Bengaluru: Kengeri Metro’s CMRS inspection on July 23, 24; GR Infra may get Bannerghatta Road Metro work

BENGALURU: Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety is likely to inspect the Mysuru Road-Kengeri corridor on July 23 and 24, said sources.
Commercial operations can commence after the CMRS nod. The section which was supposed to be ready by December 2018 is likely to be operational by August 15. “We have completed trial runs and only some minor civil work is pending,” said a BMRCL official.
The 7.3km section of south-western extension of Namma Metro’s Purple Line is expected to benefit 75,000 passengers a day. The elevated Kengeri section will have seven stations — Nayandahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Jnanabharathi, Pattanagere, Kengeri bus terminal, Kengeri and Challaghatta.
GR Infra may get Bannerghatta Road Metro work
BMRCL sources said GR Infra Projects Ltd has emerged as the lowest bidder for Namma Metro’s unfinished section on Bannerghatta Road. Apart from GRIL, Afcons Infrastructure and ITD Cementation India Ltd too participated in the bid. Udaipur-based GRIL, which has undertaken various road/highway projects and recently diversified into projects in the railway sector, is a new entrant to the city. Sources said GRIL quoted Rs 364.8 crore, Afcos Rs 388.5 crore and ITD Cementation Rs 393 crore. However, the BMRCL estimate was only Rs 339.2 crore.
BMRCL opened financial bids after all three cleared technical bids. It will have to decide whether to issue a Letter of Acceptance or float a fresh tender. To avoid further delays, it’s likely to issue LoA to GRIL. However, the firm may require more time to mobilise manpower and other resources.