The studies will identify obstacles along the line, including buildings, soil type, ground water and streams and rivers. The closing date for bids is September 29. The studies for Line 20- Pink are part of a wider project to determine the areas for train maintenance and stabling facilities.

In early September, São Paulo Metro awarded the GPO-Geocompany-Geotec Consortium, comprising GPO Sistran Engineering, Geocompany Technology Engineering and Environment, and Geotec Environmental Consulting a contract to undertake engineering and environmental impact studies for the line.

Under the Reais 5.315m ($US 921,000) contract, the consortium will be responsible for defining the line’s alignment and station locations, and all environmental documentation.

The 31km line will be the first metro connection between the centre of São Paulo and the ABC Region, and will have 24 stations. The line will connect regions with a total of 1 million residents and a similar amount of jobs, including Lapa, Pinheiros, Itaim Bibi, Vila Olímpia, Moema, Cursino, Rudge Ramos and Santo André.

The line is expected to carry 1 million passengers a day when completed, with capacity for up to 32,000 passengers per hour per direction during peak periods. Line 20 will interconnect with the Paulista Metropolitan Trains Company services. It will also interchange with other metro lines including 1-Blue, 2-Green, 4-Yellow, 5-Lilac, 6-Orange, 7-Ruby, 8-Diamond, 10-Turquoise, 19-Celeste, and 22-Burgundy.

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