Hitachi Rail Wins Lowest Bid for Bangalore Metro AFC

03 Oct 2025 CW Team

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has announced Hitachi Rail GTS India as the lowest bidder for the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) System contract covering Phases 2A and 2B of the Bangalore Metro.

Phase 2A comprises the 18 km Blue Line stretch from Silk Board to K.R. Puram, while Phase 2B is the 37 km airport link from Bengaluru city to Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) in Devanahalli, with 17 stations under development.

BMRCL had invited bids in 2025 with a completion target of 441 days. Of five firms that participated, three were disqualified during technical evaluation. The financial bids were opened on 24 September 2025, where Hitachi Rail GTS India emerged lowest at Rs 760 million, against TVM Signalling and Transportation Systems’ Rs 992 million.

Infrastructure Urban

03 Oct 2025

Indian REITs Association Joins Global REIT Alliance

The Indian REITs Association (IRA) has become a member of the Global REIT Alliance, a coalition representing the global Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) sector. The alliance, launched at the European Public Real Estate Association’s 2025 ReThink conference in Stockholm, aims to promote cross-border cooperation, policy dialogue, and market standardisation for the growth of REITs as an investment asset class.The Global REIT Alliance, which includes members from 24 countries, focuses on promoting global awareness of securitised real estate, supporting sustainable investment, providing indust..

Vande Bharat May Soon Connect Chennai and Rameswaram

Southern Railway plans to introduce a Vande Bharat Express between Chennai and Rameswaram following the completion of electrification on the 53-km Ramanathapuram–Rameswaram section.A proposal has been submitted to the Railway Board to operate the new daytime service from either Chennai Egmore or Tambaram, aiming to ease congestion on existing overnight trains along the 600–660 km route.Officials noted that while the section is cleared for electric locomotives, a 220-metre gap near Uchipuli will undergo trials before the Vande Bharat is introduced. The final route will consider travel time,..

RITES Partners with Etihad Rail to Boost Infrastructure Collaboration

RITES, a leading transport infrastructure consultancy and engineering firm, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UAE-based Etihad Rail to enhance business collaboration with its subsidiary, National Infrastructure Construction Company (NICC).The partnership aims to combine RITES’ five decades of expertise in consultancy, transport infrastructure, and engineering with NICC’s execution capabilities, creating synergies for infrastructure projects across the UAE and other regions.The MoU was signed by HE Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Rahul Mithal, Chairman and Managing Di..