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East Central Railway Tests Kavach on Barauni-Samastipur and Barauni-Begusarai Routes  

Narendra Shah and Editorial Team
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East Central Railway Tests Kavach on Barauni-Samastipur and Barauni-Begusarai Routes  

BIHAR (Metro Rail News): The East Central Railway (ECR) recently tested Kavach on two crucial routes, Barauni-Samastipur and Barauni-Begusarai. The automatic train protection system stopped the train at a safe distance with two locomotives coming towards the same track. This Kavach named Manak Kavach (SIL) was installed by RailTel under the Ministry of Railways.

As per the chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO) of Eastern Central Railway, Saraswati Chandra, the trail was conducted on the 65-km Barauni-Samastipur, Barauni-Begusarai sections and was overseen by the GM of ECR Dimpy Garg and other senior Railway officers.

Kavach to strengthen the security mechanism of Eastern Railways

This test highlights a key move towards the improvement and security of The East Central Railways where Kavach is actively being tested and installed to secure crucial routes and maintain safety. 

According to the CPRO, when the automatic train safety system detects a potential collision, it will automatically apply brakes to minimise accidents. It is also made to intervene or alert loco pilots when prescribed safety rules are not being followed. Chandra said trials showcased Kavach’s capability in strengthening operational safety.

Its adoption on crucial routes is part of the Indian Railway’s efforts to improve the security mechanism and make travelling a safe experience for passengers.

Eastern Railways deploying Kavach on other sections

“The latest trial is expected to provide further impetus to the deployment of kavach across across critical sections of the ECR network like the DDU-Patna-Jhajha mainline route and DDU-Gaya-Dhanbad Grand Chord (GC) section of the ECR,” said by Mr. Chandra.  He also mentioned that a train of goods providentially passed through Neora-Sekhpura-Kiul section on Thursday, easing traffic pressure on the Danapur to Jhanja mainline route.

Also Read: Kavach Commissioned on Agra-Dholpur Section by Indian Railways

Bengaluru Metro Pink Line Faces 36 Safety Issues Ahead of Passenger Launch

Narendra Shah and Editorial Team
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Bengaluru Metro Pink Line Faces 36 Safety Issues Ahead of Passenger Launch

BENGALURU (Metro Rail News): Bengaluru Metro’s elevated Pink Line stretch between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere cannot open to passengers until 36 safety and technical observations are resolved. BMRCL expects to submit its compliance response within a day or two, but the section still needs formal clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS).

The shortcomings came to light during a statutory inspection conducted by the CMRS, Southern Circle, from October 6 to 8. In a letter dated October 9, the commissioner asked the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) to address the observations, submit compliance reports and provide additional technical documents before authorising passenger operations.

The five-page inspection report covers multiple systems across the corridor, including civil infrastructure, electrical and traction equipment, signalling, telecommunications, rolling stock and operational readiness.

Bengaluru Metro Pink Line inspection flags safety gaps 

The inspection of Bengaluru Metro Pink Line identified gaps in emergency preparedness, electrical infrastructure and train-readiness documentation. The major concerns include:

  • Fire safety and evacuation: Incomplete emergency evacuation arrangements and missing or inadequate signage at stations.
  • Electrical safety: Defective earthing connections along the viaduct and damaged earth conductors.
  • Track and rail condition: Pitting and corrosion on rail surfaces.
  • Train testing: Outstanding issues that require detailed reports from both the original equipment manufacturers and BMRCL.
  • Rolling stock certification: Incomplete documentation demonstrating that the trains are fit for revenue service.
  • Lift systems: Malfunctioning lift equipment at the inspected section.

These observations span both passenger safety and the technical checks required before a new metro section enters commercial service. BMRCL must address the issues and provide the supporting evidence required by the safety commissioner.

BMRCL expects to respond within days

A senior BMRCL official said the corporation expects to respond to the CMRS observations within a day or two. The response will need to demonstrate compliance with the inspection requirements, along with the additional technical documents sought by the commissioner.

