Metro chief cries foul over work delay

KOCHI: The pace of ongoing construction work of the Muttom Yard of Kochi Metro Rail Project is “slow and below expectation”, KMRL Managing Director Elias George said on Friday while expressing concern over the possibility of further delay in the Kochi Metro trial run scheduled for February first week.

“The pace of the construction work is below the expectation. I’ve directed DMRC and other concerned parties to do the remaining works on a war-footing as the coaches are set to arrive by the end of this month or January first week. We’re determined to run the first Metro by the June 2016 deadline,” said Elias George who made a maiden visit to the yard along with officials of DMRC, Alstom, L&T and Ircon, among others.

KMRL had given written communication to DMRC to hasten the Metro construction works which got delayed by a host of reasons including land acquisition delay and monsoon.

“Only the stabling yard is ready. The ramp to the track is yet to be set up besides the test track. The first of the coach parts will be delivered from Alstom’s manufacturing facility at Sri City in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh by December end and it would take 10 days to deliver it here by road,” said sources.

DMRC officials, however, exuded confidence of completing the crucial works ‘within time”. “Two months is enough for completing the test tracks and ramp. We’ve asked the contractors to hasten the construction activities by increasing the workforce,” said a DMRC official.

Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.