Chennai metro update

Chennai Metro Rail has decided to give the last big construction contract — that of tunnels and seven underground stations along Anna Salai — to a joint venture company of Gammon India and Mosmetrostroy of Moscow. As part of the deal to be signed on Monday, the joint venture company design and build these stations on the Washermanpet-Airport corridor. The corridor is 18 km long, of which 14.3 km between Washermanpet and Saidapet will be underground. Metro Rail officials confirmed that the contracts worth Rs 1,947 crore have been awarded. “Mosmetrostroy of Moscow will construct the twin-bored tunnels along a 6.4 km stretch, while Gammon will construct underground stations at Govt Estate, LIC Building, Thousand Lights, Gemini, Teynampet, Chamiers Road and Saidapet,” said Vijay Vancheswar, head of corporate communications, Gammon India. The work has been awarded as two contracts worth Rs 932.88 crore and Rs1014.42. “Mosmetrostroy has expertise in tunnelling and is involved in metro development for 80 years in Moscow. They have also constructed 177 stations and laid more than 300 km of railway lines,” Vancheswar said. Following an accident at Delhi Metro Rail construction site, Gammon India was temporarily debarred from applying for work in Delhi Metro Rail. However, the company has cleared its name. “The accident was because of a fault in the design submitted by another company selected by Delhi Metro Rail. We eventually completed the rest of the works for Delhi Metro,” said Vancheswar. Chennai Metro Rail has also awarded the contract for installation of overhead power cables and other equipment required to supply traction power for Metro trains. The Rs 305- crore work has been awarded to a consortium of Siemens AG Germany and Siemens India. The contract includes design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of all power supply systems. “The contract has been awarded on international bidding to the eligible bidder who has quoted the lowest rate,” a Metro Rail statement said. Metro Rail will receive power from Tamil Nadu Electricity Board for a maximum demand of 60 mva from three 110 kv sub-stations being set up by the board at Koyambedu, Alandur and Chennai Central. 25 kv traction power will be supplied to trains through overhead equipment to be installed along the track. In the elevated corridor, catenary type overhead equipment as used by railways and in tunnels rigid contact system are proposed. CMRL has selected 25kv ac traction (in preference to 750 V DC third rail system), in view of the energy efficiency, safety and reliability.