Kosamba–Umarpada gauge conversion project EPC contract

The Kosamba–Umarpada gauge conversion project has been awarded by Western Railways to G R Infraprojects Limited (GRIL) as a Rs. 262.28-crore EPC contract covering 38.9 km of line in the Vadodara division. The award was reported by Rail Analysis India.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Scope of the Western Railways EPC contract

Under this Western Railways EPC contract, GRIL is responsible for converting the railway track between chainage 9.200 km and 48.100 km on the Kosamba–Umarpada section. In practice, this 38.9 km railway track conversion is paired with a broad package of civil and structural works intended to support safer, more reliable operations and future capacity expansion along the corridor.

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The scheme is not limited to changing the gauge. It is structured to strengthen the formation, refresh passenger-facing facilities at stations and deliver a more modern route that fits into Western Railways’ wider programme of gauge standardisation and infrastructure augmentation. Public project materials from G R Infraprojects also list the Kosamba–Umarpada gauge conversion among the company’s key rail assignments, underscoring its importance in the firm’s portfolio.

Major work elements on the Kosamba–Umarpada corridor

At the heart of the project is the reconfiguration and upgrading of 38.9 km of track to a broader, contemporary gauge standard. To secure long-term stability and higher load-bearing performance, the contractor will carry out extensive earthwork and blanketing along the alignment, while also supplying high-quality ballast needed to maintain correct track geometry and smooth day-to-day train operations.

Bridge works form another substantial part of the Kosamba–Umarpada corridor upgrade. The EPC scope covers the construction and improvement of both minor and major bridges, strengthening the line’s ability to handle safe and efficient rail traffic in different operating conditions.

At the same time, GRIL is tasked with a wide range of station-area works: building platforms, office and service buildings, and installing water supply and sanitation systems. Together, these interventions are designed to lift passenger comfort and bring station amenities on the route up to a more consistent standard.

Drainage and structural protection are explicitly built into the contract. The company will construct retaining and boundary walls where they are needed and develop side drains to manage rainwater, protecting the formation from erosion and waterlogging. Taken as a whole, these measures are meant to support the long-term integrity and reliability of the upgraded infrastructure rather than just deliver a short-term facelift.

On the track side, the EPC package includes complete track linking across the designated section and the provision of small track machines required for construction and subsequent maintenance activities. The supply of new rails is excluded from the contractor’s responsibilities, but all other work needed to link and commission the line falls within the scope. A notable element of the contract is the execution of all works for 30 Road Under Bridges (RUBs) between Kosamba and Umarpada, which will enhance safety at road–rail interfaces; industry coverage such as ProjectsToday highlights the same combination of track, bridge and RUB works.

Timeline for delivery and implementation

The Rs. 262.28-crore gauge conversion is scheduled to begin from the appointed date of 15 November 2025. From that point, G R Infraprojects will have an execution period of 730 days to complete the full scope, giving the contractor a two-year window to deliver track conversion, bridge and drainage works, station improvements and RUB construction on the Kosamba–Umarpada section.

This timetable has been aligned with Western Railways’ broader development roadmap, which prioritises route electrification, gauge standardisation and infrastructure augmentation across its network. By sequencing the Kosamba–Umarpada gauge conversion project within that programme, the operator aims to maintain steady progress on modernisation in the Vadodara division rather than treating this as a one-off intervention.

Regional impact for Vadodara division and Gujarat

Within the Vadodara division, the upgraded Kosamba–Umarpada corridor is viewed as a strategically important link. Once the works under this gauge conversion project are completed, the line is expected to strengthen regional connectivity and support freight movement for industrial clusters in Gujarat, while at the same time improving passenger comfort and station facilities for everyday users.

Modern bridges, more robust drainage systems and the introduction of 30 RUBs should collectively raise safety levels along the corridor and contribute to more reliable operations. Combined with the 38.9 km railway track conversion and associated civil and structural works, these changes will help Western Railways shape a higher-capacity, more efficient route that supports its ongoing network-capacity expansion efforts.

Taken together, the Kosamba–Umarpada gauge conversion project, implemented through this comprehensive Western Railways EPC contract with G R Infraprojects, marks a clear step forward in modernising the section.

Through coordinated civil, structural and operational upgrades over the two-year execution period, the operator aims to leave the corridor safer, more resilient and better prepared for future demand within Gujarat’s rail network.

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