Simplex bags slice of Dubai Metro contract

The contract may be worth Rs 1,000 crore

Simplex Concrete Piles Ltd is set to make inroads into the West Asian market with the prestigious Dubai metro contract.

The chairman of Simplex group, B D Mundhra, told reporters here on Monday that the consortium of Simplex had been shortlisted for Rs 10,000 crore Dubai metro construction contract.

Mundhra said five consortiums were initially in the race for the Dubai metro construction work.

After the financial bids, two consortiums were shortlisted for the project.

"There are four members in our consortium and Simplex is the only company from India. The contract should be at least Rs 1,000 crore," he said.

Rajiv Mundhra, a director of Simplex, added the metro deal was likely to roll out only in the next fiscal because the project was being modified.

Elaborating on its overseas plans, Rajiv Mundhra said apart from Dubai Metro, Simplex was in the race for a number of projects in West Asia.

"The company had bid for more than Rs 10,000 crore orders in the Gulf region," he said.

According to Rajiv Mundhra, the construction outfit was now actively exploring orders in markets like west Asia, Africa and Russia.

"Simplex as a major player in power project construction in India and looking for few more abroad. We are also entering the power transmission sector," he said. The company was now in the process of changing its name to Simplex Infrastructure Ltd in tune with its expanded activities.