19 April 2013
Austrian construction giant Strabag has pulled out of a bid to build a new metro system in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where it had been leading a consortium of firms.
"Due to the complexity of the project, it did not pass our selection criteria," a Strabag spokeswoman wrote in an email to Reuters, confirming a report in Austria’s WirtschaftsBlatt.
Saudi Arabia shortlisted four consortia last July. The other three were led by Canada’s Bombardier, French firm Vinci and Spain’s FS Engineering & Construction.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The other members of the Strabag consortium include Italy’s Ansaldo STS, Switzerland’s Stadler Rail, India’s Larsen & Toubro, Britain’s Hyder Consulting and US firm WorleyParsons.
Shortlisted bids were submitted in early 2013, but a preferred bidder has not been announced. InfraPPP World reports that the bid deadline was delayed several times during the process.
The Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) is the public agency awarding the contract.
The private partner will design and build the future metro of Riyadh.
