Baghdad Metro

Long-established plans have been revived for an underground metro system in the Iraqi capital. As initially conceived, the 39 km two-line network would comprise:

• Line 1, 21 km with 21 stations, linking northern Baghdad districts with the city centre and the Al-Masbah District in the south with the Al-Baya’ district in the west of Baghdad.
• Line 2, 18 km with 20 stations, linking Sadr City, east of the River Tigris, with Al-Adhamiyah in the north.

The estimated cost of the project has been put at USD3 billion.

Status

In May 2010 eight companies were shortlisted to conduct feasibility studies and design the network. In 2011 the French consultancy company Systra was awarded a contract by Baghdad municipality to undertake design of the system. This work was expected to take 18 months, leading to invitations to bid for construction work being issued in early 2013. However, later in 2011 it was reported that the project had been put on hold due to a lack of funds.

Key agency: Mayoralty of Baghdad (www.amanatbaghdad.gov.iq)