Alstom cancels ₹1,853 crore Rolling Stock contract bagged for Mumbai Metro Line 4

(Image is for representation purpose only)

Mumbai, India (Metro Rail Today): The french multinational firm Alstom Transport has cancelled the order worth Rs 1,853.28 crore received from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to supply 234 metro coaches for the Mumbai Metro Line 4 and 4A due to delays in the project. This order was orginally awarded to Bombardier Transportation, which has been acquired by Alstom.

“Bombardier has withdrawn because the project has been going on slowly; only 5-10% of the work has been completed so far. Depot land was yet to be made available. We were telling them we are working on it but they decided to cancel it,” said SVR Srinivas, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA.

However, in response to an e-mail query Alstom said, “Following signing of Letter of Acceptance (LoA) for Rolling Stock of Mumbai Line 4 in March 2021, there have been overall challenges in progressing with project execution due to delays on various fronts, including civil work. Alstom engaged with relevant stakeholders to find a possible resolution. After exhausting all avenues, the decision has been taken not to proceed with this contract.”

“We will now have to re-bid this contract. We will take some time to call new bids, the work is moving slowly so we can do it after 3-4 months. We are trying to speed up the project,” Srinivas said adding that MMRDA is looking at alternative options for the depot and may move it to the Mogharpada area in Thane.

“Through this project, Alstom was looking forward to strengthening the mobility infrastructure for the citizens of Mumbai. Despite this exception, we remain strongly committed to India’s infrastructural development & the government’s Make-in-India vision,” said Alstom.

“There will be no impact of this development on future and ongoing projects. We have always been keen to explore suitable sustainable transport solutions and it’s encouraging to see India draw up plans to bring in newer technologies in both, mainline and urban mobility sector,” Alstom added.

Metropolitan Commissioner said that work on metro projects in the city is progressing well and two lines, Mumbai Metro Line 2A and Mumbai Metro Line 7, may start operations soon. “The inspection of these projects are going on; once these are completed, we will start operations soon,” he said.

MMRDA is responsible for the implementation of metro projects awarded the contract to supply 234 coaches or 39 trains for the Metro-4 (Wadala-Thane-Kasarwadavali) and Metro-4A (Kasarwadavali-Gaimukh) to Bombardier Transportation in March 2021, after it emerged the lowest bidder with a bid of Rs 1,853.28 crore by beating BEML and CRRC. But the delays in handing over land for a car depot and other issues with the project prompted Alstom to pull out of the job.

The 32.32 km long Mumbai Metro Line 4 will connect Wadala to Kasarvadavali with 32 elevated metro stations. The project is aimed at connecting the Eastern Express Roadway, Central Railway, Mono Rail, the ongoing Metro Line 2B (D N Nagar to Mandale), and the proposed Metro Line 5 (Thane to Kalyan), Metro Line 6 (Swami Samarth Nagar to Vikhroli) & Metro Line 8 (Wadala to General Post Office).