The National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) has inked a EUR 1.14 bn (EGP 21.4 bn) contract with French transportation firm RATP Dev to run and operate Cairo Metro Line III, Invest-Gate reports.

The 15-year deal is aimed at easing the burden on the Egyptian Company for Metro Management and Operations, which is in charge of Cairo Metro Line I and II, besides the first, second, and fourth phases of line III, said Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir in a ministerial statement on September 1.

The partnership is the first of its kind in Egypt as the government adopts an ambitious plan to develop the urban transportation sector in Greater Cairo, Alexandria, and other governorates, El Wazir explained.

Cairo Metro Line III runs between Cairo University, Imbaba, Abassia, as well as the newly-introduced Adly Mansour station, which was inaugurated by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi last month, coming as part of the fourth phase of developing Cairo Metro Line III, according to a previous statement.

The station, which was constructed by Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors, will connect five different modes of transportation and serve some 1.5 mn passengers per day. Besides, it is now officially Egypt’s first transit hub, linking the New Administrative Capital (NAC) with the rest of the nation, while featuring a commercial investment zone and a full-service transport complex.