Chennai Metro snippets

The Chennai Metro Rail Project (CMRL) has shortlisted three from the nine international engineering consortiums who showed interest in being the general consultants for the project. After negotiations, the CMRL — a special purpose vehicle created by the government — will pick one among the three to handle the job of preparing detailed drawings for the ambitious project. “Since we don’t have an army of experienced engineers, we are going to engage the best technical consultants in the world,” said Syed Munir Hoda, chairman of the CMRL. “The general consultants will prepare detailed engineering drawings for underground corridors and structures, and aesthetically design stations, signals and underground portions. Nine leading consortiums from countries including Germany, Japan, France and the United States have expressed interest in the project,” said Hoda. Three firms have been shortlisted based on their experience in handling similar projects, and “the best one” will be appointed after negotiations, said the CMRL chairman.Funding for the metro project – 60% of which is sourced from the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the rest shared equally by the Centre and the state – is only a few signatures away. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had exchanged notes with the funding agency during his recent visit to Japan. The Centre approved metro rail projects for Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Calcutta in 2005, but the Chennai metro project was held up as the authorities were vacillating between the two choices – mono rail or metro rail — before zeroing in on the latter. “The project is on track. In less than a year we were able to come out with financial disclosure. It is a fairly good achievement,’’ Hoda said. Till now, designs for 17 of the 36 stations have been finalised with the help of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation that offers technical consultancy.The Rs 10,000-crore metro project has a deadline of 2014 and the first phase will have two corridors. While one corridor will go through Washermenpet, Central station, Spencers, Guindy and ends at the Airport (23.1 km), the other will start at Chennai Fort and end at St Thomas Mount (23.4 km). Chennai has opted for a standard-gauge mode while the Delhi metro coaches roll on a broad-gauge. The choice was obviously not without an eye on advantages. “Since the width is less in standard-gauge, we conserve on the space needed for turning the coaches. Moreover, we can order rolling stocks from anywhere in the world at competitive price,” sources said.The CMRL officials are also engaging international real estate firms to assess the value of private land to make sure that hassles over acquisition don’t garrotte the project. Only 10% of the total land required for the project is from private parties. In fact, the CMRL officials are confident that mandatory land acquisition laws need not be hammered in here as private owners are conducive to the project.
CORRIDOR-1: Washermenpet Central Station Ripon Building along Cooum River Tarapore Towers Spencers Saidapet Guindy Chennai Airport .
CORRIDOR-2: Chennai Fort Chennai Central Along EVR Periyar Salai Kilpauk Medical College, Aminjikarai, Shenoy Nagar Anna Nagar East Tirumangalam Koyambedu along Inner Ring Road Ashok Nagar St Thomas Mount .
The CMRL — a special purpose vehicle created by the state — has invited tenders for the Rs 122-crore work to construct elevated viaducts between Vadapalani and Thirumangalam (Anna Nagar) where private land need not be acquired. Tenders were invited for the construction of elevated viaducts as part of Chennai Central to St Thomas Mount corridor. The Rs 122-crore work excludes construction of station areas. Civil works will begin on this corridor by the middle of next year. The CMRL has also planned to convene a meeting with potential bidders by end of this month. The CMRL has sought the services of Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited to invite bidders who have experience in executing similar works. According to sources, before kick-starting the bidding process, the CMRL wants to assess the potential of the bidding firms. With leading engineering and systems firms showing interest, more than 75 leading companies are expected to participate in the meeting.The bids will be called for different works including construction of elevated viaducts, underground corridors, supply and installation of all systems for the corridors, power supply, signal and telecommunication works.