A consortium comprising Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), Pacific Consultants International (PCI) from Japan, PBI from the US and Systra from France has been awarded a general consultancy services contract for the implementation of Phase 1 of the Bangalore metro project. RITES is leading the consortium and its share in the INR2.15 billion contract works out to about 58.8%. The metro project is being undertaken by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation. The consultants will provide advice on system design through to commissioning the scheme, including its integration with other modes of transport. The project consisits of a 33 km metro network along two corridors, named the 18 km east-west corridor and the 15 km north-south corridor. Some seven kilometres will run underground while the rest is elevated. The project is scheduled to be commissioned in 2011. It is partly funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Read E-News Weekly 21/2006, 19/2005, 22/2003 & 1/2003. Visit www.rites.com, www.pci-world.com, www.pbworld.com and www.systra.com 34/07.Invitation for prequalification, deadline 2nd May, 2008 to shortlist design and construct contractors for underground stations and tunnels including ventilation and air conditioning for the Bangalore metro rail project. It is proposed to execute the underground sections under the contract BMR/UG-1 (north-south corridor) and the contract BMR/UG-2 (east-west corridor). Contract BMR/UG-1 runs from north of Majestic station (included) to south of City Market station (included). It comprises the design and construction of approx. 4.5 kilometres and includes approx. 2.6 km of twin tunnels, 600 metres of ramps and three underground stations (Majestic, Chickpete and City Market). It is considered that the construction of the tunnel will be by the use of NATM.Contract BMR/UG-2 goes from east of Majestic station to east of Cricket Stadium station (included) and west of City Railway station (included). It comprises the design and construction of approx. 4.65 km and includes 3.25 km of twin tunnels, 475 metres of ramps and four underground stations (City Railway, Central College, Vidhana Soudha and Cricket Stadium). The contractor will also be responsible for the engineering, procurement, installation, testing and commissioning of the tunnel ventilation system for the contract BMR/UG-2, based on the key design information provided by the contract BMR/UG-1 contractor.Phase 1 of the Bangalore metro rail project consists of two corridors: the east-west corridor from Mysore Road terminal station to Baiyyappanhalli terminal station for a length of 8.1 km with 17 stations, of which four stations will be underground, and the north-south corridor from Yeshwanthpur station to RV Road terminal station for a length of 14.0 km with 15 stations, of which three will be underground. The two lines will intersect at a common interchange station at Majestic station. Contact Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, Managing Director, Karnataka, India. Tel +91 802296930 / 301, fax +91 8022969222, e-mail bmrcl@dataone.in or visit www.bmrc.co.in/pdf/ug.pdf for prequalification notice, www.bmrc.co.in/pdf/ugcor.pdf for corrigendum and www.bmrc.co.in/pdf/ed&ia.pdf for technical details about the project. 16/08.