L&T Lands ‘Mega Order’ for Electrification of Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

Introduction

Larsen & Toubro (L&T), India’s leading engineering and construction company, has secured a ‘mega order’ to build the electrification system for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project, popularly known as the bullet train project. The order, awarded by an authorised Japanese agency, involves the construction of 508 km of high-speed electrification system works for the MAHSR project, which is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL).

Value of Order

L&T did not disclose the exact value of the contract, but it counts an order as ‘mega’ when it is valued between Rs 10,000-15,000 crore. The order is part of the estimated cost of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore (US$15 billion) for the MAHSR project, which includes 24 trainsets, construction interest and import duties.

Scope of Work

The scope of work for L&T includes design, manufacture, supply, construction, installation, testing and commissioning of 2 x 25 kV power supply electrification system including traction substations, high-speed overhead equipment and MV/LV power distribution equipment works on design-build lump sum price basis. The project will use the Japanese Shinkansen high-speed electrification technology with sophisticated equipment including heavy compound catenary system, change over switches, etc. The electrification system will enable trains to travel at up to 320 kmph speed.

Project Significance

The MAHSR project is India’s first high-speed rail project that aims to connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad with a travel time of about two hours. The project will reduce the distance between the two cities from 534 km to 508 km and will have 12 stations along the route. The project is expected to boost economic growth, regional development, trade and tourism in the western region of India. The project will also enhance India’s technological capabilities and create employment opportunities in the railway sector.

L&T’s Expertise

L&T is India’s leading player in the railway electrification domain, possessing expertise across various types of electrification systems such as conventional 1X25 kV system, high rise and low-rise 2X25 kV system for mainline and freight railways, 25 kV AC rigid and flexible overhead catenary systems for metros, 750/1500 V DC overhead catenary systems for metros and LRTs, special Japanese type feeder messenger systems for DC overhead electrification, DC third rail electrification systems, etc. L&T has also secured other contracts for the MAHSR project such as trackworks and civil packages. L&T’s chairman and managing director S N Subrahmanyan said that this MAHSR systems package is critical for the success of the bullet train project and that it reflects the customer’s and the Japanese government’s huge trust on L&T’s design and execution capabilities.