RITES bags DPR Consultancy Contract for Jaipur Metro Phase 2

Jaipur, India (Metro Rail Today): In a significant development for the Jaipur Metro Phase 2 project, RITES Ltd. has been awarded a consultancy contract worth Rs. 4.69 crore by Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC). The contract, awarded in November 2024, tasks RITES with reviewing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Phase 2, conducting traffic and transport studies for new metro routes, and preparing a fresh DPR for viable routes.

The Phase 2 expansion of Jaipur Metro, which includes the construction of a 23.51 km Orange Line with 21 stations, will run from Ambabari to India Gate (Sitapura Industrial Area). Initially, the DPR was prepared in March 2010 and has undergone several revisions, most recently in 2020, due to changes in the project scope and legal battles involving the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and a previous joint venture.

In 2024, the Rajasthan government announced an extension of the line from Ambabari northwards towards Vidhyadhar Nagar, increasing the route length by approximately 7 km. Consequently, JMRC decided to review the entire Phase 2 project, now splitting it into Phase 2A (Ambabari to Sitapura) and Phase 2B (Ambabari to Vidhyadhar Nagar).

The consultancy contract requires RITES to deliver the following:

1. Preparation of DPR for Phase 2 and its extension, based on a detailed traffic and transport study, to identify the most viable metro corridors.
2. Proposal for metro corridors and extensions, with approval from the competent authority.
3. First and Last Mile Connectivity Proposal for all stations, including parking solutions.
4. A Value Capture Financing (VCF) proposal, focusing on acquiring land parcels from the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) along the metro corridors.

JMRC invited bids for this consultancy contract in July 2024 with a 120-day contract period. After technical bids were opened on August 5, two bidders—RITES and SYSTRA MVA Consulting (India)—were shortlisted. RITES emerged as the lowest bidder after financial bids were opened on August 23.

Phase 2 of the Jaipur Metro project, which now includes several proposed routes such as from Badi Chaupar to Ajmeri Gate (3 km) and Transport Nagar to Sanganeri Gate (3 km), is still in its early stages. While RITES' involvement marks a crucial step, experts suggest it could take at least three more years before construction begins, contingent upon the Rajasthan government prioritizing execution.

With the detailed studies and proposals now in motion, the future of Jaipur Metro Phase 2 looks promising, although substantial efforts will be needed to bring the project to fruition.