CMRL to build FOB at Alandur Metro despite faulty design

CHENNAI:Chennai Metro has decided to go ahead with its work to construct a foot-over-bridge for commuters who struggle to cross the busy GST Road to access Alandur Metro station even as consultants provided a flawed Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project. The tender for DPR which was given to Infra Support Engineering Consultants was found to be flawed after Chennai Metro Rail discovered that the construction drawing for the foot-over-bridge was prepared without considering ground realities, said a source from Chennai Metro.

Details like the stormwater drain at the defense side were not mentioned, and the pedestrian walkway and utility diversion plan were not considered in the report. There have also been discrepancies between structural and architectural drawings and even the foundation of the foot-over-bridge was falling on the highway.

Rather than waiting for a fresh DPR, Chennai Metro Rail revised the report and will complete the project in six months, sources said. “We have started the work after correcting the anomalies in the DPR submitted by the Bengaluru-based company,” said the source.

The span of foot-over-bridge has been increased rather than going by the earlier design which could result in encroaching upon the road. It is learned that the Highways Department has refused to give its consent stating that one lane of the road will be permanently blocked.

Plans to have a subway for Metro commuters to access the station were made in 2014. Right after the announcement was made in the assembly, Infra Support Engineering Consultants prepared a DPR for the construction of the bridge at Alandur.Alandur is a transit hub and links both the corridors of Chennai Metro as well as the proposed MRTS station.