Another R-Infra project heads for termination - Business Standard

Another R-Infra project heads for termination

Sanjay Jog & Aneesh Phadnis  |  Mumbai  

December 18, 2012 Last Updated at 00:41 IST

Reliance Infrastructure Ltd

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The 32-km Phase-II of the Mumbai Metro project, bagged byReliance Infrastructure (R-Infra), faces termination in theabsence of substantial progress.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), planning and nodal agency for the project, has written to the Maharashtra government to terminate the concession agreement signed with the R-Infra-led consortium in January 2010. The Rs 11,000-crore project has been mired in controversies, delays and litigation.

The final decision on this is awaited and is likely to be taken after the ongoing state legislature session in Nagpur. A senior minister, who did not want to be named, told Business Standard: “The government has received MMRDA’s communication and will take a call on the cancellation of the project.”

MUMBAI METRO MIRE

Project cost:  Rs 8,250 cr:  MMRDA’s estimate Rs 11,000 cr: R-Infra’s estimate

Places to be covered: From Charkup to Mankhurd via Bandra, covering 32 km, with 27 stations

Concession period: 35 years

Financial closure: Achieved in March 2011; Axis Bank the lead banker, besides nine other PSUs, for debt of Rs 6,931 cr. Equity: Rs 2,332 cr. R-Infra’s equity share 74%; the rest is SNC Lavalin’s

Viability gap funding: Deficit of Rs 2,298 crore; Rs 1,532 crore funded by the Centre, Rs 766 crore by MMRDA

R-Infra’s trouble trail Moved out of the Worli-Haji Ali sea link project following a dispute with the government The Delhi Airport Metro Express line has been shut since July; R-Infra and DMRC are heading for an arbitration

An R-Infra spokesperson said the company was not aware about the government plan to scrap the project. “We have fulfilled all our conditions in the concession agreement. We are waiting for the government to fulfil its conditions.” He said the company had so far spent Rs 100 crore on designing and related works, besides Rs 160 crore deposited as bank guarantee.

This could be the second major infra project to be buried, after the Rs 5,000-crore Worli-Haji Ali sea link. Incidentally, the latter, too, had been awarded to R-Infra, which decided to leave the project after a dispute with the government. In the Delhi Airport Metro Express project, R-Infra and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation are heading for arbitration. The Metro line has been shut since July 8.

The ground work to shelve the Mumbai Metro Phase-II had begun in September when MMRDA wrote to Mumbai Metro Transport Private Ltd to commence construction work. The firm said it could not do so till the issues related to environment clearance for car depots at Mankhurd and Charkop and right of way were sorted out. Besides, it said, there were other unresolved issues related to amendment in rules to allow commercial development at Metro stations, restrictions on construction near the Juhu airport and problems regarding shifting of underground utilities.

“The project can’t be left hanging fire. There has to be a conclusion,” a senior MMRDA official said. Another government official said: “Metro is a public infrastructure project and Reliance should have had faith in the government.”

http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/another-r-infra-project-heads-for-termination-112121802022_1.html

Reliance Infra's Mumbai metro phase II faces cancellation - Business Standards

Reliance Infra's Mumbai metro phase II faces cancellation

Maha Govt & company on collusion course

Sanjay Jog & Aneesh Phadnis  |  Mumbai  

December 17, 2012 Last Updated at 18:19 IST

A 32 km second phase of Mumbai Metro project bagged by Reliance Infrastructure faces termination due to lack of substantial progress. The state-run Mumbai Metropolitan region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is a planning and nodal agency for the metro project, has written to the Maharashtra government to terminate the concession agreement it signed with the Reliance Infrastructure led consortium in January 10 and thereby scrap the project. The Rs 11,000 crore project,which would  stretch from Charkop in north west Mumbai to Mankhurd in north east fringe of the city, has been dogged by controversies, delays and litigation.

A final decision regarding the project's outcome  is awaited and is likely to be taken after the conclusion of ongoing state legislature session at Nagpur. A senior minister, who did not want to be identified, told Business Standard "The government in the receipt of MMRDA's communication and will take a call on the cancellation of the project," he noted.

If the government goes ahead to the scrap the project it will be the second vital infrastructure project after the Rs 5,000 crore Worli-Haji Sea Link to be buried. Incidentally the Haji Ali sea link project too was awarded to Reliance Infra and the company decided to walk out from the project over dispute with the government. In Delhi airport metro project, Reliance Infrastructure and Delhi Metro Railway Corporation are heading for arbitration. The project has been shut since July 8 and Reliance Infrastructure asked for a financial restructuring on the line from which it was losing Rs 1 crore a day.

