Mumbai – Ahmedabad Bullet Train’s C2 Tunnel Tender Cancelled

India’s National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL) on Thursday cancelled the tendering process to construct 20.377 km Package C-2 of the 508.17 km Mumbai – Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR Bullet Train) project.

Underground Package C2 of the main-line connects Bandra Kurla Complex Station (chainage Km 0.773) with Shilphata (Km 21.150) and consist of roughly 3 km “undersea” twin tunnels below Thane Creek. The appointed contractor will be required to use at least 3 Mega TBMs with a diameter of roughly 14.5 meters.

No official reasoning has been provided although industry sources tell me it’s tied to land acquisition for the TBM shafts, especially the Bandra Kurla Complex Station’s land where a pop-up COVID hospital was built in 2020.

This is the second time C2’s tender has been cancelled.

NHSRCL had originally invited bids for this package in 2019 with a clause requiring a Japanese contractor to be the prime / lead partner in case of a joint-venture. That round received zero bids. NHRSCL re-invited tenders in November 2021, with a 1888 days (5.17 years) completion period, in which that clause was done away with.

IFB Number: Package No. MAHSR-C-2

Brief Scope: Construction of Tunnelling Works including Testing and Commissioning for Double Line High Speed Railway using (TBM) and (NATM) between Mumbai Underground Station at Bandra-Kurla Complex (MAHSR Km. 0.773) and Shilphata (MAHSR Km. 21.150).

Alignment of Package C2 in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) connecting BKC and Shilphata – view Mumbai – Ahmedabad HSR info & route map

NHSRCL and its stakeholders have made significant progress in land acquisition over the past quarter. In Maharashtra, it now reportedly stands at 62% – a significant bump up from 35% in November 2021 when tenders were re-invited.

All 5 civil packages have been awarded in Gujarat, while Maharashtra’s 3 packages are either dead (C2 & C3) or under bidding (C1). A list of all bullet train civil packages and their status can be viewed here.

For more updates, check out the High Speed Rail 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

written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

11 Responses to "Mumbai – Ahmedabad Bullet Train’s C2 Tunnel Tender Cancelled"

  1. Snowfox says:

    They are never going to build this.

    Reply
  2. Nikhil says:

    So has the tunneling project been postponed or shelved ?

    Reply
    • Clevin Gomes says:

      No, they will wait for Maharashtra Govt to acquire land for BKC Stn and For TBM Launching Shaft. 100% land has been acquired in Thane Bhiwandi Area for the Project. Now they are mainly focused on Palghar District. So Maharashtra Govt will also acquire the land soon

      Reply
  3. RACHIT SHETH says:

    basically they will wait for change in government

    Reply
  4. Neel says:

    Maharastra Government Change Is Only Way To Bullet Train.

    Reply
  5. Ashwin says:

    Bullet train ,metro not possible under current maharashatra government

    Reply
  6. Saket says:

    They cancelled the tender for C-1 package as well.. It is getting worse and worse.. The Japanese must be hating Uddhav – he has screwed up metro line 3 as well :/

    Reply
    • Saket says:

      The only thing I am happy about is that I hated the current alignment in Mumbai.. The Thane station is in the middle of nowhere. No connectivity with any Metro or major station on Local line. The western suburbs would be completely left out. I hope that the station locations are rationalised – the bullet train Thane station should be below / above the existing Thane station. The BKC station looks good, but I would have loved if it was closer to BDTS.. Lets see what happens – I hope the underlying issue is resolved as soon as possible..

      Reply
  7. Rupraj Sengupta says:

    They are being guided by west bengal like in kolkata innumerable roadblocks were thrown in the path of metro projects,national highway projects held up for ten years innumerable other achievements like this.

    Reply
  8. Rahul says:

    The first thing this Sena Sarkar did when they got in power was to stop the Bullet train project. They never want Guj and MH to be connected. Soon you will Guj becoming the new Fin district and companies will flock ( already started). All this is a game the Sena gov is playing, first time in power so they are making money for themselves as much as possible. The Guj project is almost complete and being tested as well. The entire line from BKC to Vapi is stuck since 3 years. Taxpayer money wasted without any reason. They say Land acquisition is problem ( sic) Pawar owners most of MH land if he wants he can do it with ease. Sena is anti national gov and only for their péople. They will feel the power of Modi bhai soon.

    Reply
  9. Raj says:

    Please start bullet train in other states. Stop development projects in Maharashtra. The state government doesn’t deserve such projects. Let people travel in local train.

    Reply

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