Two firms bid for Kanjurmarg Depot Construction Contract of Mumbai Metro Line 6

Mumbai, India (Metro Rail Today): In a recent development, Ahluwalia Contracts (India) and Sam India Builtwell have thrown their hats into the ring, submitting bids for the civil construction contract (CA-209) of the Kanjurmarg Depot on Mumbai Metro Line-6. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) opened technical bids for this crucial project on Tuesday.

The Kanjurmarg Depot is a pivotal component supporting the operations of Mumbai's ambitious 15.18 km elevated Pink Line. This line is set to connect Swami Samarth Nagar (Lokhandwala) to Vikhroli, spanning across 13 elevated stations. Additionally, it will establish a connection to the mainline through the 4.771 km Package BC-01R1, currently under construction by J Kumar Infraprojects.

Located along the Eastern Expressway Highway (EEH), the depot's extensive features include 18 stabling lines, 3 inspection bays, 4 workshop bays, an 811m long test track, an operations control center (OCC), administrative buildings, and staff quarters.

The estimated cost for the construction under Package CA-209 is Rs. 508.57 crore, with a stipulated construction deadline of 30 months, as specified by MMRDA. The scope of work includes the construction of the depot and essential staff quarters at Kanjurmarg for metro Line 6 of the Mumbai Metro Rail Project of MMRDA.

The technical bids are now in the process of evaluation, a phase expected to span a couple of months. Upon completion, the financial bids of the technically qualified bidders will be opened, revealing the lowest bidder and the likely contractor for this significant project.

Ahluwalia Contracts is concurrently involved in constructing Mumbai Metro Line-2B’s Mandale Depot, while Sam India is at work on Line-3’s Aarey Depot.

In an interesting move, MMRDA plans to appoint a General Consultant (GC) to oversee the depot's construction through Package CA-208. This is a somewhat unconventional approach, as a dedicated GC for depot works is relatively unheard of. Nevertheless, the tender for this contract currently holds a bid submission deadline of January 5, 2024.

Taking a step back to January 2021, it's worth noting that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) awarded Kanjumarg Depot's track contract (Package CT-38) to Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. (JSPL), tasked with supplying 1500 MT of Class “A” 880 Grade Rails to DMRC’s local storage yard.

However, a retender notice is still pending for the line’s 108-coach (13 train-set) rolling stock contract, which faced an abrupt cancellation in October 2023. As a result, it seems we are at least two years away from witnessing trial runs begin.

The race for the Kanjurmarg Depot contract intensifies as Ahluwalia Contracts and Sam India enter the fray. The technical evaluation phase is underway, promising a competitive bidding process. With the Mumbai Metro Line-6's ambitious plans, the city anticipates significant strides in its public transportation network. As developments unfold, we will keep a close eye on the project, bringing you the latest updates.