Mumbai, March 22, 2017: Larsen & Toubro, Godrej & Boyce, Xerox and Datamatics are among twelve entities who have come forward to install automatic fare collection system for the underground Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ metro rail in Mumbai, which is under construction.
Bids for installation of automatic fare collection system were opened by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) officials on Tuesday. The submissions were part of the pre-qualification round of bidding for Metro-3 corridor.
Under automatic fare collection system, fare management and collection is done via machines and elimination of human intervention ensures there aren't any ticket-less commuters.
"These bids were opened after following the norms specified by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), the lender for the project," said an MMRC official.
The list of participating companies includes six joint ventures - Aegis-Nanjing Panda Information Industry, SICE-VaaaN Infra, Datamatics Global Services-AEP Ticketing Solutions, Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing-SC Soft, Larsen & Toubro-MSI Global and Asis Electronik-Kalindee Rail Nirman.
The rest six bidders who have submitted the tender documents include China-headquartered Siasun Robot and Automation, Spain's Indra Sistemas, Thales Communications & Security, Xerox Business Solutions, Singapore Technologies Electronics and Japan's Nippon Signal.
According to Ashwini Bhide, managing director of MMRC, "The bids will be evaluated within a period of 60 days, followed by tender submission by the shortlisted companies."
Earlier this month, DNA Money had reported that Siemens, Tata Projects, Larsen & Toubro, Alstom, Isolux Ingenieria, Blue Star, Voltas, ZTE Corporation, Bombardier were among companies vying metro rail projects such as supply and installation of traction system, power supply, tunnel ventilation, signalling, train control, platform screen doors and telecommunication systems.
The construction for this 33.5 kilometre-long project has already begun. Tunnel Boring Machines or TBMs are expected to reach Mumbai in July this year and they would be launched underground for excavating tunnel from October onwards. Each of these new machines comes at a cost of around Rs 130 crore.
The estimated cost of Metro-3 is Rs 23,136 crore, but a revision of expenses is likely to increase the overall cost of the project. Already, MMRC has awarded bids for civil construction at higher prices due to technical reasons of constructing tunnels in Mumbai.
This route comprises 27 stations; out of which 26 will be underground and one at grade (Aarey). The metro corridor is scheduled for completion in two phases. The first phase between SEEPZ and Bandra Kurla Complex is scheduled for opening in September 2020 and the entire route by March 2021.
Metro-3 will snake through six business districts of Mumbai, namely, Cuffe Parade, Colaba, Bandra Kurla Complex, MIDC, Worli and SEEPZ.
Petition over having car depot at Aarey Milk Colony still being heard with National Green Tribunal, it is still undecided if the metro depot will come up at Aarey Milk Colony or will have to be relocated. As a measure, the MMRC officials have renamed the car depot and station attached to it from the earlier Aarey Station to Parjapur Station.
