The much-awaited trial run of Chennai Metro Rail may be put off by three months, according to a senior official of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL).
The company may terminate the contract of Consolidated Construction Consortium Limited (CCCL) that is involved in the construction of stations, including Koyambedu, CMBT, Arumbakkam, Vadapalani, Ashok Nagar, Ekkatuthangal and Alandur, which are scheduled to be a part of the trial run.
Officials of CMRL recently said there were several delays in the construction of stations by CCCL and the company had not paid salary dues to several of its employees. CMRL had then advanced a payment to help CCCL, the official said.
A conflicting response has emerged from CCCL officials who said they have not paid wages to nearly 250 labourers for November and December (the labourers get about Rs. 450 a day). This was because CMRL was yet to settle dues for around Rs. 80 crore for October and November for additional civil works they had executed in many of the stations. They may not be able to resume work in these stations unless CMRL released their payment, an official said.
Meanwhile, CMRL had issued two notices to CCCL this month expressing displeasure over the progress of construction, a CMRL official said.
Since CMRL was unhappy with the response received for their first notice, they had sent a second one. If CMRL was not satisfied with the steps CCCL plans to take, they may terminate the contract awarded to CCCL, he added.
If the contract ends, it will throw construction out of gear on the Koyambedu-Alandur stretch for at least three months as fresh tenders have to be floated only after which the new contractor can begin work.
