Metro-III: MMRDA awards `3,015 cr contract to BEML for rolling stock

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has awarded a contract to M/s BEML for the procurement and supply of 378 metro coaches (rolling stock) for Mumbai Metro 2A (Dahisar to N Nagar), 2B( DN Nagar, Andheri to Mandale, Mankhurd) and Metro line 7 (Andheri East to Dahisar East) corridors at cost of Rs 3,015 crore, according to a press release issued by the authority's spokersperson.

RA Rajeev, Metropolitan commissioner of MMRDA, said, "Major milestone has been achieved with the placement of rolling stock contract. We are confident that our rolling stock will be world class standards having latest passengers comfort, safety and energy efficiency features. Our focus will be to ensure speedy delivery now."

The company has been selected to boost the 'Make in India' initiative of Central government. BEML will manufacture the coaches here itself. Moreover, MMRDA, at the same time will have the benefit of tying up with the tenchnology partner M/s Hitachi, a Japanese firm. The international firm will finalise the coach designs for BEML.

MMRDA has asserted that the bid has saved the authority Rs 1,100 crore. The funding for the project will be done by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Government of Maharashtra together.

The authority will get the delivery of the first prototype metro train set in Mumbai by next year. So it can conduct the trail runs for Mumbai Metro lines 2A and 7, which is expected to be thrown open for public by next year. As per the agreement, 12 trains will be supplied every quarter.

These metro coaches will be of latest specifications in the country, says MMRDA. The coaches will be 3.2 metre wide, standard gauge type working 25 KV overhead traction system. The rakes will have advance unattended or driverless train operation mode equipped with a new feature of obstruction deflection devise. It enables to push away small obstacles on the track causing derailment. The six coaches train will have a carrying capacity of nearly 2,400 passengers in a trip.