DRA – DMRC Wins Mumbai – Ahmedabad Bullet Train Thane Depot’s Contract

Dineshchandra R Agrawal Infracon – Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DRA – DMRC JV) on Wednesday was declared as the lowest bidder to construct Thane Depot (Package D-1) of the 508.17 km Mumbai – Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR Bullet Train) project.

Thane Depot for India’s National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) will be used to stable and maintain Shinkansen train-sets on a 58 hectare land parcel (view on Google Maps) near Bharodi and Anjur villages of Maharashtra. It’ll be the project’s second largest train depot after Sabarmati Depot, under construction just north of Ahmedabad city.

This depot for light maintenance work will initially consist of 4 inspection lines (8 in the future), 10 stabling lines (31 in the future), an inspection bay, and a washing plant.

NHSRCL had invited tenders for its construction in December 2022 with an unknown estimate and 2010 day (5.5 year) construction deadline.

Technical bids were opened in May to reveal 4 bidders. During evaluation, KEC International was declared non-compliant to the tender conditions and disqualified.

Financial Bid Values

Firm	Bid (Rs. Crore)
DRA – DMRC JV	945
Larsen & Toubro (L&T)	1570
SCC – PREMCO JV	2100

IFB Number: Package No. MAHSR-D-1

Brief Scope: Design and Const. of Thane Depot including Civil Works, Building Works, Inspection Sheds, Maintenance Depot, and Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Maintenance Facilities, and other Associated works in the State of Maharashtra for MAHSR

NHSRCL’s estimate remains unknown to me, so I can’t provide an assessment of how DRA – DMRC JV’s bid is placed and expected timing of next steps. But looking at their bid relative to others, this will definitely be awarded to them without going through a lengthy retendering process.

When awarded, this will be DRA – DMRC JV’s second major win this year. In November, they won Ahmedabad Railway Station’s redevelopment contract from India’s Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA). I hear its contract signing ceremony was held last week.

Coming back to the bullet train project, this is the final major civil contract of the project pending award. In December 2022, Sojitz Corporation – Larsen & Toubro JV was awarded Sabarmati Depot (Package D2)’s civil construction contract. The smallest depot of the project, located in Surat, is already under construction as part of 237.1 km civil Package C4’s scope of works.

A list of all bullet train civil & system 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? Get early-access to updates and support the site over here.

– TMRG