The Hindu Business Line : Metro Rail extension likely to get delayed

Work on the extension of the Metro Rail from Tollygunge to New Garia covering a distance of 8.7 kms is unlikely to be completed within the deadline - i.e December 2007 - for several reasons. The process of land acquisition, very critical for any project, is not over yet, particularly at the terminal station (New Garia) end. While the bulk of the land proposed has already been acquired, disputes still persist over small patches and some buildings located on the land earmarked for acquisition. Unlike the normal practice in any such project, the West Bengal Government did not acquire the land for the Metro Rail extension project and hand it over to the Metro Rail.

Instead, Metro Rail itself had to do the acquisition, with the help of two judicial officials, one acting as the Competent Authority and the other Appellate Authority, appointed by the State Government to facilitate the process of acquisition. However, the position of the Appellate Authority, it is learnt, is now lying vacant.

The construction of electric sub-station is crucial for the project and it takes at least one year, if not more, to construct a sub-station. At least six sub-stations will be needed along the entire 8.5-k long stretch. But the Metro Rail authorities, it is learnt, are still to finalise the selection of the contractor, let alone awarding the job.

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