The ground work to shelve the Rs 11,000 crore second phase of metro project began in September when the MMRDA wrote to Mumbai Metro Transport Private Ltd (MMTPL) to commence  construction work immediately. The company shot back stating that it can not commence work on the line unless  various issues related to environment clearance for car depots at Mankhurd and Charkop and right of way are sorted out. Moreover the company said there were other unresolved issued related to amendment in rules to allow commercial development at metro stations, restrictions on construction near Juhu airport and problems regarding shifting of undergound utilities. It said until the government sorted out these issues it was not in a position to begin work.

"The project can't be left hanging. There has to be a conclusion,'' a senior MMRDA official said.  Another  government official countered Reliance Infrastructure's claims regarding lack of government  support.  " Metro is a public infrastructure project and Reliance should have had faith in government. In case of first phase of metro land for car depot was made available after eight months after project launch. The government has been trying to provide alternate land which is clear of CRZ.  We had given right of way comprising stretches of three kilometre on 50% of the route. Even if right of way was made available on hundred% of the route the company would not be able to start work on the entire length. ''

A Reliance Infrastructure spokesperson said the company was not aware about the government plan to scrap the project. " We have fulfilled all our conditions precedent as per the concession agreement. We are waiting for the government to fulfill their conditions as prescribed in that agreement.'' The spokesperson said the company has so far spent Rs 100 crore on designing and related works besides Rs 160 crore deposited towards bank guarantee.

---

What is stalling the second phase ?

Environment Clearance:   The proposed sites for car depots at Charkup and Mankhurd fall under the coastal regulation zone. Earlier this year the union environment ministry gave a conditional clearance to construct the car depots. The clearance allows for construction of car sheds over stilts so that mangroves are not hacked and does not permit washing of trains at the site. R-Infra claims these conditions make car shed depot unviable.  The search for alternate plots has not been not successful.

Right of Way:  R-Infra claims that MMRDA was supposed to provide 100% right of way for the project by April 2011and till now only 51% has been provided which is not contigious

Commercial development: MMTPL has proposed development of retail areas spread over 4000 sq metre at each of 27 metro stations on the route. This construction can take place only if existing development control rules are amended. However the amendment has not yet been done.

Utility shifting: There is no concrete plan regarding shifting of utilities

Approval from Airport Authority:  AAI has imposed constraints on the construction height in area near Juhu airport

Project cost: Rs 8250 crore (MMRDA estimate) Rs 11,000 (R-Infra estimate)

Places to be covered  From Charkup to Mankhurd via Bandra, covering 32 km, with 27 stations

August 2009:  President Pratibha Patil launches the project

Concession period : 35 years

Financial closure achieved: Achieved in March 2011; Axis Bank is the lead banker along with nine other PSUs. Debt portion - Rs 6931 crore. Project equity: Rs 2332 crore. Reliance Infra's equity share is 74 percent and the balance 26 percent belongs to SNC Lavalin

Viability Gap Funding:  Rs 2298 crore (Rs 1532 crore from Centre,  Rs 766 crore from MMRDA)

http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/reliance-infra-s-mumbai-metro-phase-ii-faces-cancellation-112121700084_1.html

Metro’s second line project may get derailed - Times of India - 17th Sept

Metro’s second line project may get derailed

Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN Sep 17, 2012, 06.19AM IST

MUMBAI: The 2016 deadline for the Metro's second line, even officials associated with it admit, is a will-o'-the-wisp, impossible to catch. Three years after then president Pratibha Patil attended a bhoomi pujan, launching the project, no work on it has begun. Indeed, such are the obstacles in its path that many believe Metro-II may end up a non-starter.

Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) got the task to build the 32-km elevated Metro line from Charkop to Mankhurd via Bandra in August 2010. The company was recently warned by MMRDA of action if it failed to start work at the earliest. But RInfra officials claim the reason for the delay is the government itself, which has been unable to obtain permissions and acquire land.

RInfra official point out that no environmental clearance has been received to build car depots on CRZ land in Mankhurd and Charkop, except on stilts, which is costly. Also, washing of cars at the depots, even if on stilts, has been prohibited. There are other problems. No land has been identified for the casting yard and the civil aviation ministry has not given its consent to the stretch near the Juhu airport.

