News Brief
Kochi Metro Invites Rs 127.9 Crore Tender For Ballastless Track In Phase 2 Pink Line Corridor
Kochi Metro. (Twitter)
Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has accelerated work on the second phase of its Pink Line with the launch of tenders for the installation of ballastless standard gauge track along the elevated stretch from JLN Stadium to Infopark Phase 2 station, according to a New Indian Express report.
The project, estimated at Rs 127.91 crore, includes the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the track and will be partly financed through a loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), headquartered in Beijing.
The tender specifies that the selected bidder must complete the work within 16 months of the Letter of Award.
1 September has been fixed as the final date for submissions, with bids set to be opened on 9 September.
The contract allows subcontracting of up to 50 per cent of the total value, while the tender itself will remain valid for 180 days from the closing date.
Covering 11.2 km and 11 stations, the proposed elevated, electrified corridor between JLN Stadium and Infopark was initially scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.
However, financial challenges and delays in utility shifting have pushed the revised deadline to 31 December 2026.
“While the complete section is targeted to be completed by next year’s end, we plan to open the first reach up to Padamughal by June 30, 2026. Hence, the successful bidder should complete the work in that session quickly by March 2026. It requires another three months for testing and other purposes," a senior KMRL official was quoted as saying by TNIE.
Once operational, the Pink Line expansion is expected to significantly strengthen connectivity in the city, catering to the commuter base in the IT corridor.
