L&T Wins Mumbai – Ahmedabad HSR’s Bridge Package P4 X & Y

January 25 Update: Larsen & Toubro – IHI Infrastructure Systems Consortium has been issued a LoA by NHSRCL

December 18 Original Post:

Larsen & Toubro – IHI Infrastructure Systems Consortium today emerged as the lowest bidder among 8 to fabricate and transport 28 steel truss bridges on the 508.17 km Mumbai – Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR Bullet Train) project which’ll connect both cities through 12 stations at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore (US$15 billion).

Per NHSRCL, an estimated 70865 MT of steel will be used for the fabrication of these 28 steel bridges and they’ve already sensitized the steel industry to cater such a huge demand for the India’s first High Speed Rail corridor.

• Shortest Span: 60m
• Longest Span: 120m
• Longest Bridge: Over Ulhas River 460m (100+130+100+130)
• Overall Combined Length: 4.5 kms

NHSRCL had invited tenders (bids) for this package on February 24, 2020 under two lots, X and Y, for steel truss bridges of various sizes over roads, highways and railway crossings across Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Technical bids were opened on September 25 to reveal 8 bidders for this crucial contract. NHSRCL’s estimated value and exact completion period are unknown.

Financial Bid Values:

Firm	Bid
Larsen & Toubro – IHI Infrastructure Systems Consortium	Rs 1389.70 crore
NCC Ltd.	Rs 1609.37 crore
Tata Projects Ltd.	Rs 1666.15 crore
Afcons Infrastructure Ltd.	Rs 2749.60 crore
Braithwaite & Co. Ltd. Consortium	Disqualified
Bridge & Roof Co. (India) Ltd.	Disqualified
ISGEC Heavy Engineering Ltd. – M & B Engineering Ltd. Consortium	Disqualified
JMC Projects(India) Ltd. & Rahee Infratech Ltd.	Disqualified

MAHSR P-4(X) Scope: Procurement, Fabrication, Check-Assembly and Painting at workshop and Transportation to various Bridge Sites of Steel Truss Superstructure along with bearings for 14 Nos. (GADs 66, 69, 2, 58, 8, 1134, C5-2, C5-3, 25, 28, 1967, 32, 42 and Laundry) of Bridges for High Speed Rail Corridor for crossing over Roads / Rivers / Railways / other structures for the Project for Construction of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail.

MAHSR P-4(Y) Scope: Procurement, Fabrication, Check-Assembly and Painting at workshop and Transportation to various Bridge Sites of Steel Truss Superstructure along with bearings for 19 Nos. (GADs 65, 1, 57, 67, 3, 6, 68, 12, 61, 14, 15, 62, C5-1, 27, 31, 37, 2357-3, 54 & 55 and Diesel Shed) of Bridges for High Speed Rail Corridor for crossing over Roads / Rivers / Railways / other structures for the Project for Construction of Mumbai -Ahmedabad High Speed Rail.

NHSRCL’s estimate is unknown at this time, so I can’t compare how L&T’s bid is placed. But going by how the 237.1 km Package C4 was awarded swiftly despite L&T’s bid being 24.925% higher, I wouldn’t be surprised if L&T – IHI consortium is also awarded P4’s contract if it is similarly significantly higher – all in the interest of time.

If awarded, this will be L&T’s third major contract. Just earlier this week, NHSRCL and L&T signed a formal contract for the 87.569 km Package C6 (Vadodara – Ahmedabad)’s construction work.

The entire bullet train project has a total of 6 such bridge-work related packages – P1A, P1B, P1C, P2, P3, and P4. Packages P1A/B/C involve their construction over minor roads, rivers and railways, while P2 and P3 are dedicated for bridges over NH48 in Navasari District. Among these, NHSRCL invited bids for P1B and P1C in November.

A list of the Bullet Train’s tenders (pre-construction and civil packages) and their status can be viewed here.

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

– TMRG