STUP Consultants wins Design Consultancy Contract for Thane Metro Rail Project

Nagpur, India (Metro Rail Today): STUP Consultants Pvt. Ltd. has been selected as the lowest bidder for the first Detailed Design Consultant (DDC) contract of the Thane Metro project, officially known as the Thane Integral Ring Metro Project. Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (Maha Metro), announced the decision on 6th September 2024.

The Thane Metro project, approved for construction by the Central Government’s Cabinet in August, will span 29 kilometers and include 22 stations—20 elevated and 2 underground. The project, estimated at ₹12,200 crore, is set to be completed by 2029.

STUP Consultants secured Package DDC-01, which provides detailed design services for six elevated stations at Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagraha, Manpada, Dongripada, Vijay Nagari, Waghbil, and Waterfront. MahaMetro had estimated the contract value at Rs. 3.82 crore with a 36-month deadline. Technical bids were opened at the end of August, revealing five bidders. STUP’s bid of ₹1.35 crore was significantly lower than the estimate, undercutting the next lowest bid by a substantial margin.

Financial Bid Summary:

• STUP Consultants Pvt. Ltd.: ₹1.35 crore (L1)
• LKT Engineering Consultants: ₹2.11 crore (L2)
• Enia Design – Mahendra Raj Consultants JV: ₹3.51 crore (L3)
• SYSTRA MVA Consulting (India): ₹3.75 crore (L4)
• RITES: ₹3.85 crore (L5)

STUP’s bid was 64.6% below the estimated value, raising potential concerns about the feasibility of their offer. However, if awarded, STUP will be responsible for producing and proposing alternative designs for all civil, architectural, building services, and electrical and mechanical (E&M) works for the designated stations.

Looking ahead, MahaMetro is expected to appoint additional DDCs for the Thane Metro project, including two for the remaining elevated sections and one for the approximately 3-kilometer underground section.

Given the current pace of the Thane Metro project, the first civil tender notice for station construction is anticipated to be released in the second quarter of 2025. A tender notice for the construction of an elevated viaduct connecting these stations might also be issued as early as the fourth quarter of 2024.