BENGALURU: Three construction firms— Afcons Infrastructure, ITD Cementation India Ltd and GR Infra Projects Ltd (GRIL)— are in the race for Namma Metro’s unfinished section on Bannerghatta Road, multiple sources told TOI.
In January 2021, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) terminated the contract of cash-strapped Simplex Infrastructures Limited over the delayed execution of work on a 7.5km section between Kalena Agrahara (Gottigere) and Tavarekere (Swagath Road Cross).
In March 2021, BMRCL floated a fresh tender.
BMRCL sources said seven-eight construction firms had expressed interest in the project.
However, only three firms submitted the required documents.
While ITD Cementation and Afcons are already working with BMRCL, GRIL is a new entrant to the city.
ITD Cementation, a Thai-Indian consortium, which is constructing Bommasandra – Bommanahalli (Yellow Line) and Byappanahalli-Whitefield (Purple Line).
Mumbai-based Afcons, which is part of Shapoorji Pallonji Group, is constructing the underground section between Dairy Circle and National Military School (Vellara junction) which is part of the Pink Line.
Afcons also recently received the contract for Outer Ring Road Metro between Central Silk Board Junction and Kadubeesanahalli (Light Blue Line).
On the other hand, Udaipur-based GRIL, which has undertaken various road/highway projects has recently diversified into projects in the railway sector.
In fact, GRIL had emerged as the lowest bidder for constructing the 8.5km Gurugram section of the 164km Delhi – Alwar Regional Rapid Transit System line.
However, National Capital Region Transport Corporation has not yet issued the work orders to GIRL yet since the project has not received all approvals.
BMRCL records show only 37% civil works on Bannerghatta Road has been completed in this section which has five stations including Kalena Agrahara, Hulimavu, IIM Bengaluru, JP Nagar 4th Phase and Tavarekere.
Pink Line’s Kalena Agrahara – Swagath Road Cross is elevated, the section between Dairy Circle and Nagawara goes underground.
Award contract to reputed firm: Residents, expertsResidents staying along the Bannerghatta Road and experts have urged the BMRCL to award the contract to a reputed firm since the project already suffered multiple delays.
They say engineers responsible for the section should also be made accountable for the delays.
The original deadline for the Kalena Agrahara – Tavarekere Metro section was 2019.
Sanjeev Dyamannavar, a commuter rail activist, said, “This project was approved in 2014 but tender for this corridor was floated only in February 2017 as the BMRCL couldn’t source funds for the project on time.
There were no land acquisition issues in this section but the project is still not ready.
Action should be initiated against the project manager who is responsible for these delays as they failed to monitor the work.
This corridor should have been operational by now.
BMRCL has failed to monitor and review the project so the citizens are struggling now”.
He said BMRCL should award the fresh tender only to the reputed firms.
“There should be a thorough assessment in this fresh tender to ensure ineligible firms don’t get the contract to avoid further delays.” When contacted, a senior BMRCL official said, “We will check the credentials and track record of the firms in the technical bids.
They will be rejected if they don’t meet the eligibility criteria.
Following this, the financial bid will be opened and the tender will be awarded to the firm which quoted the least amount.
We’re planning to issue the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) by August-September,” he said.