"No rights have been awarded to commercially exploit the areas along the route, as per the agreement, because the government is yet to modify the development control regulations. Further, extra high voltage electricity networks at 13 locations have not been shifted," said a source.

Senior architect P K Das said building an elevated Metro in a city like Mumbai is an ill-conceived idea. "A dense, congested city, with high pollution and lack of open spaces, cannot afford an elevated route," he said. "Lessons should be learnt from Metro-I, where lack of space not only delayed the project but also put safety at risk. The government should immediately cancel the elevated Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd Metro line and build it underground."

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-17/mumbai/33901972_1_metro-ii-rinfra-juhu-airport

MMRDA finds land for Metro II rake depot in Malwani - Mumbai Mirror - 22nd Sept

MMRDA finds land for Metro II rake depot in Malwani

Yogesh Naik - Posted On Saturday, September 22, 2012 at 04:37:52 AM

The Metro II project connecting Charkop and Mankhurd which was stuck due to environmental restrictions, will soon start moving as the MMRDA has identified a huge tract of land at Malwani near Malad for a rake depot. The development authority found it extremely difficult to set the project rolling due to the restrictions laid down by the Maharashtra Coastal Management Zone Authority and the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). The Centre had clearly told MMRDA that mentioned that they cannot wash rakes or carry out repair works in the CRZ area. Senior officials from MMRDA and Mumbai suburban district collector Sanjay Deshmukh jointly inspected the 19 hectare plot at Malwani a fortnight ago. The issue was also discussed in a meeting with the Chief Secretary Jayant Banthia in Mantralaya. When contacted, MMRDA Joint Commissioner SVR Srinivas told Mumbai Mirror that they had moved a proposal for the land to the revenue department. “It is being processed. The Malwani plot does not come under the purview of the CRZ so it will be easier,” he said. MMRDA sources said that the Malwani plot is closer to Atharva College. “The collector has also shown willingness to hand it over,” an MMRDA official said. After finding it very difficult to set up a car depot in Charkop, the MMRDA has now zeroed on a plot in Malwani. The proposed depot was caught in the eye of a storm since the area was in mangroves. Costing around Rs 10,000 crore, the 31.87 km metro line connecting Charkop with Mankhurd via Bandra was initially to be completed in 2014. The contract was awarded to R-Infra and the MMRDA had signed a concession agreement in January 2010. “Both depot lands at Charkop and Mankhurd fall within CRZ, a fact which was not brought out by the MMRDA prior to award of the concession.  The state government has not been able to obtain either suitable dispensation from the MoEF, enabling the use of the land or finding alternate land for the car depots,” said a retired IAS officer. 1 / 1 http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/20120922201209220438078208a83c966/MMRDA-finds-land-for-Metro-II-rake-depot-in-Malwani.html

MMRDA mum on trees felled for Metro project - Mumbai Mirror Sept 22

MMRDA mum on trees felled for Metro project

BMC accuses state infrastructure body of not providing information on replacement of green cover

Chaitanya Marpakwar

- Posted On Saturday, September 22, 2012 at 04:37:52 AM

Ever since work began on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro corridor in 2008, Mumbai's green cover has shrunk by 900 trees. However, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, which is undertaking the rapid transit system, seems to have little idea about its plan to compensate for the trees chopped. The BMC's tree authority, the apex body for matters pertaining to trees in the city, has accused the MMRDA of ignoring its requests to provide information on the status of transplantation, and plantation of new trees. As per the rules laid down by the civic body, any person, organisation or government agency seeking to cut trees for infrastructure projects has to either transplant the uprooted trees or plant twice the number of trees chopped. With no information coming in from the state infra body for the past three months, BMC Commissioner Sitaram Kunte has stepped in to seek a detailed report in the matter. "I have written to the MMRDA asking it to furnish a report on the plantation and transplantation of trees undertaken by it as against the 900 trees claimed by the project. Since the tree authority had demanded the information, I have asked the MMRDA to submit its report," Kunte told Mumbai Mirror. At the same time, the tree authority has also decided not to grant any permission to cut trees till MMRDA complies with its request. "There were some MMRDA officials present for the tree authority meeting last week, but they couldn't give any concrete answers about the exact location and number of the trees planted," said tree authority member and BJP corporator Ameet Satam said. When asked why it took so long for the tree authority to seek the information, especially when the project had started way back in 2008, Satam said it was only after his induction into the tree authority in March 2012, he began reviewing the case and found the anomaly. Speaking to Mirror, an MMRDA official said that the agency would furnish a detailed report to the tree authority in a couple of days. "We have planted the trees in forest land, while some of the trees have been moved. We will submit our list to the tree authority soon."

