The State Government has said that a special purpose vehicle (SPV) has been set up to take up the prestigious high-speed rail link project envisaged at a cost of Rs. 5,767 crores to connect Bangalore with the Bangalore International Airport limited (BIAL) at Devanahalli.
The SPV is called Bangalore Airport Rail Link limited (BARL) and it has been set up by Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation (KSSIDC) which was tasked with the job of taking up the project.
The KSSIDC, the State said, had set up the SPV for effective and expeditious implementation of the project which would commence from BRV Parade Grounds and terminate at BIAL.
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It said apart from setting up the SPV, the KSSIDC has ensured that all reports on the project, including a revised detailed project report (DPR) prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which is the official consultant for preparing the project report, have been handed over to BARL.
It also said that five firms have been shortlisted as having technically qualified for participating in quoting financial bids for the prestigious high speed rail link project that will connect Bangalore City with the Bangalore International Airport limited (BIAL) at Devanahalli.
It said Reliance Infrastructure limited and CSR Nanjing PUchen rolling Stock Co,. Ltd, K and T Transco Ltd, Italian Thai Development Public Co,. Ltd and SOMA Enterprises Ltd (ITD-SOMA), Pioneer Infratech Pvt Ltd and Siemens Project Venture Gmbh and LANCO Infratech Lts and OH: Concessiones S.L., have been selected to participate in further process of finalising the project.
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The State said the procurement documents were prepared as per the model suggested by the Centre. The State made these statements in an affidavit filed before the Karnataka High Court.
The Principal Secretary to the Department of Infrastructure Development, V. Madhu, in the affidavit said the Delhi metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which is the official consultants for the project, had already prepared a draft request for proposal (RFP), draft concession agreement and manual of specifications and standards (MSS) along with a revised detailed project report (DPR).
It said all these draft documents have been recently approved by the Board of Directors of BARL and subsequently by the State Government. These reports are now with the Centre for final approval.
According to sources in the Department of Infrastructure, the Centre is expected to clear these documents for issue to the five applicants who would then respond to the request for proposal with their financial proposals.