MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMAL NATH)
(a)to(e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to LokSabha Starred Question No.90 for 11thDecember, 2013 asked by Shrimati
J. Helen Davidson regarding Metro Projects.
(a): The details of the ongoing Metro projects are given in the Annexure-I.
(b)&(c): Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL)
and Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (JMRCL) have informed that concerns were raised to
heritage buildings / old buildings in some locations. The remedial steps taken by them to
protect the heritage buildings / old buildings are given below:-
Steps taken by CMRL
As part of precautionary measures, strengthening and propping arrangements and even temporary
evacuation are being implemented in case of structurally weak buildings to ensure safety of the
buildings. In the event of significant impact on any building, the repair works are undertaken
based on the recommendations given by the experts from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
Steps taken by BMRCL
(i) Prior to tunnelling, the Building Condition Study of all the buildings within the
influence zone of tunnel have been done to ascertain the effect of tunnelling on these buildings.
(ii) The buildings which are analysed to be unsafe during tunnelling due to old age of the
building, poor quality of construction or due to indeterminate state of construction, have been
identified for evacuation temporarily during the tunnelling period below these buildings.
(iii) The buildings so evacuated are propped up as required and monitored during the tunnelling.
(iv) Once the tunnelling was completed below these buildings, buildings were inspected and
handed over in good condition.
Steps taken by JMRCL
Before commencement of tunnelling work, various steps have been initiated to ensure safety of
heritage buildings and sites, namely:-
(a) With assistance from Asian Development Bank (ADB), an environment impact assessment
study has been done.
(b) Soil testing and building condition survey have been taken up to suitably design the
civil work.
(c) A joint Committee of JMRC and Archaeology & Museums Department of Government of
Rajasthan has been set up to periodically review the work from the angle of safety of the
heritage buildings and sites.
(d) Adequate safeguards have been built in the conditions of contract awarded for execution
of the tunnelling work.
(d)&(e): No structural deficiencies/defects in designing of pillars/ use of inferior quality
construction material have been reported in Metros operational sections. Delhi Metro Rail
Corporation Ltd. has informed that they have observed following defects in the system after
start of operations:-
(i) There were some defects in girder bearing system of the Airport Metro Express Link. The
grout material used above and below the bearings at few locations was found damaged during
inspection. The service was suspended temporarily considering commuter safety and the defective
bearings were replaced. Also all other bearings were replaced so that these would not develop
defects later.
(ii) Cracks were found in balanced cantilever cross girder of NOIDA City Centre metro station.
First and last cantilever cross girders developed cracks in arms supporting Down line platform
of NOIDA City Centre station leading to sagging of Delhi end of platform. However, the up line
side structure and platform were unaffected for the continuance of traffic. The occurrence of
cracks was due to non-adherence to structural drawings w.r.t. placement of reinforcement. The
defect been repaired and the normal service has been resumed.
