Hindustan Copper Limited has opened bids for 22,500 metres of horizontal development and 1,848 metres of vertical development at the Malanjkhand copper mine in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, with bids closing 24 August 2026.
Underground development at scale
The scope covers 22,500 m of horizontal development, 1,848 m of vertical development, fork raises and the associated jobs that go with them. Put simply, this is the tunnelling and access work that opens up an underground ore body: drives, cross cuts, ramps, raises and the ventilation and services that follow behind them.
Malanjkhand is Hindustan Copper’s biggest copper deposit, and the underground programme there has been running in phases. At Rs 461.58 crore across roughly 24 km of development, this is a long duration contract rather than a quick campaign, and mobilisation is not trivial.
Who can realistically bid
Underground mine development is specialist territory. Bidders need proven experience in hard rock development, ground support and controlled blasting, plus the safety systems that come with working underground for years. This is not a job a surface earthmoving contractor can step into, though there is subcontract scope in surface handling, haul roads and civil support work.
One detail to note before you price: earnest money is Rs 50,00,000 with exemption allowed. That is a capped figure rather than a percentage of the estimate, so the usual trick of checking the estimate against the earnest money does not apply here. Read the value straight from the NIT.
Fleet on a job like this
The underground fleet is jumbo drills, low profile dump trucks and LHD loaders, backed by shotcrete rigs and rock bolters for ground support. On surface you still need excavators and wheel loaders handling muck at the portal, plus compactors and a motor grader keeping haul roads serviceable through the monsoon. Underground plant carries a heavy capital cost, so check the equipment finance options before you commit to a fleet.
Key facts
Tender ID
2026_HCL_286252_1
Reference no.
HCL/CO/MCP/Horizontal Dev/Mines/26-27/01
Issuing authority
Hindustan Copper Limited, Corporate Office Kolkata (Materials and Contracts)
22,500 metres of horizontal development and 1,848 metres of vertical development, along with fork raises and associated jobs.
Where is the Malanjkhand mine?
In Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh, PIN 481116. It is Hindustan Copper’s largest copper deposit.
Is earnest money compulsory?
The earnest money is Rs 50,00,000 and the tender allows exemption. Check the NIT for who qualifies and what proof is needed.
What are the bid dates?
Submission opens 17 August 2026, bids close 24 August 2026 and bids are opened 25 August 2026 at Kolkata.
Tender details are summarised for convenience and may change. Always verify the latest dates, terms and documents on the official tendering portal before bidding. DesiMachines is not responsible for changes made by the issuing authority.
Bidding with your own machines?Tenders often ask for machine papers such as the RC, insurance and invoice. Keep them in one private place on My Machine and get a reminder before insurance or service falls due. Free.
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