Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation has chosen a group led by the German contractor Hochtief for the upgradation  of terminals at the Riyadh international airport, a report said.

The contract to upgrade King Khalid International Airport is valued at $2.9 billion, said the report in Global Construction Review.

Work on the project is expected to start in September for competion in the first quarter of 2017, it said.

The consortium includes Mumbai-based Shapoorji Pallonji and local firm Al-Nahda.

The expansion of will increase the airport’s capacity from the 15 million passengers a year to 25 million. Construction is also under way on a new fifth terminal, the report said.

The project is being masterplanned by Netherlands Airport Consultants. Architectural design is by HOK International.  Aecom subsidiary Cansult Maunsell will carry out project management and Buro Happold will look after M&E design.