Underground facility to be constructed on east coast by South Asia LPG Co Pvt Ltd, a jv of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and TotalFina of France. Sept 1999. Project design comprises three caverns in rock 145 m below sea level to provide 60,000 t storage capacity. Location underground will eliminate damage by cyclones and reduce potential for sabotage. Completion in early-2003 at estimated cost of Rs2 billion. January 2000.  Four companies have been shortlisted for the country's first underground Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) storage facility at Visakhapatnam. South Asia LPG Company Ltd (SALPG), a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and the French oil major TotalFinaElf, which is implementing the project, has shortlisted four international companies for executing the project on a turnkey basis. The four companies are S.K. Engineering Co of Korea, LG Engineering and Construction Co.; Sweden's NCC International AB-France's Sofragaz jv, and JGC Corporation of Japan. The four have been asked to submit their detailed financial and technical bids by next month. The project requires a U-shaped cavern at a depth of 162 metres below ground, . The cavern itself will 24 m-high and 317 m-long for a the total storage capacity of 60,000 tons. Construction to start in May or June this year. 05/02.The commissioning of the country's first underground LPG storage facility by SALPG at Visakhapatnam, one of the deepest mined caverns in the world, is scheduled for June 2007. SALPG, a joint venture between Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Total Gas & Power India, a wholly owned subsidiary of French company Total, is setting up the mined cavern for LPG storage at a cost of Rs3.3 billion, with a capacity to store 60,000 tonnes of LPG.The internal walls of the storage facility are not subjected to concreting and the natural surface of the rocks deep within the earth would store the LPG. The stored product is prevented from escaping on the principle of hydraulic containment, whereby the cavern is located at such a depth that the water naturally present in the surrounding rock creates a counter pressure higher than the pressure of the stored product, preventing it from migrating. The water pressure in the rock can be enhanced artificially by special water supply systems (water curtains). In this case, the main storage is located 162 metres below Mean Sea Level (MSL), with the deepest portion being 196 metres below MSL. The underground construction involved excavation of a 4-m diameter vertical shaft that extends up to a depth of 196 m below MSL. At 144 m below MSL, the operation shaft is connected to the water curtain gallery on the basis of the containment principle. Further down, at 178 m below MSL, the operation shaft is connected to the main storage zone by a 4.5 m-high tunnel, called the cavern operation shaft lower connection. The main storage cavern comprises components such as upper shaft connection, east and west cavern main galleries and intermediate connection, which together give a volume of 123,000 cubic metres. The work involved continuous underground blasting of rock, which was powdered and lifted up the shaft for disposal outside. Larsen & Toubro is undertaking the cavern construction work. Visit www.lntecc.com 50/06.

  First phase of proposed 55.3 km 3-line network involves 11 km of underground railway between Delhi University and the Central Secretariat near Parliament House using TBMs. Completion 2007. General consultants: joint venture led by Pacific Consultants International (Japan) and including Jarts and Rites. Client: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. September 1998.   Fifteen consortia, each associated with one or more local companies, have been shortlisted for construction of the 11 km-long underground section. The rest of the network will consist of 44.3 km of elevated and surface lines from Shadara to Nangloi and Subzimandi to Holambikalan. The US$690 million underground contract will be let as two separate packages: design and construction of the 4 km-long section from Delhi University station to the south end of the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT); and design and construction of the 7 km-long section from ISBT to Central Secretariat. Among the shortlisted bidders for one or both packages are: Impregilo (Italy), Nesco (Spain), with Gammon (India); Kumagai Gumi (Japan), Skanska (Sweden), with Hindustan Construction (India) and Itochu (Japan); Dyckerhoff & Widmann (Germany), Shimizu (Japan), and Larsen & Toubro (India); Samsung (South Korea), with Ircon International (India); and Hyundai (South Korea), with Jai Prakash (India). Total cost of the metro project is now expected to be more than US$1.8 billion on completion. January 2000. Line 1 will run 11 km underground from Delhi University at Vishwavidyalaya in the north to Central Secretariat in the south, serving 10 stations. Line 2, the first 25 km surface/elevated route, will link Shahdara in the east to Nangloi in the west via Subzimandi and Tri Nagar. Line 3 was intended to run 19.3 km from Subzimandi to Holambi Kalan, but as this parallels an existing Indian Railways (IR) line, the government is considering whether to build a 16-km route from Tri Nagar to Barwala instead. Tenders are currently being evaluated for construction of Line 1 (underground), and the winning contractors should be announced later this year. Firms shortlisted for the project include Kumagai Gumi, Kajima Corp. and Obayashi of Japan, Skanska AB of Sweden, and Dywidag of Germany. With a water table only 1.5 m below ground level, underground construction will be challenging. From Vishwavidyalaya to New Delhi the ground is a mix of soft soil and quartzitic rock varying from sound to highly weathered. Between New Delhi and Central Secretariat the soft soil is mixed with silt, clay and sand. Construction will be split into two sections, north and south of ISBT. Nine of the stations will be built by cut-and-cover, except Chwari Bazar, which will be NATM. The running tunnels will be bored by EPBs. The northern half of the route, from Vishwavidyalaya to ISBT, is due to open in March, 2004 and the southern section in March, 2005. To help with project management, DMRC has brought in a number of general consultants, including PCI, Tonichi and JARTS of Japan, Parsons Brinckerhoff International of the USA, and RITES (Rail India Technical & Economic Services) of India. Visit www.pbworld.com Sept 2000. Award of turnkey design/construct contract for 7 km-long underground section between ISBT station and Central Secretariat to Larsen & Toubro, in jv with Dyckerhoff & Widmann, Samsung, Shimizu and Ircon, value Rs 16.50 billion, duration 59 months, funded by JBIC for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, 40% in dollars, 60% rupees. Visit www.dywidag.de 13/01. Work has commenced on the underground section of the Delhi metro rail project between Thei University and Central Secretariat. This 11 km-long line will have ten sections. The stations are to be located 12.85 m-deep. Visit www.delhimetrorail.com 44/01. