The tender results for the design and construction general contracting (EPC) of the relocation works for power, communication, and pipeline facilities along the Hechi section of the Qian-Gui Railway second-line project have been officially announced.

The project involves the relocation of "three power and pipeline" systems and related infrastructure within the designated formal land area of the railway's second line construction. This comprehensive undertaking encompasses the relocation of electrical lines, communication cables, water supply and drainage systems, as well as fuel and gas pipelines, along with necessary electromagnetic protection measures. It is important to note that this excludes any relocation work associated with temporary land use or centralized resettlement areas designated by local authorities.

Project Overview

The approved feasibility study and preliminary design for this section were jointly authorized by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. and the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 2025. The project financing structure allocates 60% of the funding from Guangxi Railway Investment Group Co., Ltd., with the remaining 40% coming from the Hechi Municipal People's Government, sourcing from central budgetary investments, ultra-long-term special treasury bonds, and self-raised funds. The Hechi Municipal Transportation Bureau serves as the tendering entity, with Guangxi Yongxin Wankai Project Management Co., Ltd. acting as the tendering agent.

The broader Qian-Gui Railway second-line project in Guangxi is designed as a Class I railway with a target speed of 160 km/h. The route extends from the existing Luoman Station in the Liuzhou hub, traversing through the Hechi area via Yizhou, Desheng, Jinchengjiang, and Liujia before proceeding to Chehe and onwards through Nandan and Siting to the provincial border. Within Hechi's jurisdiction, the main line spans 201.173 kilometers with a bridge-to-tunnel ratio of 47%, incorporating nine stations including Luodong, Yizhou, Yemao, Desheng, Hechi West, Jinchengjiang, Liujia, Chehe, and Nandan. The approved construction period is four years, with a total approved investment of RMB 20.92 billion.

Scope of Work

The winning contractor will be responsible for comprehensive planning, environmental and water conservation assessments, survey and design, land acquisition and demolition, including site clearance, crop compensation, compensation for power, gas, and oil transmission losses, communication interruption compensation, material procurement, construction, commissioning, compilation and submission of completion documents, as well as all coordination efforts related to the relocation works. The scope specifically includes relocating above-ground and underground communication lines, cable TV, broadcasting, communication base stations, power lines, fuel and gas pipelines, water supply lines, and sewage pipelines, along with securing all necessary administrative permits and approvals.

The contractor must also coordinate with various property rights units and industry authorities, including those for communications, broadcasting, military cables where applicable, power, water supply and drainage, and fuel and gas pipelines. They are required to conduct design and construction in full compliance with regulations, obtain confirmation of implementation plans from both property owners and local governments, execute land acquisition and compensation for local coordination, manage all procedural matters with property units throughout the relocation process, and handle post-completion acceptance, handover, operation and safety protocols, and disposal of original facilities.

Timeline and Requirements

The planned construction period for this EPC project is 1,100 calendar days. The selected bidder must ensure their relocation progress aligns with the construction organization and schedule of all preceding and subsequent engineering sections, guaranteeing that works on subgrades, bridges, culverts, tunnels, stations, buildings, power systems, electrification, communications, and signaling remain unaffected by any delays in the relocation activities. The defect liability period is set at two years, commencing from the actual completion date of the railway project, following preliminary acceptance.

Winning Bid Details

According to the evaluation results, the first-place bid was submitted by a consortium of China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co., Ltd., China Railway First Group Co., Ltd., Guangxi Guiqin Highway Engineering Co., Ltd., and China Railway First Group Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., with a bid price of RMB 613,081,371. The second-place bid came from a consortium of China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group Co., Ltd. and China Railway 20th Group Electrification Engineering Co., Ltd., quoting RMB 615,272,232. The third-place bid was presented by a consortium of China Railway Shanghai Design Institute Group Co., Ltd. and China Railway Construction Electrification Bureau Group Co., Ltd., with a bid price of RMB 611,462,298. The evaluation process employed a comprehensive assessment method following post-qualification procedures.