Bolstering rail lines

The multiplying metro rail projects across the nation continue to bring in huge business opportunities for vendors and suppliers. As a follow-up on the ´Metropportunities´ story featured in CW´s June 2013 edition, AHLAM RAIS looks into the status of these projects. Metros' on the move... Hyderabad Metro The Hyderabad metro project is being executed under the DBFOT format and is one of the world´s largest PPP projects in the metro sector. Tenders for this mega project have already been awarded and is expected to be operational by July 5, 2017. A spokesperson from L and amp;T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) says, ´When there is an investment in metro rail projects, it opens huge opportunities for vendors and suppliers to offer equipment and services.´ Kochi Metro For the Kochi Metro project, tenders for the rolling stock have been floated recently. ´BEML, Hyundai Rotem and Chenching Railway Vehicle Company (CNR) have bid for it,´ says Elias George, Managing Director, Kochi Metro Rail Corporation. ´Tenders for telecommunication and signaling, automatic fare collection, traction power supply system, track works, electrical and mechanical works for stations and depot will be floated soon. A tender has also been floated for the appointment of a consultant for quality and safety auditing; this is also in the final stage of selection.´ Namma Metro ´Tenders for Phase-1 are complete except for one which includes architectural finishing for underground works,´ says BL Yashavanth Chavan, Chief Engineer (RS) and General Manager (O and M), Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation. ´Except for civil construction works, contracts are carried out through competitive bidding where vendors and suppliers can participate.´ Jaipur Metro ´Work on Phase-1B of the project is likely to start soon and soil investigation is in progress,´ says Ashwani Saxena, Director-Projects, Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation. ´Tenders worth Rs 507 crore have been recently awarded to Continental Engineering Corporation, Taiwan, for the construction of tunnels and stations for Phase-1B of the project, which is underground. We are also planning to float tenders for electrical, automatic fare collection, over head electrification and signalling systems.´ Navi Mumbai Metro A spokesperson says, ´Most contracts have been awarded for the project. Contracts for electrical and mechanical work are under technical evaluation and tenders will be awarded this month. Three companies have bid for this: L and amp;T Construction, Ansaldo and Alstom. In addition, the contract for connectivity between the mainline and depot is under finalisation. The cost of the tender is about Rs 67-68 crore and it will be awarded in this month. There are two bidders for this contract: J Kumar Infra projects and Simplex. Apart from this, the tender for building management systems that comprise escalators, lifts and mechanical equipment is yet to be floated.´ The official adds that the overall civil work is in progress 60-65 per cent of the viaduct, 30-35 stations; and 15 per cent of depot work has been completed so far. It is expected that the expanding metro rail network across the nation will provide a boost to the mid-level and bigwigs in the construction and allied industries. We hope the metros are completed on time and continue to offer diverse business opportunities. Related Stories:MetropportunitiesTo share recent updates on metro projects, write in at feedback@ASAPPmedia.com