 During July 2001, the proposed Ceneri Base Tunnel was approved by the Swiss Federal Council, clearing the way for detailing planning and eventual construction activity to proceed.Further Parliamentary approval of the selected route for the tunnel was received in 2003, and the first funding towards construction was released during 2005.During April 2007, AlpTransit Gotthard AG awarded a Sfr85m ($91.52m) contract for the construction of the first underground element of the tunnel to Consorzio Monte Ceneri (CMC) JV, a consortium of CSC, Lugano, Frutiger, Thun, Rothpletz, Lienhard & Cie, and Aarau.