

The projects are part of Riyadh’s plans to upgrade its transport infrastructure to cope with its rapidly growing population. The city’s existing population of 5.3 million is expected to top 8.3 million by 2025.