Nagpur: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), in its report made public in 2022, has pointed out various damning lapses in the implementation of the Nagpur Metro Rail Project and targeted the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MMRCL) while performing the audit covering planning, implementation, monitoring, and operations of the Nagpur Metro Rail Project during the period 2015-16 to 2020-21.
New Airport Station:
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Saturday 05 Oct. 2024
In the report, the CAG pointed out the location of New Airport Station. It said the safety of commuters was compromised due to single entry/exit at Interchange Station and two other operational stations.
The location of New Airport Station was not ideal from the viewpoint of ridership due to sparse population in and around the station and also from the accessibility point of view. Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited adopted 25 kV AC traction system for the project despite the suggestions of Consultant M/s RITES and the Sub-Committee of Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited for adoption of 750 V DC system, in view of more suitability and potential cost saving of Rs 719 crore. MMRCL cited the need for maintaining uniformity in traction systems across the State of Maharashtra for the decision.
Audit observed that Metro Projects in various cities were independent projects and have no linkage to each other and the selection of traction system should have been based on accruing benefits. There was an element of risk to operational and commuter safety due to non-provision of Platform Screen Doors, non-commissioning of Operation Control Centre and operation of three stations with single entry/exit points.
Contract awarded to ‘tainted’ company:
The report questioned why the same company was awarded a contract for the Sitabuldi Metro Station in Nagpur despite not completing the previous work satisfactorily. The work on Sitabuldi Metro Station in Nagpur is still incomplete, yet the same company was given an advance worth crores of rupees. The CAG report states that an advance payment was made two months before the contract was set to expire in 2018. The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) knew the company was failing in its duties but still allowed the contract to extend for another year
In December 2017, the work for the construction of Sitabuldi Metro Station was withdrawn from the ILFS company. Despite a one-year delay in terminating the contract, there was no impact on the progress of the work, and MMRCL could not encash the bank guarantee. The delay in terminating the contract led to the declaration of commercial operations in March 2019. This resulted in several rule violations, costing the Maharashtra treasury crores of rupees in penalties.
