Will Chennai Metro Rail meet the October-end deadline?

C Shivakumar
Chennai:

Even as Chennai Metro Rail is racing ahead to meet the October
deadline of the first commercial run from Koyambedu to Alandur, it is
highly unlikely that the seven stations in the stretch would be ready
before October end.

While officials are maintaining the October deadline, but metro rail
workers confide that the deadline is likely to be stretched further.
“It could be here and there or may be stretched further but we expect
it to be over by the end of the year,” a metro rail source said.

The biggest issue bothering the metro rail officials is the pending
work on all the seven metro rail stations. While work is progressing
at a faster pace, it is unlikely that the work would be completed
before October end.

While work in CMBT is nearing completion with minor electrical as well
as commissioning and testing of lifts and escalators is in progress,
some interior work like flooring, plastering, painting and false
ceiling is still pending.

In Vadapalani, the structural work is still in progress. Work has yet
to start on erecting lift and escalators. In Ekkatuthangal, the work
on erecting lift as well as escalators is in progress. Interestingly,
the structural works in all other stations except Vadapalani has been
completed.

Work was hit in the stations due to delayed work by Consolidated
Construction Consortium, whose contract was terminated.  A new
contract was drafted and work was awarded to four firms --
Tiruchitambalam Projects Limited (TPL), Saraswati Construction
Company, Nagarjuna Construction Company and URC Constructions.

Factfile on stations:

Koyambedu

Contractor: Tiruchitambalam Projects Limited

Works completed: Structural work, indoor and outdoor installation of
signals , telecommunications, roof truss erection

In progress: Flooring, plastering, painting and false ceiling;
electrical works; testing and commissioning of lifts and escalators

Yet to Start: roof sheeting work

CMBT:

Contractor: Tiruchitambalam Projects Limited

Works completed: Structural works; erection of lift and escalator
completed; indoor and outdoor installation of signals;
telecommunication equipment installation; roofworks

In progress: Interior works like flooring, plastering, painting and
false ceiling, testing and commissioning of lifts and escalators;
electrical works.

Arumbakkam

Contractor: Tiruchitambalam Projects Limited

Works completed: Structural works; roof works; Indoor and outdoor
installation of signals

In progress: Interior works like flooring, plastering and false
ceiling; testing and commissioning of lifts and escalators; electrical
works; telecommunication works

Vadapalani

Contractor: URC Constructions

Works completed:  Roof truss erection

In progress: Structural works; electrical works; Telecommunication
works; indoor signalling

Works yet to be started: Lifts and escalators; Roof sheeting work;
outdoor signalling

 Ashok Nagar

Contractor: Saraswathi Construction Company

Works completed: Structural works; installation of indoor and outdoor signals

In progress: Interior works like flooring, plastering and painting;
Testing and commissioning of lifts and escalators; telecommunication
works

Yet to be started: roof sheeting work

Ekkatuthangal

Contractor: Nagarjuna Construction Company

Works Completed: Structural works

In progress: Interior works like flooring, plastering, painting and
wall tile; erection of lifts and escalators; Roof fabrication works

Yet to start: Indoor and outdoor signaling and telecommunication works

Alandur

Contractor: Nagarjuna Construction Company

Works completed: Structural works; indoor signalling

In progress: Interior works like flooring, plastering, painting and
wall tile; erection of lifts and escalators; roof works;
telecommunication works

Yet to start: Outdoor installation of signals yet to start