5 Bidders for Agra Metro’s Electrification Contract AGE-1 & 2
5 firms (2 in a consortia) have submitted bids for the 750 V DC Third Rail electrification system of Agra Metro Phase 1 project, after the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) opened tenders today.
Agra Metro’s Package AGE-1 & 2 is one of the few packages that has been tendered independently, with the rest (rolling stock, telecommunication, tracks etc.) getting bundled along with the newly operational Kanpur Metro.
UPMRC invited tenders for it in October 2021 with a Rs. 450 crore estimate and 36 month deadline – funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB)’s through a 450 million Euro (approx. Rs. 3860 crore) loan.
Bidders:
- Alstom Transport India – Alstom Transport SA – KEC International JV
- Larsen & Toubro Ltd.
- Linxon India Pvt. Ltd.
- Siemens Ltd.
- Sterling & Wilson Pvt. Ltd. (SWPL – GSC JV)
UPMRC’s Brief Scope: Design, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Receiving cum Aux Main Substations Incl HV Cabling from Grid Substations,750 V DC 3rd Rail Traction System,33kV Cable Network, ASS, TSS and SCADA Sys for Corr-1and2 of Agra Metro Rail Project UP.
The bids have now been sent for technical bid evaluation which can take a couple months to complete. 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 contractor.
Agra Metro’s Phase 1 was approved by India’s Central Government in February 2019 with 2 lines and 28 stations – a mix of elevated and underground sections – view detailed information here.
• Line 1: Sikandra – Taj East Gate (14.25 km, 14 stations)
• Line 2: Agra Cantt. – Kalindi Vihar (15.40 km, 15 stations)
UPMRC has stipulated a 12 month deadline for Line-1’s 3 km Priority Corridor (Taj East Gate – Fatehabad Road) section which is under construction by Sam India Builtwell (viaduct & stations) and Lisha Engineers (PAC Depot).
For more updates, check out the Agra Metro section or my Home Page! Sign up for free instant email notifications on new posts over here. Like this post? See how you can get early-access to updates and support the site over here.
– TMRG
What about Underground section, who won the contract?
Technical bid evaluation is underway
who wins S&t project
Signaling: Bombardier (Alstom)
https://themetrorailguy.com/2020/06/29/bombardier-wins-kanpur-agra-metros-201-coach-rolling-stock-signalling-contract/
Telecom: HFCL
https://themetrorailguy.com/2021/03/09/hfcl-wins-kanpur-agra-metros-telecom-contract/
Failed Metro Rail Project in India:
Lucknow:
https://www.epw.in/engage/article/lucknow-metro-urban-transportation-systems-must-be
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/lucknow-metro-a-showpiece-still-with-mounting-losses-and-few-passengers
Jaipur:
https://theprint.in/economy/jaipur-didnt-need-metro-network-till-2025-cag-questions-hasty-move-by-raje-govt-in-report/119475/
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/jaipur-metro-chugs-on-a-downward-spiral/articleshow/71562407.cms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chRFUCzwXlE
Nagpur:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/metro-ridership-rising-but-nowhere-near-target/articleshow/80868695.cms
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/day-after-minister-questions-metro-projects-maha-metro-expresses-optimism-about-success-in-pune-nagpur/story-yBDtxeyYCEny00FxGe9eqK.html
Ahmedabad:
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/safety-concerns-and-corruption-dog-metro-rail-on-pms-home-turf-in-ahmedabad
The upcoming metro rail projects in Kanpur, Pune, Agra, Patna, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Indore, Surat will also join the same fate soon; unless some drastic rethink/plan/implementation is done. A metro rail is not merely a transportation project, but an urban rejuvenation project. The below article hits the nail on the head.
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/bullet-trains-and-metro-rail-projects-are-white-elephants-not-needed-in-most-of-india
————————————————————————————————————————
A potentially successful project (Mumbai Metro-3) has been sabotaged by Politics/environmentalism, while failed (or failing) projects have been pushed forth by the planners/politicians. I still bet on the success of Delhi-Meerut RRTS, Delhi Metro Ph.-4 and the metro projects in the densely populated urban sprawls of Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad..
Hyderabad Metro is struggling with another legacy issue.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/lt-metro-hyderabad-to-raise-rs-13600-cr-in-debt-to-cut-funding-cost/articleshow/88423839.cms
PPP-model has proven to be a failure in Metro/urban transportation (be it Delhi Airport Express, Hyderabad Metro OR the erstwhile red-line private bus system in Delhi). A definite rethink is needed here; don’t know to what extent the metro policy of 2017 addresses this issue. COVID pandemic has re-set the urban mobility patterns; which also needs to be taken care of in future planning.
————————————————————————————————————————
One can understand that National Herald is a mouthpiece of Congress and is thus involved in an orchestrated campaign against the present dispensation at the center. But, there is no denying the fact that the urban/transportation planners need to rethink their strategy; CO’Z FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.