RS 291 crores primary increase in expenditure
by Manmohan Singh Naula
On May 1, 2011, the Bhoomipujan of Navi Mumbai Metro was performed by the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan. Even after 12 years today, a Satellite City Navi Mumbai’s metro service has not started. The shocking information that despite the delay in this work, no penalty has been imposed on the contractors. This has come out from the information provided by the CIDCO administration to RTI activist Anil Galgali. Interestingly, the documents show that there has been a preliminary increase of 291 crores in the cost of metro work.
RTI activist Anil Galgali had sought various information related to Navi Mumbai Metro from the CIDCO administration on February 16, 2023. According to the information given by the CIDCO administration in its reply dated 26th April 2023, there are various reasons for the delay in the work. Belapur to Pendhar under CIDCO Navi Mumbai Metro Route No. 1 is 11.10 km long and has a total of 11 metro stations.
No penalty was imposed on the contractor
The estimated cost of CIDCO Navi Mumbai Metro Line No.1 was 3063.63 crores. According to the documents which have been given, the total amount is 3354 crores. Out of this 2311 crores have been paid and the remaining amount is 1043 crores. The CIDCO administration neither penalized nor blacklisted any delaying contractor.
Metro inauguration on April Fool’s route
CIDCO Navi Mumbai Metro Line No. 1 is being kept very secret about when it will be launched. All the works in metro stations 7 to 11 have been completed. The CIDCO administration is targeting to complete the remaining stations 1 to 6 and open the entire route for passengers by April 2023. Indirect CIDCO administration is on the way to celebrate April Fools’ Day in line with the inauguration of Metro. The month is given but the date is not disclose.
Financial weakness of contractors
Both the contracts were canceled on 1st February 2017 as the contractors M/s Sajos, Mahaveer, Supreme were unable to complete the work due to financial weakness. CIDCO then awarded the remaining work of Stations 1 to 6 to M/s Prakash Castrovel, Stations 7 to 8 to M/s Builtwright, Stations 9 and 11 to M/s Univastu and Station 10 to M/s J Kumar.
Delay in permission
Navi Mumbai Metro Line No. 1 was disrupted by transmission towers and cables. Got late permission from Maharashtra State Electricity Corporation. Since the railway line intersects the Sion-Panvel highway near Belapur, there was a delay in obtaining permission from the Public Works Department, as well as the National Highways, Railway Board and Highway Police Department.
According to Mr Galgali, it has become clear that such projects have suffered due to lack of proper planning. The contractors who have cheated CIDCO should be blacklisted and fined.
