4 Bidders for Bangalore Metro’s 318 Coach Contract

Four firms – Alstom Transport India, BEML, CAF and Titagarh Wagons have bid to supply 318 new metro coaches (rolling stock) for the 73.92 km Bangalore Metro Phase 2, 18.23 km Phase 2A and 37 km Phase 2B projects.

Here’s a breakdown of how the coaches in Package 5RS-DM are intended to be distributed as shared earlier in March 2021 when Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) was scouting for a General Consultant:

Line	Coaches
Phase 2: Pink Line (Kalena Agrahara – Nagawara, 21.386 km)	96 (16 x 6)
Phase 2A: Blue Line (Silk Board – KR Puram, 18.2 km)	96 (16 x 6)
Phase 2B: Blue Line (KR Puram – Airport, 37 km)	126 (21 x 6)

BMRC had invited bids for this contract in September 2022 with an unknown estimate and delivery timeframe. Technical bids were opened on Thursday.

This contract will be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with whom the Government of India signed a Rs 3,717 crore loan agreement in March 2021 to procure critical systems such as rolling stock, CBTC signaling and platform screen doors.

Brief Scope: Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of 318 Nos. of Standard Gauge Metro Cars and Training of Personnel upto fifteen (15) years under Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-2, 2A and 2B

All 4 bids have now been sent for technical evaluation which should 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.

If things go according to schedule, then we should see the lowest bidder getting declared in Q2 (April – June) 2023 and a contract signed, if possible, in Q3 (July – Sept) 2023.

Phase 2 project’s 21.38 km Pink Line is in the most advance stage of construction among the 2 lines, so I reckon Kothanur Depot will be the recipient of the first train-set in late-2024. As shared earlier, due to this tendering delay, I see the start of commercial operations happening no sooner than 2025.

For more updates, check out the Bangalore section or my Home Page! Sign up for free instant email notifications on new posts over here. Like this post? See how you can get early-access to updates and support the site over here.

– TMRG