Balaji Wins Madurai Metro’s Feasibility Consultant Contract

Balaji Railroad Systems on Wednesday emerged as the lowest bidder to prepare a Feasibility Study Report for introducing a mass rapid transit system (MRTS) in Madurai.

Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) had invited bids for this consultancy contract in November right after Tamil Nadu’s state government made budgetary allocation for 2021-2022. Technical bids were opened in December to reveal 5 bidders.

CMRL’s estimate is unknown and they’d like the report to be completed and delivered within a 120 day deadline.

Financial Bid Values:

Firm	Bid (Rs. lakh)
Balaji Railroad Systems	51.62
Aarvee Associates	64.11
L&T Infrastructure Engineering	65.72
RITES	96.22
Rina Consulting	111.70

Contract Title: DFRMaduraiMRTS2021

Brief Scope: Selection of Consultant for Preparation of Feasibility Study Report for introducing a Mass Rapid Transit System in Madurai city

CMRL’s estimate is unknown to me, so I can’t provide an assessment on the chance of a LOA getting issued. If and when awarded, Balaji’s scope of work would include the following:

• To collect and examine available reports of previous studies, plans, CMP Report and other related with transportation scenario of Madurai Metropolitan Region.
• To collect primary transport network inventory data along with utilities within the Project Influence Area.
• To collect all the secondary information such as development plans, public transport routes.
• To conduct a review of the current situation in order to establish the existing condition and capacity of the public transport system.

I’m curious to see what Balaji would recommend. Personally, building a heavy rail-based system for a town like Madurai would be an overkill. A Light Rail Transit system (like Delhi Metrolite) or bus-based system (like Nashik MetroNeo) – in that order – should be sufficient. 

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– TMRG