Qatar Railways announced yesterday that the much-anticipated Doha Metro project will begin construction early next year.

A call for tenders on the project has already been delayed, but the company says they will awarded before the end of 2012.

Phase 1 of the Doha Metro, which includes a Red Line from the south of Doha through the city toward Lusail, is supposed to be completed in time for Qatar’s 2020 Olympic bid. 

Credit: Photo of the Dubai Metro Red Line tunnel by Omar Chatriwala