Ranjit Buildcon wins ₹561.21 crore civil contract for Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project

Bhubaneswar, India (Metro Rail Today): In a significant stride for the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project, Ranjit Buildcon Ltd. (RBL) has emerged as the lowest bidder for the construction of Package BBC-03, a pivotal segment of Phase 1 of the city's ambitious metro expansion. This package will connect Trisulia Square to Biju Patnaik Airport, featuring 20 elevated stations designed to enhance urban connectivity and ease the city's burgeoning traffic woes.

Spanning 7.122 kilometers, Package BBC-03 is strategically located on the southern end of the 26-kilometer Line-1. This segment will link Capital Hospital to Acharya Vihar Square, encompassing six key elevated stations: Capital Hospital, Bapuji Nagar, Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Ram Mandir Square, Vani Vihar, and Acharya Vihar Square. This development is poised to significantly improve access to critical areas, facilitating smoother and more efficient transit for daily commuters and visitors alike.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), overseeing the project, invited bids in March 2024, setting an estimated cost of Rs. 630.65 crore and a 36-month completion deadline. The bidding process, initiated with the opening of technical bids on June 19, saw the participation of 12 qualified contenders, each meeting the stringent technical criteria laid out by DMRC.

The financial bids revealed Ranjit Buildcon Ltd. as the frontrunner with a Rs. 561.21 crore bid, significantly lower than DMRC's estimate by 11.01%. The following is a breakdown of the financial bids submitted by the contenders:

• Ranjit Buildcon Ltd.: ₹561.21 crore
• Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd.: ₹627.00 crore
• Ashoka Buildcon– RKD Infraprojects JV: ₹631.79 crore
• Dilip Buildcon Ltd.: ₹636.08 crore
• Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd.: ₹665.57 crore
• GR Infraprojects Ltd.: ₹673.71 crore
• H.G. Infra Engineering Ltd.: ₹682.11 crore
• Kalpataru Projects International Ltd.: ₹692.00 crore
• Tata Projects Ltd.:₹706.56 crore
• Ceigall India Ltd.: ₹720.00 crore
• NCC - KNR JV: ₹750.96 crore
• KEC International Ltd.: ₹920.21 crore

The DMRC's outlined scope for Package BBC-03 encompasses the partial design and construction of an elevated viaduct and six elevated stations, extending from Chainage 625.00 meters to 7,747.00 meters of Bhubaneswar Metro Phase-I MRTS. This package excludes architectural finishing, focusing primarily on the structural components essential for the metro line's operation.

The project, wholly funded by the Government of Odisha and other appropriate channels through the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL), is a testament to the state's commitment to advancing urban infrastructure and public transit solutions.

Each station's precise location has been meticulously plotted on Google Maps, offering transparency and ease of access to the public. The Biju Patnaik Airport Metro Station and the viaduct leading to it will be developed under a separate package, pending design approval from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

With Ranjit Buildcon's competitive bid, a contract is anticipated to be awarded promptly, minimizing delays in the financial bid evaluation process. Preliminary groundwork is expected to commence by the end of September, with full-scale construction slated to begin by November-December, marking a significant milestone in Bhubaneswar's metro journey.

Simultaneously, technical bids for Packages BBC-04 and BBC-05, extending from Acharya Vihar Square to KIIT Square and Phulapokhari, were also opened on June 19. The evaluation is underway, and announcements regarding the financial bid winners are eagerly anticipated.

The Bhubaneswar Metro project continues to progress smoothly, with design consultants SYSTRA and ICT finalizing their contributions and the rolling stock tender for procuring 39 coaches already issued. These advancements underscore the project's momentum and the collaborative effort driving it forward.

The awarding of Package BBC-03 to Ranjit Buildcon Ltd. marks a pivotal development in the Bhubaneswar Metro project. As construction gears up to begin, this segment promises to enhance the city's connectivity and facilitate efficient urban transit. With a clear roadmap and committed stakeholders, Bhubaneswar is poised to witness a transformative shift in its public transportation landscape, fostering economic growth and improved quality of life for its residents.