The contract covers the construction of the 13km stretch of the Red Line from Mushaireb to Education City, which will have seven stations. The line will run in two parallel tunnels, each with an internal diameter of 6.17m.

Impregilo has a 41.25% share in the consortium, which also includes SK Engineering & Construction and Galfar Engineering & Construction.

Impregilo says the contract is worth €1.7bn, which includes €630m for planning and civil works and €1.1bn for preparatory works, electrical and mechanical systems, and architectural works at the five intermediate stations.

The stations at Mushaireb and Education City will be constructed by a consortium led by Yapi Merkezi, Turkey under a separate contract. Jacobs Engineering, United States, has been appointed as engineering manager for the project.