KPIL – Gulermak JV Awarded Bhopal Metro’s BH-04 Underground Contract

Kalpataru Projects International Ltd. (KPIL) – Gulermak JV last week was awarded a Rs. 769 crore contract for the underground tunneling and construction works of Bhopal Metro’s Orange Line by Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MPMRCL).

Twin tunnels on 3.39 km Package BH-04 will connect a ramp south of Sindhi Colony Station with a ramp west of Aish Bagh Crossing Station via 2 underground stations at Bhopal Junction Station and Nadra Bus Stand.

This is the first and only underground package of the 27.87 km Bhopal Metro Phase 1 project. MPMRCL requires KPIL – Gulermak JV to deploy a minimum of 2 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for constructing 6 tunnels.

Construction will be financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) through a €400 million (approx. Rs. 3584 crore) loan signed in December 2019.

MPMRCL had invited bids for this package’s construction in May 2023 with a Rs. 892 crore estimate and 1274 days (3.5 year) construction deadline. Technical bids were opened in October 2023 to reveal 6 bidders.

KPIL – Gulermak JV emerged as the lowest bidder when financial bids were opened in February 2024 – see a table with all bid values here.

Brief Scope: Design Construction of Twin Tunnel Cut Cover Cross passages with OR without sump Ramps two UG Stations including Architectural finishing Water Supply Sanitary Installation and Drainage works in entire UG from CH 28375 to 31765 for Bhopal Metro

This is KPIL – Gulermak JV’s second major contract in the past few months. Back in December 2023, they were awarded Kanpur Metro Line-2’s Rs. 762.50 crore contract for 4.08 km underground Package KNPCC-11 comprising of 3 stations.

With this development I expect basic ground work to start in the middle of Q2 2024, full-fledged construction work in Q3 2024, and tunneling works in Q3 2025.

Package BH-04 is the Orange Line’s 5th and final civil package to be awarded after packages BH-01 (AIIMS to Subhash Nagar’s viaduct), BH-02 ((AIIMS to Subhash Nagar’s stations), BH-06 (Subhash Nagar Depot), and BH-03 (Subhash Nagar to Aish Bagh Ramp and Sindhi Colony Ramp to Karond Circle).

Financial bid opening is currently pending for Blue Line’s Package BH-05. That mega package involves the construction of the entire 12.915 km elevated line between Bhadbhada Chauraha – Ratnagiri Tiraha.

A list of all Bhopal Metro civil & system packages and their status can be viewed here.

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– TMRG