However, the expected response timeline does not itself confirm the opening date. Passenger services can begin only after the necessary safety clearance is granted.

Bengaluru Metro Pink Line opening awaits final clearance

The elevated section between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere forms part of Bengaluru Metro’s Pink Line. Its launch has been awaiting completion of the statutory safety process. With BMRCL working to close the outstanding observations, the corporation has reportedly approached the Karnataka government to schedule the inauguration. Sources said the state government has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the ceremony, although no confirmed opening date has been announced.

Also Read: Bengaluru Metro Pink Line Opening Awaits Safety Clearance as Shivakumar Seeks PM’s Inauguration Date

India Sends First 18 Coaches to Bangladesh Under ₹915 Cr Railway Deal

Narendra Shah and Editorial Team
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India Sends First 18 Coaches to Bangladesh Under ₹915 Cr Railway Deal

DELHI (Metro Rail News): India has dispatched the first 18 passenger coaches to Bangladesh under a contract for 200 broad-gauge coaches worth ₹915 crore. The delivery marks the start of a supply programme aimed at renewing Bangladesh Railway’s ageing fleet, with all coaches expected to arrive by December 2027.

The coaches were manufactured at Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, and are being supplied through RITES, the railway sector’s export and engineering consultancy arm.

https://twitter.com/RITESLIMITED/status/2109953043060212130

First shipment includes 4 railway coach variants 

The initial consignment contains four of the seven coach types covered by the contract. It includes:

1) 11 non-air-conditioned Shovon chair cars

2) Three air conditioned chair cars

3) Two air conditioned sleeper coaches 

4) Two air conditioned power cars

The power cars include separate rooms for guards and luggage. All coaches have features centred around the comfort of passengers, like fans in AC coaches, a CCTV system, an alarm system, partially openable windows, room for babies and a room made for prayer.

The seating arrangement is specifically designed with reclining chairs with stainless steel armrests and stainless steel footrest. This gives enhanced comfort to the passengers offering multiple reclining positions.

Coaches adapted to Bangladesh Railway’s requirements

These coaches are specifically adjusted to be suitable according to the conditions of people and railways in Bangladesh.

  1. The roof structure has been strengthened to withstand the weight of people  travelling above the roof in peak traffic hours .
  2. The electrical system in the coaches have been adapted as per Bangladesh Railway’s requirement.
  3. Coaches supplied to Bangladesh operate on 425 volts lower than the Indian Railway coaches which operate on 750-volt power systems.

₹915 crore railway contract runs until December 2027

Bangladesh Railway placed the order through RITES in 2024 for 200 broad-gauge passenger coaches in seven variants. The contract is valued at ₹915 crore and is financed by the European Investment Bank.

Deliveries are scheduled from October 2026 through December 2027. The programme builds on an earlier partnership between RCF and Bangladesh Railway, which saw the supply of 120 LHB broad-gauge passenger coaches during 2015-16.

RITES, a Navratna public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, handles the export of railway rolling stock and related services to international markets.

Also Read: Rail Coach Factory rolls out first batch of 19 LHB coaches for Bangladesh Railway

Airfloa-Led Consortium Wins ₹34.85 Cr Contract to Design Vande Bharat Sleeper Interiors

Narendra Shah and Editorial Team
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Airfloa-Led Consortium Wins ₹34.85 Cr Contract to Design Vande Bharat Sleeper Interiors

DELHI (Metro Rail News): Airfloa Rail Technology Limited and Italy-based BLUE Engineering S.r.l. have secured a ₹34.85 crore contract from Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, to design the interiors of the Vande Bharat sleeper trainset. The award expands Airfloa’s role in railway engineering, taking its work beyond component manufacturing and interior furnishing into trainset design.

Airfloa will lead the consortium and complete the assignment within 12 months of receiving the Letter of Acceptance (LoA).

Contract covers interior design and development of Vande Bharat

The amount of the contract covers GST and has been sanctioned for the two major aspects of the Vande Bharat sleeper trains development project:

  • Interior designing for the Vande Bharat sleeper trains that costs for ₹30.93 crores of the total contract value
  • Associated development tasks related to the project amounts to remaining ₹3.93 crores 

The combined value of the two components is approximately ₹34.86 crore, while the announced contract value is ₹34.85 crore.

The scope centres on the trainset’s interior design and related development activities. ICF, which is responsible for manufacturing railway coaches, awarded the contract to the Airfloa-led consortium on October 13, 2026. 

Airfloa expands its railway engineering role

Airfloa has worked on railway interiors, seating, furnishings and rolling stock components for Indian Railways and other rail projects. The new assignment gives the company a larger role in the design stage of a major passenger train programme.

Its previous railway work includes interior furnishing and engineering assignments associated with Vande Bharat Express, Vistadome coaches, the Agra-Kanpur Metro, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), and export coach projects for Sri Lanka. The partnership with BLUE Engineering brings an international engineering firm into the design assignment, with Airfloa serving as the Indian lead member.

Delivery deadline set at 12 months

The consortium must complete the contracted work within 12 months from the date of the LoA. The release does not specify a separate milestone schedule or identify a date for completion of the interior design.

Also Read: CCRS Finishes Inspection of High-Speed Trial-Run of Vande Bharat across Mathura-Nagda Section

Indian Railways Freight Loading Rises 6.14% in September as Coal and Food Grain Traffic Grows 

Narendra Shah and Editorial Team
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Indian Railways Freight Loading Rises 6.14% in September as Coal and Food Grain Traffic Grows 

DELHI (Metro Rail News): Indian Railways transported 135.35 million tonnes of freight in September 2026, up 6.14% from the same month last year. Higher loading across food grains, clinker and coal helped drive the increase, while freight revenue grew faster than tonnage.

According to a PIB release dated October 13, the railway network also recorded a 4.1% rise in cumulative freight loading during April-September, reaching 833.7 million tonnes.

Food grains, clinkers lead commodity growth 

The biggest contribution in this number has been given by the food grains, amongst the other categories highlighted by the government. However overall different commodity segments supported the increase in freight loading. Food grain loading increased 25 percent year-on-year, other than that clinker is at 20 percent and domestic container at 10%. Loading of other goods rose to 8 per cent and coal loading increased 9 per cent. During the month, mineral oil loading increased by 6%, finished steel loading rose by 5.5%, and iron ore loading recorded a growth of 5.2%

Increase in freight revenue

The rising volume of freight loading also added to the revenue. Freight revenue rose by Rs1,266 Cr compared with the same month last year. 

During April to September 2026 freight loading was around 833.7 million tonnes, marking a 4.1 per cent rise over the same time period in the previous year. Freight Revenue increased 3.7 per cent during the first half of the financial year, according to the official press release.

In September, the government increased coal supplies to power houses with the average number of coal rakes increasing daily to 443 from 397 in 2025. This represented a rise of 11.6% year on year.

The recent numbers indicate on-going growth with rail freight volumes during the first six months of the economic year with gains over major commodities of several different categories and rising movement of coal to power plants. 

Also Read: Indian Railways Enhances Freight Wagon Operations with AI to Strengthen Safety

Ahmedabad Metro: GMRC Floats ₹438.94 Cr Tender for Construction of 4.84 km Elevated Viaduct 

Narendra Shah and Editorial Team
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Ahmedabad Metro: GMRC Floats ₹438.94 Cr Tender for Construction of 4.84 km Elevated Viaduct 

GUJARAT (Metro Rail News): Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) has invited bids for constructing a 4.84 km elevated viaduct from Veer Savarkar Sports Complex to Arihant Nagar, including 5 elevated stations, under the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project. The estimated cost of the project is ₹438.94 Crore.

Tender details

Information Details 
Authority Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC)
Tender Number GMRC/CONS/STNS+VDCT – 6/2026 
Estimated Cost₹438.94 Crore
Tender Security ₹4.39 Crore
Completion Period 32 Months
Pre-Bid meeting21 October 2026 at 11:30 hrs. 
Bid submission deadline 21 November 2026 at 15:00 Hrs 

Scope of work 

The scope of work includes construction of 4.84 km elevated viaduct from Veer Savarkar Sports Complex to Arihant Nagar, including 5 Nos. elevated stations of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project. 

About the project

The 4.84 km long elevated viaduct from Veer Savarkar Sports Complex to Arihant Nagar is designed to reduce road traffic and make travelling seamless on the intersection of Memco crossroad. This link makes traveling super easy for families and for sports lovers to visit  Veer Savarkar Sports Complex by connecting the neighbourhood city Arihant Nagar to the rest of the metropolitan city. It helps to improve connectivity to all over Ahmedabad smoothly. 

Also Read: GMRC floats ₹592.61 Cr Tender for 6.56 Km Ahmedabad Metro Section 

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: All 14 Portal Beams Installed Over Rajdhani Route in Vadodara

Narendra Shah and Editorial Team
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Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: All 14 Portal Beams Installed Over Rajdhani Route in Vadodara

VADODARA (Metro Rail News): The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project has completed installation of all 14 portal beams over the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani railway line in Vadodara, clearing a major structural hurdle for the next stage of viaduct construction. The milestone will allow work to progress towards launching 40-metre composite girders across one of the busiest railway routes in the country.

The achievement comes on the 8.3-km Vadodara stretch, where the high-speed rail alignment passes through a densely built-up area and crosses five existing Indian Railways lines, including two main lines.

Bullet Train viaduct takes shape 

The portal beams will support the elevated bullet train structure at locations where the alignment crosses existing railway infrastructure. The next stage involves launching composite girders spanning approximately 40 metres across the Rajdhani route. The construction method will vary by location:

  • Rajdhani main line crossing: Composite girders will be launched across the 14 portal beams.
  • Other portal beam locations: Engineers will use the Span-by-Span (SBS) launching method to construct the viaduct.

The alignment crosses the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani line diagonally, making the work more complex. Engineers must maintain the required clearances while allowing existing railway services to continue operating safely.

Why the portal beams required specialised construction for this Bullet train 

The portal beams were built using the cast-in-situ method because of limited working space and the constraints of constructing above operational railway tracks. Their size and weight also made conventional precast launching impractical. Each completed beam has the following specifications:

LengthApproximately 37 metres
Height and widthAround 4 metres each
WeightApproximately 1,500 tonnes
Concrete requirementAbout 590 cubic metres
Reinforcement cage weightAround 55 tonnes

Construction required high-capacity cranes, hydraulic jacks, long-boom concrete pumps and precision surveying equipment. Teams also had to coordinate closely with Indian Railways, monitor structural work continuously and schedule railway blocks where necessary.

Portal beams distributed across the Vadodara corridor

The 14 structures are located on either side of Vadodara’s railway infrastructure, along the bullet train alignment:

  • 10 portal beams lie between Vadodara Bullet Train station and Vishwamitri Railway station, towards Surat.
  • Four portal beams lie between Vadodara Railway station and Chhayapuri Railway station, towards Ahmedabad.

This section presents a major engineering challenge because the elevated corridor must pass across several operational railway lines within a restricted urban area.

Next phase focuses on viaduct integration

With all 14 portal beams completed, the project can move towards composite girder launching over the Rajdhani main line. The remaining work will require careful coordination with Indian Railways to manage construction activity above live tracks.

