The concessionaire of Sao Paulo's metro Line 6, Move São Paulo, has awarded Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Mitsui & Co a turnkey contract for construction of metro Line 6.

In what Mitsubishi says is its first railway contract in Latin America, the Japanese company will design, supply and commission the signalling, communications, power supply, catenary, depot equipment and facilities, platform screen doors and tunnel ventilation. A consortium will be formed with local companies to undertake civil works.

The first phase of the driverless line, also known as the Orange Line, would run for 15·9 km between Brasilândia and São Joaquim, with 15 stations. The project is to be completed in 2020. Expected ridership is 633 000 passengers/day.

BNDES will provide Rs4∙47 billion to the São Paulo state government, which represents 39∙2% of the cost of building the metro line. The state government is providing 13∙9% from its own resources, with the remaining 46∙9% to be met by the consortium 'Move São Paulo', formed by Odebrecht, Queiroz Galvão, UTC Participações and Eco Realty Fundo de Investimentos.

The consortium 'Move São Paulo' was the only bidder for the project. It was selected as the preferred bidder in early November 2013. The concession contract involves the construction, operation and maintenance of São Paulo metro Line 6 until April 2039.

The total investment of the project is estimated at Rs11.4 billion (US$5.1 billion)

The object of the Public-Private Partnership for Line 6 involves:

• Necessary expropriations and resettlements
• Design projects
• Obtaining of environmental licences for installation and operation
• Engineering works (tunnels, stations and yards)
• Acquisition of systems, equipment and rolling stock
• Operation and maintenance of Line 6 during the concession period
• Concession period: total 25 year contract, 6 years for implantation / deployment & 19 for O&M

According to demand forecasts, the new line is expected to carry 633 300 passengers/day.