06 July,2011 06:15 AM IST | | Ravikiran Deshmukh
Although the president attended the ceremony to ensure smooth construction of the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd Metro Phase II at BKC nearly two years ago, work is yet to begin
It has been nearly two years since President Pratibha Patil performed the bhoomipoojan to seek blessings for the timely construction of Metro's Phase II (Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd).
But it appears the gods weren't listening as the project is still in limbo and officials have no idea when it will take off.
President Pratibha Patil was the chief guest at the ceremony at Bandra Kurla Complex on August 18, 2009
u00a0
The 31 km route was estimated to cost Rs 8,250 crore in 2008. But looking at the clutches of inflation, the project will leave the leave MMRDA poorer by another Rs 1,750 crores, say sources close to the developing body.
At a meeting held prior to the budget session in February this year, North Mumbai Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam had demanded an explanation for the project's inordinate delay.
At the behest of the MPs, the state government dispatched its queries to MMRDA, the developing body responsible for the construction.
u00a0
In the month of April, an Action Taken report (ATR) was issued by the state government, delineating the factors responsible for the project's delay, copies of which were distributed among the MPs.
In this report, the state government justified the delay and further stretched its deadline for commencement ofu00a0 the construction, citing logistical roadblocks due to worldwide recession, which had in turn delayed several crucial processes, such as appointment of contractors and independent engineers, preparation of balance sheets, and acquisition of aid from financial institutions.
In the meeting, MMRDA officials also clarified that the project was still in the process of receiving CRZ clearance from the Environment Ministry as well as principal approvals from the Central Railway and Airport Authority of India. They added that it would take another year for the issues to be resolved.
u00a0
The report also stated that examination of soil and topography of the areas falling in the route had been completed, in addition to structural plans.
Grandu00a0Promises
The planned corridor will include fully elevated corridor
Money matters
The VGF grant received by MMRDA from the Central Government for the proposed corridor: Rs 1,532 crore
Timeline
July 29, 2009: The financial bid, submitted by a consortium led by M/s Reliance Infrastructure Ltd, was approved on.
October 2010: Financial closure was achieved.
2010: The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) recommended a CRZ clearance from the MoEF, which is still awaited.
A model of Phase II of the proposed Metro rail terminus and corridor
Where and when?
A customary meeting is held with MPs from across the state before the commencement of every budgetary and winter session of the Parliament respectively. At these meetings, MPs can raise questions about the status of pending projects, or significant issues. Nirupam Rao raised questions about the status of the project at one such meeting held in February earlier this year.
On The Agenda:
Other issues that were raised by the MPs at the meeting:
Slum Rehabilitation, to which state government responded that a letter had been forwarded to the PMO, requesting a policy decision.
Unacceptable Delay in Release ofu00a0MP Funds. To this, the state government clarified that the funds were released by the central government directly to the district collectors, the state government not being involved in the matter at all.u00a0
Allotment ofu00a0MP Bhavan exclusively to MPs.
Allotment of Entry Passes allowing the private assistants of MPs entry into the Mantralaya
Facilities at par with those offered to MLAs.
What is VGF?
Known as Viability Gap Funding (VGF), this scheme provides last-mile finance in the form of grant-in-aid, for public-private partnership in infrastructure projects.
