Chennaites have to wait longer for metro rail ride this year!

Koyambedu-St Thomas Mount deadline
extended by three more months

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Chennaites may have to wait another two to three months more to enjoy their first metro rail ride as a row between Chennai Metro Rail and Consolidated Construction Consortium Limited is likely to hit the June-July deadline this year.

Chennai Metro Rail has served notice for termination of contract to Consolidated Construction Consortium Limited for the delay in construction of railway stations on the elevated stretch from Koyambedu to St Thomas Mount while CCCL officials said they have sent a notice for demanding additional payment before starting the work.

A senior metro rail official told Express that a notice has been served to CCCL for delay in completion of work on the elevated stations since the last one year.

“We have paid CCCL Rs 50 crore in advance in different installments during the last one year but the work did not progress up to expectation as such the notice has been served,” he said.

Metro rail sources said efforts are on to meet the June-July deadline but then they do confide that it may take at least two to three months more before the city can start enjoying metro rail ride on elevated stretch between Koyambedu and St Thomas Mount.

After the test run of Brazil imported metro train that was flagged off by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, Chennai Metro Rail officials are leaving no stone unturned to meet the deadline and have the trial run by the end of this month. But then even the trial run is likely to be delayed.  A metro rail spokesman said it may be possible next month only.

Unluckily, the macro-economic conditions are also not favourable for construction companies and Consolidated Construction Consortium Limited is no exception to it. But metro rail officials state that they can’t bend the rules. “If we have to pay them money then why are we terminating their contract,” a metro rail official reasons.

Interestingly, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has awarded tenders worth Rs 224.53 crore to Consolidated Construction Consortium Limited to design and construct 10 elevated stations. The firm is currently constructing stations on the elevated stretch at Koyambedu, CMBT, Arumbakkam, Vadapalani, Ekkatuthangal,  Ashok Nagar, Alandur and Sidco. However, it has yet to make any significant progress in Little Mount, Guindy and Officers Training Academy stations on the elevated stretch.

Metro rail officials said although some work did happen at Koyambedu, CMBT, Arumbakkam, Vadapalani, Ekkkatuththangal Alandur and Ashok Nagar, but it was moving at a snail’s pace.

But what happens, if the contract gets terminated. Metro rail officials say they will have to make alternate arrangements including looking for new contractor. CCCL will then have to provide us with all materials, designs and drawings. “This will take time,” he said.

It also looks like that one shouldn’t be surprised to see the work on the elevated stations still going on once the metro rail becomes operational possibly in September or October.

 

 

Factfile:

The elevated stretch trial run between Koyambedu to Ashok Nagar is delayed and likely to be held by the end of next month

 

The deadline to complete the work from Koyambedu to St Thomas Mount is extended and may happen in the next two to three months that is possibly by September or October

 

Metro rail officials will have to make alternate arrangements including looking for new contractor

CCCL will have to provide all materials, designs and drawings to metro rail

 

Metro rail sources say work on the elevated stations will continue to go on once the metro rail becomes operational possibly in September or October.