Hill International, a global leader in managing construction risk, has won a contract from the European Investment Bank, financed under the European Union's Neighbourhood Investment Facility, to provide project management and technical assistance support services for the Cairo Metro - Line 3 project.

The six-year contract has an estimated value to Hill of $4.4 million, said a statement from the company.

The Egyptian National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) is constructing this new mass transit system in response to a growing population and escalating traffic and roadway problems.

The transit masterplan includes six metro lines, two of which are complete (Line 1 and Line 2) and a third (Line 3), which is partially in operation. Line 3 is being constructed in phases, it stated.

Phase One is currently operational, Phase Two partially operational and Phase Three has just commenced. Hill's scope pertains to Line 3 of Phase Three, and entails providing technical assistance to NAT, it added.

Line 3 connects Attaba in east-central Cairo with Abbasia and Heliopolis to the northeast.

When complete, the line will extend from the northwest of the Greater Cairo area at Imbaba to the northeast serving the Cairo International Airport. The total length of the line will be approximately 30.6 km of which 28.1 km is an underground section and the rest of the line, about 2.5 km, will be on grade, said the statement.

"Cairo is the largest city in Africa and ranked as one of the most densely populated cities in the world. This metro system will have an immense impact on Cairo's traffic congestion and the quality of life of its citizens," remarked Waleed Abdel Fattah, senior vice-president and managing director of Hill's North Africa Region.

"We are extremely proud to be part of such an important initiative," he added.-TradeArabia News Service