SYSTRA Wins Kochi Metro Phase 2’s General Consultant Contract
SYSTRA S.A. – SYSTRA MVA Consulting (India) Pvt. Ltd. JV on Thursday emerged as the preferred & lowest bidder for Kochi Metro Phase 2’s General Consultant (GC) contract.
But there’s a twist to the tale. Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) just hours ago (Friday evening) scrapped the tendering process as SYSTRA’s bid was significantly higher – by 59% – than their original estimate.
This consultancy contract by KMRL is the second significant pre-construction contract for Phase 2 which will feature a 11.2 km new elevated corridor, named Pink Line, with 11 stations connecting JLN Stadium – Kakkanad – Infopark (Smart City).
KMRL had invited tenders for it in November 2022 with a Rs. 31 crore estimate and expects the assigned GC to be onboard for 1095 days (3 years). Technical bids were opened in February to reveal 8 bidders.
SYSTRA on Thursday had won the contract based on the QCBS (Quality and Cost Based Selection) basis with a two stage process getting adopted for evaluating proposals. They scored the highest technical score and submitted the lowest financial bid.
Technical Bid Evaluation Results
| Firm | Technical Score |
| SYSTRA JV | 85.72 |
| Louis Berger JV | 85.50 |
| AYESA – Aarvee JV | 78.77 |
| DB – BARSYL JV | 74.77 |
| TYPSA – STUP – PEMS JV | 72.00 |
| PADECO – Altinok – Marsway JV | 56.00 (Disqualified) |
| MM – SMEC – PINI JV | Disqualified |
| RINA – ICT JV | Disqualified |
Financial Bid Values
| Firm | Bid (Rs. Crore) |
| SYSTRA JV | 49.57 |
| Louis Berger JV | 52.98 |
| DB – BARSYL JV | 59.99 |
| TYPSA – STUP – PEMS JV | 68.95 |
| AYESA – Aarvee JV | 86.11 |
Brief Scope: General Consultant (GC) for Phase- II Corridor from JLN Stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad of Kochi Metro Rail Project
Pink Line’s 11 stations will come up at Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium (new station box next to Blue Line), Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Bypass, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Padamughal (formerly Kunnumpuram), Kakkanad Junction, Cochin SEZ (Special Economic Zone), Chittethukara, KINFRA (formerly Rajagiri), and InfoPark / Smart City (connected to Kochi Water Metro).
With the tendering process cancelled, bids will have to be re-invited for the 3rd time with an adjusted estimate. This may take a while, so stay tuned!
Prior to this KMRL had appointed Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for Phase 1 (Aluva to Petta) and Aarvee Associates for Phase 1B (SN Junction to Thripunithura)’s PMC roles.
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– TMRG
I just don’t get this. Ok yes the bid was 58% higher but in real value it is not even 19 crores which is not that much.
Considering this step delays the entire project by 6 months to a year, the increase in cost of cement, steel etc will surely be more than 20 crore for the project. This delay will cause a cost escalation of more than 29 crores.
So isn’t it a sound financial decision
Sorry accidently hit the publish button. A delete option would be really nice, just saying.
Continuing,
Isn’t paying 20 crore right now to get other contracts awarded asap be a better financial decision.
As it is you can’t expect them to bid much lower in the next round so why delay everything else.
As they say, this is the right time. Now is the cheapest time. Next time it will be more expensive.
But then I get it, government stuff, regulations and so on which can’t be helped.
“As it is you can’t expect them to bid much lower in the next round so why delay everything else.”
Precisely! Agree with everything you’ve said above.
Kochi metro has to take ratification from GoK. Normally the state government will take a call in the subject line. Otherwise the Consultant will go to Court.
TMRG, is it true that Depot is now Finalise for Mumbai Metro Line 6 and Line 9 as per Tweet by Rajendra Sir
https://twitter.com/rajtoday/status/1638964619258781696?t=oK2_9VyM-4qeUgtjYjlIsA&s=09
That tweet contains what MMRDA’s chief said during a press meet. Might or might not be true. I’ll believe it when I see a tender notice getting published 🙂