According to the reports, India is all set to issue ‘highest valued tender’ for its ambitious bullet-train project on the 508KM Mumbai-Ahmedabad route.
While speaking to the HT, Achal Khare, Managing Director, NHSRCL, said that that the corporation is finalizing the tender for the 237-km viaduct and four stations in Gujarat and will float it by the end of December. It is estimated that this may be the highest valued tender in the country.
Explaining the pre-construction activities in the areas, Khare claimed that identification of utilities and critical structure, joint measurement survey, and geotechnical investigation have been concluded and the additional work will begin shortly. To ensure smooth completion of the project, the corporation has divided the work into 26 packages. The NHSRCL has set a target to grant the tenders of these packages by the end of 2019, including the acquisition of bullet trains.
Preparation of tender documents is underway and the NHSRCL expects the first big tender to be ready by the December-end. The tender will be for the construction of the 237-km viaduct and the four stations namely Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, and Bharuch. However, the precise value of the tender was not disclosed but it will run into the tunes of Rs 1000 crores. The NHSRCL has intended to issue tenders for this segment first as this comes in the middle of the corridor and is primarily free from obstacles.
NHSRCL will issue separate tenders for different packages. This will comprise rolling stock to training institute, civil and electrical work, and construction of depots. Khare also stated that they are working towards getting all the tenders floated in 2019 and said that Japanese intervention may not be required in all stages.
The bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will have 12 stations on its journey. Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, Vapi, Boisar, Virar, Thane, and Mumbai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in September last year laid the foundation stone for the bullet train project. Modi has kept a challenging deadline of August 15, 2022, to commence the operations.