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/20120922201209220438058052713e3e9/MMRDA-mum-on-trees-felled-for-Metro-project.html

Mumbai: Metro bridge collapses near Andheri - Video

NDTV - Mumbai: Metro bridge collapses near Andheri

ABP News TV Mumbai metro collapse: 1 dead, 20 injured

 

Committee set up to probe Mumbai Metro accident - Business Standard

Committee set up to probe Mumbai Metro accident

The Maharashtra Police has registered a first information report against metro contractor HCC

Sanjay Jog / Mumbai Sep 06, 2012, 00:48 IST

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the nodal agency for infrastructure projects here, has initiated an inquiry into the collapse of a section of a metro rail bridge yesterday, in which one person was killed and 16 injured.

A committee headed by Indian Institute of Technology Bombay professor K V K Rao would probe the incident and suggest safety measures to avoid such instances in the future. The committee includes MMRDA chief engineer S B Tamsekar.

Mumbai Metro One, a special purpose vehicle set up by Reliance Infrastructure and MMRDA to implement the metro project, has also initiated an internal inquiry into the incident.

The Maharashtra Police has registered a first information report against metro contractor Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), which was roped in by Mumbai Metro One. HCC has also been asked to carry out safety and structural audits to ensure such accidents do not recur.

MMRDA Commissioner Rahul Asthana told Business Standard, “MMRDA is not executing the metro phase-I project, neither was it a supervisor. The project implementing agency is Reliance Infrastructure arm Mumbai Metro One, which roped in HCC as contractor. Still, we have ordered a thorough inquiry into the incident to ensure adequate safety standards are maintained during project implementation.”

Though Mumbai Metro One refused to divulge the details on the probe initiated into the accident, a company spokesman said, “We deeply regret the accident at the airport station metro site, being constructed by our contractor HCC. Our emergency response team, along with HCC staff, is at the site to provide rescue-and-relief services, which is our priority. We will keep the media and affected parties posted, as we obtain more information on the accident.”

When contacted, an HCC spokesman declined to comment.

The Rs 2,356-crore Mumbai Metro phase-I project has already missed the completion deadline. Both MMRDA and Mumbai Metro One hope this phase would now be operational by March. The 11.07-km first phase would link Versova-Andheri in the western suburbs to Ghatkopar in the eastern suburbs.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/committee-setto-probe-mumbai-metro-accident/485536/

Metro mishap: Fatalities at metro site - DNA

Metro mishap: Fatalities at metro site

Published: Thursday, Sep 6, 2012, 8:00 IST 
Agency: DNA

The construction of the 11.40km Versova-Andheri- Ghatkopar Metro railway corridor has seen eight accidents since 2008.

May 14, 2008 
Vijay Kumar, who was travelling in an autorickshaw, died at JB Nagar when a boom of a piling rig fell on an auto rickshaw due to loose soil during shifting. Compensation was given to Kumar’s relatives and rickshaw driver Vinod SB Singh.

February 22, 2009
A reinforcement cage fell on a labourer holding it at Kurla Road leading towards Saki Naka. He was injured

July 14, 2009 
Navin Prasad Singh, a supervisor, was electrocuted during heavy rains at the Andheri metro rail site. His family was given compensation of Rs4.68 lakh

November 30, 2009
Workers were injured while removing the scaffolding on the Western Express Highway. 

April 9, 2011
Two children Pratap Padekar (9) and Dattatraya Padekar (11) drowned after they entered the restricted area at Subhash Nagar and went to bathe inside an excavated pit. The MMOPL gave Rs5 lakh compensation to the victims’ family and subsequently the excavated pits were covered with safety nets apart from posting security guards.

July 7, 2011
Banwari Lal, a labourer, died after falling from a height of 11.9m while working on the deck slab below the girder near Navrang Cinema. Though the victim was wearing full body harness, he was not anchored to the horizontal life line. After the accident, the Mumbai Metro One Private Limited decided to ensure that workmen working at a height must use safety harnesses and always anchor the hook to a suitable anchor point.

April 25, 2012
A crane slipped near Sarvodaya Hospital at Ghatkopar (West) during crane placement operations for placing girders. As a remedial measure, a decision was taken to check soil condition for stability and ensure experienced supervision and competent operators.

