K-Rail is sole bidder for Thiruvanathapuram consultancy

08 Dec 2022 CW Team

Kerala Rail Development Corporation Ltd (K-Rail) has emerged as the lone bidder for project management consultancy (PMC) of Smart City schemes in Thiruvananthapuram. The technical bids were opened this week and Smart City Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (SCTL) received the bid from K-Rail. The bid will be subject to a technical evaluation, following which the financial bid will be opened.

Recently, the Kerala government issued orders to recall officials in all special land acquisition units set up for the Silver Line project. K-Rail is the implementing agency for the project.

When asked about K-Rail placing bids for Smart City consultancy, V Ajith Kumar, managing director, K-Rail, declined to comment. According to the K-Rail website, it is established for enhancing the railway infrastructure in Kerala. K-Rail undertakes railway projects from inception to operation, including the preparation and submission of detailed project report (DPR) and obtaining required approvals for implementing the project.

The government had earlier tried to rope in KIIFB for the PMC. KIIFCON, the consultancy wing of KIIFB, had proposed that they be paid Rs 221.50 million (2.5% of the balance project cost which is Rs 8.86 billion) as consultancy fee. KIIFCON put forward other conditions like monthly fee of Rs 5 million, irrespective of financial progress, a furnished office space, vehicles, reimbursement of all types of surveys and geo-technical investigations.

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