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has included the Dwarka-Connaught Place stretch in its first phase. The 23.5 km-long stretch will have 1.5 km underground, 19.7 km elevated and 2.3 km at grade with 20 stations. The Connaught Place-West Patel Nagar and West Patel Nagar-Dwarka stretches should both be commissioned by September, 2005. Visit www.delhimetrorail.com 45/01. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will be using mechanised tunnelling for constructing 4 km of Line 1 in the extremely congested areas near Chawri Bazaar, New Delhi railway station, Connaught Place and in the stretch between Delhi University and Central Secretariat. Three large TBMs capable of boring a 6.8 m-diameter tunnel will be used. Lining will consist of precast concrete segments. The DMRC has constructed a segment casting plant at Nangloi and the moulds have been fabricated in France. Visit www.delhimetrorail.com 26/02.Prequalification for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of tunnel ventilation and environmental control system at Barakhamba Road underground station for Line 3, section Barakhamba Road-Connaught Place-Dwarka. Deadline 21st February, 2003. Tender value: US$1 million. Contact Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, NBCC Place, 3rd floor, Brishma Pithama Marg, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi 110003. Visit www.delhimetrorail.comIndvent Fans Pvt Ltd wishes to form a consortium or enter a JV with individuals, firms, limited companies who have carried out any similar works of US$1 million in the last five years. Contact Sushil K. Pachisia, e-mail pachisia@nde.vsnl.net.in and skpndin@vsnl.com. Visit www.indventfans.com 06/03.Metro Tunnelling Group, an international joint venture of Strabag's affiliate Dywidag International, Samsung, Larsen & Toubro, IRCON International, and Shimizu, received a letter of acceptance from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for contract BC18. The scope of work for the new EUR83 million contract includes the design and civil works for a 2.7 km-long tunnel and two underground stations. Within the construction period of 36 months, the tunnel will be built by shield TBM whereas the stations will be constructed using the cut-and-cover method. Visit www.dywidag-international.com, www.larsentoubro.com and www.irconinternational.com 04/07.Prequalification notice (No. DMRC/20/II-98/2006), deadline 6th February, 2007 to shortlist tunnelling contractors for the underground works of the Airport Metro Rail Link from New Delhi railway station to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport. The contract package includes the structural design and construction based on layout plans prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), complete design and construction of tunnels by NATM, traffic management during the construction, utility relocation and diversion, etc. The New Delhi railway station to IGI airport metro Link has a length of approximately 18,775 metres. Out of that 12.5 km of stretch will be underground. NATM shall be used most likely from Shivaji Stadium to Moti Bagh station in stretches for about 3 to 3.5 km. Rest of the portion of underground will be either by TBM or by cut-and-cover method. For TBM sections, prequalification document will be put on the DMRC web site in 10 days time. Tenders will be invited from the qualified contractors in 2-3 months time. Visit www.delhimetrorail.com/corporates/tenders/td_020106.pdf or contact Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, 8, Jantar Mantar, New Delhi 110001. Tel. +91 1123362790, fax +91 1123362791. E-mail rkdmrc@gmail.com 05/07.Expression of interest and prequalification, deadline 10th March, 2007 for a concessionaire to design, supply, finance, install, operate, maintain and transfer all systems like rolling stock, traction, signalling and telecommunication, ventilation and air conditioning, track, depot, baggage check-in, etc. required for operation of this Airport Metro Rail Link. The purpose is to advise the prospective bidders of the project, its components and project structure; invite responses from market participants so that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) can select a short list of qualified bidders for the next stage(s) of the concession process; and advise the market of the evaluation criteria for selecting short listed parties / qualification of the parties. The Airport Metro Rail Link from New Delhi railway station to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport has a total length of 18,775 metres, whereof 12,575 metres underground. The underground section from New Delhi to Shivaji terminal will consist of two tunnels of 6 m in diameter each, while the underground section beyond Shivaji terminal to Moti Bagh will consist of one tunnel of 9.5 m diameter. The tunnel diameter is linked to train size, ventilation requirement, permissible air velocity in the tunnel, technical feasibility and size of ventilation fans.For the underground sections, soils are sandy silt of medium to low plasticity. The rock encountered is slightly weathered strong quartzite. Bored tunnelling or cut-and-cover construction is foreseen. For cut-and-cover construction, suitably designed diaphragm walls will have to be provided. Visit www.delhimetrorail.com/corporates/tenders/td_110107.pdf or contact Dy. Chief Engineer (Airport Line), tel. / fax +91 1124366238. E-mail rkdmrc@gmail.com 05/07.The DMRC signed an agreement with a consortium consisting of Pacific Consultants International of Japan, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Japan Railway Technical Service, Tonichi Engineering Consultants of Japan and RITES of India for providing consultancy in tender management, project management and construction supervision for the new airport metro line. Visit www.pci-world.com/en/index.html, www.pbworld.com, www.tonichi-c.co.jp and www.rites.com 05/07.The twin tunnel section to be built by Metro Tunnelling Group belongs to Line 2 which is heading south of the centre. It is approx. 