India’s Ministry of Railways awarded the state-owned Rites, a transport infrastructure consultancy and engineering company, three rail contracts with a total value of Rs. 4027 crore (USD 543.2 million).
“We are happy to have secured Rites’ highest-ever order. This new order testament to our project delivering capabilities and expertise in undertaking mega infrastructure projects. It also demonstrates our efforts to consolidate our order book amid the challenging business environment,” Suresh Kumar, the Managing Director of Rites said.
The rail contracts cover three new line projects which includes the Belgam – Dharwad via Kittur line, the Shimoga – Shikaripura – Ranebennur railway and the Tumkur – Devangree line crossing through Chitradurga.
The Belgam – Dharwad railway will be 73 km – long and will connect Kittur, MK Hubballi and Bagewadi in the southern state of Karnataka. The railway link will reduce the distance between Belagavi and Dharwad by 31 km, reducing the travel time and improving transport connectivity along the Pune – Bengaluru highway route. The line will have 12 stations, of which three existing stations will be modernised. USD 125 million is the value of the project which is expected to be completed in 2025.
The Shimoga – Shikaripura – Ranebennur rail project covers a 103 km line and is part of the South Western Railway network. The project is estimated at USD 134.23 million.
The Tumkur – Devangree railway will be constructed in Karnataka state and is split into five phases covering Tumkuru, Chitradurga and Davangere districts. The government of Karnataka has submitted an Act to acquire the necessary land totalling 2415 acre but according to a 2021 report only 156 acres at isolated locations has been handed over in Tumkuru. The Indian Government agreed to provide land free of cost and offered to bear 50% of the cost. The project includes a 200 km double track broad gauge line. It is estimated that USD 266 million is the value of this construction project expected to be completed by March 2025.
Rites is currently executing track doubling works for Gooty – Dharmavaram and the construction of the third line on the Annupur-Pendra Road totalling 140 km. These projects are near completion.
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