Simplex Infrastructures quotes lowest to build metro stretch on Bannerghatta Road

BENGALURU: Simplex Infrastructures, a Kolkata-headquartered diversified firm, has emerged as the lowest bidder to build the 7.5-km Metro corridor and five stations between Gottigere and Swagath Road Cross on Bannerghatta Road.
Its quote of Rs 578.70 crore is said to be the lowest among the bids received, a BMRCL official privy to the subject said.

The stretch, called Reach-6 in Metro jargon, consists of six stations - Gottigere, Hulimavu, IIMB, JP Nagar 4th Phase, Jayadeva and Swagath Road Cross. The 7.50-km elevated stretch is part of the 21.42 km Gottigere-Nagawara line. The Hindustan Construction Company ( in joint venture with URC Construction) will be building the Jayadeva interchange station which is part of the RV RoadBommasandra line.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) had floated bids for the construction of Gottigere Swagath Road Cross corridor in March this year. The IL & FS, sources said, quoted Rs 619.62 crore.

If awarded, the 7.5-km stretch is going to be the second major Metro contract that Simplex will be taking up in Bengaluru. Early this year, the firm won a contract to build the 3-km corridor and three stations between Hesaraghatta Cross (from Nagasandra station) and Bangalore International Exhibition Centre.

In an interview earlier this month, BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola said they would award the contract for the 7.5-km line by the end of this month.

On the remaining stretch from Swagath Road Cross to Nagawara (an underground section), BMRCL invited bids last month. The 13.79-km section consists of 12 stations. They are: Dairy Circle, Mico Industries, Langford town, Vellara Junction, MG Road, Shivajinagar, Cantonment railway station, Pottery Town, Tannery Road, Venkateshapura, Arabic College and Nagawara.

Once the entire stretch is operational, BMRCL expects a daily ridership of about four lakh on the Gottigere IIMB-Nagawara line.