Samsung C&T, Kolon Global, and ILSUNG Construction have thrown their hats into the ring for the Ulaanbaatar metro project in Mongolia, a massive undertaking with a total budget of $2.3 billion.
According to the Ulaanbaatar city government on the 29th, 27 companies, including Samsung C&T, Kolon Global, and ILSUNG Construction, participated in the initial bidding for the metropolitan subway construction. This marks the first phase of bidding, with the second phase set to take place next month.
The project involves building an 18.3-kilometer underground metro line across Ulaanbaatar and its surrounding metropolitan area. It is based on a 2013 pre-feasibility study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and aims for completion by 2028.
Last year, Ulaanbaatar signed a consulting contract with Dohwa Engineering to advance the project. Dohwa Engineering scored higher than competitors in technical and experience-based evaluations related to railway projects.
Ulaanbaatar is pushing forward with the metro project to address severe overpopulation issues. The city is grappling with excessive population density compared to its urban planning, and with over 50% of residents relying on private vehicles, additional transportation infrastructure is urgently needed.
According to Mongolia’s National Statistics Office, as of late 2023, about 1.73 million people—49% of Mongolia’s total population of 3.5 million—live in Ulaanbaatar. The city’s road area ratio is estimated at just 8–9%, significantly lower than major U.S. and European cities (over 30%) or Seoul (23%).
