Surat Metro rail project on track despite pandemic | Surat News

SURAT: While the pandemic held up many development projects in the city, one that didn’t stop in its tracks was the Surat Metro that continued its journey despite adversities. Even as the city was battling the spread of the deadly contagion with Covid tests, a few engineering experts were conducting their own set of tests on the metro route.
Even as the work lags behind by almost a month, officials claim that they will cover up the delay by increasing workforce and machinery. The first corridor from Dream City to Sarthana is under development. Second corridor Bhesan to Saroli will be in next phase.
The project, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2021, is being developed by Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC).
Of the first corridor, almost 77.27 percent of geotechnical investigation and 47 percent test pile casting work on one section of Dream City to Kadarsha Ni Nal stretch of 11.6 km has been completed. “In test pile casting, we check load capacity. We try to find out if the design matches the requirements of the spot of construction. So far, the results are satisfactory,” said a GMRC official.
“The project work continued amid the pandemic and testing work is completed on some portion. As the situation becomes normal the work will take speed,” said Banchhanidhi Pani, city municipal commissioner.
Currently 300 workers are engaged at multiple locations in the city. “In normal circumstances we would have completed the pile testing work at least on one section.
We are delayed by one month but we will cover it soon by increasing our total workforce and machinery,” said the official.
“We will gradually increase the total workforce to 1,000 labourers by the end of August that will accelerate the work further,” he added.