FIDIC Contracts in India: Major Projects, Books & Costs

🚇 Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Colaba–Bandra–SEEPZ) – Urban Rail (Metro)

Mumbai’s 33.5 km fully-underground Metro Line 3 is being implemented using FIDIC conditions of contract. In fact, the civil works contracts for this high-profile metro were based on the FIDIC Red Book (1999 edition) 🟥.

🚧 Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation awarded these contracts in mid-2016 to five international contractor consortia such as Larsen & Toubro–STEC and HCC–MMS, covering tunnel and station packages.

💰 The total estimated project cost was ₹33,000 crore, with the awarded civil contracts summing to around ₹18,115 crore after negotiation.

📌 This project is frequently cited in India for its use of standard FIDIC contract terms, especially for managing risk in a complex urban tunneling environment.

🚇 Chennai Metro Phase I Underground – Urban Rail (Metro)

Chennai Metro’s Phase I included significant underground sections executed under FIDIC-based contracts. Notably, Contract UAA-01 (Washermenpet to Egmore) was a design-and-build contract for twin tunnels and stations, using the FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Construction (Red Book) 🟥 as the General Conditions.

🛠️ The UAA-01 contract was awarded in 2011 to an Afcons–Transtonnelstroy JV for ₹1,567 crore, while a similar package, UAA-05, was awarded for ₹1,031 crore.

📏 These design-and-build contracts covered approximately 8.6 km of tunnels and 9 underground stations, with the contractor responsible for both design and execution.

🌏 The use of the 1999 Red Book offered a familiar contractual structure for the JICA funding agency and aligned well with practices seen in other international metro projects across India.

🚄 Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (Rewari–Iqbalgarh) – Rail (Freight)

India’s Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) projects have extensively used FIDIC contracts. The Western DFC’s 626 km section from Rewari to Iqbalgarh was implemented as an EPC design-build contract based on the FIDIC Yellow Book 🟨.

🛤️ In 2013, Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) awarded this large contract to a Larsen & Toubro–Sojitz (Japan) consortium for ₹6,700 crore.

⚡ The scope included construction of a 626 km double-track electrified railway line spanning three states, with a scheduled completion of four years. The project was funded by JICA.

🌍 DFCCIL adopted the FIDIC Yellow Book format specifically to encourage international participation and to assign design responsibilities to the contractor.

🏆 In recognition of its structured approach and effective contract administration, DFCCIL received FIDIC’s “Contracts Client of the Year” award in 2022.

🚄 Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (Khurja–Bhaupur) – Rail (Freight)

The Eastern DFC’s first phase (343 km from Khurja to Bhaupur in Uttar Pradesh) was also implemented under a FIDIC-based design–build contract. In January 2013, DFCCIL awarded a lump-sum design–build contract to the Tata Projects–Aldesa (Spain) JV for ₹3,300 crore.

💸 This section was funded by the World Bank through a $975 million loan, and followed the FIDIC Conditions for Plant & Design-Build 🟨, similar to the Yellow Book, to deliver the double-track electrified rail corridor in 4 years.

📐 FIDIC’s contract framework helped ensure consistent risk allocation and dispute resolution mechanisms, aligning with global best practices for international bidding processes.

🚆 Work on the Khurja–Bhaupur section commenced in 2013, marking it as one of India’s earliest large-scale railway projects to adopt the FIDIC model.

🚧 Atal Tunnel (Rohtang) – Road Tunnel (Highway)

The Atal Tunnel in Himachal Pradesh, spanning 8.8 km through the high-altitude Rohtang Pass, was executed under an EPC contract using FIDIC-based terms. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) awarded the project in September 2009 to a Strabag–Afcons JV.

💰 The initial contract value was approximately ₹1,458 crore (~€348 million), with an expected completion in 5–6 years. However, due to extreme weather and complex Himalayan geology, the final cost escalated to around ₹2,500 crore upon completion in 2020.

🏔️ The FIDIC-based EPC contract (likely based on the Silver Book 🔒 for turnkey projects) helped define clear responsibilities between the Employer (BRO) and the Contractor JV — particularly for design modifications and unforeseen ground conditions.

⚙️ FIDIC’s structure played a crucial role in navigating the risks of this strategic, high-altitude infrastructure project that required precision engineering and adaptive planning.

🛫 Kempegowda Int’l Airport, Bengaluru (Terminal 2) – Airport (Building)

Large airport projects in India’s private sector have also adopted FIDIC contracts. Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) implemented a FIDIC Silver Book (EPC/Turnkey) contract for its Terminal 2 expansion.

🏗️ In 2018, BIAL awarded the EPC contract to L&T Construction for ₹3,036 crore to design, procure, and build the 255,000 m² Terminal 2. The scope included design, engineering, construction, MEP systems, and full commissioning integrated with airport operations.

📅 The contract was officially signed in October 2018. International consultants, including Turner as the Engineer, oversaw the works using FIDIC conditions to maintain structure and accountability.

✨ Designed by renowned architects SOM, the terminal was executed under the Silver Book model 🔒 — with L&T assuming responsibility for cost and schedule guarantees typical of EPC delivery.

🌐 This project stands as a showcase of FIDIC contract adoption in private sector building projects, proving its flexibility beyond heavy infrastructure into high-end terminal design and construction.

🛬 Noida International Airport (Jewar) – Airport (Greenfield)

The new Noida International Airport in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh is a major PPP project being built under an EPC contract based on FIDIC Silver Book 🔒 terms. The project is being executed by Yamuna International Airport Pvt. Ltd, the SPV of the Swiss developer.

🏗️ In June 2022, the EPC contract was awarded to Tata Projects Ltd following an international competitive bid. Valued at over ₹6,000 crore, the scope includes the turnkey construction of the passenger terminal, runway, taxiways, airside, and landside infrastructure.

📆 Tata Projects is responsible for delivering Phase 1 of the airport by 2024, under a fixed-price, fixed-time arrangement that places design and construction risk squarely on the contractor.

🌍 The FIDIC-based turnkey contract structure ensures internationally recognized contract governance and makes the Jewar airport one of the most high-profile examples of FIDIC adoption in India’s private sector infrastructure.

🛫 Navi Mumbai International Airport – Airport (Greenfield)

Another major airport project, Navi Mumbai International Airport in Maharashtra, was also developed using FIDIC-style contracting. The concessionaire (initially GVK, later Adani) awarded the EPC contract to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Construction in 2019.

📝 A formal agreement was signed in September 2019. While the exact contract value was not officially disclosed, it was estimated to exceed ₹6,000 crore for Phase 1.

🏗️ The contract scope includes complete design-build of the terminal, runways, taxiways, and associated infrastructure, following FIDIC Silver Book principles 🔒 for turnkey EPC delivery.

📐 Standard FIDIC clauses govern the project’s schedule, quality, and payment provisions, helping to manage this large, complex undertaking.

🌍 The project reflects continuity in FIDIC use for modern airport developments, drawing on L&T’s prior experience with FIDIC-based contracts across India’s infrastructure sector.

📚 Sources

The details and contract specifics presented above are referenced from official news releases, business news articles, and industry publications, including:

• 📰 Business Standard
• 📰 Economic Times
• 🌐 Project case studies and press announcements
• 🏗️ Official contractor websites (e.g., afcons.com)
• 📄 Funding agency reports and FIDIC documentation

Each claim has been supported through these publicly available sources. Where applicable, citations are noted inline using bracketed references (e.g. 【Business Standard】) next to the relevant project facts.