3.2 km long (6.4 km in total). The inner diameter is 5,700 mm and the outer diameter is 6,260 mm. The names of the new stations are Hauz Khas and Malviya Nagar. For this work an existing Herrenknecht shield TBM from a previous contract completed in June 2005 by the same contractor is going to be used after some revamping. The geology is fine grained, consisting of sandy silt. No ground water is expected. Construction is expected to start eight months after notice to proceed. Issuance is expected end of January. End of construction will be 25 months after commencement. Click in/11. Visit www.dywidag-international.com/en/projects/references/india_delhi_metropolitan/index.html and www.herrenknecht.com 05/07.Prequalification notice (No. DMRC/20/II-115/2007), deadline 9th March, 2007 to shortlist tunnelling contractors for design and construction by TBM of the Airport Metro Rail Link from New Delhi railway station to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Large diameter TBM shall be used most likely from Shivaji Stadium to Moti Bagh for about 1.5 km. Small diameter TBM shall be used most likely from New Delhi Station to Shivaji Stadium and beyond for a length approx. 3.5 km (each tube will be counted as single length). The Airport Express Rail Link is starting from New Delhi station and passing through Connaught Place, Presidential Estate, Teen Murti Road, Shanti Path, Moti Bagh, Rao Tularam Marg, DDA area near Vasant Vihar, Defence area and finally reaching IGI Airport. Out of total 18.775 km, approximately 12.5 km will be underground, partly in soil and partly in rock and there are stretches where mixed geological conditions have also been encountered during investigation. The project has to be completed before the Commonwealth Games slated in October 2010. Visit www.delhimetrorail.com/corporates/tenders/tenderdoc.pdf or contact Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, 8, Jantar Mantar, New Delhi 110001. Tel. +91 1123362790, fax +91 1123362791. E-mail rkdmrc@gmail.com 08/07.Taiwan's Continental Engineering Corporation (CEC), who holds a 70% share, and local firm Soma Enterprise (30%) have been awarded package contract No. BC-16, worth INR8.13 billion, for the design and construction of the 5,250 m-long stretch between Udyog Bhawan and Green Park stations (both excluded), on the Central Secretariat-Qutab Minar corridor, as part of Phase 2 of Line 2 of the Delhi metro. The scope of works includes twin tunnels, 4,014 m in length and 5.6 m in diameter, and four stations, each 318 m long, at Race Course, Jor Bagh, INA and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The project will take Line 2 to south Delhi. The contractors have appointed two design consultants for the project, China Engineering Consultants from Taiwan and Tandon Consultants from India. CEC said that four TBMs from Germany and Japan would be imported for the project. The construction period for the project is 40 months. Visit www.cec.com.tw, www.somaenterprise.com, www.ceci.org.tw/english, www.tcpl.com and www.delhimetrorail.com 09/07.Austrian construction company Strabag has bagged a INR5 billion (over EUR83 million) contract from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for construction of three 2 km-long tunnel stretches and two underground railway stations. The project will be completed in 38 months by its German subsidiary Dywidag International, which manages Metro Tunnelling Group (MTG), a consortium of two Indian, one Japanese and one South Korean companies. MTG includes Larsen & Toubro, Ircon, Shimizu and Samsung. The project includes design and construction of the civil work of the tunnel. This is part of the second phase of metro development that will extend the network to Indira Gandhi International Airport, Gurgaon, Noida and Badarpur. Click in/11. Visit www.delhimetrorail.com, www.dywidag.com, www.larsentoubro.com, www.irconinternational.com, www.shimz.co.jp/english/index.html and www.secc.co.kr/e_secc/index.asp 16/07.Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) invites sealed tenders, deadline 25th June, 2007 from international contractors for the design and construction of two underground stations and tunnels between New Delhi station and Talkatora Garden on the Airport Metro Express Line project, estimated to cost INR5.4 billion. Contact Project Director (ALC), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, 8 Jantar Mantar Road, Near Patel Chowk Metro Station, New Delhi 110001 or contact www.delhimetrorail.com/corporates/latest_tenders.html 21/07.Five consortia have shown interest in designing, supplying, installing, commissioning, operating and transferring all systems like rolling stock, traction, signalling and telecommunication, ventilation and air conditioning, track, depot and other facilities, automatic fare collection, baggage check-in and handling required for the 18.7 km Airport Metro Rail Link from New Delhi railway station to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, whereof 12.6 km underground. They are: Bombardier and IL&FS; Siemens Transportation, Leighton Asia and Gammon Infrastructure Projects; GE Transportation and Larsen & Toubro; CAF and Reliance Energy; and YTL Corp. The concessionaire will operate the system for 30 years, including construction time. 31/07.In March, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) named a joint venture led by Pacific Consultants International of Japan and including Japan Railway Technical Services, Tonichi Engineering, Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) and Parsons Brinckerhoff as the general consultant for the Delhi Airport Rail Link. The a four-station express rail line is being delivered as a public-private partnership (PPP) and is due to open in time for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The joint venture will provide a range of services throughout the development of the rail link, and initially will prepare tender documents, oversee the bidding process and award of contacts to the project, followed by design review and approvals. Once contractors have been appointed, the joint venture will supervise and monitor all contractors, design consultants, suppliers and manufacturers. Responsibilities will also include safety assurance, verification of testing, trials and commissioning of systems, planning for operations and maintenance and training of DMRC personnel. Visit www.delhimetrorail.com, www.pci-world.com, www.jarts.or.jp/en/index.html, www.rites.com and www.pbworld.com 31/07.Hindustan Construction Company in joint venture with Alpine Mayreder and Samsung Corporation bagged a INR7.74 billion contract from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the design and construction of 2.2 km-long twin bored tunnels, with a finished internal diameter of minimum 5.6 m for single track railway, including access and ventilation shaft and a 