Sarkhej–Dholera rail tender opens at ₹18,901 crore

Sarkhej–Dholera rail tender opens at ₹18,901 crore

Western Railway has opened a ₹18,901.68 crore Sarkhej-Dholera rail tender for a new double-track semi-high-speed corridor in Gujarat, with airport and Lothal spurs under a single EPC contract.

EPC package covers construction and rail systems

Western Railway invited bids under tender number CPMSHSRADIWRSEJDSIREPC01. The earnest money deposit is ₹378.03 crore, while the contract carries a 42-month completion period and a 180-day bid-validity requirement.

The package combines civil construction with the railway systems needed to test and commission the corridor. Its scope includes formation and viaducts, bridges, station buildings, ballasted and BLT track systems, overhead traction, general electrical services, signalling, telecommunications and an operating control centre.

The contractor will also integrate the systems and complete testing, commissioning and associated works within Western Railway’s jurisdiction. Bringing these elements into one EPC package makes the tender substantially broader than a track-only construction contract.

A 134 km corridor with a separate project budget

Separately, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the wider Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)–Dholera project in May 2026 at an estimated ₹20,667 crore, with completion targeted for 2030–31. The approved project is expected to add about 134 km to the Indian Railways network.

The government said the corridor would improve connectivity for approximately 284 villages with a combined population of about 500,000. The tender value and overall approved project estimate describe different scopes and should not be treated as interchangeable figures.

Airport and Lothal spurs shape the route

The main line will connect Sarkhej in Ahmedabad with Dholera Special Investment Region. Separate spurs are included for the upcoming Dholera International Airport terminal and the Lothal National Maritime Heritage Complex.

The corridor is intended to shorten passenger journeys and make daily commuting and same-day return trips more practical. It is also planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which coordinates transport infrastructure across different modes.

The next procurement milestones are pre-bid meetings scheduled for 7 September 2026 and 25 September 2026, both at 11:30 AM. The announcement concerns bidding; it does not represent a construction award or the opening of the line.

Source:https://www.railway.supply/sarkhej-dholera-rail-tender-opens-at-%e2%82%b918901-crore/