Anil Ambani Group’s Reliance Infrastructure Limited said it received a Rs 774 cr contract to build 105 km of railway track, including 13 railway stations and staff quarters.
The order from Rail Vikas Nigam Limited is the first from the firm to be awarded to the Anil Ambani company.
The scope of work includes Civil, Track, Electrification, Signalling and Telecom works of the third line between Jimidipeta and Gotlam on East Coast Railway in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Reliance Infrastructure beat competitors like L&T and NCC to bag the contract.
The line between Jimidipeta to Gotlam is part of the Titlagarh-Vizianagaram double line.
“It is an important rail link between Jharsuguda and Visakhapatnam, and serves as a bypass Rail link to Howrah-Mumbai trunk route and Howrah-Chennai main line of East Coast region.” the company said.
It also caters to the goods and passenger traffic from Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur and Raygada with Koraput on the Kottavalsa-Kirandaul line.
“This order marks our foray into Railway EPC (construction) segment and further strengthens Reliance Infrastructure Limited’s bona fide to lead in construction of rail transportation systems,” said Arun Gupta, head of the comany’s engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) division. “The company is well positioned in the emerging railway market and poised to capture a sizable share.”
The Indian Railways has a plan outlay of more than Rs 7 lakh crores in the coming five years towards decongestion of railway line, establishing new railway lines and high speed railway tracks, as well as station development and other works.
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited was set up by the government to expedite the development of railways in India.
The company is tasked with no only quick implementation of railway projects, but also to involve private sector funds, and players, in the development of railways.