1.27 km-long cut-and-cover tunnel with two underground stations (New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium) for twin track railway including ramps and reinforced concrete structures to the underground stations. It also includes external and temporary works for the metro rail transmission system link between New Delhi and Talkatora Garden stations. This project is part of the Airport Metro Express Line and is to be completed in 32 months from the date of conclusion of the agreement. HCC's share in the total value is 33% or INR2.55 billion. Visit www.hccindia.com, www.alpine.at and www.secc.co.kr/e_secc/index.asp 40/07.Hindustan Construction Company has received a contract worth INR9.8 billion from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to construct two underground stations and a tunnel between New Delhi and Talkatora Garden stations on the Airport Metro Express Line project. Visit www.hccindia.com 44/07.A 51-49 joint venture of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Shanghai Urban Construction (Group) Corporation has won a INR2.75 billion order from the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) to design and build a 2.4 km twin tunnel starting from the Indira Gandhi International Airport station to Dwarka Sector 21 on the Airport Metro Express Line. The JV is the first of its kind with a Chinese partner. To be completed in 120 weeks, the project involves construction of 1.6 km of bored twin tunnel using a TBM and 800 metres of tunnel by cut and cover method. Out of the six underground packages already awarded by DMRC in the Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar corridor of the Phase II projects, L&T and L&T JVs have so far bagged five contracts for a combined value of INR9.25 billion. With this new order, the total value of orders reaches INR12 billion. Visit www.larsentoubro.com and www.sucgcn.com/english/01.php 48/07.Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) has bagged a INR2.97 billion contract in joint venture with Alpine Mayreder from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). HCC has a 49% share of the value (INR1.45 billion). The contract covers the design and construction of a 2.6 km-long NATM tunnel between Talkatora Garden and Budha Jayanti Park stations, with a finished internal diameter of minimum 10 m for twin track railway, including access and ventilation shaft. It also includes external and temporary works for the metro rail transmission system link between Talkatora Garden and Budha Jayanti Park. This project is part of the Airport Metro Express Line and it has to be completed by 15th July, 2010. In September 2007, HCC in joint venture with Alpine Mayreder and Samsung Corporation had received a design and construction contract of two stations and a tunnel between New Delhi and Talkatora Garden stations. Click in/11. Visit www.hccindia.com and www.alpine.at 52/07-01/08.Invitation to tender, deadline 26th February, 2008 for design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of tunnel ventilation system and TVS-SCADA for nine underground stations (Udyog Bhawan, Race Course, Jorbagh, INA, AIIMS, Green Park, Haus Khas, Malviya Nagar and Saket) and associated tunnel sections on the Central Secretariat to Qutub Minar corridor of Phase 2 of Line 2 of the Delhi metro. Contact Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Chief Electrical Engineer/Planning, 3rd Floor, NBCC Place, Bhishma Pitamah Marg, Pragati Vihar, New Delhi 110003, e-mail sharatsharma@dmrc.org. Visit www.delhimetrorail.com 03/08.

  Preliminary design of the priority lines completed in 1998. Total length of LRT network 123 km, 18 km underground and 17 km elevated. 68 stations planned, 23 of which are underground and 11 elevated. Priority is 12.5 km-long North-South line from Kaveh to Soffeh passing under the Zayandeh Rud river at city centre, which is in tunnel for most of its length. Both cut & cover and boring under consideration. Internal diameters of bored tunnel 8.0 m and 5.8 m respectively for twin track and single track. More from euro@isfahan.org.ir 17/01. Pre-feasibility studies completed for 4.7 km tunnel to be excavated by 9 m-diameter EPB in soft ground comprising clay and saturated sand and gravel layers. Proposals invited for acquisition of used TBM or for JV with external TBM contractor. Contact Esfahan LRT Project Management, khashayar@parsiannet.com 40/01.The 12.5 km north-south line A from Kaveh to Soffeh includes 15 stations. The project requires 5.7 m-high, 8 m-wide double-track cut-and-cover tunnels, two 5 km single-track bored tunnels and 14 m-wide 1,500 sq m stations. Phase one from Kaveh to Imam Hossein (4.7 km) will be finished in 2005 and phase two from Imam Hossein to Soffeh (7.8 km) is scheduled for completion in 2007. The Kaveh depot-Shohada section (3 km as part of phase 1) is under construction since June 2001 using the cut-and-cover method. A second section from Shohada to Azadi (end of phase 1 plus part of phase 2), 6 m inner diameter, is under preliminary design, for construction with a 6.7 m EPB shield ordered to Herrenknecht due to be delivered in September 2003 for tunnelling start one month later. The third section from Azadi to Soffeh will also be built in cut-and-cover. Financing by the government of Iran (50%) and the city of Esfahan (50%). More from Mr. Khashayar Bagherinia, Technical Engineering Deputy of Esfahan Metro, e-mail kh_bagherinia@yahoo.com. Visit www.esfahanmetro.org 37/02.Two revamped Herrenknecht EPB shields, OD 6,890 mm and ID 6 m, to arrive in Esfahan in December 2003 for the first machine and in January or February 2004 for the second to drive from April or May 2004 the 2 x 5 km Shohada-Azadi section as part of the 12.5 km north-south line. It is a double-tube single-track tunnel that will cross the Zayandeh Rud river. Logistics equipment to be supplied by Maschinen- und Stahlbau Dresden (MSD) and segment moulds by CBE of France. Contractor is Iranian company Alamot. Cost around $33 million. Visit www.herrenknecht.com, www.msd-dresden.de and www.cbe-tunnels.comIranian contractor Daghigh is building since June 2001 a 3 km-long, 5.7 m-high, 8 m-wide double-track single-tube tunnel box between Kaveh depot and Shohada as part of phase 1. Completion is expected in December 2003. Third section from Azadi to Soffeh is a horse shoe-shaped tunnel, also built by Alamot, using three Paurat roadheaders. Shaft construction started in May 2003 and construction will be finished in May 2005. Visit www.wirth-europe.de/roadheaders/paurat.htm. More from Mr. Khashayar Bagherinia, Technical Engineer and Deputy of Esfahan Metro, e-mail kh_bagherinia@yahoo.com. Visit www.esfahanmetro.org 44/03.

