Mumbai- Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project: Global Bids Invited For Second Maintenance Depot At Thane In Maharashtra

The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has invited global bids to construct the Thane Depot in Maharashtra for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail.

With this, the NHSRCL has set in motion the construction of two depots of the Bullet train project. Thane maintenance depot is among three depots planned for the project, with other two depots coming up at Sabarmati and Surat in Gujarat.

The scope of the contract package (MAHSR D-1) includes civil works, building works, inspection sheds, maintenance depot, and installation, testing and commissioning of maintenance facilities, and other associated works in the Thane depot.

Sabarmati Depot

The NHSRCL has already issued a work order worth JPY 63 billion (approx. Rs 3,773.79 crore) to a consortium comprising of Japanese firm Sojitz Corporation and India's major infra firm Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) for the construction of Sabarmati depot.

The contract agreement between all three stakeholders was signed on 22 December.

The work on the rail depot in Sabarmati, which is located northwest of Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat will begin in 2023 with completion expected in 2028. The preparatory works for the construction of the facility are already in progress under another package.

The scope of the MAHSR D-2 package project involves design, supply, construction and testing, and commissioning of the depot including various specialised equipment required to inspect and maintain the rolling stock based on the proven Shinkansen technology.

The design of the facility is based on Shinkansen maintenance facilities at Sendai and Kanazawa in Japan.

Around 250 types of more than 800 numbers of specialised machineries required to inspect and maintain the rolling stock will be procured from Japan for this depot, including checking for vibrations, temperature, noise which are critical for high-speed running and will ensure passenger comfort.

Tender notice for the construction of bullet train depot in Sabarmati was issued in July 2021 and technical bids were opened in February 2022. A total of ten firms/consortia had submitted their bids.

Sabarmati Bullet Train maintenance depot is the largest depot among three depots planned for MAHSR corridor. Spread over 82 hectares, it will be utilised for inspection, maintenance, cleaning and parking of MAHSR trainsets.

The Sabarmati depot will also have bullet trains washing facilities.

Rolling Stock Maintenance

An essential ingredient for successful running of a High-Speed Railway is well-developed and advance maintenance system.

Area wise, Surat Depot will be the smallest depot spreading across 38 hectares followed by Thane Depot spread across approximately 58 hectares.

Thane and Surat Depot will have facilities for daily inspection, regular inspection and unscheduled maintenance of trains. In addition to daily and regular inspections and unscheduled maintenance of rolling stocks, Sabarmati depot will have the facilities for bogie and general overhauling as well.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) is currently the only sanctioned High-Speed Rail in the country.

The High-Speed Rail operating at 320 kmph will traverse along west India’s landscape, covering 508.17 km distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in just about two hours.

This will save time compared to current travel time between the two terminal stations by about nine hours (by bus) or six hours (by conventional railways).

The country’s first ‘bullet’ train, a nickname the train gets from its bullet-like shape and speed, will pass through Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Maharashtra, with 12 stations en route.

Also Read: Sabarmati Depot Design Agreement Signed For Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project