Encroachments major hurdles for ongoing Metro projects

Encroachments have been major hurdles for five ongoing Metro Railway projects in the city, a senior official said today.
"We are constantly talking to the government to remove these encroachment. In fact I will be meeting the Chief Secretary on how this will be sorted out," Radhey Shyam, who holds additional charge of Metro Railway general manager told reporters here.
On whether funds would be a problem for the currently undergoing five projects of the Metro Railway, Radhey Shyam said, "We have sufficient funds for the projects and the total amount is of Rs 580 crores."
"There are five projects ongoing at the moment. For the Dum Dum to Noapara to Barasat extension work is in progress between Noapara and Airport. Earlier, in the airport area we had planned a overhead railway alignment but after the airport authorities have said that the station must be underground we have to change it accordingly.

"But there are encroachments problems near Dum Dum Cantonment. Around 800 encroachments are there which will really be a problem. Whatever sites are available between Dum Dum Cantonment and Airport work is in progress," he said.
The Noapara-Airport-Barasat extension of around 18.13 km got sanctioned in 2010-11 at an estimated cost of Rs 2582.55 crore.

In fact, two work orders issued to L&T for Airport to Barasat stretch were "short closed" due to encroachments issues there, he said.
Asked about the progress of the project beyond Noapara to Dakshineswar, Radhey Shyam said a new contract has been awarded.
"The earlier contract has been terminated and currently the project has been taken up by the RVNL. But there also we are facing the problem of encroachments. Around 450 encroachments are there and we are actively pursuing the matter with the state government and hope that it will soon be resolved," he said.

Talking about encroachments blocking the extension of the East-West Metro project, he said that "In phase I, from Salt Lake Sector V to Sealdah work is in progress. The major issue here was encroachments near Duttabad and after they have been shifted now we are hopeful that the project will be completed within two-and-half years.