L&T wins ₹1,021 crore civil contract for Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project's Kanaka Line

Bengaluru, India (Metro Rail Today): Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) has secured the position of the lowest bidder for the civil work tender of the Kanaka Line, a significant component of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP). The project is a vital step towards improving the urban transportation infrastructure in the city of Bengaluru.

The Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (K-RIDE), a special purpose vehicle jointly established by the government of Karnataka and the Union Ministry of Railways to oversee the project, initiated the civil work tender process for the Kanaka Line back in January this year.

Under the framework of the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model, the tender solicited bids for the design and construction of an elevated viaduct spanning approximately 8.96 kilometers and at-grade formation covering a length of 37.92 kilometers, excluding station buildings. The scope of work also encompasses road widening, side drains, and the construction of service roads.

Four prominent companies participated in the tender for the design and construction of the Kanaka Line: L&T Ltd, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, INTARVO Technologies, and Dinesh Chandra R Agrawal Infracon Pvt Ltd.

The bidders were required to submit separate lump sum quotations for both the elevated and at-grade sections of the project. The issuance of the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) will be subject to approvals from the relevant authorities.

The official handling the project expressed their commitment to completing the LoA process by the end of September. Upon awarding the contract, a deadline for completion will be set at 30 months.

Among the submitted bids, L&T and Afcons quoted Rs 1,021 crore and Rs 1,424 crore, respectively. However, the financial bids of INTARVO Technologies and Dinesh Chandra R Agrawal Infracon Pvt Ltd were rejected due to their inability to meet the technical criteria.

To ensure the smooth progress of the project, K-RIDE has been actively involved in relocating electrical, signaling, telecommunication, and other utility lines for the Kanaka Line. Furthermore, K-RIDE has requested 193 acres of railway line allocation from the South Western Railway for Corridor 4, with land acquisition from private sources also underway.

A comprehensive survey of the Kanaka Line alignment, both physically and in terms of land adjustment, has been completed for its entire length. The Kanaka Line, also known as Corridor 4, will connect Rajanukunte in the north to Heelalige in the south, passing through Baiyappanahalli and Yelahanka, making it the longest line within the BSRP.

This transformative project envisions 19 stations along its route, spanning Rajanukunte, Muddanahalli, Yelahanka, Jakkur, RK Hegde Nagar, Thanisandra, Hennur, Horamavu, Channasandra, Benniganahalli, Kaggadasapura, Doddanekkundi, Marathahalli, Belandur Road, Carmelaram, Ambedkar Nagar, Huskur, Singena Agrahara, Bommasandra, and Heelalige.

While Marathahalli and Yelahanka stations will be elevated, the remaining stations will be at-grade. Additionally, Namma Metro and Kanaka Line will share a common alignment for a 650-meter stretch between Benniganahalli and Channasandra.

The next step in the project involves the opening of tenders for the construction of the 19 stations for Corridor 4, which is expected to take place in October, according to a KRIDE official.

L&T is no stranger to major infrastructure projects, having previously been awarded the civil work contract for Corridor 2, also known as the Baiyappanahalli-Chikkabanavara Sampige Line, last year. They have already commenced groundwork on this 25.02-kilometer project.

The Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project aims to establish a robust commuter rail network comprising four corridors, 57 stations, and a total coverage of 148.17 kilometers. This ambitious project is set to enhance Bengaluru's urban transportation landscape significantly.