The first phase of the $16.5bn-worth integrated public transport project will see the establishment of two metro systems in Makkah under the aegis of Makkah Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.
A metro line of seven stations beginning at Jamrat region in Mina, running 11km westward and along the northern side of the Grand Mosque, King Abdul Aziz Road and Haramain Railway’s main station in Rusaifa before ending at the Makkah-Jeddah Expressway will be the first project under the development.
The second metro, a 33km line with 15 stations will start at Madinah Road, north of Taneem Mosque and move southward to reach the western side of the Grand Mosque as it passes by King Abdulaziz Towers and Azizia Street, before turning to Taif-Karr Road to reach Umm Al-Qura University.
Work on the first phase is expected to cost around $6.7bn and will begin by the middle of next year and require three years for completion, said Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar.
“We will begin procedures this week for the qualification of contractors to award contracts in the first quarter of 2014,” said Saad al Qadi, CEO of Makkah Trains Company.
He added the first phase would be carried out in three contracts involving civil work, control implementation, signal systems and importing trains and carriages. Most of the first metro line and part of the second will operate through underground tunnels.
The Makkah transport project involves four metro lines spanning 114KM over 88 stations and is expected to improve pilgrim transportation in the city.