K-RIDE to invite fresh tenders for pending civil works on Bengaluru Suburban Rail Corridor-2
Bengaluru (PTI): The Rail Infrastructure Development Company (Karnataka) Limited (K-RIDE) will invite fresh tenders for the balance civil works of Corridor-2 of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP), officials said on Tuesday.
In a statement, K-RIDE said the state Chief Secretary, Shalini Rajneesh, directed it to proceed with fresh tenders for Corridor-2—the Mallige line between Benniganahalli and Chikkabanawara—in three packages.
The Managing Director of K-RIDE, Govinda Reddy, has been instructed to take necessary action to ensure the continuation of work without delay, the statement added.
The decision was taken on the advice of K Shashi Kiran Shetty, Advocate General of the Government of Karnataka, to invite fresh tenders for balance civil works pending arbitration proceedings, K-RIDE said.
“The tenders will be invited in three packages for Corridor-2 and will be awarded by December 2025. Similarly, the tenders for balance civil works for Corridor-4 are also expected to be invited in suitable packages in November 2025,” K-RIDE said.
The statement said this decision was taken by the K-RIDE Board following the “unilateral and illegal termination of both Corridor-2 and Corridor-4 contracts by L&T.”
Earlier, L&T had entered into agreements with K-RIDE for Corridor-2 (Chikkabanawara to Benniganahalli) and Corridor-4 (Heelalige to Rajanukunte) on August 26, 2022, and December 30, 2023, respectively. The contract periods were extended up to September 2026 and October 2026 at the contractor’s request, it added.
“Arbitration proceedings between L&T and K-RIDE have also started, and retired judges of the High Court and Supreme Court have been nominated for a three-member Board of Arbitrators,” K-RIDE said.
The company is also contesting a stay granted by the Commercial Court on the encashment of the bank guarantee, it added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
