Vijay Nirman Wins Kochi Metro Extension’s Track-Work

Vijay Nirman Company Pvt. Ltd. (VNC) on Friday emerged as the lowest bidder to supply and install ballastless tracks on Kochi Metro’s 2.95 km Phase 1A & 1B extension project, after officials from the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) opened financial bids submitted by 3 firms.

This new elevated section of Line-1 is currently under construction by KEC International in 2 civil packages, coincidentally in a joint-venture with VNC for the 2nd package (KAC-4), and will extend the city’s 25 km Line-1 from Petta to Thrippunithura through 3 new stations at Vadakkekotta, S.N. Junction and Thrippunithura.

KMRL invited tenders for its track-work in August 2020 with an estimate of Rs. 28.67 crore and expects the assigned contractor to finish all work within 18 months. They opened technical bids in October to reveal 3 bidders.

Financial Bid Values:

Firm	Bid
Vijay Nirman Company Pvt. Ltd.	Rs 20.96 crore
Crescent Contractors Pvt. Ltd.	Rs 26.81 crore
Apurvakriti Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.	Rs 28.09 crore

Tender No: KAT-1

Scope: Supply Installation Testing and Commissioning of Ballastless Track work of Standard Gauge from Petta Station (excluding) to Thripunithura Terminal Station (inclusive) of the Elevated Section of Phase I Extension of KMRL

VNC’s bid of Rs 20.96 crore was well below KMRL’s estimate of Rs. 28.67 crore, so they should receive a Letter of Acceptance in the coming weeks.

When that happens, this will become the 5th major system-related contract to be awarded for the Phase 1A & 1B project. Others include:

• Package KAE-01: Electrical & Mechanical (E&M) works – awarded to Voltas for Rs 22.15 crore
• Package KAE-02 – Lot-1: Elevators – awarded to Johnson Lifts Pvt. Ltd for Rs 9.58 crore
• Package KAE-02 – Lot-2: Escalators – awarded to Schindler India Pvt. Ltd. for Rs 7.55 crore
• Package KAE-04: Third Rail Electrification & Power Supply – awarded to Linxon for Rs 48.39 crore

A list of all civil & system contracts awarded so far can be viewed here.

Last week, KMRL announced that piling work is over for the 1.78 km Phase 1A section (Petta – S.N. Junction) and they’re expecting it to be “operational by 2021“. That to me seems like a stretch and I see Phase 1A opening not prior to 2023.

For more updates, check out the Kochi section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG