Bentley Acceleration Initiatives today announced the acquisition of Chennai, India-based Nadhi Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a specialist in project controls, analytics, and decision support for construction supply chains. Nadhi serves some of India’s leading construction sector participants, including contractors Larsen & Toubro and Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd., real estate developers Mahindra Lifespaces and RMZ, and owner-operators DMRC (Delhi Metro) and Welspun Enterprises. Founded in 2008, Nadhi was incubated in the IIT Madras Research Park with advisors from the IIT Madras Building Technology and Construction Management faculty and the Lean Construction Institute.

Bentley Acceleration Initiatives is the internal incubator for strategic investments of Bentley Systems (Nasdaq: BSY), the infrastructure engineering software company. Its objective is to bring together ecosystem partners in digital co-ventures. Nadhi brings to Bentley a critical mass of field-experienced professionals in construction automation, attuned to their region’s specific challenges and project dynamics. The acquisition strengthens Bentley’s focus on Asia, which is experiencing huge demand for new construction of infrastructure and has a keen appetite for digital workflows to help address this need. According to Fitch Solutions Country Risk and Industry Research, while China and the U.S. will remain the two highest-value construction markets globally, India and Indonesia will rise to the third and fourth highest-value markets by 2029.

Currently, project teams in Asia are often held back by conventional construction methodologies and obstacles to public cloud deployments, experiencing delays and cost overruns because of poorly coordinated schedules and the lack of visibility into project status. Project managers are looking for a solution that helps them interconnect their data silos—spanning documents, schedules, budgets, issues and risks, resources, and materials—all in one environment.

Some of the best-managed construction projects are now using Nadhi’s services to solve these challenges and improve their project delivery using digital workflows. Since offering lean construction consulting services in 2008, Nadhi has pioneered mobile-enabled project controls. In an offering explicitly configured for the needs of project teams in Asia, the integrated project controls in Nadhi’s nPulse software combines data-driven decision support and predictive analytics to give engineering and construction projects early warning of schedule risks and potential delays in milestone completion, advancing project planning and execution from reactive to proactive.

Dr. Ashit Gandhi, senior director, accelerated business development, Bentley Systems, said, “We are very pleased to welcome Nadhi’s construction automation experts as Bentley colleagues. Together, we see a significant new opportunity to help construction projects throughout Asia, especially for road and rail linear infrastructure, in ‘going digital’. Combining Nadhi’s proven project controls and analytics capabilities with Bentley’s SYNCHRO 4D construction modeling and field-based construction delivery will enable more integrated and efficient digital workflows, tailored specifically to Asian needs.”

Kalyan Vaidyanathan, CEO, Nadhi Information Technologies, said, “The whole team at Nadhi is excited to be joining Bentley Systems at this pivotal moment for India’s construction community. We look forward to deepening our capabilities in core areas of project controls and expanding our reach both in and beyond India for new opportunities. We believe, as part of Bentley, we will be even more strongly positioned to help our users to stay in control of their projects and to generate insights through analytics to avoid delays and improve confidence through visibility.”

Nadhi will add approximately 30 colleagues; its annualized revenues and profitability are not material to, and are not expected to meaningfully impact, the BSY financial outlook for 2021.

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PUNE: Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha Metro) has completed the construction of first underwater metro tunnel below the Mutha river bed for the Pune Metro Rail Project.

Under Phase-1, Line-1(Purple Line) has an underground stretch of length 5.019 km from Agriculture College to Swargate with 5 underground stations. The work is divided in two packages – Package 1 from Agriculture college to Budhwar Peth and Package 2 from Budhwar Peth to Swargate. Both packages have been awarded to the JV of Tata-Projects-Gulermek.

Two TBM (Tunnel Boring Machines) i.e. S78 (Mutha) and S79 (Mula) were commissioned last month to build twin tunnels. Work on 1.6 km underground tunnel from between Agriculture College and Shivajinagar has been already completed. Tunnel work for the stretch between Civil court to Budhwar Peth started in March. After few days, Maha-Metro entered the riverbed of the Mutha river and now the tunneling work beneath Mutha river bed is completed.

According to the official Twitter handle of MahaMetro’s Pune Metro Rail Project,” Another 1st for Pune! 10s of bridges over Mutha river, some of them centuries old. Pune Metro has constructed 1st underwater metro tunnel below the Mutha river bed. Tunnels of ~240 mtrs. by Mutha & 223 mtrs. by Mula TBM completed between Civil Court & Budhwar Peth.”

With this development, Pune has become the 4th city in India after Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai to have an underground metro rail crosses the river.

This work is a part of 16.59 km long Purple Line of Pune Metro that will run from PCMC Bhavan to Swargate with 14 stations.

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DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand Metro Rail Corporation (UKMRC) reinvites open e-tender (EOI cum RFQ) for the development of Personalised Rapid Transit (PRT) System in Haridwar city of Uttarakhand called “Haridwar Darshan” on PPP mode.

Name of Work – Development of Personalised Rapid Transit (PRT) System in Haridwar city of Uttarakhand called “Haridwar Darshan” under Design Built Finance Operate and Transfer (DBFOT basis) – (PPP MODEL).

Important Details

Tender reference No: UM-140/EOI cum RFQ PRT Haridwar/2021-22/01

Contract Value: INR 1000 Crores

Period of Completion: 1095 Days

Document Download Start Date: 20-Apr-2021 from 06:00 PM

Document Download End Date: 04-Jun-2021 till 03:00 PM

Bid Submission Start Date: 20-Apr-2021 from 06:00 PM

Bid Submission End Date: 04-Jun-2021 till 03:00 PM

Bid Opening Date: 04-Jun-2021 at 03:30 PM

Pre Bid Meeting Date: 20-May-2021 at 04:00 PM

As per the tender inviting notice of UKMRC, the technology of PRT proposed by Applicants must be already in passenger operation for minimum 1 year and on a minimum stretch of 1.5 Km. Interested Applicants are required to download the EOI cum RFQ document from website https://uktender.gov.in

Proposed PRT Corridors –

• Sitapur – Bharat Mata Temple 14.0 km
• City Hospital – Daksha Temple 3.0 km
• Ganeshpuram – DAV School 2.0 km
• Valmiki Chowk – Laltaro Bridge 0.65 km

• Total 19.65 km

The PRT corridors are mainly on the Major roads of the city and are planned to be elevated within the Right of way (ROW) on the central verge of the roads.

Previously, PNC Infratech Ltd emerged as the only bidder for this project and being the single bidder or based on technical or financial evaluation, UKMRC may not have find suitable to go ahead with the single bidder and cancelled the tender, as a result, reinvites tender for this project. Hopefully, this time there will be more bidders and works on the project finally takes off.

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MUMBAI: Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) on 22nd April achieved 37th breakthrough at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) Metro Station out of the total 41 breakthroughs planned for the 33.5 km long Colaba-Bandra-Seepz underground line (Line-3) of Mumbai Metro.

The contract for this work under Package UGC-01 was awarded to the JV of Larsen & Toubro and Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company which operates Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Surya-2 for the construction of tunnels and four stations at Cuffe Parade, Vidhan Bhavan, Churchgate & Hutatama Chowk.

According to MMRC, TBM Surya-2 completed its final drive of 569 meters from Hutatma Chowk to CSMT Metro Station in 106 days using 418 concrete rings. With this 2.9 km long downline tunnel from Cuffe Parade to CSMT Metro Station is completed.

“Tunnelling in the heritage precinct, which is also in the close proximity to the sea, is a daunting task. MMRCL team of contractors, consultants, engineers and workers scientifically dealt the challenge successfully. I am happy that 96% of tunnelling has been completed in package-1 by ensuring the safety of the historical buildings”, said Mr. Ranjit Singh Deol, Managing Director, MMRC.

With this breakthrough, 52 km of tunneling is completed out of the total length of 54.5 km which is approximately 95% of the total project.

The issue regarding construction of car shed for Mumbai Metro Line-3 is still not resolved as the Bombay High Court is yet to decide whether the salt plan land in Kanjurmarg, where the metro depot is proposed to be constructed, belongs to the Centre or State.

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The 9 KMs long elevated Priority Corridor between IIT Kanpur and Motijheel is being constructed under the Kanpur Metro Rail Project. Last night another ‘Steel Girder’ was erected at Rawatpur Tiraha. In this span the first ‘Steel Box Girder’ was placed on March 27, 2021. These girders are of 45m length, assembled near the location and erected by cranes in the night on the busy crossing.

On this occasion, Managing Director, UPMRC, Shri Kumar Keshav said, “In view of heavy traffic at Rawatpur, it was planned that no Piers should come in the middle of Rawatpur Tiraha and due to this the distance between the two Pillars was increased up to 45 meters in this section. This is the reason that in this span two specially designed light weighted ‘Steel Box Girders’ have been placed instead of U or I-girder. UPMRC always strives to ensure that the Metro Corridor is planned and is executed in such a way that traffic movement doesn’t get affected.”

Three locations have been identified between IIT and Naubasta (Corridor-1), where Steel Girders are to be laid. The first Steel Span has been placed near Rawatpur, the second will be erected at Sisamau Nala and the third one near Vasant Vihar.

Why ‘Steel Box Girder’?

• It was not possible to place a U or an I-girder of this length at the said span hence ‘Steel Box Girder’ has been introduced.

• The length of the steel girder is longer than the U-girders that are being used in the Corridor but relatively lighter in weight. It is also to be mentioned that the length of the referred steel span is 45 meters while U-girder has an average length of 27 meters. A 27-meter U-girder weighs about 147 tons, while 45-meter Steel Span weighs about 120 tons.

• Three locations have been identified between the 23KMs long IIT & Naubasta stretch in where Steel Girders are to be laid. The first Steel Span has been placed near Rawatpur, the second will be erected at Sisamau Nala and the third one will be placed near Vasant Vihar. Separate steel girders are to be laid for up-line and down-line.

Each 45-meter long steel girder is being prepared by connecting 5 segments.

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MUMBAI: Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has invited open e-tenders for the construction of balance works of Package CA06 which is related to Line 2B (D.N Nagar-Mandale) of Mumbai Metro Rail Project. The balance work includes construction of elevated viaduct and 5 elevated stations from MTNL Metro to Chembur.

Name of Work

Part Design and Construction of Balance Works of Package CA06, Elevated Viaduct and 5 Elevated Stations viz. MTNL Metro, S. G. Barve Marg, Kurla East, EEH and Chembur (excluding Architectural Finishing and Pre-Engineered Steel Roof Structure of Stations) from Chainage 46860.384m to Chainage 52729.312 of Line 2B [D.N Nagar-Mandale] of Mumbai Metro Rail Project of MMRDA.

Important Details

Contract No: MMRDA/MMRP/L2B-C102

Estimated Cost of Work: INR 631.82 Crore

Completion Period: 30 Months

Bids Document Download Date: 22/04/2021 from 18.01 Hrs to 07/06/2021 till 15.00 Hrs

Bid Submission Date: 22/04/2021 from 18:31 to 09/06/2021 till 18.00 Hrs

Pre Bid Meeting: 06/05/2021 at 11.00 Hrs

Bid Opening Date: 11/06/2021 at 11:00 Hrs

MMRDA has invited bids for this work multiple times while originally in 2017 contract for this work was awarded to RCC Infra Ventures Limited but the contract was terminated in January 2020 due to poor progress of work.

Last time when MMRDA invited bids for this work, NCC Limited emerged as the lowest bidder (November 2020) quoting bid value of INR 719.27 Crores which was way above the MMRDA estimated cost of INR 568.55 Crores and further negotiations between the two did not result in any positive outcome leading to re-inviting of tenders.

Now it remains to be seen how the work progress on this section of Mumbai Metro Line-2B as work is already got delayed. Hopefully, this time tenders invitation will culminate to starting of construction on the given section which will take another few years before operations of metro trains start on this section.

There is also a proposal to build three iconic bridges on this 23.64 km long Metro Line 2B from DN Nagar to Mandale. The designs for the bridges are already ready and tenders were floated for the second time in June 2020 for their construction. The bridges to be constructed are Arch shape bridge over Mithi River, Zero shape bridge at Vakola Nala and the Sword shape bridge at BKC Entry. The purpose is to give aesthetic look to the surrounding areas through these all three cable-stayed bridges. Mumbai will look more beautiful through these bridges and the bridges will be visible from far distances creating new skyline for the city. Hopefully, construction of bridges will start at the earliest to add another jewel to the city that never sleeps.

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BENGALURU: Bharat Builders has bag contract for construction of seven Foot-Over-Bridges (FOB) at six locations of Phase-1 and Phase-2 stations of Bangalore Metro Rail Project.

Important Details

Tender Notification Number: BMRCL/Phase-1&2/FOB-Steel Structures/2021/74

Name of Work: Fabrication & Erection of Steel Structures – 7 Nos. of FOB at 6 locations in Yeshwanthpur, Dasarahalli, Nagasandra Stations of Phase-1 and Mailasandra, Jnanabharathi, Chikkabidarkallu (Jindal) Stations of Phase-2 for Bangalore Metro rail Project.

Contract Value: INR 10.84 Crores

On the other hand, Starworth Infrastructure & Construction Limited has bag contract for construction of Operation Control Centre (OCC) near Baiyappanahalli Metro Depot for Bangalore Metro Rail Project.

Important Details

Tender Notification Number: BMRCL/Phase-2/OCC-2/2020/71

Name of Work: Construction of Operation control center near Baiyappanahalli Metro Depot for Bangalore Metro Rail Project.

Contract Value: INR 23.12 Crores

In an another good news for the Bangalore city, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approves Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-2A and Phase-2B with total length of 58.19 km. The total cost of the project is expected to be INR 14,788.101 crore.

Phase-2A comprises construction of 19.75 km long elevated corridor connecting KR Puram to Central Silkboard with 13 stations while Phase-2 comprises construction of 38.44 long corridor connecting K R Puram to the Kempegowda International Airport via Hebbal Junction with 17 stations on the route.

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New Delhi, April 23, 2021– The Linear Railway infra projects require high accuracy surveys to achieve designed track alignment. Given the design speed of 180 kmph on the structure either elevated viaducts or underground tunnels, there is no scope for fault in the construction of RRTS structures and tracks. The NCRTC is using “Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS)” technology to ensure accurate civil structure alignment in the construction of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor.

 
CORS- Continuously Operating Reference Station – is a global positioning system (GPS) based technology mainly used in surveys, mapping, and allied services. This technique ensures complete accuracy in the construction of a predetermined corridor in civil construction so that the planned alignment can be achieved.

Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut is an 82 km long corridor going over rivers, railway lines, roads, expressways, and flyovers. Hence it is very important to maintain accuracy in civil structure alignment. Keeping this in mind, the NCRTC went beyond the traditional technologies and adopted an ultra-modern survey technique, CORS, which is being used for the first time in the country in any mega infrastructure project.  

CORS is a network of ‘reference stations’ that are established at every 10-15 kilometers along with the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, these CORS ‘reference stations’ are connected to the “Control Center”, which provides the real-time data to the rovers collected from 3-5 reference stations. The entire process of data collection enables the rovers to achieve accuracy of up to 10 mm.

Also, given the limited timeframe for the implementation of the country’s first RRTS project, the construction work is in progress at multiple sites simultaneously. To ensure that construction at multiple locations does not impact the accuracy of the project, CORS is being used as it mitigates the risks of any kind of error during the construction. The CORS network is set up for the first time in the country for a rail-based project, the system is set to be a path-breaking system for such projects to conduct surveys.

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