Larsen And Toubro Set To Win First Civil Work Tender Of Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project To Build Viaduct For 25 km Mallige line

Infrastructure behemoth Larsen & Toubro Limited has emerged as the lowest bidder for the first package of the Rs 15,767-crore Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project in the financial tender opened on Monday (Feb 21).

In Nov 2021, the first civil work tender was floated by Rail Infrastructure Development Enterprises (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE) for the construction of an 8 km elevated viaduct as a part of the 25-km Mallige line (Corridor 2) of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project between Benniganahalli and Chikkabanavara.

Besides the elevated viaduct, the first civil work tender included construction of Road Under Bridges, Road Over Bridges, drains, utility diversions and retaining wall. Except for station buildings, infrastructure works between Beniganahalli and Chikkabanavara also formed a part of the tender.

L&T had quoted Rs 849.97 crore to carry out civil works for the line. While Afcons Infrastructure placed a bid at Rs1219.71 crores, NCC's bid came in at Rs. 1582.56 crores. Three firms had qualified in the technical bids opened on March 3.

The Mallige corridor will have stations at Byappanahalli, Kasturi Nagar, Sevanagar, Banaswadi,Kaveri Nagar, Nagawara, Kanakanagar, Hebbal, Lottegollahalli, Yeswantpur, Jalahalli, Shettihalli, Myadarahalli and Chikkabanavara.

The contract award now needs to be approved by K-RIDE's Tender Approval Committee.

Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project

Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project rail will link Bengaluru to its satellite townships, suburbs, and surrounding rural areas by a rail-based rapid-transit system network. The commuter rail network will comprise of 4 corridors 57 stations, and cover 148.17km. It is being built at the cost of₹15,767-crores. K-RIDE will raise debt funding to the extent of ₹7,438 crores through borrowings to implement the project. The union and state government will fund the remaining portion of the project.

When complete, the commuter rail system will connect the capital to its outskirts in six directions — towards Kengeri (Mysuru side), Chikkabanavara (Tumakuru side), Rajanukunte (Doddaballapura side), Devanahalli (Kolar side), Whitefield (Bangarapet side), and Heelalige.

Out of the four corridors proposed as part of the suburban rail project, the state government has prioritised two corridors

46.24km long “Kanaka” (Corridor-4) covering Heelalige-Baiyappanahalli-Channasandra-Yelahanka-Rajanagunte comprising of 19 stations

41.40km long "Sampige" (Corridor-1) that will connect KSR Bengaluru City (Majestic) to Devanahalli with 15 stations and 35.52-km- long "Parijata" 9 (Corridor-3) will be 35.52-km long with 19 stations between Kengeri and Whitefield, will be taken up as part of subsequent phase.