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National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited
- National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) was incorporated on 12th February 2016 under the Companies Act, 2013,
- With an object to finance, construct, maintain and manage the High Speed Rail Corridor in India.
- The Company has been modelled as ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ in the joint sector with equity participation by Central Government and two State Governments.
- 508 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, also called the MAHSR Bullet Train project, will cover-
- 76 km in Maharashtra, 4.3 km in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and 348.04 km in Gujarat.
- The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor is being built at a cost of ₹1.08 lakh crore with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Now what has happened?
- The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) on Thursday signed an agreement for the country’s biggest infrastructure contract,
- For design and construction of 47% alignment for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.
- “The NHSRCL signed contract agreement with Larsen & Toubro Limited today for the design and construction of 237 km length of viaduct,
- Between Vapi (Zaroli Village at Maharashtra- Gujarat Border) and Vadodara in the state of Gujarat for 508 kms of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor,“
- The statement from the company said.
What the project includes?
- The contract signed with Larsen & Turbo also includes four stations namely Vapi, Billimora, Surat and Bharuch, Surat Depot,
- 14 river crossings, 42 road crossings and six railway crossings including one mountain tunnel of 350 metres length, the NHSRCL said in a statement.
Why L&T?
- The NHSRCL invited bids for the Mumbai – Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail) on March 15, 2019.
- Technical bids were opened on September 23, 2020 in which three bidders qualified.
- The other two bidders were a consortium of Tata Projects Ltd. – J Kumar Infraprojects Ltd. – NCC Ltd. JV & Afcons Infrastructure Ltd. – Ircon International Ltd. – JMC Projects India Ltd. JV.
- In less than one month, the financial bids were opened after evaluation of the technical bids.
- Larsen & Toubro has emerged as the lowest bidder to build the largest segment of the upcoming high speed rail line between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
- The company bid ₹24,985 crore for constructing the 237.1 km line.
What about land acquisition?
- Chairman Railway Board VK Yadav said 66 per cent land —
- 86 percent of total project land in Gujarat and 22 per cent in Maharashtra — have so far been acquired for the project.
- 88 km viaduct between Vadodara and Ahmedabad in Gujarat including construction of Anand/Nadiad Station.
- The 2022 completion target for the ambitious bullet train may be pushed by another two years as the NHSRCL has spelt out.
- “Although the Indian government has been making sincere efforts to operationalise and gift India its first bullet train in 2022, to mark 75 years of Independence,
- The duration for completion of the works is four years from the date of commencement of the contract.”
Q) Which of the following statement is correct?
- Most of India’s external debt is owed by governmental entities.
- All of India’s external debt is denominated in US dollars.
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 & 2
- None of the above
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