Siemens – RVNL JV Awarded Bangalore Metro Phase 2A & 2B’s Electrification Contract

Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL) in a BSE filing on Monday announced that Siemens – RVNL JV has been awarded a roughly Rs. 762 crore contract for the 750V DC Third Rail electrification work (EPC5-CC) of Bangalore Metro’s 57 km Blue Line by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL).

This new under construction line of Bangalore Metro’s Phase 2A (ORR Line) and Phase 2B (Airport Line) projects will connect Silkboard – KR Puram – Bengaluru International Airport through 30 stations on the Outer Ring Road and national highway NH-44.

Besides Third Rail traction works which will supply power to the line’s BEML trains from Package 5RS-DM, this critical systems contract includes commissioning its 33 KV distribution system, several substations & auxiliary substations, and SCADA system for the entire line.

BMRCL had invited bids for package EPC5-CC in September 2023 with an unknown estimate and 130 week (2.5 year) deadline. Financial bids were opened in February 2024 to reveal Siemens – RVNL JV had placed the lowest bid, easily beating Linxon and Larsen & Toubro – see bid values.

Siemens’ share in the joint-venture is 70% and RVNL’s share is 30%.

Final Contract Value: INR 394,23,90,663.45 + EURO 41,119,535.00 (roughly Rs. 762 crore)

Tender Reference Number: BMRCL/Phase II/ICB No. EP5-CC

Brief Scope: Engineering, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of 33 KV distribution, 750V DC third rail traction electrification including traction substations, auxiliary substations and SCADA system for Phase-2A & Phase-2B.

BMRCL took an entire 4 months to award this contract from the date of opening financial bids which is a shame, but not surprising. At this time, I see Phase 2A opening up no sooner than Q2 2026 and Phase 2B no sooner than Q2 2027.

As shared in the past, here’s a more detailed scope from the tender documents of what Siemens RVNL JV’s work will entail:

• Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of 33 kV switchgear with associated works at 66/33 kV Receiving Substations.
• Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of 33 kV MV Cable network connecting various ASSs /TSSs.
• Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of 33 kV/ 415 V Auxiliary Substation equipment at Stations, wayside TSS/ASS and Depot TSS/ASS.
• Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of 33 kV AC / 750 V DC Traction Substation equipment at Stations, wayside TSS and Depot TSS.
• Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Inverter equipment at specified Traction Substation at Stations, wayside TSS and Depot TSS.
• Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of DC Cable and cable connections from TSS to Third Rail.
• Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of DC negative Cables and cable connections from running rails to TSS, rail bonds.
• Design, Engineering, Supply, Erection supervision, Testing and Commissioning of Third Rail system operating at 750 V DC for feeding power to Rolling Stock on mainlines, link lines and depots.
• Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Stinger System operating at 750 V DC for feeding power to Rolling Stock in workshops.
• Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Control & Monitoring equipment for traction and auxiliary power supply, and necessary interface with OCC (Operation Control Centre) and BCC (Backup Control Centre).
• Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Stray Current Monitoring System (SCMS) at OCC for Phase-2A & 2B new corridors.
• Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of parallel return feeder in Phase-2A & 2B Corridors.
• Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of ETS system.
• Engineering, Provision of Earthing Systems Bonding & Stray current management including SEC.

Back in February, KEC International was declared as the lowest bidder for the line’s 66KV power supply contract EPC6-CC. I’ll have to double-check, but I haven’t heard of a LOA being issued.

A list of all civil and systems contractors can be viewed here for Phase 2A and here for Phase 2B.

For more updates, check out the Bangalore 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

Hat-tip: Sunil HP (@sunilho on X)