Bengaluru suburban rail: PJB Engineers, NCC emerge lowest bidders for Benniganahalli-Chikkabanawara civil works

Bengaluru suburban rail project

• PJB Engineers and NCC are lowest bidders for BSRP civil works
• K-RIDE yet to award tenders after opening financial bids
• Bids are higher than L&T's previous contract value

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PJB Engineers and NCC have emerged as the lowest bidders for civil works on the Bennigana Halli-Chikkabanawara corridor of the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP), sources told Moneycontrol.

The tenders for the Mallige Line were re-floated in November by Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE), a joint venture between the Karnataka government and the Union ministry of railways, after Larsen & Toubro (L&T) exited the contract.

For Package 1 (Benniganahalli-Shettihalli), NCC is the sole bidder, quoting Rs 1,085 crore, sources said. This section includes the design and construction of a double-decker viaduct, including a Level 1 BBMP road flyover and Level 2 suburban rail tracks over a 1.2-km stretch between Lottegollahalli and Yeswantpur.

It remains unclear whether K-RIDE will proceed with awarding the contract to NCC or opt for a re-tender, given that it received a single bid.

For Package 2 (Benniganahalli-Hebbal), PJB Engineers-CVCC joint venture emerged as the lowest bidder at Rs 263.49 crore. NCC’s bid was for Rs 541 crore.

For Package 3 (Yeswantpur-Chikkabanavara), PJB Engineers had the lowest bid at Rs 106.29 crore. RNS Infrastructure quoted Rs 119.3 crore and CEM India Rs 205.8 crore.

“We have opened financial bids but are yet to award the tenders. K-RIDE board will take a final decision,” a source told Moneycontrol.

Also read: Bengaluru suburban rail: After L&T’s exit, K-RIDE floats fresh civil work tenders for Benniganahalli-Chikkabanawara corridor

The combined quoted amounts are significantly higher than the earlier contract value of Rs 859.97 crore that had been awarded to L&T.

Why were tenders called afresh?

On November 4, K-RIDE invited fresh tenders for civil works on Mallige Line after L&T terminated its contracts. The K-RIDE board, chaired by Karnataka chief secretary, authorised managing director to invite fresh tenders following the termination of contracts for Mallige Line and Kanaka Line (Heelalige-Rajanakunte).

K-RIDE had said earlier the three packages under Corridor 2 would eliminate eight level crossings along the route. “K-RIDE is determined to complete the remaining works of BSRP Corridor 2 without any further delay,” the statement had said. However, it is yet to invite civil work tenders for Kanaka Line.

Also read: Bengaluru suburban rail: K-RIDE may re-tender two corridors after standoff with L&T

The dispute began after K-RIDE allegedly failed to hand over the required land, prompting L&T to suspend work in March 2025 on the 25-km Mallige Line and the 46-km Kanaka Line.

The 148-km Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project was approved by the Centre in October 2020 and was to be completed by 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while laying the stone in June 2022, had said the four-corridor project would be completed within 40 months.