Delhi Metro puts Phase III on track,first trains to roll by 2015

Tenders for design and construction of tunnel through Shield Tunnel Boring Machines and construction of ITO,Delhi Gate and Jama Masjid stations by cut and cover method,between Mandi House and Jama Masjid,has already been floated with the last date for submission on October 25. The completion period for the project,estimated at Rs 720 crore,is fixed at 42 months from the award of contract.

Officials said it will take at least over a month to award the contract and another two months for the contractor to mobilise men and material. “Since the entire stretch is underground,construction work will be a little more time consuming. It takes about six months to construct the shaft,following which the tunneling process is initiated,” the official said. “The tenders for the remaining stretch from Jama Masjid to Kashmere Gate is nearly final and should be floated any time now. The entire corridor is targeted for completion by mid-2015,” he said.

The line has received all the necessary approvals such as the Delhi government and the Empowered Group of Ministers’ nod. It now awaits a final go-ahead from the National Monument Authority,a body set up by the Ministry of Culture following the amendment of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act,2010. The NMA’s approval is mandatory as construction on this corridor falls within the prohibited,100-metres from the monument,and regulated,300-metres from the monument,zones.

The cost of civil works on the line is approximately Rs 1,900 crore,while the entire corridor is estimated to cost Rs 3,900 crore.