Bids Invited for Bhubaneswar Metro’s 39 Coach Rolling Stock Contract
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Thursday invited tenders to procure 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 of 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 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.
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.
- Estimate: Rs. 509.68 crore (incl. taxes & duties)
- Contract Period: 154 weeks (3 years)
- Pre-Bid Meeting: August 2, 2024 at 3 PM
- Bid Submission Deadline: August 29, 2024 at 9 AM
- Technical Bid Opening: September 2, 2024 at 11:05 AM
DMRC’s Brief Scope: Design, manufacture, supply, testing, commissioning and training of 39 no. standard gauge cars for Bhubaneswar Metro project
This rolling stock contract will be funded from domestic market borrowing and/or bilateral funding agencies.
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.
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.
The timing of this exciting development comes as a pleasant surprise to me as construction work for Bhubaneswar Metro’s main-line hasn’t even started. Technical bid evaluation is currently underway for its 3 civil packages BBC-03, BBC-04 & BBC-05.
So if things go according to schedule, the unavailability of trains won’t be an issue in Bhubaneswar as observed in Bangalore and more recently in Patna where a tender notice for its rolling stock is still pending despite construction work starting in December 2020.
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.
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– TMRG
Estimation cost of 13.06crs per car only for supply is at higher end compared to present rolling stock market price., since it is only supply and no comprehensive maintenance, Bidders may quote reasonable and competitive price. Since all bidders are having 750v DC supply design, they can save on design cost and no offshore production..
13 trains for 26 km track, the frequency will be horrible.
And the fact that patna metros notice still isn’t out is stupid and disappointing.
Unlike many other cities, Bhubaneswar is building its metro well before there is a desperate need for a metro. So it will see more of a steady growth of the system and its usage, rather than getting packed.
The way it is planned seems like an approach to build frugally and slowly.This is also helped by the fact that there are no major finance expenses to worry about since it is mostly being funded through existing funds rather than loans
This is seen in the 3coach trains. It is also seen in the platforms which are only for 3coach trains. With the current 13 trains, I imagine a 10min headway will be possible. But I am not sure there will be an immediate need for more.
Also, the depot already seems to have been planned for stabling about 28 to 30 3-coach trains. So more trains can be ordered to increase frequency if required.
Earlier diagrams had shown that even potential platform extensions were planned to increase train length.
Overall there seems to a be slightly different approach seen with how Bhubaneswar Metro is being financed, construction planning, growth planning etc. This is also seen with the rolling stock tender coming out before most construction contracts have even been awarded, let alone starting construction.
The 10 min headway will dissuade many riders resulting in lesser utilization of asset.
The idea that each service must carry more than 800 people (as per design) results in poor experience for riders leading to poor ridership.
10mins was a very relaxed estimate. Some basic calculations using average speed 34kmph shows that if they use all 13trainsets across the entire length of the line, headway will be about 8mins.
Additionally the drawings show a pocket track just after KIIT Square station, which is also where the population starts thinning out currently. Hence I imagine you could run trains between KIIT Square and Airport, which reduces end to end distance by a good 10km.
Even if they have only every 4th train going between Trishulia and airport, you could have headway of about 6mins between KIIT Square and Airport.
First time in my life I saw tender of coaches coming before the actual mainline construction.
Ayo education minister😦😦
Ayo education minister 😟💀
Alstom transportation india will bid for this project and they will win. It’s one of the best rolling stock company for indian market. CRRC doesn’t stand a chance as they made situation worst for bangalore metro.
Tender are awarded to lowest bidder but please don’t award any tender to CRRC. Tender should be awarded to Alstom and the metro should be similar to the metros which will be used for line 3 of Pune metro. That metro really looks very sexy