CHENNAI: The under ground stretch of Chennai Metro suffered a major blow as Metro Rail is all set to scrap the contract with Gammon India for construction of seven underground stations along with twin bored tunnels covering a length of 6.4 km.
“The contract, covered under two tender packages, is worth around Rs 1,947 crore. We have decided to scrap the contract with Gammon India as the work is progressing at a snail’s pace,” said a senior Chennai Metro Rail official.
As against the target of 80 per cent, the company was able to complete only 50 per cent of the work in the underground stretch. “By the beginning of next year, the work should have been completed in the stretch,” he noted. This would be the second big blow for Chennai Metro, which is trying to recover from the abrupt walkout from the project by Russian firm Mosmetrostroy, engaged in metro development for the last 80 years in Moscow. It was Mosmetrostroy and Gammon who were jointly
awarded the contract to construct stations at Govt Estate, LIC, Thousand lights, Anna Flyover, Teynampet, Chamiers road and Saidapet along with twin bored tunnels covering a total length of over 6.4 km.These contracts are part of the five tender packages floated by the CMRL for design and construction of underground stations and associated tunnels covering a total length of 18 km and 19 underground stations.
The joint venture between Mosmetrostroy and Gammon covers two packages. These includes Saidapet to DMS and May Day Park to DMS. The projects have a value of Rs 932.88 crore and Rs1014.42 crore.
While one part of the stretch along Saidapet to DMS is complete, the other stretch is short by 300 metres. Similarly, both the stretches between May Day Park to DMS is only 50 per cent complete.
“We would work out the cost escalation and rework the tender which could be worth Rs 1,000 crore,” said the official.
A Gammon official confirmed that work has been stopped along the stretch and efforts are on to work out an agreement. However, Chennai Metro officials said they have already decided to scrap the contract.
This means the underground stretch between Chennai Central to Saidapet is likely to be delayed more.