The ambitious project of New Delhi railway station’s redevelopment has been derailed once again with the bidding process getting cancelled. This is the third time when the bidding for this project has been cancelled, sources said.
The development came weeks after the construction major, Larsen and Toubro (L&T), emerged as the lowest bidder for the project, quoting over Rs 8,000 crore against the government’s bid price of around Rs 5,000 crore.
Sources said the railways was left with no other option, as the lowest bid price was exceptionally higher than the estimated cost and much above the amount approved by the Cabinet.
The railway ministry was hopeful of awarding the contract in April. Sources said the project would now again go back to the drawing board and a fresh tender would be issued after reworking on the project.
“It will take a few months now,” said a source.
In the two earlier attempts in 2001-02 and 2008-09, the railways had failed. Another attempt to take up the project on public-private partnership mode in 2021 had also failed.
The Union Cabinet had approved Rs 10,000 crore for redevelopment of New Delhi, CST (Mumbai) and Ahmedabad stations.
While Rs 5,000 crore was meant for the New Delhi station, around Rs 2,000 crore was earmarked for the Mumbai station and Rs 3,000 crore for the Ahmedabad station.
