BMRCL-contractor pass the buck over delay

BMRCL-contractor pass the buck over delay


Monica Jha
First Published : 18 Dec 2008 05:50:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 18 Dec 2008 09:31:26 AM IST

BANGALORE: While the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation limited (BMRCl) is hinting at possibilities of stern steps against the contractor for causing a delay in the metro rail construction work, including the part on MG Road, the contractor blames the delay on BMRCl’s inefficiency.

“The BMRCl released 30 per cent of the total land needed for work in Reach I only five days ago,” an official from the Navayuga Engineering Company limited (nECl), a Hyderabad-based firm that got the contract for the Reach I work, told to this website's newspaper. The BMRCl has faced a lot of flak from the public for the slow pace of construction work from Byappanahalli to the Chinnaswami Cricket Stadium (Reach I). The Reach I of Namma Metro project includes the busy MG Road in the central business district and passes through Old Madras Road, CMH Road, Ulsoor and Trinity Circle.

Problems with land acquisition caused delays in execution of the project but efficiency on contractor’s part could have saved up to six months, the BMRCl said. “now, the project is nine months behind schedule,” said a BMRCl official.

The official, on his part, says, “A stretch from the Old Madras Road to Trinity Circle comprises the land released last week and forms 30 per cent of the total area needed for Reach I work. Before this, 50 per cent of the total land was released in May. We wanted to start work in January 2007, but till December 16, 2007, not even the drawings of the project were available to us,” NECl official said. On why the work was proceeding slow on MG Road even after land was made available, the official said: “The BMRCl was releasing drawings and land slowly and irregularly.” Meanwhile MD of BMRCL, NSivasailam, did not deny the possibilities of a change in contractor for the viaduct construction for Reach I or imposing a hefty penalty on the contractor for causing delay. Sivasailam said the BMRCl Board had already formulated a strategy to tackle the issue of contractor causing a delay in the construction work. “The BMRCl has a penalty clause in its contract. The clause deals with the key dates in the schedule and has a provision for charging the contractor a penalty of up to 10 per cent of the contract, depending on the number of days by which the work has been delayed,” Sivasailam explained.

Reacting to this, the NECLofficial said: “Going for a new contractor could have legal implications and a new contractor would not take up the half-done work or quote an exorbitant contract amount. Penalty clause for delay in the contract applies only when the delay causes loss or damage to the BMRCl. In this case, BMRCl can impose a penalty on us only if the operation of train starts late because of us. The BMRCl has not yet issued the contracts for Reach I stations. So the question of a delay penalty does not arise.” Despite indicating that action would be taken against the NECl, BMRCl still show faith in the contractor. Sivasailam said that the contractor might speed up the work.