Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) has announced the receipt of a variation order to contract ‘MRS1’ from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), for additional 12 trainsets of 06 cars each (total 72 cars) to operate on line 2B and 7 of Mumbai metro project. “The order is valued at Rs. 501 crores (approx) on equivalent INR basis. With this, the total contract value has increased to Rs. 4318 crores (approx) from the existing Rs. 3817 crores (approx), all amounts mentioned in equivalent INR, for supplies before August 2023,” says the BEML release on 22 November.
In August 2019, BEML had received additional 21 trainsets (126 Nos.) order from the project valued at Rs 834 crore approx. The original order was for 378 metro coaches (63 metro trains) worth about Rs.3015 crore which was announced in November 2018. With the latest order, BEML has to supply 96 trainsets consisting of 576 coaches for the Mumbai Metro under MRS1. The first order was bagged under stiff competition from Alstom, Bombardier, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (Grupo CAF), CRRC Corporation Limited, Titagarh Wagons Ltd and Hyundai Rotem.
These trainsets are for Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) Rapid Transport System (MRTS) between Dahisar (E) to Mandala and Andheri (E) to Dahisar (E). The Mumbai Metro Corridor 2A, 2B & 7 corridor is a standard gauge project by the MMRDA. The metro train will operate on 25 kV AC traction and is equipped with CCTV surveillance for passenger safety and made of Stainless Steel body with four doors on each side and real-time track monitoring. The cars have a capacity of carrying 300 passengers in each Car.
BEML had announced the commencement of production of the driverless metro cars at its Bangalore Rail Coach Factory facility on 29 June 2019. The first delivery was made to the Mumbai metro on 9 September 2019. BEML Rail Coach Factory is India’s first all-steel integrated rail coach factory and was set up with the assistance and technical know-how of MAN Germany. This factory was established to indigenously manufacture the passenger rail coaches of broad gauge for the use of Indian Railways.