4 Bidders for Mumbai Metro Line-4’s Signalling & PSD System
Four global rail firms – Alstom, Bombardier, Hitachi & Siemens – have submitted bids for the signalling, train control and platform screen doors system of Mumbai Metro’s 32.32 km Line-4 and 2.88 km Line-4A (Green Line), after officials from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) opened technical bids on Tuesday to reveal its list of bidders.
MMRDA had invited bids for this package of Line-4/4A (Wadala – Kasarvadavali – Gaimukh) in April-end, and expects the appointed contractor to complete all works within 137 weeks.
After the 234 coach rolling stock tender, which is still under technical bid evaluation, this is the second significant systems-related contract under tendering for this elevated line which will traverse the eastern part of the city – view route map.
Bidders:
- Alstom Transport Ltd.
- Bombardier Transportation India Ltd – Bombardier Transportation Signal (Thailand) Ltd JV
- Hitachi Rail STS India Pvt. Ltd.
- Siemens India Ltd.
Contract: MMRDA/4 & 4A/CA72
Scope: Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Testing, and Commissioning of Signalling and Train Control including Platform Screen Doors system for Main Line and Depot of Line 4 and Its Extension Corridor (Wadala – Kasarvadavali – Gaimukh) of Mumbai Metro Rail Project of MMRDA
The bids have now been sent for technical evaluation which can take half a year, looking at the rolling stock tender’s timeline, to get completed. When that is done, the financial bids of the technically qualified bidders will be opened to reveal who’s the lowest bidder and most likely vendor.
As shared earlier, like Mumbai Metro’s Line-2 (Yellow Line) and Line-7 (Red Line), whose signalling contract was won by Alstom in 2019, a communications-based train control (CBTC) signalling solution is expected to also be deployed on Line-4 to enable high frequencies and headways of 1.5 minutes (90 seconds) with unattended train operations (UTO) or driverless operations in the future, if desired.
Here’s a nice video comparing the old Distance-to-Go signalling (Fixed Block) with CBTC signalling:
Platform screen doors (PSDs) with half-height will be installed on all 34 elevated stations of Line-4 (32) and its Line-4A extension (2) for passenger safety to prevent suicides & accidents during passenger movement. In India, these are currently operational across Chennai Metro’s Blue & Green lines, Delhi Metro’s Yellow (few stations), Pink, Magenta & Airport Express lines, Noida Metro’s Aqua Line, Kolkata Metro’s Line-2, and in the coming years will be installed in Mumbai (Line-2, 3, 7), Ahmedabad, Pune and Nagpur.
For more updates, check out the Mumbai section of The Metro Rail Guy!
– TMRG
Hitachi signalling they used to operate in India as ansaldo!
Have experience of working with Bombardier CBTC system for almost 3 years and I can surely say that it is one of the most difficult systems to maintain. Their CITYFLO650 has a high failure rate, I am sure they are going to pitch this system . MMRDA should never go with this signalling system and rather choose Alstom.
Interesting – that’s what Delhi’s Pink and Grey lines have. This could be the reason for some of the initial glitches experienced in 2018 that DMRC never properly explained.
Trust me when I say this, Nippon who was a new entrant in India whose signalling system is installed in Line-8 has much lower failure rate. Bombardier has still not been able to properly develop signalling system suitable to Indian climate, despite having huge presence in India for more than a decade now. As good as their Rolling Stocks are with very low failure rate, their signalling system really sucks.
Being part of the Nippon team for Line 8 i completely agree that Nippon’s signalling system is having probably the lowest failure rate and also quite easy to maintain as well.
But due to already ongoing projects in Delhi and Ahemdabad Nippon Signal(a japanese MNC) did not bid for this one.
Moreover cost wise its comparatively cheaper than Siemens and Bombardier.
Iam working with bombardier transportation CBTC CITYFLO 650 no failure here
Just take idea when and how is comissioned.
What course we need to do this
Job my age 53 and dont know ABCD
I m in field of travel airlines 30years
How u may take help from me.
Well wishers to all
Allah bless u.
Arif