The metro rail works, which were making a headway in the city, have been badly hit as the strike by quarry owners and crusher operators entered its fifth day on Saturday.
Work at the piling sites and metro yards has come to to a grinding halt, over the past two days in particular.
Labourers are idling away at the yards due to the difficulty in sourcing of raw materials, as trucks carrying sand and other materials are being constantly stopped in the wake of the strike.
“Contractors, who have undertaken metro works, have been trying to get the raw materials from other districts. However, this is also being hindered,” sources said. There are plans to source raw materials from other states. However, DMRC officials point that this would escalate the costs. Quarry owners and crusher operators have gone on strike owing to several factors, including the steep hike in sales tax on sand and other quarry products.
Talks with Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty failed the other day.
Workers Hurt
At least five workers at the Muttom yard at Aluva were injured after residents manhandled them at the work site on Saturday morning.
According to the police, the fight started after the local residents demanded the labourers to stop their work, as the drilling work was causing dust problems in the area. The workers were admitted to a hospital at Aluva. The Aluva police have registered a case against eight unidentified persons. There are other differences between the residents and metro contractors, as the latter is using a public road to transport materials to the yard.