The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) has failed to attract any bidders for the telecom infrastructure contract on the underground Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line), creating uncertainty over how seamless mobile connectivity will be ensured across the network’s tunnels and stations.
The tender, issued on March 13, 2023, aimed to appoint a neutral in-building solution (IBS) provider but drew no interest despite the project’s scale. The contract covers the entire 33.5-km underground corridor, which includes 26 subterranean stations and one at-grade stop, and is critical for delivering uninterrupted mobile services to commuters.
MMRCL has reiterated that physical limitations within the tunnels and stations allow space for only one telecom infrastructure provider, which would function as a neutral host for all telecom operators.
“We will now write to the state government explaining the entire sequence of events and subsequently approach the central government to seek guidance on the way forward,” an MMRCL official said.
The absence of bids follows strong objections from telecom companies regarding the project’s pricing and tender conditions. In a joint letter to managing director Ashwini Bhide, Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea criticised the reserve price—around Rs 1,000 per sq ft, including non-usable areas—as “exorbitant” and inconsistent with fair compensation norms. They cautioned that such terms could delay service rollout.
The telecom firms also indicated reluctance to support any IBS vendor under the existing framework, effectively discouraging participation unless pricing is revised. This development comes after MMRCL scrapped its earlier IBS agreement with ACES and issued a fresh tender.
Operators have proposed acquiring the already deployed ACES infrastructure to avoid duplicating investments and to speed up implementation. They have also supported a shared network model, with Reliance Jio seeking right-of-way permissions for common infrastructure—an approach backed by other telecom players.
However, MMRCL has maintained that granting access to a single operator is not feasible and insists on a competitive bidding process with a neutral provider, leaving the matter unresolved for now.
Source: The Times of India
