: Transportation of metro rail tracks from the Cochin port to the Metro construction yard at Kaloor came to a standstill on Wednesday after a section of labourers allegedly came up with a demand to pay nokku kooli.
According to sources, the contractor had already agreed to pay a charge of Rs. 5,000 per truck load for shifting the rails. The workers, however, demanded an additional Rs. 1,500 for each load, in addition to Rs. 200 as refreshment charges. They also insisted on deploying local labourers for the work.
If the rails are not immediately shifted to the metro site at Kaloor, the company will have to pay demurrage charges to the port for using its premises. The contractor agency has also threatened to withdraw if the authorities fail to resolve the issue.
About 3,200 tonnes of rails for the metro project was imported from France on Saturday. Meanwhile, officials with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation held that any further delay in shifting the tracks would have an adverse impact on the time-bound completion of the project. “The laying of tracks is scheduled to begin by July 15, before which it has to be lifted onto the viaduct. Any delay in shifting these tracks to the yard will affect the overall work schedule,” they said.
