Track laying work for Kochi metro to begin in April

Employees of Indian Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project authorities walk alongside a metro train during a photo call at the Uppal Metro Rail Depot in Hyderabad on September 2, 2014. HMR is the biggest urban infrastructure project undertaken on public-private partnership basis. Metro train services on the elevated rail, which will cover a total distance of 72 kilometers with three corridors comprising 66 stations, commence in a few days on the route from Nagole to Mettuguda, a stretch of eight kms in the first phase, according to a media release. AFP PHOTO / Noah SEELAM

With the civil works on the coach maintenance depot at Muttom slated for their completion by this year, the authorities are planning to commence the tracking works of the metro rail in April.

A decision with regard to setting up the first track for the metro at Muttom was taken at a meeting of the systems contractors the other day, official sources said. “The oscillation trial of the metro rail need not start from Aluva. It is most likely between Muttom, where the coach yard is located and the remaining stretch to Palarivattom’’, they said. According to them, the system contractors are slated to start the homework on traction and tracking within two months from now. Laying of tracks on the viaducts will be taken up only after setting up the track at Muttom.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which executes the project, has already commenced works on the stabling yard and a permanent way building at the location while the remaining civil works which include the workshop, other service buildings and store will be taken up later. Except for the Operations Control Centre (OCC) building, other civil works in the location has been awarded to a Kolkata-based company.

Meanwhile, the DMRC has closed in on an agency for awarding the contract for the construction of the Operations Control Centre building at the yard. Piling works on the building is set to begin upon signing the contract and it plans to complete the works by November this year.

The representatives of Alstom, which bagged the contract for the supply of the rolling stock, had informed the DMRC that the first set of coaches could be delivered by May 3, 2016.

The DMRC, however, is attempting to advance the delivery date and has told them to provide us the rolling stock by January 2016. “We are working on with a view to receiving the coaches by the beginning of the year though the final round of works may extend to the next year. This, however, is not going to affect the arrival of coaches’’, officials said.

Works on coach maintenance depot at Muttom to be completed this year.