After being stung by high costs quoted by bidders for constructing metro’s underground stretch from Dairy Circle to Nagawara under Phase II, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) is now exploring various possibilities to make the project more financially viable.
- BMRCL had estimated that the 13.92 km underground stretch would cost ₹5,047 crore
- The lowest bid for the project, however, was for ₹8,553 crore
- The underground stretch will be from Dairy Circle to Nagawara
BMRCL had floated tenders for the project in June 2017, and had estimated that the 13.92 km underground stretch would cost ₹5,047 crore. However, the lowest bid for the project was ₹8,553 crore. BMRCL managing director Mahendra Jain said there was a proposal to cut down the underground stretch, which will help bring down the project’s cost. “The BBMP is proposing widening of the roads on the metro alignment. We are now looking into the feasibility of building elevated corridor on both ends of the proposed underground stretch.”
An evaluation committee is scrutinising bidding documents of the underground stretch. “Once this is done, we will take a call on whether to approach the lowest bidder or go for fresh tenders by minimising the number of packages. However, prior to taking any call we have to seek the approval of European Investment Bank, which is funding the project,” said Mr. Jain.
Delay inevitable?
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in his recent budget speech had set March 2021 as the deadline for completion of the entire Phase II project, but that seems unlikely to happen with the underground stretch plan hitting a roadblock. “A change in the plan will have many implications, including acquisition of required land, which is not so easy. On the other hand, floating fresh tenders is also a tedious process as it has to be done with the approval of the funding agency,” said a BMRCL official.
