Bhubaneswar Metro: Alstom, BEML & Titagarh Bid for Rolling Stock Contract

Alstom Transport, BEML and Titagarh Rail Systems earlier this month submitted bids to supply 39 new standard gauge coaches for Bhubaneswar Metro’s Phase 1 project under Package BRS1.

These 39 coaches will be operated as 13 train-sets in a 3 coach configuration (DMC + TC + DMC) on Bhubaneswar Metro’s 26 km Line-1 which will connect Biju Patnaik Airport and Trisulia Square via 20 elevated stations.

Unlike other recent Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) influenced projects, Bhubaneswar Metro will utilize a 750V DC third rail current collection system. All trains will be stabled and maintained at Phulaphokari Depot under Package BBC-02 which was awarded to M I A Construction in June.

DMRC had invited bids for this contract in July 2024 with a Rs. 509.68 crore estimate and contract period of 154 weeks (3 years). Technical bids were opened on December 6.

Per DMRC’s tender notice, 3-coach trains will be designed with a ‘fully loaded’ capacity of 972 passengers. The new coaches will be of modern design, lightweight, made of stainless steel, with 3 phase AC drive having V.V.V.F. control, regenerative braking and compatible to work with ATP, ATC, ATO etc. (CBTC) provided by other designated contractors.

The notice mentions Bhubaneswar Metro’s trains must conform to Grade of Automation-2 (GoA2) standards which is a step below driverless operations (GoA3) and two steps below unattended train operations (GoA4). A table explaining different grades of automation can be viewed here.

BRS1 Bidders

• Alstom Transport India Ltd.
• BEML Ltd.
• Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd.

DMRC’s Brief Scope: Design, manufacture, supply, testing, commissioning and training of 39 no. standard gauge cars for Bhubaneswar Metro project

The bids have now been sent for technical 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 supplier.

This rolling stock contract will be funded from domestic market borrowing and/or bilateral funding agencies. A list of all Bhubaneswar Metro civil & system tenders and their status / contractors can be viewed here.

Per the tender’s schedule, the assigned supplier will have to complete the trains’ preliminary design within 18 weeks (4 months) of the ‘commencement date’ identified in the contract and complete final design in 46 weeks (10 months).

When it comes to deliveries, the prototype train-set has to be delivered in 102 weeks (2 years) to Phulapokhari Depot, the next 4 trains within 137 weeks, next 4 trains within 145 weeks, and the final 4 trains within 154 weeks of the ‘commencement date’ identified in the contract.

As shared in the past – to support the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Make in India) initiative, DMRC has added a clause that a maximum of 9 coaches (3 trains) can be manufactured in an off-shore factory outside of India. The rest must be manufactured in India. To comply with the bid conditions, the contractor must establish facilities locally either independently or with an Indian partner.

This is the third smallest rolling stock contract in India so far. Gurgaon Metro operates 12 CRRC trains with 3-coaches each while Navi Mumbai Metro operates just 8 CRRC trains with 3 coaches each.

In other rolling stock news, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) this month received 2 bids for Mumbai Metro Line-4’s 234 coach rolling stock contract CA-234, and 3 bids each for Line-5’s 132 coach contract CA-241 and Line-6’s 108 coach contract CA-232. Bidder names remain unconfirmed, but I reckon it’s a combination of Alstom, BEML and Titagarh who bid for them.

For more updates, check out the Bhubaneswar Metro 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