GURUGRAM: Almost a month after a ceremonial ground-breaking for the new metro line, there is minimal activity on-site. The agency responsible for the first phase of the 15.3 km corridor has yet to deploy machinery or workers, leaving progress stalled.
The GMRL has designated a 5.2-hectare plot in Sector 33 for a casting yard, where precast pillars and segments for the metro will be manufactured before transportation to construction sites.
A visit from the Times of India to the location on Friday revealed parked truck-trolleys and makeshift structures on the site. While some initial earth-levelling has commenced, encroachments are hindering further progress.
The project, awarded on August 14 to Dilip Buildcon Ltd and Ranjit Buildcon Ltd (DBL-RBL) for Rs 1,277 crore, involves constructing an elevated corridor connecting Millennium City Centre and Basai, featuring 14 stations and a 1.8 km spur to the Dwarka Expressway. This phase is expected to be completed within 30 months.
However, essential preparations have yet to be fulfilled on-site. Contracting agency officials reported they have communicated with the relevant authorities to address the site clearance issue.
“We are ready to begin, but pre-production of segments cannot start until the casting yard site is cleared,” an official mentioned. The GMRL officials recognized the challenges and confirmed that the site has been occupied by transporters for years who are reluctant to leave.
“We have engaged with HSVP and district administration regarding the need to prioritize the removal of encroachments and structures. The establishment of the facility will necessitate the movement of heavy trucks, which illegal occupations could obstruct. Earth-levelling work has already commenced,” a senior official stated.
Pre-construction activities, such as test piling, tree cutting, and barricading, have begun. “Visible progress will soon be evident on-site,” the official added.
The Gurgaon metro network has remained inactive since the completion of the Rapid Metro line’s second phase in 2017. The future operational project will significantly enhance mobility in the city, with planned interchanges at Millennium City Centre with the Yellow Line, Subhash Chowk with the proposed Bhondsi metro line, Hero Honda Chowk with the RRTS corridors, and Sector 10 at the bus terminal-cum-depot.
Additions to the plan include a ramp to the Sector 33 depot and an underpass at Bakhtawar Chowk.
