Sojitz Corporation-L&T JV awarded civil contract for MAHSR's Sabarmati Bullet Train depot

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): The National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) has issued a work order worth JPY 63 Billion (approx. Rs 3773.79 crore) to a consortium comprising of Japanse firm Sojitz Corporation and India's major infra firm Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) for the construction of largest Bullet Train depot in Sabarmati for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project in India.

The scope of work under civil contract package MAHSR D-2 includes Design, Construction, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Sabarmati Depot consisting of Workshop, Inspection Sheds, various buildings, Maintenance Facilities, and Associated works on Design Build Lump Sum Price Basis in the State of Gujarat for the Project for Construction of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor.

"Sojitz Corporation and major Indian general contractor and comprehensive engineering company, Larsen & Toubro Limited, have received an order for joint construction work on the Sabarmati depot as part of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail being undertaken by India’s National High Speed Rail Cooperation Limited. The amount of the order for the design and construction of the depot along with procurement of related maintenance equipment will total approximately JPY 63 billion," said official release by Sojitz Corporation.

"The Buildings & Factories Business of L&T Construction has secured an order from the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) to construct the Sabarmati Depot (MAHSR – D-2) in the state of Gujarat for the Mumbai – Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project through a consortium led by Sojitz Corporation, Japan," said a statement released by L&T. 

"The scope of the MAHSR D-2 package project involves Design, Supply, Construction & Testing, and Commissioning of the depot spread over approximately 82 hectares including various specialised equipment required to inspect & maintain the rolling stock based on the proven Shinkansen technology and upon completion, will be the biggest depot in India  for this purpose," the statement added.

"L&T is already executing civil viaduct and station packages C4, C5 & C6, special steel bridges packages P4(X) & P4(Y) and Ballastless Trackworks (Package No: T3) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project," it has been further said.

"Sojitz has previously received civil and track work, electrification, and signal and telecommunication work orders for the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor running between Delhi and Mumbai from the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd. Moving forward, Sojitz will continue to develop freight and passenger rail infrastructure to contribute to India’s development," said Sojitz Corporation.

Tender notice for the construction of India's largest bullet train depot in Sabarmati was issued in July 2021 and technical bids were opened in February 2022. A total of ten firms/consoritia namely URC Construction (P) Ltd., MS Khurana Engineering Ltd., Montecarlo Limited, KEC International Limited, Patel Infrastructure Limited, SCC-VRS (JV), Ranjit Buildcon Limited, ISGEC Heavy Engineering Ltd., Dineshchandra R. Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd. and Sojitz Corporation- L&T JV were submitetd their bids.

Sabarmati Bullet Train maintenance depot will be the largest depot among three depots planned for MAHSR corridor. This depot will be spread over around 84 hactares and utilised for inspection, maintenance, cleaning and parking of MAHSR trainsets. The Sabarmati depot will also have bullet trains washing facilities.

Other two depots will be constructed at Surat (Gujarat) and Thane (Maharashtra). 

The 508.17 km Mumbai – Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor will connect Ahmedabad to Mumbai with 12 stations at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore (US$15 billion).

For more details, please explore the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail page of Metro Rail Today.