CIDCO expected to issue contract by month-end; permission from railways to commence construction of Panchanand station on its plot remains the major hurdle
Far from over: Though the metro line was supposed to start in 2014, it is now said that it will become operational only in 2016. File pic
In yet another move that will help the metro rail in Navi Mumbai to get on track by 2016, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) awarded the contract for systems work to Alsaldo. The firm was one of the three bidders short-listed by CICDO; the other two were Alston and Larsen & Toubro. The winner was announced on January 24.
Far from over: Though the metro line was supposed to start in 2014, it is now said that it will become operational only in 2016. File pic
“The contract will take a month’s time to be finalised, as it needs to go through Board of Directors as well. But it will begin by the end of the month,” said Mohan Ninawe, PRO, CIDCO.
Senior CIDCO officials said a detailed study of the subject was needed, which would require at least a month after, only then the work can commence.
Roadblock
Railway officials have asked the development body to end the construction work 300 square metres before the Panchanand station, the tenth station on the metro line, as the plot belongs to the Indian Railways. This has refrained CIDCO from commencing the construction work. Officials said they were hoping to secure clearances from the railways at the earliest.
Behind schedule
Ever since Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on May 1, 2011, and said the line would be operational by 2014, the project has missed several deadlines.
It is now said that the metro line would be operational only in 2016.
“It is only when the contract is issued and work starts, we will be in a position to predict the first trial run,” said a CIDCO official.
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