CMRL ends deal with contractor for stations

CCCL was accused of delays in construction

The fourth and fifth trains arrived from Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday.

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) terminated its contract with Consolidated Construction Consortium Limited (CCCL), on Monday. CCCL was responsible for the construction of stations including Koyambedu, CMBT, Arumbakkam, Vadapalani, Ashok Nagar, Ekkatuthangal, Alandur and St. Thomas Mount. Thus, a further delay in the trial run and operations is likely, according to CMRL officials.

Construction of these stations has suffered constant delays and stands incomplete now. The project was estimated to cost Rs. 14, 600 crore.

CMRL had sent two show cause notices to CCCL this month regarding the delay in the progress of work. But, the response by the company had not been satisfactory, leading to the termination of the contract, a CMRL official said.

Tenders will be called for shortly and the contract will be handed over to other successful bidders by February-end. The trial run may be carried out in October and the stretch between Koyambedu to Alandur may be thrown open for public use only in November, he added.

CMRL had planned to conduct the trial run by December 2013 and begin the first phase of operations by March 2014.

St. Thomas Mount, the biggest station in the elevated corridor, which is also to be integrated with the MRTS, had to be excluded from the trial run since the construction was not complete. CCCL was awarded a contract for Rs. 78 crore but has finished work for only Rs. 40 crore. The new company will now have to complete the remaining work at Rs. 100 crore due to cost escalation.

CCCL officials had told The Hindu they had held-up payment for several labourers for two months.

Two more trains arrive

Meanwhile, the fourth and fifth trains for Chennai Metro Rail arrived from Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday night. The trains that were shipped last month will be taken to the depot in Koyambedu and put through various tests. While the first train is being tested on the 800-metre test track at the depot, the second and third trains that arrived in the last week of November are being checked for the functioning of air compressors, traction system and electricity.