Reliance Infra consortium wins Mumbai rail project

MUMBAI, Aug 4 (Reuters) - India's Reliance Infrastructure (RLIN.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Tuesday its consortium with Reliance Communications (RLCM.BO: Quote, Profile, Research) and Canada's SNC-Lavalin (SNC.TO: Quote, Profile, Research) won a 110 billion rupees ($2.3 billion) Mumbai rail project.

The 32-kilometre Metro-II line from Charkop, a western suburb of Mumbai, to Mankhurd in the east will have 27 stations and is expected to be operational by 2015, the company said.

"We are confident of developing this project within five years from the date of financial closure," Lalit Jalan, chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Jalan said a concession agreement, giving the group 35 years to operate the railroad that can be extended by another 10 years, would be signed within 45 days of the issue of letter of award.

Financial closure would be completed within nine months of signing of the concession agreement, he said.

Reliance Infrastructure, controlled by Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, is already building a Metro-I elevated line in parts of Mumbai suburbs and aims to complete the project ahead of schedule by September 2010.

The company also hopes to commission the Delhi Airport Express Line rail project, which connects the main railway station to the airport in the capital, by July 2010. ($1=47.7 rupees) (Reporting by Ami Shah)