Pier modification cost Metro Rs 8 crore extra

Modification of some piers has cost DMRC Rs 8 crore extra and forced it to extend the deadline of its Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar corridor by about eight months. DMRC is also likely to miss the deadline due to land acquisition issues.

“The elevated alignment of the corridor passes over the National Highway 24 towards Ghaziabad in two locations – between Vinod Nagar and Vinod Nagar East and between IP Extension and the Vinod Nagar Metro depot. As per the original plan, piers 114, 115 and 116 passed over NH 24 (near petrol pump towards Ghaziabad). While pier 115 was on the median of the highway, piers 114 and 116 were on either side of the NH,” said a DMRC official on the condition of anonymity.

“As per the revised plan, both piers 114 and 116 on either side of NH 24 were dismantled. However, pier 115 could be retained. The 11 segments erected were also dismantled. Since it was not possible to erect another pier near pier 114, because the new pier would have fallen within the pile foundation area of the old pier, a decision was taken to provide a portal instead. Currently, the piling work for the portal is in progress,” said the official.

“This process took more time to complete the project. DMRC had to spent Rs 8 crore extra and work has been extended for eight months,” he added.

DMRC is now expecting to meet the deadline at the first quarter of year 2017. Meanwhile Delhi Metro began trail run on a small stretch between Okhla Vihar and Kalkaji Mandir of the upcoming Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden corridor. With the extension, the length of the section under trial has gone up to 9.5 km. Earlier in June, trial run had started between Kalindi Kunj and Okhla Vihar stations of the 37 km long corridor.

The Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden corridor is part of Metro’s Phase III construction which is running behind schedule due to issues including that of land acquisition in a few patches. Metro’s new UTO (Unattended Train Operations) enabled trains will operate on this corridor and will undergo trials between these stations to ensure smooth operations after the commissioning of the corridor.

The new signalling technology to be implemented on this corridor and Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) will also undergo rigorous testing. Metro officials have confirmed that trial on other sections of the line, namely between Indira Gandhi Airport Domestic Terminal 1 - Janakpuri stations and Kalindi Kunj - Botanical Garden stations are expected in November and October respectively.