Kochi Metro Phase III plan suffers setback after high DPR bid

Kochi: Kochi Metro's plan to commence work on Phase III line connecting Aluva with Nedumbassery along with Phase II works suffered a setback as RITES Ltd, public sector undertaking under ministry of railways, quoted a higher-than-expected amount for preparation of detailed project report (DPR).
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As RITES, the lone bidder, quoted an amount more than double the estimated cost of DPR preparation, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) issued a re-tender inviting DPR consultancy. Due to the high bid, KMRL excluded feasibility study of the future extension of the proposed Metro rail line to the proposed GIFT City in Ayyampuzha and the study on the rolling stock to be used for Phase III from the plan while issuing re-tender.
"The amount that RITES quoted was more than double the estimated amount fixed by ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA).
As DPR preparation for Phase III is entirely funded by MoHUA, we have to follow their guidelines. If the amount was 10% to 20% higher than the estimate, there was a possibility of appointing the agency as DPR consultant. But KMRL decided to re-tender as the amount was more than double the estimate," said a KMRL source.
Procedures to appoint DPR consultancy began last year after the urban transport division of MoHUA granted in-principle approval for providing central financial assistance (CFA) for preparing DPR.
DPR will finalize the length of Phase III line, alignment, number of stations and their locations.
As per RFP (request for proposal) documents of the earlier tender, consultant would study the feasibility of implementing Phase III corridor (Aluva to Angamaly) as a new line (independent line). It stated that DPR consultant would also study the feasibility of using rolling stock different from those being used in Phase I and Phase II corridors and provision for future extension of Phase III corridor to the proposed GIFT City in the Kochi Bengaluru Industrial Corridor.
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"We have excluded some portions, because it will substantially reduce consultancy cost. Now, we are preparing DPR according to the basic plan approved by MoHUA," said an official.
As per KMRL's preliminary plan, Phase III extension line of Metro will begin from Aluva and continue on national highway 544 until Aleena Valavu area near Akaparambu. It then goes through Kariyad-Airport-Mattoor Road to Kochi airport. From airport, it continues on Angamaly-Airport Road to MC Road until Angamaly. From MC Road Junction in Angamaly, Metro line will proceed further towards Thrissur side, around 2km on NH-544.

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