KOCHI (Metro Rail News): Afcons Infrastructure emerged as the selected bidder for the Kochi Metro Rail Limited’s (KMRL) Phase 2 construction project, specifically for Package KBC3, which focuses on developing the new Pink Line. The announcement came after Afcons was identified as the sole technically qualified contender, placing them in a favorable position for the contract ahead of the financial bid opening. Competing bids from the consortium of KEC International and Sadbhav Engineering, along with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), were disqualified in December 2023 for not meeting the technical requirements outlined in the tender.
The Phase 2 expansion introduces an 11.2 km elevated line, dubbed the Pink Line, which will feature 11 new stations stretching from JLN Stadium to Kakkanad and Infopark, often referred to as Smart City. The specific segment of the project, Package KBC3, includes the construction of a viaduct and ten stations between Palarivattom Junction and Infopark, excluding certain elements like architectural finishes and entry/exit structures, which will be addressed in subsequent packages.
KMRL had initially called for bids in September 2023 without disclosing the estimated cost, setting a completion deadline of 600 days. Though not officially confirmed, it’s understood that Afcons placed a bid of Rs. 2137.01 crore. The final approval of the contract is pending, awaiting confirmation of a USD 122.3 million loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which had conducted its final appraisal review on February 29, 2024, following a concept review on November 7, 2023.
The stations planned along the Pink Line include a new station box at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium adjacent to the Blue Line, and stops at Palarivattom Junction, Alinchuvadu, Chembumukku, Vazhakkala, Padamughal, Kakkanad Junction, Cochin SEZ, Chittethukara, KINFRA Park, and Infopark/Smart City, which will link to the Kochi Water Metro. The timeline and detailed financial implications of Afcons’ bid relative to KMRL’s estimates remain uncertain, pending formal contract approval and loan acquisition from AIIB.
