Centre asks all Metros to avoid cost, time overruns

[related-post]

Urban Development Secretary Madhusudhan Prasad during the review last week asked the six Metros being implemented on joint venture of the Centre and respective state governments to ensure that there are no “time and cost overruns”.

He said that infrastructure projects are top priority for the government and they are being monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Construction work in respect of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project has begun within three months of the project being sanctioned by the central government with the Special Purpose Vehicle for execution of the project, MEGA (Metro –Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad) Company Limited commencing work for construction of 6 km viaduct between Vastaral Gaam and Apparel Park.

The Rs 10,773-crore project was sanctioned in November last year and the work has commenced in February this year. The project envisages 37.66 km of Metro Rail with an elevated portion of 31.43 km and underground portion of 6.33 km.

Ahmedabad Metro Project will have an East-West corridor of 20.53 km between Thatlej Gaam and Vastrapur Gaam including the underground portion and fully elevated North-South corridor of 17.23 km between APMC and Motera stadium. There will be a total of 32 stations.

During the review of progress of Metro Projects being implemented on 50:50 Centre and State Joint Venture basis by the Urban Development Ministry, CMD of MEGA informed in the review meeting that Design Consultants for Metro stations and other components of works are being appointed and work on the underground section will be completed in 27 months time.

CMD of Kochi Metro informed in detail about the Smart Card based Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system to be introduced resulting in substantial savings in capital expenditure besides additional revenue to the Metro.

The Axis Bank-led consortium which has been selected through international competitive bidding will introduce Smart Cards which can be used for payment of metro fares as well as for other commercial merchandise at various market outlets.

Kochi Metro will be paid a royalty of Rs 209 crore over a ten year period besides 0.2 per cent of transaction value on card transactions for non-metro fare purposes. Through this initiative, Kochi Metro will save an estimated Rs 270 crore on capital expenditure on introducing AFC systems besides the expenditure on annual maintenance for 10 years.

Kochi Metro informed that 51 per cent of work has been completed on Reach I from Aluva to Maharajas and 17 per cent of work on Reach II between Maharajas and Petta.

In respect of Bengaluru Metro, physical and financial progress of about 92 per cent has been reported.

The entire network of 42.30 kms in Phase I will be complete in all respects by December this year of which 38.30 km. would be operational for public service and the rest 4 km would be ready for testing and commissioning. This Metro has a North-South corridor of 24.20 km between Puttenahalli and Nagasandra and East – West corridor of 18.10 km between Mysore Road and Baiyyappanahalli.

Three Reaches with a total length of 17 km with 16 stations have so far been commissioned.

Regarding Chennai Metro, Stage -1 comprising 7 stations and Viaduct of 10 km is set for revenue operations soon. Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety has carried out Rolling Stock inspection for this stage in the first week of this month. Out of the 42 train sets required, 9 from Brazil and 12 from Sri City, Chittor (AP) have been received. Regarding other four Stages, works are in progress.

Nagpur Metro has reported completion of demarcation of alignment on Airport –MIHAN, Automative Square to Zero Mile and Prajapatinagar – Dosar Vaisya Chowk sections amounting to 55 per cent of total alignment.

DMRC has been assigned the Consultancy work of preparation of bid document for appointment of General Consultant and preparation of Design Basis Report of Nagpur Metro Project.