Technical and economic feasibility study for line 3 to be carried out by Noronha Engenharia/Parsons Corporation consortium, reporting within one year to National Bank for Economic and Social Development. Estimated to cost $665 million, the line will connect Alcantara, Sao Goncalo and Niteroi with Rio through a 4 km tunnel beneath Guanabara Bay. Initial project plans include construction of 16 km of track to sao Goncalo and a light rail connection to Itaborai on the Flumitrens line. November 1999.   National Bank for Economic & Social Development has put together R$186 million funding package for the Rio de Janeiro metro extension to Rua Siqueira Campos in Copacabana. Work will get underway in January, 2000 and opening is envisaged by end-2002. December 1999.   The prequalifiers for the civil engineering works of two sections of Line 3, the first between Rio and Niterí³i including a 4 km subsea tunnel, and the second between Niterí³i and Itaboraí­­, are: Constructora Fluminense, a consortium of Queiroz Galvao and Carioca Engenharí­­a; Mendes Junior; and Constructor Metro Rio, a consortium headed by Andrade Gutiérrez also including the contractors OAS, Caramgo Correa and CBPO. Visit www.metrorio.com.br/index.asp 10/01.   Rio de Janeiro state will auction on 8th February, 2002 a contract to build the first phase of Line 3 between Niteroi and Sí£o Goní§alo. At least 26 companies have so far expressed interest. The project has been split into two phases, starting with the easiest stretch between Niteroi and Sí£o Goní§alo, 22 km in length with 14 stations. A 4 km tunnel under the Bay requires to invest US$400 million. Financing from the federal government has not yet been approved. It is believed revenues from Opportrans, the concessionaire of Lines 1 and 2, will be used for civil construction. A jv of engineering consultancies Noronha Engenharia, Parsons Brinckeroff International and Ernst & Young has been working on the project. Visit www.noronha.com and www.pbworld.com 04/02.