Italian construction group Astaldi has broken into the Indian construction market with a €168m role on the Mumbai Metro.
Astaldi will work in a joint venture with Indian contractor Reliance Infrastructure on the Wadala-to-Kasarwadavali section of the north-to-south metro line 4.
The company commented on its website: "With this project, Astaldi enters India, a new market that offers major development opportunities for the infrastructure sector, and strengthens its de-risking policy."
The engineering, procurement and construction contract will be financed by state funds and be carried out for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
Work on the project includes the design and development of a 20km viaduct and the building of 18 "elevated" stations.
The contract is subdivided into three parts:
- The Wadala-Chembur section, including an 8km viaduct, six stations and two interconnections
- The Gandinagar Junction-Bhandup Sonapur section, consisting of a 6.7km viaduct and six stations
- The Thane section, with six stations and a 6.8km viaduct.
When completed, Astaldi say the rail corridor will increase transport capacity, and connect suburban areas to the city centre.
Construction is due to be completed in two and a half years.
Image: The current Mumbai Metro (Ashwin Kumar/Wikimedia Commons)