  Khayam Main Drain to replace polluted network of traditional drains. Total length of tunnel 21.5 km at depth of 20-40 m into which a variety of smaller sewers will discharge. 400 km system of watercourses, surface drains and tunnels planned, of which 260 km complete and 63 km under construction. Three contracts using methods matched to ground conditions: 4,042 m of 2.8 m diameter horseshoe configuration; 5,625 m of 3.7 m TBM drive using 4.3 m Lovat ME170SE EPB; and 1,830 m of 4.6 m diameter cut-and-cover and NATM. Another 10 km of 1.8 m diameter horseshoe configuration is being driven for outlets. Supervision and technical support: Gueno and Maunsell; contractors: Debleh-Alamoot for Contract 1 ($1.4m), Andrade Gutierrez jv for Contracts 2 ($12.4m)and 3 ($8.85m); designer: Omran Mohit Zist. March 1999.

  Russian company Zarubezhvodstroy signed a contract for construction of the Eastern Dzhezyra hydrotechnical complex on river Tigris. The contract value is estimated at €72 million. Includes a dam, distributing manifold, irrigation canal and two tunnels with a total length of 6 km. The completion period is mid-2004. Visit www.ropnet.ru/pages/zvstroy 52/01.

Negotiated procedure, deadline 6th June, 2006 for integration and design of the new interconnector tunnel, associated infrastructure and safety system reliability. The project will consist of a railway tunnel connecting the two main railway stations of Dublin (Connolly and Heuston) and will include five new underground railway stations. Read E-News Weekly 47/2004, 39/2004 & 16/2003. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=093729-2006, OJ S 88, or contact Irish Rail, Dublin, fax +353 17033666. E-mail christine.hogan@irishrail.ie 20/06.Negotiated call for tenders, deadline 31st March, 2008 to procure a multi-disciplinary technical design and consultancy team for the interconnector project, which consists of a 5.2 km, twin bore, heavy rail, electrified tunnel in Dublin city centre linking the Belfast line to the Cork line together with ancillary works in connection with the tunnel. The services will be to develop and progress the existing project design to the level of detail, to undertake an environmental impact assessment and produce an environmental impact statement, together with other services, to provide technical advice on options to develop a tender strategy, including PPP, to assist in tender documentation for the procurement of a contractor, to provide technical assistance on assessment and adjudication of tenders, and to provide technical advice if required on PPP specific information. Read E-News Weekly 25/2005, 47/2004, 39/2004, 16/2003 & 52/2002. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=58743-2008, OJ S 39, or contact Irish Rail, Dublin, fax +353 17031700. E-mail ts.procurement@irishrail.ie 10/08.Negotiated invitation to tender, deadline 23rd May, 2008 for geotechnical investigation for the interconnector project, a 5.2 km-long, twin bore tunnel for electrified heavy rail in Dublin city centre linking the Belfast line to the Cork line. It is currently anticipated that there will be five underground stations at Docklands, Pearse Street, Saint Stephen's Green, Christchurch and Heuston. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=107611-2008, OJ S 79, or contact Irish Rail, Dublin, fax +353 18880212. E-mail tommy.conlon@irishrail.ie 18/08.Invitation to tender by negotiated procedure, deadline 23.01.2009, for legal advisory services to the Dublin DART PPP project, a proposed twin line, heavy rail, electrified tunnel through Dublin city centre linking the Belfast line to the Cork line, with four underground stations. Further information and specs and docs from Tommy Conlon at Irish Rail, tel +353 1858 5615, e-mail tommy.conlon@irishrail.ie. http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=008979-2009 03/09.Open invitation to tender, deadline 16.02.2009, for professional and consultancy services in connection with due diligence review in April, 2009 of design standards for DART project, a proposed 8 km-long twin bore tunnel with four stations for electrified heavy rail. Contact Tommy Conlon in Procurement Department, tel +353 1 8585615, e-mail tommy.conlon@irishrail.ie. 06/09.Invitation to tender by negotiation, deadline 23.02.2009, for provision of digital mapping services to proposed DART project, an 8 km-long twin bore underground heavy rail link between Connolly and Heuston with four stations. This notice is the call to competition, for which the forms are available for download at www.etenders.gov.ie, and will be followed by selection and tender stages. More from Tommy Conlon in Dublin, tel +353 18-585615, fax -880212, e-mail tommy.conlon@irishrail.ie http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=038091-20098 07/09.PricewaterhouseCoopers of Dublin secured the contract for the provision of external financial advisory services to NDFA in relation to the DART project. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=057884-2009 OJ S 40. 11/09.

Open invitation to tender, deadline 05.03.2010, for advance condition survey of selected properties along the line of future DART underground works. Contact Kevin Cahill at Irish Rail in Dublin, tel +353 170317-76, fax -00, e-mail kevin.cahill@irishrail.ie to whom expressions of interest and completed NW-2909 pre-qualification questionnaires downloaded from www.irishrail.ie should be sent. Document reference IE001M117112. For background details of the DART project visit tunnelbuilder archive ie/20. 09/10.

Invitation to tender by negotiated procedure, deadline 20.07.2010, for provision of underground railway extension to existing DART network to include five underground stations and one open cut station serving the Greater Dublin area. This will be a 25-30 year DBFM contract for which submissions are invited from interested candidates who wish to prequalify. Further information, specs and docs from Colm Reynolds at Irish Rail in Dublin, tel +353 185856-12, fax -01, e-mail dartundergroundprocurement@irishrail.ie to whom tenders or requests to participate should be sent. For full history of this project visit tunnelbuilder archive ie/20. For official tender details visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=142727-2010. 20/10.

Announcement of intent to design ring road with River Shannon crossing for NRA, Dublin, fax +353 166 80009. Visit www.nra.ie 26/01.620 m-long immersed tube across River Shannon will be part of $285 million design-build-operate tender for 10 km-long Limerick southern ring road expected end-2001, for construction start 2003. Visit www.cowi.dk 39/01.Preinformation notice for PPR contract for the design, construction, operation, maintenance and financing of approximately 10 km of dual carriageway forming part of a southern bypass to Limerick, including a 900 m immersed tube tunnel to cross the River Shannon. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=058342-2004, OJ S 69, or contact National Roads Authority, Dublin, fax +353 16680009 or 14122500. E-mail gmurphy@nra.ir or lerato.mulvaney@kpmg.ie. Read E-News Weekly 48/2003. 16/04.Negotiated procedure, 3rd June, 2004 for design, construction, operation, maintenance and financing of part of the southern bypass of Limerick extending from Rossbrien to the existing N18 near Cratloe Castle in County Clare. The project includes a 900 m immersed tube tunnel to cross the River Shannon. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=061769-2004, OJ S 73, or contact National Roads Authority, Dublin, fax +353 16680009 or 14122500. E-mail gmurphy@nra.ir or lerato.mulvaney@kpmg.ie. Read E-News Weekly 48/2003. 17/04.Preinformation notice for geotechnical ground investigation for the Limerick immersed tunnel to be developed as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=123089-2004, OJ S 143, or contact Limerick County Council, Limerick, fax +353 61496001. E-mail secretar@limerickcoco.ie or info@midwestroads.ie. Subscribe to E-News Weekly 7/2004 & 48/2003. 33-34/04.Four consortia have been approved for the tender stage for the DBFO (Design, Build, Finance & Operate) N7 Limerick southern ring road, Phase 2, including approx. 10 km of standard dual carriageway, 4 km of single carriageway and a 900 m tunnel under the River Shannon. They are Sli Nua (Laing O'Rourke Civil Engineering, Laing Roads, Hochtief Developments, Barclays European Infrastructure, Intertoll and Halcrow); Direct Route (Kellogg Brown & Root, Strabag, John Sisk & Son, Lagan Holdings and Roadbridge); Shannon Link (HBG Ascon, PJ Hegarty & Sons, NTR plc, Vinci Concessions and Vinci S.A.); and CLCBL, or Cummann Lusis Chuar Bhothair Luimnigh (Bouygues TP, DTP Terrassement and Egis Projects). The tender return date is 15th July, 2005.High-Point Rendel has been appointed lead design consultant to prepare a tender design for the CLCBL consortium. High-Point Rendel will provide consultancy services for a crossing of the River Shannon and will consider a number of alternatives including an immersed tube tunnel and access ramps, a high bridge and a low-level opening bridge. The construction JV comprises Bouygues TP, DTP Terrassement and Coffey. Jan De Nul, Scetauroute, Tunnel Engineering Consultants, Nicholas O'Dwyer & Partners, Scaldis and Volker Stevin are involved as subcontractors or consultants for the construction JV. Click ie/18. Visit www.hprendel.com 20/05.The National Roads Authority (NRA) has named the Direct Route consortium as the most economically advantageous tender for the private-public partnership (PPP) project under the Shannon river. The consortium includes Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR), the construction arm of US firm Halliburton, Strabag, John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd, Lagan Holdings Ltd and Roadbridge Ltd. The NRA will now proceed with discussions with Direct Route with a view to appointing it as the provisional preferred tenderer. If such discussions prove successful, that will potentially lead to a contract announcement for the project in spring 2006. The project includes a EUR100 million 900 m-long immersed tunnel under the Shannon. Read E-News Weekly 7/2004. Visit www.nra.ie 42/05.The National Roads Authority chose the Direct Route consortium, comprising Lagan, Roadbridge, John Sisk and Strabag, for the proposed Shannon tunnel. The consortium is expected to sign the formal contract in September, with work on the private-public partnership (PPP) project to begin shortly afterwards. The project is expected to be completed within four years. The Shannon tunnel will be the second only under-river tunnel in Ireland after the Jack Lynch tunnel in Cork. Costing an estimated EUR380 million, the project will involve the construction of a 900 m-long tunnel under the River Shannon at Limerick. Click ie/18. Visit www.nra.ie 14/06.Together with its Irish joint venture partner Fehily Timoney, Ramboll has won the assignment as independent consultant to the new tunnel project beneath the River Shannon near Limerick. The assignment involves a completely independent design check of the tunnel, which is an immersed tunnel. The assignment comprises the approx. 1 km tunnel itself, as well as the facilities where the tunnel makes landfall. The assignment is expected to have duration of two and a half years. Visit www.ramboll.dk and www.fehilytimoney.ie 35/06.

