The Times of India 02.08.2012
Chennai Coporation awaits funds for phase 2 of mega city project
CHENNAI: The Chennai Coporation,
which is inching forward with the first phase of road-laying as part of
the mega city development mission, is keeping its fingers crossed on
the second phase of the project. Corporation officials say unless they
get the funds within a couple of months, the second phase works cannot
be completed before the monsoon next year.
In March, the state
government had announced 500 crore for the second phase of the project,
scheduled to be taken in the current financial year. Five months later,
corporation is awaiting a government order sanctioning the funds. The
funds given by the municipal administration and water supply department
will be shared by Chennai Corporation and Metrowater, which function as
the nodal agencies for implementing the project.
“Any large
project will require a few tenders to be floated more than once. Each
re-tender will take a month, so if we could finalise the contractors
before December, it would be ideal,” said a senior corporation official.
“Since we are following the grid road system, we need to identify a
road and then plan storm water drains, ducts, streetlights and
pavements. Just the studies will take a whole one month.”
Unless work begins in January, it will not be completed by June-end, say
officials. Any contractor requires six months to complete a package
worth 10 crore. The civic body is now racing against time to complete
parts of the first phase of the mega city development project before the
rains begin.
“Out of 360 roads, we intend to finish around 60
roads before September end, and finish at least other important parts
like ducting and storm water drains of the remaining roads,” said
another corporation official. The funds for phase one was sanctioned in
April, but the final lot of tenders are being issued even now.
Chennai Corporation is likely to receive a larger share of the funds
this year, sources said. “Metrowater has told the state government that
it does not require so much funding, so the civic body has a chance of
receiving anywhere between 375 and 400 crore,” said a source in the
corporation.
which is inching forward with the first phase of road-laying as part of
the mega city development mission, is keeping its fingers crossed on
the second phase of the project. Corporation officials say unless they
get the funds within a couple of months, the second phase works cannot
be completed before the monsoon next year.
In March, the state
government had announced 500 crore for the second phase of the project,
scheduled to be taken in the current financial year. Five months later,
corporation is awaiting a government order sanctioning the funds. The
funds given by the municipal administration and water supply department
will be shared by Chennai Corporation and Metrowater, which function as
the nodal agencies for implementing the project.
“Any large
project will require a few tenders to be floated more than once. Each
re-tender will take a month, so if we could finalise the contractors
before December, it would be ideal,” said a senior corporation official.
“Since we are following the grid road system, we need to identify a
road and then plan storm water drains, ducts, streetlights and
pavements. Just the studies will take a whole one month.”
Unless work begins in January, it will not be completed by June-end, say
officials. Any contractor requires six months to complete a package
worth 10 crore. The civic body is now racing against time to complete
parts of the first phase of the mega city development project before the
rains begin.
“Out of 360 roads, we intend to finish around 60
roads before September end, and finish at least other important parts
like ducting and storm water drains of the remaining roads,” said
another corporation official. The funds for phase one was sanctioned in
April, but the final lot of tenders are being issued even now.
Chennai Corporation is likely to receive a larger share of the funds
this year, sources said. “Metrowater has told the state government that
it does not require so much funding, so the civic body has a chance of
receiving anywhere between 375 and 400 crore,” said a source in the
corporation.