BMRC starts work on infrastructure for metro rail

BMRC starts work on infrastructure for metro rail

The Hindu

Pre-qualification tenders invited for construction of 24 stations

BANGALORE: Even as work on the first seven-km stretch of the metro is set to begin in January, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRC) has started the process of building the infrastructure for the remaining part of the network.

The BMRC has invited pre-qualification tenders for the construction of 24 elevated and at grade stations in the Phase 1 of the Metro at a cost of Rs. 323 crore in 10 packages.

Applicants who pass the qualifying tests laid down by the BMRC will be eligible to bid for the construction of the stations at a later stage. The qualifying entities will be asked to submit both technical proposals and financial bids separately.

The BMRC will open the financial quotations of those entities whose technical proposals are accepted. This is to ensure that the entities that are technically qualified alone get the work orders, sources in the BMRC said.

One of the conditions imposed on the future contractors is that they should have constructed concrete expanse that measures 15 metres. Another condition is that they should have constructed a deck with the top width measuring five metres or more either cast-in-site (built at the site itself) or by making pre-cast and pre-stressed concrete blocks elsewhere and erecting them at the construction site.

These two conditions come with an additional clause: the entities should meet the criteria without affecting the road or rail traffic. This clause, it is expected, will help the BMRC keep its promise causing "minimum obstruction to traffic" when the actual work is gets underway.

The BMRC has given time till 3 p.m. on February 5 for the submission of the tender to "reputed contractors." The pre-qualification documents will be sold from Tuesday to January 8.

The BMRC has stipulated that international applicants must have an Indian partner. The pre-qualification tenders will be opened on February 5 at 4 p.m. in the presence of applicants.

BMRC Managing Director V. Madhu had said that contract to construct seven stations and the elevated tracks in the seven-km stretch from Chinnaswamy Stadium and Byappanahlli, will be awarded by January. This stretch is expected to be completed by March 2009 at a cost of Rs. 110 crore.