Four firms have submitted bids for a geotechnical soil investigation contract for new metro lines across India. The metro projects covered under this contract include the Indore – Ujjain Metro, Mumbai Metro, and Delhi Metro.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had floated the tender in December 2024, with a 12-month completion deadline. Following this, the technical bids were opened on January 1, 2025, revealing submissions from four firms competing for the project.

Scope of Work The contract covers geotechnical surveys for a total of 139 km of new metro lines, spanning six corridors. These investigations will contribute to the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the proposed metro extensions.

Metro Projects and Lengths: Mumbai Metro MRTS Lines – 30 km Indore – Ujjain Metro – 46 km Tughlakabad – Noida Sector 142 Metro Line – 15 km Kundli – Sonipat Metro Line – 20 km Samaypur Badli – Kundli Metro Line – 15 km New Delhi Railway Station – New Ashok Nagar Metro Line – 13 km

Bidders for the Contract The four firms competing for this contract are:

CEG Test House and Research Centre Pvt. Ltd. Cengrs Geotechnica Pvt. Ltd. Independent Consultants & Technocrats (ICT) Techpro Engineers Pvt. Ltd.

DMRC’s Brief Scope The geotechnical investigation will assist in preparing DPRs for the metro rail projects, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of subsurface conditions for construction planning.

Geotechnical Activities Involved The contract includes a range of soil and rock testing procedures, such as:

Drilling boreholes of 150 mm diameter, reaching depths of up to 30 m across various soil types. Conducting Standard Penetration Tests (SPT) at 1.5-metre intervals within boreholes, adhering to IS Code standards. Extracting undisturbed soil samples at every change in strata, ensuring a minimum of two samples per borehole. Measuring and documenting groundwater table levels upon borehole completion. Drilling boreholes in rock formations, including up to 5 metres in intact hard rock (RQD >50%), 10 metres in weathered rock (RQD ?50%), and 30 metres in soil (N=100) using hydraulic or calyx rig methods. Conducting in-situ permeability tests in rocky formations and laboratory permeability tests for other soil types. Extracting rock core samples and recording Rock Quality Designation (RQD). Performing laboratory tests on collected samples as per technical specifications. Surveying borehole locations, determining elevation levels, and accurately plotting them on the alignment plan. The geotechnical survey will play a crucial role in assessing soil conditions, structural stability, and construction feasibility, ensuring a solid foundation for the metro projects.