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Indo-Taiwan consortium wins Greater Noida Metro in fast lane

NOIDA: The financial bid for the 28.8-km Noida-Greater Noida Metro link was finalized on Wednesday by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The tender, which had been divided into three parts, has been awarded to a consortium of Taiwanese and Indian companies working with a Spanish consultant. The joint venture consisting of Continental Engineering Corporation and Ayesa Engineering, will undertake the construction of the track work for about Rs 1,500 crore, about 15% less than the estimated cost of Rs 1,735 crore. Work on the ground for the track is now expected to begin by June 15.

For Greater Noida this will be the first Metro link providing connectivity between the two cities and Delhi. “The route will prove to be a milestone in the future development of not only the twin cities but the entire state of UP,” said Rama Raman, chairperson and CEO, Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway Authorities. “The Metro will boost urbanization, generate employment and provide a surge to economic activity,” he said.

According to DMRC officials, the contract with the consortium involves designing and construction of elevated viaduct and 22 elevated stations. The work is to be completed within 24 months. The technical bids for the track were finalized in March this year. Thirty companies had put in their bids for the mega project. The construction of the route has been divided into three parts and ten bids had been received for the each of the three parts. However, the lowest bidder was awarded the contract.
According to DMRC, all tenders related to civil works for the track have already been awarded. All other tenders related to electrical work, signalling and telecommunication, commissioning of overhead equipment, modification and shifting of EHT transmission lines infringing the Noida-Greater Noida corridor at various locations, will soon be finalized.

By June 15 all tenders will be cleared even as civil work should start in the next fortnight, officials said. With the Metro link on track, work on the route, which is estimated to cost Rs 5,526 crore, is expected to be completed by December 2017.

With the financial bids finalized, the Noida Metro Rail Company (NMRC) also held a review meeting of the sanctioned route on Wednesday. Convened by Raman, the meeting undertook an assessment of the route with different departments and officials of the Noida and Greater Noida Authorities in attendance.

Issues related to transfer of land falling in the route alignment, shifting and relocating trees, providing recycled water supply at the depot and stabling yard, realignment of electrical supply lines and provisions for traffic diversions once the Metro pillars are put in place and providing for last-mile connectivity, were discussed.

Raman directed officials to clear all roadblocks still in the way of the track, without delay.

DMRC officials further said that they have proposed to make large-scale utilization of solar energy along the track. The stations along the route will be green and environment friendly. The depot will also be equipped with solar panels, said officials.

NMRC has already approved the design of the Metro coaches and stations. The Noida-Greater Noida Metro will also support Platform Screen Door technology. This ‘cutting-edge’ safety feature consists of transparent doors that separate rail tracks from platforms. Train doors and platform doors are aligned and open simultaneously after the train has stopped preventing accidents. The Metro will also be equipped with an Automated Fare Collection system, officials said.

 

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