Otis Elevator Company, one of the world's largest manufacturers of people-moving products, has been signed up by the FAST Consortium of companies for the metro project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The consortium is led by Spanish construction giant FCC with key partners - Korean builder Samsung C&T, French technology major Alstom, Dutch rail infrastructure group Strukton and civil engineering specialist Freyssinet Saudi Arabia.

The contract for the Riyadh Metro lines 4, 5 and 6 was awarded to the Otis Saudi unit by the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh.

As per the deal, Otis will supply 256 escalators, six moving walkways, and 183 machine room-less elevators with travel speeds up to 1 meter per second, including fully glazed panoramic elevators. The heavy-duty escalators are specifically designed for public transportation, said the statement from Otis.

The scope of work includes supply of elevators and escalators within the three lines of the metro for all stations across Riyadh, two train depots, and three car parking facilities over a total area of 72 km, it stated.

A leading player in people-moving products segment such as elevators, escalators and moving walkways, Otis is a unit of United Technologies Corp. It operates in the kingdom as Otis Elevator Company Saudi Arabia, a joint venture between Otis (New Jersey) and EA Juffali & Brothers.  

On the contract win, Maged Nagib, vice president and managing director, Otis Middle East, said: "The Riyadh Metro will be one of the world’s biggest infrastructure projects, and we’re extremely proud to be part of this landmark project."

Otis, he stated, is committed to Riyadh’s fast growth and high standards of efficiency and passenger comfort.

Fernando Condinho, the managing director of Otis Saudi Arabia, said: "We are honored that our equipment has been selected for this prestigious project."

"The Riyadh Metro is a significant project for Saudi Arabia and its local community, and we are proud to be part of it," he added.-TradeArabia News Service