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Apart from SYSTRA S.A., other members of the consortium include RITES Limited from India, Oriental Consultants Global Company Limited from Japan and AECOM Asia Company Limited from Hong Kong.
Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) Co. Ltd., the special purpose vehicle (SPV) of Government of India and Government of Gujarat has issued a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) to SYSTRA SA-led consortium for the appointment of General Engineering Consultant (GEC) for Ahmedabad metro rail project's phase-I.
According to MEGA Co. Ltd., the appointment of GEC will enable the SPV to rope in subject experts from domestic as well as global metro rail industry which will help the metro rail project get on fast-track.
"With the help of GEC, the construction activities will be accelerated and phased construction and commissioning of the project will provide early relief to the city commuters. GEC will also adopt the state-of- the-art technology, commercial & revenue management practices for the maintainability, reliability and renewability of the system in context to the Indian socio-economic and technological environment," MEGA Co. Ltd. stated in an official communique.
While the decision was taken on August 31, 2015 in the project committee meeting of the company at New Delhi, the LoA was issued to the consortium on September 4, 2015.
"The objective of the contract is to obtain General Engineering Consultancy Services for design review including proof-checking, system integration, assistance in procurement, construction supervision, project management services, contract administration and interface management including assistance in formulating of specifications, guidelines, testing and commissioning of the Phase-I of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project in relation to all civil structures, alignment, tracks, signals, telecom facilities, traction arrangement, power supply, rolling stocks, stations, depots, offices, bridges, flyovers, fire alarm, fire detection, public health & environment etc.," MEGA Co. Ltd. further stated.
Apart from this, the GEC will also be required to monitor all contract works in progress, identify any delay from schedule including coordination conflicts and recommend measures to eliminate or mitigate problems and implement the recommended measures with the approval of MEGA Co. Ltd.
Meanwhile, contracts were also awarded for construction of six stations from Vastral Gam to Apparel Park including Vastral Gam, Nirant Cross road, Vastral, Rabari Colony, Amraiwadi and Apparel Park, part of the East-West corridor of the phase one, which is going to connect Thaltej Gam to Vastral Gam.
MEGA is also working on various tenders simultaneously for the fast implementation of the project. Tender process for the APMC to Paldi and Motera to Vadaj stretch is in progress. Moreover, contracts for the construction of via-duct and stations of these sections will be awarded by next month wherein work is likely to start soon after selection of the contractor.
"The via-duct construction work at the Vastral site is going at a full swing. Casting work of 71 piles and 3 pile caps have been completed at the site as a part of sub-structure. Casting yard is also developed for the casting of the segments and work for the super structure is also going on as per the plan. This contract for via-duct construction from Vastral Gam to Apparel Park was awarded in February, 2015 which is to be completed by May 2017," the company stated.
