After the partial lifting of restrictions on important construction work, construction work has resumed in two major metro rail projects in India. One of them is in Pune, developed by the MMRC (Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation). The other is in Chennai, by CMRL (Chennai Metro Rail Limited).
The MMRC project in Pune has been stalled for over a month, and they missed the target of covering the first five kilometers by the end of 2020. However, the MMRC started work in full vigour, with around 2000 labourers and support staff staying in camps around the site. Additionally, work on the part going over the river has also started.
The construction of the Pune Metro from PCMC to Swargate lines started in 2016 and was scheduled to finish by 2022. The work of 10 kilometers in line 1 (17 kms total) and line 2 (15 kms total) combined should have been finished in 2020. Those deadlines are going to be pushed back now.
Similarly, the metro rail construction work in Chennai has resumed after the green light from the government and civic body. This line is supposed to run from Chennai Central to Wimco Nagar, called the Phase-1 extension. The work here has been paused for nearly two months till now.
This is a more recent work. It resumed from 4th May and will continue with only 25-30% of total staff until the Covid-19 pandemic situation improves further. Therefore, the deadline of constructing nine kilometers by June 2020 will be pushed much further back.
The Chennai civic body is taking no chances about this, however. There will be a special team on-site at all times to monitor the health situation. Maintaining social distancing and wearing masks will be mandatory in the construction sites. Also, mobile hand-washing facilities will be placed throughout the site. Any worker or support/managerial staff coming in to the site will have to pass through a temperature check first.
Let us all hope no virus slips through the safety net in Chennai. Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, the worst corona-affected state in India, it still remains questionable how they can so easily start construction work with full force and virtually no anti-pandemic safety features.