Metro likely to ban contractor who built airport line

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is likely to debar Malaysia-based construction major IJM Ltd, which carried out the civil work on the 22.7km high-speed airport Metro express line.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is likely to debar Malaysia-based construction major IJM Ltd, which carried out the civil work on the 22.7km high-speed airport Metro express line.

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If IJM Ltd is debarred, it would be the second construction company to be banned by DMRC after Gammon India. IJM specializes in highway road constructions.

In November 2010, DMRC had debarred construction major Gammon India for two years following structural collapse at a metro construction site on the Central Secretariat-Badarpur corridor near Zamrudpur.

"We will debar the construction company only after responsibility is established by the inquiry committee," said Jitendra Tyagi, director (works), DMRC.

"We are going to issue a showcause notice to IJM-India Infrastructure (Indian chapter of IJM) within two to three days. If their reply is not found to be satisfactory, we will debar the company," Tyagi said.

The IJM's association with Delhi Metro is not new. The company has been involved in metro construction right from the beginning.

During phase 1, IJM had constructed a portion of line 3 (Noida-Dwarka) and in phase 2 it had designed and constructed structural portions of five stations on line 5, connecting Inderlok and Mundka, said sources.

"Since we have reservations over the quality of their work, we have decided not to involve the company in the civil works at any of the corridors," said a senior DMRC officer.

Sources said that DMRC will not let IJM participate in the tender process henceforth.

Last month when the airport express line had to be closed down due to structural deficiencies, Sudhir Krishna, secretary, urban development ministry had said the liability would be on the contractor, IJM, which carried out the work.