Work on Delhi’s $1.1bn metro system is finally set to start after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation awarded a turnkey contract to International Metro Civil Contractors led by Germany’s Dyckerhoff & Widmann (Dywidag).
Other partners in the joint venture are Shimizu of Japan, South Korea’s Samsung Corporation and Indian firms, Larsen & Toubro, and Ircon International. Britain’s Mott MacDonald has been appointed as IMCC’s design subcontractor.
Dubbed contract MC1B, the deal involves the design and construction of 7km of underground metro between ISBT station and Central Secretariat station. Six underground stations are planned – Delhi Main, Chawri Bazar, New Delhi, Connaught Place, Patel Chowk and Central Secretariat.
Work is likely to start once the consortium receives a notice to proceed. Completion is in 59 months.
Tunnelling will mostly be carried out by TBM. The contract includes all civil works and electrical and mechanical installation including firefighting, ventilation, power supply, communications and associated equipment.
The scheme is being largely funded by the Japan Bank for International Co-operation. Some 40% of the contract payments will be made in US dollars with the rest in Indian currency.
The award follows a series of wrangles related to cost over runs which have lead to constraints and delays on the project (T&TI March 2001).
