Centre seeks early completion of Metro rail projects to avoid cost overuns

The union ministry for urban development has reviewed the progress of six ongoing Metro Rail Projects in the country and sought early completion of all urban rail infrastructure projects so as to avoid cost and time overruns.

At present Metro rail projects are being implemented in Ahmedabad, Kochi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Nagpur, besides the extension projects of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

These Metro projects are being implemented by the ministry of urban development as 50:50 centre and state joint ventures.

Construction work of the 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 construction work of 6 km viaduct between Vastaral Gaam and Apparel Park.

The Rs10,773 crore project was sanctioned in November last year and the work has commenced in February this year, the ministry said.

The project envisages 37.66 km of Metro Rail with and 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.

MEGA is in the process of appointing design consultants for Metro stations and other components of works, its CMD said, adding that the underground section will be completed in 27 months.

Urban development secretary Madhusudhan Prasad said the ministry has asked all the six Metros being implemented on 50:50 basis 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.

The CMD of Kochi Metro said that a smart card-based automatic fare collection system will be introduced, which would result in substantial savings in capital expenditure besides additional revenue to the Metro. 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 Rs209 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 Rs270 crore on capital expenditure on introducing AFC systems besides the expenditure on annual maintenance for 10 years.

According to Kochi Metro officials, 51 per cent of work has been completed on Reach I from Aluva to Maharaja's College and 17 per cent of work on Reach II between Maharaja's and Petta. About 4,883 of the 5,693 piles, 731 of 1,416 piers and 862 of 2,751 girders have also been completed. Financial progress has been reported to be 34 per cent.

In the case of Bengaluru Metro, physical and financial progress of about 92 per cent has been reported. The entire network of 42.30 km 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 balance 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.

In the case of Chennai Metro, Stage -1 comprising 7 stations and viaduct of 10 km is set for revenue operations soon.

The 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. RITES has been tasked with preparation of bid document and bid process management for appointment of execution agency for the priority section between Airport and MIHAN and bid document for appointment of detailed design consultant and for construction of viaduct between Airport and Sitaburdi.

DMRC reported 70-per cent progress in civil works and overall physical progress of 57 per cent in respect of Phase-III project and financial progress of 40 per cent. This phase is scheduled for completion between May, 2015 and December 2016.