Chennai factory to supply 153 AC Metro-type coaches

Bengaluru: Bengaluru Integrated Rail Infrastructure Development Enterprises Ltd (Bi-RIDE) issued a work order to Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, for supply of 153 air-conditioned broad-gauge Metro-type coaches for Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project (BSRP). Bi-RIDE is a subsidiary of K-RIDE (Rail Infrastructure Development Company Karnataka Ltd).The coaches directly procured from ICF Chennai will be deployed for corridors 2 and 4 of BSRP. The total value of the work order is around Rs 1,514 crore. "As per the contract awarded on May 6, ICF must commence supply of coaches within 18 months. This deadline has been set with the objective of opening Chikkabanavara-Yeshwantpur section, which falls under corridor 2," according to a K-RIDE press release.The procurement of coaches is in line with the timeline set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Pragati meeting in Dec 2025. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed between the two organisations soon, K-RIDE said. Apart from coaches, the scope of the work order includes detailed design and manufacturing of rolling stock, quality inspection, integration, testing and commissioning, obtaining statutory approvals from Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), coordination and interfacing with the designated contracts for signalling, traction and power supply, and platform screen doors.While sanctioning the project, KRIDE was asked to lease coaches required for the project from private agencies for operations and maintenance. But multiple tenders floated by KRIDE failed to yield expected results. Later, it was decided to directly procure coaches from ICF. In April, govt gave exemption under Section 4(g) of Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, 1999, for procurement of the coaches from ICF."Through this partnership with ICF, we are ensuring that required train coaches will be available by the time track and systems infrastructure work for corridors 2 and 4 is completed," KRIDE MD Laxman Singh said.BSRP project, sanctioned in 2020 with a deadline of 6 years, is progressing at a slow pace. Recently, K-RIDE revived the stalled corridor 2 (Byappanahalli-Chikkabanavara) project by awarding fresh contracts to take up pending works of two packages, whereas fresh tenders will be floated for the third package. For corridor 4, from Heelalige to Rajankunte, KRIDE is yet to float tenders for pending works.