Namma Metro: work contracted to firm withdrawn

Namma Metro: work contracted to firm withdrawn

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: A major portion of the civil work of Namma Metro in Reach 1 of Byappanahalli to Cricket Stadium contracted to Hyderabad-based Navayuga Engineering Company has been withdrawn following delay in execution by the contractor, and fresh tenders would be invited to identify a new one.

The Reach-I is expected to be completed by July 2010. “In spite of repeated notices to fulfil the backlog, the contractor has not responded satisfactorily. As on January 31, the contractor has substantially defaulted in the performance of casting of segments for viaducts and also the launching of segments on M.G. Road,” a release from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) said on Saturday.

It said that only two spans had been completed against the target of 23 by the end of January 2009, and as against the target of 540 segments only 275 had been cast, leaving a backlog of 265 segments.

Due to the delay, the contracted work of casting 584 segments for Pier 1 to Pier 26 (Byappanahalli to Old Madras Road Station — a length of 652 m.) and Pier 117 to Pier 154 (S.V. Road to Trinity Circle — a length of 1,028 m.) and launching of segments in these stretches had been withdrawn, it added.

However, Navayuga will continue with its work to clear the backlog of 265 segments and 21 spans, and the BMRCL management has asked it to closely monitor the progress of the works on a weekly basis to ensure timely completion of the work.

According to BMRCL sources, fresh tender would be invited shortly to undertake the execution of work on identified portions where the pace was slow.

“This measure has been initiated to keep up the pace with the schedule, and changing the contractor will not add up to delay as two contractors would be working simultaneously,” the sources said.