Poll delays Washermanpet-Wimco Nagar metro work

CMRL had earlier issued corrigendum for supply of rails in ballast-less tracks for the 9.01 km stretch, but the actual tender has not been floated in view of the code of conduct in place in the project area which falls under poll bound RK Nagar.

Even in the corrigendum, CMRL had deferred the date of submission and opening of tender from January 9, 2018 to January 23, 2018.

A senior CMRL officer, who confirmed the abeyance of the tender due to model code of conduct, told DT Next that they would normally float the tender shortly after issuing the corrigendum, but it had to be delayed in view of the by-election this time. The deferral would delay the launch of track works on the extended section from Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar by over a month easily.

Early last month, CMRL had completed the second tunnel on the stretch ahead of the schedule. However, the ongoing works were being continued as usual.

“Construction of cross-passage connecting two parallel running tunnels and concrete works in the tube are going on. We have only stopped floating fresh tenders. Tender for procuring rails would be issued shortly after the code of conduct is lifted,” the officer added, requesting anonymity.

Implemented at a cost of Rs 3,770 crore as an extension of its phase-I of the project, CMRL has planned to launch commercial metro service from Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar around the first quarter of 2018.