Source : The Hindu Date : 02.07.2009

Pallavaram sewerage project cost has shot up to Rs.74 crore, council told

Special Correspondent

TAMBARAM: The cost of the ongoing underground drainage project in the Pallavaram Municipality has risen to more than double its original estimate, the local body’s council was informed on Tuesday.

At a meeting of the municipal council, the elected representatives were informed by municipal chairman E. Karunanidhi that the cost had been revised for the second time since the project work began in January 2006, and had now been put at Rs.74 crore. Construction of more pumping stations, increased cost of construction material, workers’ wages and road cutting charges to be paid to the Highways Department were the three main reasons for the increase in the project cost, Mr. Karunanidhi said.

Three additional pumping stations would be built at Nemilichery, Shankar Nagar and on Anjaneyar Koil Street. The entire project had been split into five packages with the first three pertaining to sinking of domestic lines. Package four comprised the construction of sub-pumping stations and lift stations, while the final package covered the construction of a main pumping station and lines to transport sewage from this facility to the treatment plant at Perungudi.

The original estimate was Rs.36 crore. When preliminary works began, the project cost was revised to Rs.47 crore. Now, the second revision had hiked this to Rs.74 crore. A section of the councillors expressed the fear that ultimately, the residents of the local body would have to bear the brunt of the increased project cost.