RailEnquiry

HYDERABAD: Even as the works of metro rail project has gathered momentum after the declaration of 'appointed date' last month, concessionaire L&T has shortlisted the venders supplying rolling stock and the sources said the tenders would be finalized in a week's time.Rolling stock comprising traction and train set forms the main part of the project and l&T has shortlisted four consortiums including one headed by Bangalore-based public sector unit BEML (Bharat Earth Movers limited). BEML has formed consortium with Korean Company Hyundai ROTEM to enter the fray, while China-based CSR-Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co, Canadian company Bombardier, and Spanish conglomerate CAF are vying for the contract with order price of over Rs. 2000 crore.A spokesperson of L&T Metro rail (Hyderabad) said, "We had called for application for tender to supply rolling stock and four consortiums have been qualified for the final bidding. The tenders would be finalized in a week's time."While currency fluctuation is adding to the cost of project surmised to have touched Rs. 20000 crore and further escalating due to the other factors including delay in execution of works, inflation, and floating interest rates, the l&T is persuading the foreign venders to base their manufacturing in India in a bid to make the project cost-effective and their response is learnt to have been positive.

"The good part is that most of the foreign vendors, with whom the company is currently in discussions, have been planning to set up operations as the country is now taking 15-20 metro rails in major cities," said the spokesperson.

Following the selection of a vender supplying rolling stock, the tenders to supply signaling &train control, and track works are slated to be finalized for mid-September. And according to the current estimation the total order price for the tenders for the project including rolling stock, track works, automatic fare collection, and communication systems is Rs.5000 crore.

V B Gadgil, chief executive officer of L&T metro rail (Hyderabad) told TOI the works were on fasts track after the declaration of the 'appointed date', the official commencement of the works, and he hoped the project would be commissioned well ahead of the deadline- five years from the appointed date that is July 5 of this year. "We have submitted a revised plan for withdrawal of loans to the consortium of banks and we will start drawing the loan amount once the venders are finalized," said Gadgil.

Enlisting the works done, Gadgil claimed 61 piers had been erected in the stretch between Nagole and Mettuguda of the Corridor- III between Nagole and Shilparamam, while laying foundation for 100 piers in the stretch was completed and over 103 viaduct segments had been cast. While slow pace of property acquisition in Sultan Bazar was causing concern, Gadgil hoped the GHMC would act swiftly to provide the right of way for the project there.