ARTICLE IN MUMBAI MIRROR DATED 5th OCTOBER 2010 (PAGE 2) –
‘OUR METRO IS RUNNING LATE’
At last the press is recognizing and accepting citizen’s predicament. For all of us it’s a matter of grave concern that a senior officer of Government’s Fire Department has pointed out blatantly about the safety aspect for a mega Rail project with which we have to nurture atleast for a hundred years, unlike 15 days extravaganza of Commonwealth Games.
Although the report is in details with pictures of doom, some issues need explanation :
1. WORK AT STATIONS :
Generally Elevated Stations for Metro Rail are not massive structures because maximum length of Metro train is 135 mtrs. However, for reasons best known to MMRDA each station is almost 200 mtrs. long, spread over 75,000 sft. of built-up area. As reported, only 3 stations out of 12 stations are now visible. It is pertinent to note that 4 stations (out of these 12 nos.) fall under ‘HIGH RISE’ category, which means they are above the height of 7 storey building.
2. NO FIRE DEPARTMENT NOC :
Apart from the candid statement by the CFO, we understand the Authority has not even applied for separate NOC for Via Ducts and the massive Metro Rail yard at Versova.
3. ONLY 247 PILLARS ARE READY :
In other words 40% of civil work of RCC Columns, which supports the Via Duct itself has not even commenced. Not to mention precise laying of rail tracks, signaling system, advanced electrical installation, etc. will follow only after completion of entire length of about 12 kms. of Via Duct.
4. MMRDA CONFIDENT :
The Joint Project Director of MMRDA has audacity to say “The civil work will be over as per the new deadline of June 2011”. Whatever pictures of under construction works are printed are depicting the work of last 30 months therefore it only needs common sense that MMRDA’s statements are intentionally false and misleading to the exchequer. The new deadline announced just last week in place of original deadline of December 2010.
The truth is the contractual completion date is upto mid 2013 and work will not be completed before 2018. Therefore the exchequer will have to pay crores of rupees by way of damages alone to the Concessionaire.
If anyone wants to reconfirm the progress schedule, may please visit MMOPL website www.mumbaimetro1.com/HTML/project_update.html.
Now it is for the citizens to decide in which way we penalize our regulating Authorities as well as their high handed officers when not only they deliberately give false statements but show total disrespect to their own fellow officers and vital regulating authorities.
Needless to say, the sufferings and hardships of Mumbaikars will keep on going !
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Nitin Kilawala
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