Also Read: Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: 480-metre Sabarmati River Bridge Completed in Ahmedabad

Chennai Metro Phase 2: Ullagaram-Sholinganallur Package Completes Casting of 3,126 Precast Elements

Narendra Shah and Editorial Team
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Chennai Metro Phase 2: Ullagaram-Sholinganallur Package Completes Casting of 3,126 Precast Elements

CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has completed casting all precast elements for the Corridor 5 Package between Ullagaram-Sholinganallur, including its final U-girder. The milestone shifted the focus to installing the remaining girders and completing station entry and exit structures on this elevated stretch of Chennai Metro Phase 2. 

The ECV-03 package is being executed by the HCC-KEC Consortium, with design and construction oversight from General Consultant AEON Consortium.

U-Girder production reaches 892 units 

The package has produced 3,126 elements, covering the major structural components required for the Chennai Metro Phase 2 elevated corridor. The detailed inventory includes:

  • 1,041 I-Girder
  • 892 U-Girder
  • 871 Pier Arm Segment
  • 303 Pier Cap
  • 19 Portal Shell 

CMRL said the 892 U-Girder represents the highest quantity used in this project as compared to other projects under Phase-2. U-Girders from the main elevated deck structure that carries metro tracks, making their production a key part of preparing the viaduct for installation. 

Concrete and steel use reflects construction scale

The precast programme involves substantial material consumption across the casting operations. The reported quantities includes:

Material Quantity Used 
Concrete98,052 Cubic Meters 
Reinforcement steel 18,550 MT
High-Tensile (HT) Strands3,010 MT

The milestone was marked by the officials from CMRL, AEON Consortium and the HCC-KEC Consortium. Those presents included CMRL Director (Projects) Thiru. T. Archunan, Additional General Manager, R. Srinivasan,  AEON Resident Engineer M.P. Muthaiya, Thiru. Jaideep Rajeshwarkar, Senior VP & BU Head, HCC-KEC Consortium; Thiru. Lalichan Antony, Project Manager; Thiru. Hari Krishna, Casting Yard In-charge; along with other project personnel. 

Driven by strategic vision and leadership 

Following the successful casting of the final U-Girder, the project shifted towards the erection of remaining U-Girders and construction of entry/exit structures. These critical works are actively progressing towards the compilation of Chennai Metro phase-2 project. 

A collaborative effort behind these achievements are the team who have a strategic vision and leadership quality to make this milestone with 100% successful compilation of all Precast Element and U-Girder casting.  

Also Read: Alstom powers Chennai Metro Phase II with its driverless Metropolis trainsets

Alstom Rolls Out First Driverless Metropolis Trainset for Mumbai Metro Lines 4 and 4A

Narendra Shah
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Alstom Rolls Out First Driverless Metropolis Trainset for Mumbai Metro Lines 4 and 4A

SRI CITY (Metro Rail News): Alstom has rolled out the first of 39 driverless Metropolis trainsets for Mumbai Metro Lines 4 and 4A at its Sri City manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh. The company says the train was engineered and built in a record 14 months. Alstom is supplying the trainsets to Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which is executing the Integrated Systems Package for the two lines under a contract awarded by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

alstom mumbai metro line 4 4a first trainset unveil sri city

Alstom’s scope covers the rolling stock, the signalling system, depot equipment and five years of maintenance.

Multi-State Localisation

The trainset was designed at Alstom’s engineering centre in Bengaluru and manufactured at Sri City. The propulsion systems came from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and the bogies from Savli, Gujarat. Alstom has positioned the project under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat programmes, citing substantial localisation.

Technical Specifications

alstom mumbai metro line 4 4a first trainset flag off sri city.jpg
ParameterDetail
Rolling stockAlstom Metropolis, driverless
Total trainsets39
Design speed90 km/h
Operational speed80 km/h
Build time (first trainset)14 months
Systems contractorLarsen & Toubro
ClientMMRDA
Alstom scopeRolling stock, signalling, depot equipment, 5-year maintenance

The trains carry a green-and-blue livery inspired by MMRDA’s vision for the network. They have airflow-based cooling, wheelchair access and dedicated bicycle racks, the first time bicycle racks have been fitted on an Alstom train in India, intended to support last-mile connectivity. Alstom says the trains were developed under its Eco-design approach, with materials chosen to meet fire-safety requirements and environmental considerations.

