MEED reported that a consortium led by the local Saudi Binladin Group has won the SAR 1.5 billion contract to build a monorail network at Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University for Women in Riyadh.

The other members of the consortium are Ansaldo STS and AnsaldoBreda both of which are part of Italy's Finmeccanica Group. The 3 year deal involves building an 11 kilometers long monorail elevated 10 meters above the ground and supplying the trains. Saudi Binladin will carry out the general construction work, Ansaldo STS will install the electro mechanical systems and Ansaldo Breda will supply the trains. The other 3 bidding groups for the contract were Al Arrab Contracting Company, Saudi Oger and El Seif Engineering & Contracting, all local.

Beirut based Dar al-Handasah is the consultant on the university project, which is one of the largest construction schemes tendered in the kingdom this year.

In mid January, the Finance Ministry awarded 3 contracts worth more than SAR 30 billion for the construction of the university campus. Saudi Oger won the first package, worth SAR 12.5 billion and Saudi Binladin picked up the second worth SAR 10 billion. Both contracts involve building low rise teaching blocks and residential buildings.

(Sourced from MEED)