Three Firms qualify for construction contract of Pune Metro Nigdi Line

Pune, India (Metro Rail Today): Three bidders have successfully qualified for the civil construction of four elevated stations under the Pune Metro Purple Line’s 4.519 km extension from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to Nigdi’s Bhakti Shakti. The extension is part of the Pune Metro Phase 1A project, and the contract, P1A-C-02, is critical for the development of key stations in this growing transport corridor.

The P1A-C-02 contract involves the construction of four elevated metro stations: Chinchwad, Akurdi, Nigdi, and Bhakti Shakti along the Old Mumbai Road’s eastern service road. This package is the second significant contract of Pune Metro’s Phase 1 Extension (Phase 1A), after the C-01 contract for the elevated viaduct, which was awarded to Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL) in March 2024, with construction work starting in June 2024.

Tender Process and Bidding Overview

In August 2024, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (Maha-Metro) invited bids for the station construction. The tender had a tight deadline of 90 weeks (1.7 years), with the scope excluding viaduct work, pier arms, girder erection, deck slabs, and electrical & mechanical (E&M) works, but including plumbing and other associated works.

After the technical bids were opened on November 7, 2024, and evaluations were completed by December 30, three firms qualified, while Vikram Infratech was disqualified for not meeting the tender conditions. Among the qualified bidders, Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd. stands out, as the company has traditionally bid for architectural finishing contracts but is new to the civil construction sector.

Qualified Bidders

1. Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd.
2. Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. (RVNL)
3. YFC – BBG JV

Disqualified Bidder

1. Vikram Infratech Developers Pvt. Ltd.

Future Steps and Final Decision

The financial bids for the qualified bidders were opened on December 30, 2024, but the results have not yet been disclosed. While it’s unclear who the lowest bidder is, there’s speculation that RVNL may not have been the lowest, which would explain why the results have not been announced on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The next steps will involve finalizing the contractor for the station construction, allowing work to proceed on the extension of the Pune Metro network. This development marks another step toward the completion of the North-South Corridor under Pune Metro Phase 1A.

Related Developments

The Chinchwad-Nigdi extension is part of the larger Pune Metro Phase 1A project. LKT Engineering is the Detailed Design Consultant (DDC) for the station designs, having secured a Rs. 1.11 crore contract in December 2023. Other key contracts include P1A-C-01 for the viaduct construction, which is already under progress with RVNL.

As the Pune Metro network continues to expand, this extension will play a crucial role in enhancing the city’s public transportation infrastructure, offering improved connectivity for commuters traveling along this vital stretch.

Stay tuned for further updates as Maha-Metro finalizes the contractor and moves forward with the construction of the Nigdi extension.