Metro rail resumes work on airport line
Posted on: 28/Jan/2014 11:28:46 AM
It was very bleak because the status of OTA-Meenambakkam stretch of metro rail was kept in dark by the CMRL officials. The earlier contractor was unable to complete the work. Now a new contractor has taken over the work that will give the last mile connectivity to the airport.
The new firm, ITD Cementation from Mumbai, will build the cut-and-cover tunnel under the air funnel by the side of GST Road, a ramp connecting the tunnel, and a few box structures needed for trains. The 64.86-crore project is expected to be completed before February 2015.
Metro rail terminated the contract of Lanco Infratech which was building the OTA-airport line in August at 178.94 crore because the company was lagging behind but 70% of the time had elapsed.
The line has been split into two phases, and fresh tenders were floated so that the investment burden will be less for firms to take up the remaining work. The corporation is in the process of identifying a contractor for the Meenambakkam-airport stretch.
The OTA-Meenambakkam stretch is a crucial portion of the airport line because it crosses the approach path of aircraft coming in to land on the second runway. The elevated line from OTA veers into the airport campus and dips below the surface to avoid obstruction to flights. The earlier contractor had excavated the cutand-cover tunnel meant to take the train below the surface was excavated, but shoring up need to be done.
Metro rail is planning to award the contract for the Meenambakkam to airport stretch zone. The work for the entire line was scheduled to be completed by end of last year, and commissioning of the line was scheduled by the end of this year.
