Authors - Susmita Adhikary, Aswin Babu VP, Dinesh U, Harish M, Karthik M, Gokul A Abstract - Urban metro rail systems are the key to urban sustainable mobility; however, in spite of the developed technologies, projects regularly experience delays and contractual disputes. These perceived challenges are highly attributed by prior scholarship to matters of the execution phase and restricted illumination is given on the institutional circumstances that form system performance in ICT intensive infrastructure. This paper examines procurement strategy as a govern ance tool that affects the results of digital system integration and sustainability in Indian metro rail projects. Based on statutory performance audit reports and com parative case studies, the analysis indicates that fragmented procurement arrange ments fragment the integration functions to several contracts, leading to coordi nation failure, delayed commissioning, and high claims. Instead, the more coor dinated procurement models with consolidated interdependent systems and de fined integration roles have a better coordination structure and predictable deliv ery. The results indicate that the problem of metro project integration is more of an institutional than a technological problem. This research study adds to the body of knowledge on infrastructure governance by noting the design of procure ment to be one of the determinatives in the realization of effective and sustainable urban transit outcomes.
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