Tata, Reliance, L&T in race for HSRL

Tata, Reliance, L&T in race for HSRL

October 1st, 2009
By Our Correspondent



Bengaluru, Sept.30: Top business houses of the country are in the race to bag the High Speed Rail Link project, recently given the go-ahead by the government, that will provide connectivity to Bengaluru International Airport. Tata, Reliance and Larsen & Toubro are among the construction majors competing for the 33.4 km rail link to Devanahalli.
Bengaluru Airport Rail Link Ltd (BARL), which is implementing the project, has received request for qualification (RFQ) from five consortiums: Reliance Infrastructure, Pioneer Infratech-Seimens (Tata Group), Larsen & Toubro, Lanco Infra and ITD-TDC.CEM for the Rs 5,767 crore project.
Principal secretary (infrastructure development) V. Madhu told this newspaper that the project has received a major boost with the participation of these top consortiums.
“We are pleased with the responses we have received. It is a prestigious project that will set standards for the way we travel in India,” he said. “This will be the first high speed rail link in the country with a design speed of over 160 kmph.”
Mr Madhu said the consortiums that have qualified for the project will be shortlisted in a month.
“Financial bidding for the project will begin after that. We will be through with the contracts and concession agreement by March 2010 and the spadework will begin by May 2010. The project will be completed in three years and three months. The rail link will be up and running by mid 2013,” he said.
The company that is chosen will design, build, finance, operate and maintain the High Speed Rail Link for 30 years, including the construction period. It will then transfer all systems required for the operation of the HSRL to the state government.
Mr Madhu said two city terminals have been planned where air passengers can check in and colect their boarding passes, at the Police Parade Ground near MG Road and near Hebbal flyover.
“The Cubbon Road facility will be integrated with the MG Road Metro station and parking facilities for over 1,700 cars will be provided there. The transport hub at Hebbal station will also have parking facilities and an integrated bus terminal,” he said.