MMRDA issues slow-work notice to Metro contractors

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has issued slow-work notices to the three contractors workers on two Metro projects — Simplex Infrastructure, Reliance Infrastructure and Tata Projects (TPL) Limited. The construction work is a joint venture between the contractors and their partners for the two Metro corridors, one in the eastern and the other in the western suburbs.

The two Metro corridors include DN Nagar-Mandale Metro-2B corridor and Wadala-Thane Metro-4 corridor construction work for which was awarded earlier this year. The authority aims to make both corridors operational by 2022.

The MMRDA has also cautioned the contractor (Simplex Infrastructure) saying that it may have to bear the public’s brunt considering that the contractors are only working on barricading and not physical work on the stretch that connects the Kalanagar junction in Bandra to the Bandra-Worli Sea-Link VIP road.

While Reliance Infrastructure along with Italian partner Astaldi, and Tata with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) are involved in the construction of Metro-4 corridor, Simplex Infrastructure is involved in the construction of Metro-2B corridor.

In a notice issued to Simplex, MMRDA has stated, "After 11 months period, you have failed to achieve progress. If you fail to show sincere efforts to improve the speed of work by December 31, 2018, necessary action will be initiated."

Simplex Infrastructure said in a statement, "We have already successfully commissioned several large and complex projects in Mumbai. In our case, we are working closely with MMRDA and other agencies for quick resolution of the on-ground issues for resolving numerous hurdles on the way."

Notices issued by the MMRDA to Reliance Infra-Astaldi and Tata-CHEC reads, "After the passage of over eight months from the date of issue of work order and the fact that a major portion of the site is available to you to execute work, the progress is observed to be very slow. The slow progress will have a major impact on the overall completion of the project."

When contacted, Reliance Infrastructure spokesperson, on behalf of the joint venture, said, "In any large and complex urban infrastructure project, the pace of execution by any player is contingent upon identification of utilities and their workarounds apart from issues relating to encroachments, slums, and environment. In our case, we are working with MMRDA for quick resolution of on-ground issues and committed to timely completion of the project."

While Tata Projects Limited spokesperson on behalf of TPL and CHEC said, "There are a number of trees on the alignment route, a solution to those is needed to be found out by MMRDA, as this is the main reason for the delay. Though MMRDA has put in the huge effort, the alignment given was not feasible as trees were obstructing. Survey control points given to us were inaccurate, causing delay though we have still completed the work."

Meanwhile, an MMRDA official said, "The Bombay high court has dissolved the tree authority of BMC, and due to this our tree transplantation proposals are not being able to go. We are told BMC is working on forming a new tree authority with experts, and post this we expect to address the issue of trees on the alignment."

WON'T CLEAN YOUR DIRTY WORK

The MMRDA has also cautioned Simplex Infrastructure saying it may have to bear the public’s brunt considering that the contractors are only working on barricading and not physical work on the stretch connecting the Kalanagar junction to the Sea-Link