Metro rail tunnel work starts in April

Metro rail tunnel work starts in April
BS Reporter / Chennai/ Bangalore November 24, 2008, 0:19 IST

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has taken yet another step towards realising the metro rail project by commencing the tendering work for the 9-km stretch of underground tunnel of the proposed project.



The work, estimated to cost about Rs 2,400 crore for two underground links in the Majestic area in the centre of the city at the Bangalore City Railway Station, is expected to begin during April 2009. The BMRCL has shortlisted seven global bidders from the 10 companies that participated in the initial bids.

The seven bidders include Fireman Transport SPA, Caserata, Italy; Norico, China Changchun Railway Co, China Jessop and Co Ltd, Kolkata; Siemens AG, Earlangen, Germany Siemens Ltd, New Delhi; Bombardier Transportation, Berlin, Germany Bombardier Transportation India Ltd, New Delhi; BEML, Bangalore Rotem, South Korea Mitsubishi Corporation, Tokyo, Japan Mitsubishi Electric, Tokyo, Japan; Alsthom Transport SA, Perret, France Alsthom Projects, Mumbai and CAF SA, Madrid, Spain.

According to B S Sudhir Chandra, director (projects and planning), BMRCL, “We have invited the shortlisted bidders for a site visit in November last week. After this, they will have to submit a detailed final bid by January 2009 and then the successful bidder will be announced by March 2009”.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), which is part-funding the project, will select the final bidder after a detailed evaluation, he added. The BMRCL has divided the underground tunnel project into two sectors which are 4-5 kms each, costing Rs 1,200 crore each sector. The east-west corridor links B R V Grounds to Magadi Road and north-south links Swastik in Seshadripuram to Bangalore Medical college near KR Market.

In addition to the underground work for the metro rail, the corporation has divided the project into four reaches. The reaches are elevated sections. R-1 will run from Byappanahalli to M G Road. R-2 will be from the City Railway Station to Mysore Road. R-3 will be from Yeshwantpur to Swastik station. R-4 will be from K R Road to R V Road.

Currently, work on Rs 138 crore elevated sections (R-1) with 7 kms starting from the Byappanahalli Terminal on the East to West corridor up to the M G Road Station, covering Old Madras Road, C M H Road, Ulsoor and Trinity Circle stations enroute is on and is expected to be complete in 5-6 months.

“The corporation will announce the final bidder in a few days for the Rs 209 crore elevated sections (R-3), part of the North to South corridor from Yeshwantpur to Swastik stations,” said Chandra.

Bangalore Metro Rail project cost is estimated to cost Rs 6,400 crore and is being financed through equal equity contribution of Rs 959.25 crore each from government of India and Karnataka.

Another 25 per cent will come from subordinated debt while the remaining 45 per cent will be long term debt.