RITES wins consultancy for ₹5,617-cr rail corridor

RITES and SMEC International Pty JV have signed an agreement with Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC) for providing General Consultancy Services for the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC), which involves an investment of ₹5,617.69 crore. Before this, a consortium of RITES-SMEC had emerged as the lowest bidder for the contract valuing ₹72 crore. The scope of work as per tender document includes General Consultancy Services for the successful planning, basic & detailed designs, preparation of specifications, preparation of proposal documents and tender assistance, checking designs, project management and supervision including construction supervision, safety, quality and environmental management, interface management, testing and commissioning of the corridor. HORC is a broad-gauge double railway line for passenger and freight traffic. The total length of the corridor is 121.7 km connecting Palwal with Sonipat via Sohna, Manesar, and Kharkhoda. Once completed, the corridor will provide seamless connectivity to Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) at Prithla station and Indian Railways at Palwal, Patli, Sultanpur, Asaudha and Harsana Kalan stations. It will reduce traffic congestion in Delhi by diverting both passenger and freight trains not originated or destined for Delhi. The trains will operate on this corridor at a speed of 160 km per hour facilitating faster movement of goods between ports and areas around Delhi. The Union government had approved the 121.742 km long dual electrified broad-gauge line of Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor from Palwal to Sonipat.