INDIA : Tamil Nadu Govt. has created a nine-member project management unit (committee) for timely completion of the mono rail project. The newly formed committee comprises senior officials of various departments.
The showpiece Chennai Metro Rail project is on the fast track and the state government does not appear to want to lag behind with regard to the network that is aimed at acting as a feeder service.
The committee will be led by the project director of Mono Rail and include chief engineers of public works department and highways, district revenue officers of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, joint directors of rural development and municipal administration, superintending engineers of Metrowater and electricity board and chief accounts officer of treasuries and accounts.
Five project promoters, including Hitachi, Bombardier and L&T, have been shortlisted and the committee is expected to work out the modules of speedy implementation of the programme.
"The committee will ensure that the project need not wait for individual departments to respond. Representatives of various agencies will extend support as and when required. Though land acquisition is minimal, issues such as shifting of water lines and alienation of government properties need to be looked into," said a senior government official. Apart from Chennai Corporation areas, the project will run through many village panchayats in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, hence the services of the revenue officers of these districts have been requisitioned, sources said.
The government plans to take up 54 km in the first phase, covering three corridors at an estimated Rs 8,500 crore. The project under DBFOT (Design, Build, Fund, Operate and Transfer) basis will not place any financial burden on the state. The selection of a bidder is on, with the state working on request for proposals (RFP), the early process for tendering, sources said.