Tunnelling and station work has begun in full swing in Chennai Metro Rail sites along Anna Salai. It was disrupted last year owing to various issues.
Recently, the contract to build underground stations from Government Estate to AG-DMS was given to L&T, which has started the work there also. Last month, Afcons Infrastructure Limited was given the contract to complete the tunnelling work in this stretch.
It is to be noted for both stretches, Government Estate to AG-DMS and AG-DMS to Saidapet, Afcons Infrastructure Limited does the tunnelling work and L&T, construction of stations.
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According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), Afcons Infrastructure Limited too has started the tunnelling work in this stretch.
“The tunnelling and station work is likely to be completed by the end of next year,” an official said.
In July last year, when the contractors for the project Russian firm Mosmetrostroy and Gammon India couldn’t complete the construction, the work came to a grinding halt.
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Chennai Metro Rail gave a contract worth Rs. 1,947 crore for the design and construction of seven underground stations along Anna Salai. In May last year after Mosmetrostroy deserted the project, CMRL terminated the contract of Gammon India as they failed to complete work on time.
Following this, CMRL called for tenders twice and split the work as tunnelling and station work between Government Estate and AG-DMS and AG-DMS to Saidapet.
The tunnelling work was completed long ago and the station too began several months back between AG-DMS to Saidapet. But with the next stretch between Government Estate and AG-DMS, there was a delay in awarding tenders.