ORR metro line contract to be awarded by March-end

Namma Metro is set to award the contract of its most-awaited corridor between Silk Board and KR Puram (Phase 2A) by March-end.

This ends a three-year wait for the project, marked by calling off tenders, cancellation or postponement of bids.

With the Centre approving the 58.19-km line under Phases 2A and 2B (Kasturinagar-KIA) in the budget, the BMRCL hopes to clear the contract work orders in the next few days.

The BMRCL had divided the Phase 2A work on Outer Ring Road (ORR) into two packages — Central Silk Board-Kadubeesanahalli and Kadubeesanahalli-KR Puram — while inviting the bids in 2019.

In October, officials opened the financial bid and found that Afcons Infrastructure Ltd and Shankaranarayana Construction Company have emerged as the lowest bidders. While officials had estimated the cost at Rs 1,325 crore, the lowest bidding amount stood at Rs 1,408.8 crore.

“We need the central government's approval for the contract of the two packages in Phase 2A. We are hopeful of getting the clearance awarding the contract by March-end,” said Ajay Seth, Managing Director, BMRCL.

Bids for airport metro line

The BMRCL plans to open the bids for the Phase 2B metro line after awarding the Phase 2A works. Tenders called last year have been postponed several times as the project itself was awaiting approval.

Officials hope that the prices quoted by bidders for the ORR metro line will help in setting the stage for a competitive bidding process for the line to the airport.

The BMRCL has already secured a $500-million loan from the Asian Development Bank, which will be used for financing the civil work of both Phase 2A and 2B.

Officials are also expecting a loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jaica) for rolling stock and signalling infrastructure.