French company signs memo to build suspended metro lines in Baghdad and Basra



December 6, 2017

Baghdad - Journal News

France's Alstom signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iraq to build a suspended metro line in Baghdad and two lines in the southern city of Basra, which are experiencing daily traffic jams.

The company's director in Iraq, Mark Grost, said in a statement, according to Agence France-Presse, that "will be in the next five years Metro suspended for 20 kilometers in Baghdad, provided that the equipment for the implementation of railways and engineering work to be launched from Mustansiriya (east) "In western Baghdad,

It is expected that the cost of this work will be between $ 2.1 to $ 2.5 billion, to ensure linking the two sides of the city of Baghdad through the bridge Sarafiya (central), in 2023. The capital is witnessing the continuation of the import of cars since 2003, severe traffic crises, especially during hours Nahar.

The two lines will extend from north to south of the city, from Zubair to Shatt al-Arab and from Karma in the east of Basra to desert areas on the western side.

Gross said the company was preparing a feasibility study in Basra that would be completed within 12 months.

"This is an important step for Iraq, Al Satum and people because the traffic in these cities is unbearable," he said.

Link