DELHI (Metro Rail News): The tendering procedure for the 20.377 km Package C-2 of the 508.17 km Mumbai – Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR Bullet Train) project was cancelled on Thursday by India’s National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL).
IFB Number: Package No. MAHSR-C-2
The underground line’s Package C2 of the mainline runs from Bandra Kurla Complex Station (Km 0.773) to Shilphata (Km 21.150) and consists of around 3 km of “undersea” twin tunnels beneath Thane Creek. The appointed contractor will require at least three Mega TBMs with a diameter of 14.5 metres.
The work includes: Construction of Tunnelling Works including Testing and Commissioning for Double Line High-Speed Railway using (TBM) and (NATM) between Mumbai Underground Station at Bandra-Kurla Complex (MAHSR Km. 0.773) and Shilphata (MAHSR Km. 21.150).
Although no official reason has been given at this point, C2’s tender has been cancelled for the second time.
NHSRCL had originally requested bids for this package in 2019, with a condition mandating a Japanese contractor to serve as the prime/lead partner in the event of a joint venture.
Over the last quarter, NHSRCL and its stakeholders have made significant progress in land acquisition. According to reports, it now stands at 62 per cent in Maharashtra, up from 35 per cent when tenders were re-invited in November 2021.
There were no bids in that round; in November 2021, NHRSCL re-invited tenders with a completion period of 1888 days (5.17 years), eliminating that stipulation. All five civil packages have been awarded in Gujarat, while Maharashtra’s three packages are either dead (C2 & C3) or underbidding (C1).
