L&T Wins Kanpur & Agra Metros’ Track-Work Contract

February 2 Update: Larsen & Toubro has been awarded its contract by UPMRCL with a value of INR 3,63,68,64,879 and Euro 30,61,550

January 23 Original Post:

Besides the back to back wins for Chennai Metro’s Phase 2 yesterday, Larsen & Toubro had another reason to cheer. The firm also emerged as the lowest bidder among 6 to supply and install ballastless tracks and fastening systems (Package KNPAGT-3) for the 32.385 km Kanpur Metro and 29.40 km Agra Metro‘s Phase 1 projects.

The tracks (rails) from this contract will be commissioned at 4 lines and 4 train depots:

• Kanpur Metro Line-1: IIT Kanpur – Naubasta (23.785 km); Depot at Polytechnic College – under construction by K.S.M. Bashir Mohammad & Sons
• Kanpur Metro Line-2: Chandra Shekhar Azad University – Jaurali (8.6 km); Depot at Agriculture University – Tender Notice Pending
• Agra Metro Line-1: Sikandra – Taj East Gate (14.25 km); Depot at PAC Grounds – Under Construction by Lisha Engineers
• Agra Metro Line-2: Agra Cantt. – Kalindi Vihar (15.40 km); Depot at Kalindi Vihar – Tender Notice Pending

Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) had invited bids for this package on October 20, 2020 with an estimate of Rs 530 crore and completion period (deadline) of 48 months. Technical bids were opened in mid-December 2020 to reveal 6 bidders.

Firms submitted financial/price bids in a combination of INR + EURO. The below values represent the final total in INR (assuming 1 EURO = Rs. 89.68)

Financial Bid Values:

Firm	Bid
Larsen and Toubro Limited (L&T)	Rs. 391.14 crore
Rahee – Yapiray JV	Rs. 458.44 crore
KEC – GSC – EMRAIL JV	Rs. 464.24 crore
TPL – ATIL JV	Rs. 467.90 crore
IRCON International	Rs. 500.10 crore
Texmaco Rail & Engineering	Rs. 546.42 crore

Package: KNPAGT-3

Brief Scope: Design, Installation, Testing & Commissioning of Ballastless Track of Standard Gauge in 4 Corridors in Elevated as well as Underground Sections of Kanpur and Agra Metro Project along with supply of fastening systems and associated Ballasted/Ballastless Tracks in 4 Depots.

L&T’s bid of 391.14 crore was 26.2% less than UPMRC’s estimate, so following KfW’s approval – this should be awarded in the next couple weeks without much of a detailed financial bid evaluation process.

Last week, Gulermak – Sam India JV’s lowest bid of Rs. 1042.26 crore for Kanpur’s underground package KNPCC-05 was similarly well below UPMRC’s estimate of Rs. 1400 crore, so it appears to me that UPMRC is over-estimating their packages’ values.

When awarded, KNPAGT-3 will be L&T’s second major track-work contract in the past 4 months. Prior to this, they won the 82 km Delhi – Meerut RRTS’ Package 17.

With this development, here’s the status of all four track work related packages of Kanpur and Agra metros’ projects:

Package	Status
KNPAGT-1: Supply of 17,700 MT Head Hardened Rails (60 E1, IRS-T-12-2009, 1080 grade HH)	Bidding Underway
KNPAGT-2: Supply of standard gauge UIC 60 turnouts, scissor crossovers and check rail	Awarded to Voestalpine VAE VKN India
KNPAGT-3: Design, Installation, Testing & Commissioning of Ballastless Track of Standard Gauge in 4 Corridors with supply of fastening systems and associated Ballasted/Ballastless Tracks in 4 Depots	L&T is lowest bidder (this post!)
KNPAGT-4: Supply of 1620 MT Rails (UIC 60 / 60 E1, IRS-T-12-2009, 880 grade, Class A)	Tender Canceled (SAIL was only technically qualified bidder)

A list of all packages (civil and systems) and their status can be viewed here for Kanpur Metro and here for Agra Metro.

For more updates on India’s metro systems, check out my Home Page!

– TMRG