The Mumbai Metro One Private Limited consortium is most likely to miss the extended deadline of March 2013 for completing work on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro route. Sources say the new deadline is May 2013.
Pre-commissioning tests and certifications that will take time are likely to delay the metro route. “The tests and certifications by various agencies are crucial before the line is commissioned and it takes around two to three months for the agencies to supervise the project and issue compliance certificates,” informed a source.
According to sources, “critical” finishing works are on at a very slow pace. The work on Saki Naka station will be completed in May 2013, while Subhash Nagar and Asalfa stations are likely to be ready by April 2013.
Another grave issue that is likely to delay the project is obtaining the Right of Way at Andheri. This clearance will mean a part of a mosque in the area will have to be dismantled so that two girders can be launched over the railway tracks.
However, the Reliance Infrastructure-led MMOPL insists that the work is on schedule and will be completed by March 2013. MMOPL officials claim that the metro route can be commissioned even without a station or two not being ready by D-day. They suggest opening it at a later date, whenever they are ready.
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‘Can take 6 months for caste certificates’
Age Correspondent
Mumbai, Oct. 4
The Maharashtra cabinet on Thursday approved the proposal to allow candidates winning the panchayat polls next month, a leeway of six months to submit their caste certificate as the caste validation committees were short staffed and laden with a huge backlog.
According to officials, the caste validation committees have tremendous workload and it is not possible to provide the certificates for aspiring candidates on time. Hence the proposal to grant a six month time to winning candidates to submit the caste certificate after they got it from the committee.
The cabinet has also mulled over the amending the Maharashtra Gram Panchayat Act so that aspiring candidates are not prevented from contesting the panchayat polls. Officials said that while filing their nomination papers, candidates will have to provide proof of having submitted their caste validity application to the committee, with an affidavit that they would submit the certificate within six months of winning the polls.