Gulermak-Sam & J Kumar Win Surat Metro’s Underground Work

March 1, 2021 Update: Gulermak-SAM has also been issued a LOA by GMRC for CS2.

January 11, 2021 Update: J Kumar has been issued a LOA by GMRC for package CS3.

December 28, 2020 Original Post:

Gulermak – Sam India Builtwell JV and J Kumar Infraprojects today emerged as the lowest bidders among 4 to construct two separate underground packages of Surat Metro’s Phase 1 project, after officials from the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) opened financial bids.

These civil packages on the 21.61 km Line-1 (Sarthana – Dream City) are 3.46 km and 3.56 km long, making the entire underground section between Chowk Bazar and Kapodra 7.02 km long. Each package comprises of 3 cut & cover stations with some Box Pushing and New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) work for station connectivity.

GMRC had invited tenders (bids) for both packages in July 2020 with estimates of Rs 929.46 and Rs 942.16 crore respectively and expects the assigned contractor(s) to complete all civil work in 40 months after the contracts are awarded. Technical bids were opened on November 2 to reveal a total of 4 bidders had placed 6 bids.

Package CS2

• GMRC’s Estimate: Rs. 929.46 crore
• Financial Bid Values:

Firm	Bid
Gulermak – Sam India Builtwell JV (GLM – SAM JV)	Rs. 1073.31 crore
Afcons Infrastructure	Rs. 1106.40 crore
Larsen & Toubro (L&T)	Rs. 1152.00 crore

Brief Scope of CS2: Design, construction and completion of Underground stations and tunnel including Finishes from Kapodra Ramp to Surat Railway station from chainage 3700m to chainage 7160.6m, comprising twin bored underground tunnel between northern ramp and Surat Railway Metro station, all cut and cover portion including Three underground stations viz. Kapodra, Labheshwar Chowk and Central Warehouse with entry/exits & connecting subway by Box pushing method and a portion of NATM and Launching and receiving chambers of TBM for Surat Metro Rail Project, Phase-I

Package CS3

• GMRC’s Estimate: Rs 942.16 crore
• Financial Bid Values:

Firm	Bid
J Kumar Infraprojects	Rs. 941.80 crore
Afcons Infrastructure	Rs. 1117.20 crore
Larsen & Toubro (L&T)	Rs. 1179.00 crore

Brief Scope of CS3: Design, construction and completion of Underground stations and tunnel including Finishes from Surat Railway station To Chowk Bazar Ramp from chainage 7160.6m to chainage 10720m, comprising twin bored underground tunnel between Surat Railway station and south ramp, all cut and cover portion including Three underground stations viz. Chowk bazar, Maskati Hospital and Surat Railway Station with entry/exits & connecting subway by Box pushing method and a portion of NATM and Launching and receiving chambers of TBM for Surat Metro Rail Project, Phase-I

Gulermak – Sam India’s lowest bid of Rs. 1073.31 crore for Package CS2 was Rs. 143.85 crore (15.47%) higher than GMRC’s estimate, so it remains to be seen if GMRC will bite the bullet and award the contract to get work started OR scrap the process and re-invite bids with possibly a modified scope.

On Package CS3, J Kumar’s bid of Rs 941.80 crore pretty much matches GMRC’s estimate of 942.16 crore, and should be awarded to them in the coming months with a 40 month completion period.

Last week, Sadbhav Engineering Ltd. – SP Singla Constructions emerged as the lowest bidder for the elevated 11.6 km Package CS1 ( Kadarsha Ni Nal – Dream City) of the line. Ground work is expected to begin in Q1 2021 and full-fledged construction in Q2 2021.

A list of all Surat Metro tenders (civil, systems) and their status can be viewed here.

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

– TMRG