NTA Opens $21 Billion Pre-Qualification Round for Tel Aviv Metro Infra 1 Contract

Israel's NTA Metropolitan Mass Transit System has officially opened the pre-qualification stage for the first major construction package of the Tel Aviv Metro, a contract valued at approximately $21 billion. The move marks a pivotal milestone in what is set to become one of the largest urban tunneling programs in the world. The Infra 1 contract covers the initial 78 kilometers and 59 stations of the three-line metro network, which will span 150 kilometers across 24 municipalities in the Gush Dan metropolitan region. More than 550 representatives from roughly 60 infrastructure companies across 21 countries attended a three-day contractors' conference hosted by NTA in February 2026 to learn about the project scope and bidding requirements. The metro system comprises three lines — M1, M2, and M3 — designed to carry an estimated 2 million passengers daily when fully operational. Line M1, running 85 kilometers from Ra'anana to Rehovot, will be the longest segment with 82 stations. Lines M2 and M3 add another 64 kilometers and 47 stations between them. All three lines will operate as fully driverless Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4) systems, with projected annual ridership exceeding 600 million trips. Combined with the existing and planned light rail network — including the operational Red Line and the in-progress Green and Purple lines — total annual ridership is expected to surpass 800 million. NTA officials said the pre-qualification process is expected to conclude later in 2026, with formal tenders for Infra 1 following shortly after. The Infra 2 package, covering an additional 74 kilometers and 50 stations, is slated for tender publication in 2027. Israeli Transportation Ministry officials estimate the metro project will generate annual economic savings of NIS 34 billion ($9 billion) by reducing road congestion and travel times across the Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Initial operations are targeted for 2037, with full network completion projected between 2037 and 2040. The project represents Israel's largest-ever public infrastructure investment and signals the country's commitment to transforming urban mobility in its most densely populated region.