Government approval for public-private partnership construction of four twin-tube metro sections totalling 30 km in hard ground, boulder clay and river sand, and one underground section of suburban railway. Detailed design to start 2003 for construction 2006-2010. Visit www.dublincorp.ie 06/01.Qualification system for phase 1 of the Dublin metro under DBFO contract. Visit http://ted.eur-op.eu.int/ojs/en/frame.htm, OJ S 66, document 51932-2002 or contact Railway Procurement Agency, Dublin, fax +353 (01) 7032726. E-mail rpa@luas.ie 15/02.Negotiated procedure, deadline 9th January, 2006 for test drilling and boring work for the Dublin metro project. The Dublin metro project will run for approximately 20 km between Dublin city centre and Swords via Dublin Airport. The alignment will be a mix of tunnel, at-grade and elevated. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=227341-2005, OJ S 230, or contact Railway Procurement Agency, Dublin, fax +353 16463518. E-Mail tony.redmond@rpa.ie 49/05.IGSL got geotechnical investigation contract M7081 for test drilling and boring work for various alignment options for the Metro North project in Dublin. This stage of the project is focused on selecting the best overall route option. There are four options to be considered and assessed. Following route selection, work will begin on the detailed design phase of the project. All routes contain some tunnelled sections as well as some elevated and some surface sections. Metro North will be constructed under a public-private partnership and it is planned that the contract will be awarded in late 2007. Visit www.igsl.ie 28/06.Open call for tenders, deadline 22nd November, 2006 for contract M7086, geotechnical investigation associated with the proposed alignment of Dublin's metro North project, extending over a distance of approximately 17 km from the city centre. The investigation may be divided into two parts with a southern part addressing the conditions in the areas of the city where the alignment runs underground and a northern part in the areas of the city where the alignment is, in the main, in retained cut or at-grade or elevated. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=203495-2006, OJ S 191, or contact Railway Procurement Agency, Dublin, tel. +353 16463511. E-mail liz.mccarthy@rpa.ie 42/06.Negotiated procedure, deadline 4th May, 2007 for expressions of interest for the provision of the Metro North line serving the Greater Dublin area between Lissenhall and St Stephen's Green. RPA intends to award separate contracts for an infrastructure contractor and rolling stock supplier (the infrastructure contract), and an operator (the operating contract). Read E-News Weekly 6/2007. Visit http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=71794-2007, OJ S 58, or contact RPA, Dublin, tel. +353 16463400 or 16463563. E-mail metronorthprocurement@rpa.ie14/07.IGSL pocketed lots A and B of contract M7086 for geotechnical investigation associated with the proposed alignment of Dublin's metro North project, extending over a distance of approximately 17 km from the city centre. Norwest Holst won lot C of this same contract. Contract M7086 involves fieldwork and laboratory testing. Visit www.igsl.ie and www.soil-engineering.co.uk 22/07.The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) shortlisted candidates for the first stage of the tendering process for Dublin's first light metro line. The qualified candidates for Metro North, an 18 km line from St Stephen's Green in central Dublin to Lissenhall, have until 2nd November, 2007 to form bidding groups consisting of infrastructure provider, rolling stock supplier and operator. Infrastructure candidates include: Cathrí³ (Fluor, Royal BAM Group, Siemens and Strabag), Celtic Metro Group (Barclays, OHL, Mitsui and Soares da Costa), Dublin Express Link (HSBC, Meridiam, Acciona, Bouygues, Siac, Alstom and Spie Rail), and MetroExpress (Macquarie Bank, AIB, FCC, Caja Madrid and Bombardier). The operator candidates are UK's First Group, Keolis of France, MTR Corporation of Hong Kong, and Transdev of France. The rolling stock candidates are Veolia, Alstom, Ansaldobreda, Bombardier, CAF and Siemens. Construction of Metro North will begin next year and the line will open in 2012. The line is expected to carry around 30 million passengers per year. Click ie/16. 41/07.The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) advised candidates of the list of qualified candidates for the Metro North project on 11th September, 2007 and gave them until 2nd November to form qualified bidding groups consisting of one qualified candidate from each of the qualified infrastructure, qualified operator and qualified rolling stock supplier. RPA has received confirmation of the formation of four qualified bidding groups as follows: Cathrí³ (Fluor, Royal BAM Group, Siemens, Strabag, and Veolia), Celtic Metro Group (Barclays Private Equity, OHL, Mitsui, Soares da Costa, CAF, and MTR), Dublin Express Link (HSBC Infrastructure Fund Management, Meridiam Infrastructure Finance, Acciona, Bouygues, Siac, Alstom, Spie Rail, Alstom Transport, and Keolis), and MetroExpress (Macquarie Bank, AIB, FCC, Caja Madrid, Bombardier, and Transdev/RATP). 48/07.Invitation to tender, deadline 06.11.2008, for condition surveying services for proposed Metro North property owners protection scheme. Railway Procurement Agency will launch scheme offering free, independent condition survey of properties within the vicinity of tunnelling and mining works of the project. Duration of contract 60 months. Contact Derek Allen, tel +358 1646 3680, e-mail derek.allen@rpa.ie More at www.rpa.ie 44/08.Invitation to tender by negotiated procedure, deadline 05.12.2008, for a contractor to coordinate and implement the Heritage Works package to safeguard items of architectural and historical importance required as part of the enabling works for Metro North. This will involve engagement and management of specialist subcontractors for significant elements of the work. Duration 72 months from award. Contact Derek Allen, tel +353 1646 3680, e-mail derek.allen@rpa.ie or download spec and docs at www.rpa.ie 46/08 http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=291101-2008 Invitation to tender by negotiated procedure, deadline 16.01.2009, for design/build contract for construction of station box at Mater Hospital and associated works to be completed as part of the enabling works of Metro North. Duration of contract 36 months from award. Further information from Derek Allen of Railway Procurement Agency, tel +353 1646 3680, e-mail derek.allen@rpa.ie. http://ted.europa.eu/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=318379-2008 50/08.

