The Hindu Business Line : Five consortia keen on Delhi airport-city centre rail link

Project details
Consortia would have to form a SPV that would offer service
Government participation will be through Delhi Metro by provision of land
Delhi Metro will handle civil works for the project

New Delhi May 21 Five consortia consisting of global rail rolling stock firms and infrastructure development companies have expressed an interest to design and operate the 19-km rail link between New Delhi's city centre and international airport.

Canadian rolling stock major Bombardier has tied up with IL&FS for the project. While German firm Siemens Transportation has joined hands with Gammon India, another competing consortium comprises Larsen & Toubro and American player GE Transportation.

Reliance Energy has roped in Spanish rolling stock company CAF for the project. The fifth firm to have expressed interest is a Malaysian company, which has experience in similar projects operations, said sources in the know.

When contacted, Delhi Metro officials declined to comment.

PROJECT DETAILS

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had invited expressions of interest from consortia to design, commission and operate the airport-city centre rail link for a 30-year period. The consortium which gets the concession will have to install all systems including rolling stock, overhead electrification, track, signalling and telecommunication, ventilation and air-conditioning, automatic fare collection, baggage check-in and handling, depot and other facilities.

The Government hopes to complete this project before the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be held in the city. The consortia would have to subsequently bid for the project and form a special purpose company that would offer the service. The Government participation in the project would be through Delhi Metro by provision of land. Delhi Metro would handle the civil works for the project.

For the project, Delhi Metro is taking general advisory services from a joint venture comprising Pacific Consultants International of Japan, Japan Railway Technical Services, Tonichi Engineering of Japan, RITES and Parsons Brinckerhoff.

EXPERIENCE

Bombardier, which has won a contract to provide rolling stock for the Beijing Capital International Airport Link before the 2008 Olympic Games, has provided rolling stock for the Vancouver SkyTrain; New York City's 13-km AirTrain connecting JFK; the 29-km Kuala Lumpur Kelana Jaya line in Malaysia, among others.

Siemens has participated in various forms in several high-speed airport link projects internationally including China's Transrapid service that connects international airport in Shanghai to the finance centre; UK's rail link between Heathrow airport and London; Malaysia's rail link connecting the Kuala Lumpur International Airport with the main stations; and Bangkok's new airport link.

CAF has delivered products for the Spanish Railway National Network , Heathrow Express, Hong Kong Airport Express Line and Turkish Rail, among others.

GE Transportation provides signalling and communication systems for rail-based passenger transport systems.

More Stories on : Railways | Urban Development | Airlines

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
New airline planned for North-East

Satyam bags multi-year deal from aircraft co

IOSL signs pact with Bangalore intl airport

Panel for expediting HSL, HDPEL revival packages

Addl responsibility for KSINC chief

Cease-work: Impasse at Howrah's Shalimar goods shed

Five consortia keen on Delhi airport-city centre rail link