BEML to Deliver 42 New Coaches to Bangalore Metro from July

BEML Limited earlier this week invited bids from transport companies to start delivering 42 new coaches to Bangalore Metro’s train maintenance depots at Baiyyappanahalli and Peenya from their Bangalore Coach Factory in CV Raman Nagar.

These coaches valued at roughly Rs. 400 crore are part of an optional rolling stock order exercised by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) in February 2019 on top of the 150 intermediate coach contract won by BEML in March 2017 to convert the existing 3-coach train-sets into 6-coach formations.

BEML’s tentative schedule indicates they will start deliveries from July 2020 with one 6-coach train-set to be delivered every month. The exact dispatch date will be communicated to the transport company 10 days in advance and generally 3 or 6 coaches will be transported at a time.

BID INVITATION NO.6300032908

Brief Scope: BEML LIMITED has invited tenders from reputed transporters having experience in movement of engineering equipments through hydraulic/mechanical trailers by road for transportation of 42 nos of completely built Metro Cars from BEML Ltd, Bangalore complex to designated depot of at BMRCL Bangalore.

I will not be tracking the winner of this contract, but here’s some bidding information which gives an idea of timelines:

• Last date for forwarding Queries if any, for clarification: 19.06.2020 @ 14:00 PM
• Last date for Submission of Bid: 02.07.2020 before 14:00 PM
• Opening of Pre-Qualification Bid: 02.07.2020 @ 14:00 PM
• Opening of Technical Bid: 02.07.2020 @ 15:00 PM

Here’s the scope of work from the RFQ document:

Lifting, Loading & Unloading Arrangement

• Position the lifting Beam under the front & Rear Bogie carefully.
• Place the Bogie Stopper on the lifting beam to align center of Bogie.
• Insert Wood Blocks under Side Frame center of Bogie.
• Attach the lifting Spreader to the Cranes hook & check whether upper part of wire rope is twisted with Cranes Hook. Locate Cranes hook at the center over the Car.
• Descend the lifting Spreader slowly & carefully. Use extra ropes that are attached to the lower end of wire rope to protect scratches on the Cars.
• Fix the lower wire rope of lifting spreader Assy in wire rope hanger of lifting beam.
• M-Car should minimise the droop of Carbody, using shackle & round sling on the opposite side of the droop part which is caused by declination of the weight.
• Transporter must setup a signal communication between signalman & Crane driver and must follow the rule on set-up method, location of Crane on the ground etc.
• Make sure that Cranes hook is located over the center of the Car. If not, you must move the Spreader to the center of the car in order to avoid leaning of Car to one side, which is very dangerous.
• Raise the Cranes hook slowly & carefully and simultaneously monitor lower part wire rope is attached to lifting beam.
• Ensure wire rope attached to lifting spreader is tight to protect Carbody from rolling and avoid force pulling the rope which may lead to lean to one side.
• Position the trailer under the car when in lifted condition.
• Descend the Car slowly on the skid pallet placed over the Trailer and fix the Bogie to the Skid pallet and load the car on the Trailer.
• Remove the wire rope attached to lifting beam, lift the spreader ensuring ropes are protected to avoid scratches on the Cars and turn the crane arm for the next stage followed by stoppers & lifting beam.
• Cover the Car with using Tarpaulin which should be scratch & water proof.
• Standard methods to be adopted for Transportation & lashing of cars.
• Transportation of Metro Cars should be escorted to avoid accidents, damages, thefts etc.
• Follow the same methods for lifting & unload the car on the Rail at the depot. Ensure whether the direction is correct when unloading the car on the rail.

Major technical details of Metro cars to be transported

1. General Dimensions of Metro Car (Approx):
   • Length: 22.0 Mtrs,
   • Width: 3.0 Mtrs
   • Height: 4.0 Mtrs (from Rail Level).
2. Tare Weight of Metro Car (Approx): 40.0 Ton/car

When delivery is completed hopefully by the year-end, BMRCL will have a rolling stock fleet consisting of 57 6-coach train-sets operating on its Purple and Green lines.

Both lines are being expanded in the 73.95 km Phase 2 project with finishing and sub-system installation works racing towards completion for the 8.814 km Mysore Road – Challaghatta (Reach 2A & Reach 2B) and 6.29 km Yelachenahalli – Anjanapura (Reach 4B) sections.

When those sections open up, these additional 7 train-sets will be inadequate for the BMRCL to maintain the same level of train frequency though. The frequency will come back to pre-lockdown levels only after the 126 coaches (21 x 6) from CRRC, as part of a 216 coach order awarded in December 2019, start getting inducted.

For more updates, check out the Bangalore section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG