Nine consultants in the race

Nine consultants in the race

The Times of India



Bangalore: Nine general consultants are in the race to bag the contract for developing the design and constructing the Bangalore Metro Rail.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) is scrutinising the documents submitted by the nine consultants, including one by Rail India Tecno and Economic Services (RITES). RITES, which has given its expression of interest, has partners from France, Japan and the US.

BMRC managing director V Madhu told The Times of India that the nine technical bids will be forwarded to Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for their approval. Discussions with the bank have started. Once the bank gives its opinion, BMRC will call for tenders. The terms of reference have been finalised and sent to the JBIC for wetting, but the bank has kept it pending. The loan agreement, to be signed between the Indian and Japanese government, was kept in abeyance in view of the clearance from Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) getting delayed.

Sources said the general consultant will be responsible for providing consultancy services as well as implementing the entire project. All the bidders are international consortia with one Indian partner. Each of them have four or five partners with expertise on different aspects.

After the JBIC clears the proposals of the shortlisted consortia, they will be called for a pre-bid meeting, where the requirements of the Metro Rail project will be spelt out.

As for construction of the elevated portions of the track is concerned, 12 companies have been shortlisted from a list of 25, who had submitted expressions of interest. Out of these 25, 15 were foreign companies with Indian partners. The shortlisted companies will vie to get contracts for construction of the elevated portion. The Byapanahalli to Cricket stadium link has already been awarded to RITES, who will only undertake the civil works of the segment. The remaining will be undertaken by those who win the bids. The entire project will be taken up in four packages. A global bid will be called for construction of the underground portion, the sources added. Meanwhile, BMRC officials are reworking the schedule of the project since the earlier schedule has lapsed. “The new milestones have to be put out.’’

The Karnataka government has sent its draft MoU to the Centre.