Bengaluru: BEML Wins Namma Metro's Rolling Stock Contract To Supply 318 Driverless Coaches For Pink, ORR-Airport Blue Line

BEML has emerged as the lowest bidder for Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL)'s tender for supplying 318 metro cars for three under construction lines- the 21.386 km pink line and 55.23 km blue line. TheMetroRailGuy reported.

Four firms - BEML, Alstom Transport India,Titagarh Wagons and CAF- placed bids. BEML emerged as the lowest bidder quoting Rs 3176.43 crores. BMRCL had floated a tender for procuring 318 metro cars in September 2022.

Once the award is finalized, BEML will be responsible for the design, develop, manufacture, supply, test, deliver, commission and integration testing of " light weight fully furnished modern passenger cars (318 nos.) with microprocessor control 3-phase induction motor drive and suitable for unattended train operation."

BEML's rail coach production facility is based out of Bengaluru

While 96 coaches will be deployed to operate the pink line connecting Gottigere-Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara (which includes an underground stretch for 14 km from Dairy Circle and Nagawara), another 96 coaches will be used to operate 18.23 km Phase 2A that will connect Central Silk Board and K.R. Puram.

The remaining 126 coaches will be used for the 37 km Phase 2B that will connect Kempegowda International Airport and K.R. Puram via Nagawara and Hebbal.

A loan extended by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will fund the procurement of 318 metro cars.

In March 2021, JICA signed a loan agreement with the Government of India to provide a loan amounting to Rs 3,717 Crores to support Phases 2, 2A and 2B of the Namma Metro project in Bengaluru.

According to TheMetroRailGuy, BMRCL's procurement of 318 coaches will be one of the largest metro rolling stock contracts in recent times, just a little larger than Delhi Metro’s 312 coach RS-17 contract for Phase 4 which was awarded to Alstom in October 2022.