L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Ltd, the special purpose vehicle of construction company L&T Ltd implementing the Hyderabad metro project, is struggling to appoint an operations and maintenance (O&M) contractor and supplier of rakes as negotiations are still under way, said its Chief Executive, Mr Vivek B. Gadgil.
Mr Gadgil told Business Line that the delay in providing L&T with right of way and land is affecting the selection of vendors for the project. “Though we have been having discussions and there is considerable interest from global vendors, we are unable to finalise as they want all clearances to ink the pact,” he said.
“Any potential delay causes difficulties for suppliers. Their commitments also get affected. Therefore, they make it very clear in the agreements they enter into,” he said.
For the project's O&M , he said Veolia of France, Serco of the UK, Seoul Metro of Korea and Singapore Metro (Smart) were keen to participate in the L&T project. This five-year contract is close to being finalised, he said.
Similarly, for rolling stock, L&T is at the final stages of selecting a supplier.
Alstom, Bombardier, Rotem and Hyundai are among those in the fray. “We would be able to freeze these tenders if all clearances for project implementation are ready,” he said.