Industry Statements

Olivier Loison, Managing Director, Alstom India, said, “Our long-standing partnership with Mumbai’s metro network continues to grow and we are proud to consistently deliver next generation rail solutions for the urban metro network in the city.”

S. Ramkumar, Senior Vice President and Head – Transportation Infrastructure, L&T, said, “By bringing together L&T’s expertise in large-scale EPC execution and systems integration with Alstom’s leadership in rolling stock, we are proud to contribute to the Government of Maharashtra’s and MMRDA’s vision of a safe, efficient and sustainable urban mobility network for Greater Mumbai.” He added that L&T is also executing the power supply and track systems packages for Lines 4 and 4A, which places it to integrate multiple systems in coordination with Alstom and other stakeholders.

Alstom’s Mumbai Portfolio

The Line 4 and 4A order adds to Alstom’s existing work in Mumbai. The company supplied the Metropolis trains and signalling for the Mumbai Metro Aqua Line, which now carries more than 16 lakh passengers a day. It is also delivering signalling and telecommunications for Metro Lines 2 and 7, and signalling for Lines 7A and 9.

The remaining 38 trainsets will be delivered in phases from Sri City. Testing and commissioning of the first train will follow its dispatch to Mumbai.

Afcons Infrastructure Secures ₹1,632 Crore Contract for Lucknow Metro’s Underground East-West Corridor 

Narendra Shah and Editorial Team
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Afcons Infrastructure Secures ₹1,632 Crore Contract for Lucknow Metro’s Underground East-West Corridor 

LUCKNOW (Metro Rail News): Afcons Infrastructure has emerged as the lowest bidder for a ₹1,632 crore civil contract, including GST, for Lucknow Metro’s East-West Corridor (Phase-1B). The contract covers the design and construction of seven underground metro stations and associated civil works along the approximately 6.52-km stretch between Charbagh and Chowk.

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Contract details 

InformationDetails
Awarding AuthorityUttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC)
ContractorAfcons Infrastructure 
Contract Value₹1,632 Crore 
Completion Period3 years from LOA.

Bidders details 

Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) opened the financial bids on 5 October 2026. Five companies participated in the tender process, which includes 

  • Afcons Infrastructure
  • Sam India Projects
  • Larsen & Toubro
  • Hindustan Construction Company
  • Tata Projects.

The selected contractor will have three years from the issuance of the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) to complete the work.

Scope of work 

The scope of work includes the construction of seven underground metro stations along with associated civil works. This section will pass through densely populated areas and will form a crucial part of the underground section of Phase-1B.

About the project

UPMRC has already awarded tenders for the construction of five elevated metro station viaducts and Vasant Kunj Metro Depot under the East-West Corridor.

UPMRC is constructing Lucknow Metro Phase-1B (East-West Corridor) at an estimated cost of approximately ₹5,801 crore. The project will comprise a total of 12 metro stations – five elevated and seven underground. Construction of both the elevated and underground sections will progress simultaneously, enabling metro services to commence across the entire corridor within the stipulated timeline.

MD, UPMRC, Shri Sushil Kumar, said, “The East-West Corridor will play a transformative role in strengthening connectivity between Old and New Lucknow. The extension from Charbagh to Vasant Kunj will bring fast, safe and environment-friendly public transport closer to the densely populated and historic areas of Old Lucknow. Beyond improving mobility, the project will also catalyse significant infrastructural development in Old Lucknow, creating better connectivity and supporting the overall urban transformation of the area. This corridor will help reduce pressure on road traffic while giving a strong impetus to sustainable and integrated urban development in Lucknow.”

Also Read: GMRC floats ₹592.61 Cr Tender for 6.56 Km Ahmedabad Metro Section

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