A consortium of Russia’s JSC Metrowagonmash and India’s Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) has emerged as the lowest bidder (L1) for manufacture, supply and maintenance of 200 sleeper Vande Bharat trains. These newly-designed trains will allow movement of new locomotives on longer routes.

The consortium has bid to supply 16-sleeper car trains at a basic rate of ₹120 crore per rake. The second lowest bidder (L2) was a consortium between Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and Titagarh Wagons at ₹139.80 crore.

Under the bid conditions, the Indian Railways will procure 200 rakes, of which 120 will be supplied by L1 and 80 by L2, subject to matching the price quoted by the L1.

The other qualified bidders are Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML)-Siemens at a bid of ₹145 crore a rake, Alstom Transport at ₹164.52 crore, and Medha Servo Drives-Stadler Rail at ₹165 crore. These remaining bidders will be offered a chance to match the price quoted by L1 and supply the trains if L2 refuses. Under the bid conditions, 120 trains are to be built at Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur.