Airport line defects: 1 contractor barred from Metro project

In the wake of defects in the Airport Metro line, Delhi Metro has been directed to examine system improvements to avoid recurrence of such failures while a civil contractor has been barred from participating in DMRC's phase III expansion project.
In its written replies to questions in the Rajya Sabha, the Urban Development (UD) ministry also said DMRC was not under obligation to make payments of instalments of the loan obtained by Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL).
In a written reply, Minister of State in the UD ministry Deepa Dasmunshi said the report of the inquiry committee looking into the defects into the metro line has been forwarded to DMRC Board for taking action against various officials of DMRC, consultants and contractors as per findings.

"DMRC has also been directed to examine system improvements to avoid recurrence of such failure in the future," Dasmunshi said.
Replying to another question, she said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has informed that there is no loan on DMRC on the Airport Express Metro Line from Axis Bank and others.
"The loan for the project was obtained by the Concessionaire M/s Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL) as per the financing agreement signed between the lender and concessionaire," Dasmunshi said.

She said the lenders had informed DMRC that the assets are likely to become Non-Performing Assets (NPA) on account of failure of the concessionaire to pay the regular instalment of loan. "However, M/s DAMEPL has informed DMRC that they have paid all the pending instalments," Dasmunshi added.

Replying to another question, Dasmunshi said the civil contractors for the Airport Metro line M/s IJM-IJMII JV have been disqualified from Phase III tenders of DMRC.
She said the performance security of the Airport Metro line consultant, a consortium led by M/s Oriental consultants, Japan, amounting to Rs 5.8 crore has been forfeited.