September 4, 2012
An extended foot over-bridge, which was to link an escalator to be set up at the airport road metro station, in Andheri, collapsed, killing one and injuring 16.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_metro-mishap-fatalities-at-metro-site_1737290

 

Metro mishap: Dead labourer’s family in shock, three battle for life - DNA

Metro mishap: Dead labourer’s family in shock, three battle for life

Published: Thursday, Sep 6, 2012, 8:00 IST 
By Somita Pal | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

wenty-five-year-old Parvesh Sahu is yet to come out of the shock that his brother Umesh Sahu, 32, is no more.

The labourer died on Tuesday when an extended foot over-bridge, which was to link an escalator to be set up at the airport road metro station, in Andheri, collapsed.

The brothers from Madhubani district in Bihar had come to Mumbai three months ago and were working for Hindustan Construction Company — the contractor for Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro railway project.

Umesh and his family had a long association with HCC. “Umesh’s father worked for HCC for eight years. Umesh and Parvesh followed their father’s footsteps. Umesh had worked for Bandra-Worli sea link project for 5 years,” said OP Singh, Umesh’s cousin. He and Parvesh were waiting outside Cooper Hospital’s morgue to take Umesh’s body.

The family said Parvesh was lucky as he was on the night shift. “Umesh and other labourers were putting plastic on the newly cemented slab which collapsed and he fell,” said Singh.

Both brothers, like other HCC labourers, were living in a room provided by the company in Bandra west.

Umesh’s post mortem report said he died of shock due to multiple injuries. “He had internal head injuries and multiple injuries in his entire body. He died because of shock,” said an official from the post mortem department of Cooper Hospital.

Umesh is survived by three children, wife and ailing parents. “He has two sons aged eight and three and a five-year-old daughter. His wife, Anita Devi, did not go to school. We are yet to tell her about Umesh’s death. They know that he was injured in the Metro accident,” said Singh.

Vichitra Mohanty, 20, is one of the 16 injured in the accident. 
“He has injuries in his hip. Doctors say he is stable,” said Ganesh, his brother. They are from Orissa. Vichitra (20) had left studies and came to Mumbai three months ago to join Ganesh at construction site to work as mason. Both earned Rs8,000 each.

The labourers injured in the metro rail accident and admitted in Cooper hospital and Paramount general hospitals in Saki Naka are stable. Those who were critical were rushed to SevenHills hospital in Marol while others were taken to Paramount general hospital and Cooper Hospital.

"Of the six patients brought into Seven Hills Hospital, three are critical and the other three are stable. The patients were brought within the golden hour of life saving and thus their conditions have been salvaged," said Dr Sagar Galwankar, consultant, emergency medicine at Seven Hills hospital.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_metro-mishap-dead-labourers-family-in-shock-three-battle-for-life_1737292

 

Metro mishap raises questions on elevated rail corridor - DNA

Metro mishap raises questions on elevated rail corridor

Published: Thursday, Sep 6, 2012, 8:00 IST 
By Rajendra B Aklekar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

Tuesday’s accident at the Metro site has raised serious safety issues about elevated projects, including the railway’s plan of a 60-km corridor between Churchgate and Virar.

Experts say that it would lead to disasters if any accidents happen over running trains packed with passengers.

IIT civil engineer and transport activist Sudhir Badami said there was a general lack of competence among engineers today and stressed the need to follow safety norms.

“Expediting projects leads to mistakes and if such accidents happen on the running suburban corridors, it would be a major disaster. There will be a need of intensive monitoring,” he said.

The Ministry of Railways has proposed a two-track elevated corridor above the existing Churchgate-Virar line that will run air-conditioned trains. The proposed corridor is expected to terminate near Nariman Point at Oval Maidan and would be partially underground.

Transport expert Ashok Datar said whether it be railways or any body, our engineers usually do not follow rules strictly. “We could go in for other surface transport options and still achieve the same results. The elevated corridor would not just be risky, but also an expensive affair,” he said.

Railway engineers disagree that there could be problems, claiming they never compromise on safety.

“Every road and elevated bridge built by private bodies in Mumbai follow their own procedures. The railways do not allow this. It is mandatory to follow all our norms and that’s possibly why one always hears complaints that the railways delays city projects,” said a railway construction department official.

He added that the railways has a research body and there is a national standard of construction and safety operating procedures to be followed.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_metro-mishap-raises-questions-on-elevated-rail-corridor_1737291