  Roads & Streets Department plan for northern port access scheme now requires 5.6 km connection with M1 motorway to include 4.5 km twin-tube tunnel. Design/build contract value I£150 million. Start 1999. Consultants: Ove Arup. Contractor to decide method. Dec 1998.   Official go-ahead received from government. Visit www.arup.com January 2000. Dublin Corporation and the National Roads Authority in Ireland have announced the award the $450 million design/construct contract for the Port Tunnel to Nishimatsu Mowlem Irishenco. The port road will be a 5.6 km-long dual carriageway, most of which will be in a 4.5 km-long twin-tube tunnel. Construction will commence in early 2001, using two TBMs to accelerate the overall process. The tunnel should open in mid-2004 to provide a high quality access route for the 2 million trucks that currently travel through the city each year to the port. Visit www.nra.ie and www.mowlem.co.uk to view two beautifully constructed sites that should be carrying this news, but, sadly, are heavily cobwebbed. Owners please note! Haswell requires a Designer's Representative with 15 years experience of both cut and cover and bored urban tunnels to interface with client Nishimatsu Mowlem Irishenco. Site-based position of 3-year duration. Contact David Podmore recruit@mrijfc.co.uk 27/01.Twin-tube, two-lane tunnels under construction by NMI with 1.9 km in cut and cover and 2.6 km to be driven by two Herrenknecht 11 m-diameter EPB TBMs from 30 m-deep x 56 m-diameter access shaft sunk in ten weeks by four Cat excavators 330/325. On schedule for completion December 2004. More from Cat Magazine or visit www.cat.com 31/02.

The new $750 million Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high speed line will include nine tunnels with a total length of 14 km. Construction in three stages, beginning with the section between Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Airport, which will be followed by a line from the airport to Modi'in, and then finally up the hills to Jerusalem. First stage under construction, with a tunnel beneath the Shapirim interchange to the new terminal at the airport. Second stage expected to be in service by November, 2005. Visit www.israrail.org.il 13/02.Invitation to prequalify, deadline 5th May, 2005 for the first stage of the construction of the A1 railway line to Jerusalem, section C. The project includes two one-track tunnels, 11.6 km each, a bridge and option for an approach tunnel. Contact Israel Railways, Procurement & Contracting Division, Tel Aviv Central Train Station Savidor (Arlozorov), Tel Aviv, Israel. Tel. +972 36937552 or 36937564. Visit www.israrail.org.il/english/index.html or www.israports.org.il/israports/doa_iis.dll/Serve/item/English/1.4.7.16.html 13/05.Seven consortia have prequalified for section C of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high speed link, including two one-track tunnels, 11.6 km each. They are Danya Cebus (Israel) and China Railway Construction Corporation; A. Arenson (Israel), Porr and Zschokke Locher; Minrav Holdings (Israel) and China Railway First Group; Ashtrom Group (Israel) and Open Joint-Stock (Russia); Solel Boneh (Israel), Zueblin and E. Pihl & Son; Shapir Civil and Marine Engineering (Israel) and Alpine Mayreder Bau; and Roichman Bros. Shomron Infrastructures (Israel) and Pizzarotti. 11/06.Five consortia have successfully passed the preliminary selection stage for section C of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high speed line, including two single-track tunnels, 11.6 km each. They are: A. Arenson (Israel) and Porr (Austria); Danya Cebus (Israel) and China Railway Construction Corporation; Solel Boneh Building & Infrastructure (Israel) and Zueblin (Germany); Shapir Civil & Marine Engineering (Israel) and Alpine Mayreder (Austria); and Minrav Holdings (Israel) and China Railways First Group. The two consortia led by Ashtrom and Roichman Brothers Shomron Infrastructures have been eliminated. Financial offers will be submitted in August 2006. 29/06.Section B of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high speed line includes tunnel #1 (3.5 km) named Akad, north of Latroun. Six candidates are competing for the final contract. The bidders are Shapir Civil & Marine Engineering and Alpine Mayreder; Solel Boneh Building & Infrastructure and Zueblin; Minrav and China Railway Third Group Corporation; Danya Cebus and China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC); A. Arenson and Zschokke (Implenia); and Ashtrom and Bamtonnelstroy of Russia. The contract is due to be awarded in the third quarter of 2008. The anticipated method of construction may be TBM, NATM with excavators in soft materials under umbrella vaults or in harder rock using drill and blast. Read E-News Weekly 29/2005. 50-51/07.Shapir Civil & Marine Engineering and Alpine Mayreder are in the process of signing a NIS1.5 billion contract to build section C of the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high speed line, including two twin bored tunnels. The first tunnel on section C (tunnel #2) is named Hachoresh tunnel and is 2 x 1.2 km long. It was originally part of section B but has been integrated into section C further to project changes. The second tunnel (tunnel #3) is named Hachamisa and is 2 x 11.5 km long. The contract is expected to be signed in the first quarter of 2008 for work to commence in April. The short tunnel #2 will be built in softer ground than tunnel #3. About 300 metres in the west part on each bore of tunnel #2 will be built using the cut-and-cover method. The long tunnel will be driven from west to east probably by a double shield hard rock TBM (3/4 of the length) and from east to west by drill and blast (1/4 of the length). Geology is hard rock, mainly dolomites. The closer to Jerusalem, the harder the rock. The tunnels will be 9.2 m in diameter. From order to proceed to completion, construction will take 44 months. Read E-News Weekly 29/2005. Visit www.shapir.co.il and www.alpine.at 50-51/07.