By Pratap John
Chief Business Reporter

Saad Ahmed Ibrahim al-Mohannadi (left) with Hamad al-Bishri during the signing of the contract
Qatar Railways Company (QRail) has signed a QR1.95bn contract with Qatari Diar Vinci Construction (QDVC) for the new phase of works on the Lusail Light Rail Transit system.
The light rail transit system (LRT) will serve the entire new city of Lusail, which stretches over 37sq km of waterfront.
Organised into 19 mixed-use districts, it will eventually accommodate 200,000 residents and as many daily workers and visitors.
The LRT will also be interconnected with the regional transport network.
QRail Chief Executive Officer Saad Ahmed Ibrahim al-Mohannadi  said: “The contract valued at QR1,950mn covers civil engineering works in seven underground stations, the construction of a viaduct over the motorway between Doha and the northern part of the country, and preliminary works on an LRT depot and maintenance workshop. The works are expected to take approximately 38 months to complete.”
The full Lusail LRT project of four lines totalling 30km, some 10 “underground stations” and 25 “at-grade” stations, is being built in several engineering study and construction phases.
The design phase was launched in August 2007, followed by earthworks and excavations for cut-and-cover tunnels in March2009, tunnel construction in March 2010, and preparation of underground station construction in June 2011.
The next and final phase of the works will include rolling stock and systems. The turnkey project handover is set for 2016.
QDVC Deputy Chief Executive Officer Hamad al-Bishri said: “QDVC, the Qatari construction company with international standards, is honoured to be the first contractor of Qatar Railways Company, delivering the first rail project in Qatar in Lusail. I would like to extend my congratulations to the whole team on site, which is making sustained efforts to provide the best satisfaction to our client QRail.”