The National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) is preparing to sign the consultancy contract for the first phase of Cairo Metro Line 4. NAT is expected to award the deal to Japan’s Nippon Koei, the only firm that had submitted an offer for the deal, in 3Q16. This will be followed by the release of the tender for the four packages of the first phase, which is being funded by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). NAT says it has completed the evaluation of prequalification documents for three of the four packages required to build the first phase of Line 4. The evaluation of prequalification documents is still ongoing for the fourth package, which comprises the rail systems. Groups that have submitted prequalification documents for the systems package include: i) Mitsubishi / Orascom Construction; ii) Marubeni (Japan); iii) Hitachi / Sumitomo (Japan); and iv) Toyo / Mitsui (Japan). Line 4 will be constructed in two phases and will run for 43km from West to East Cairo. (MEED)