Gurgaon: GMRL plans to complete utility shifting, road preparation and traffic management arrangements before starting the main construction of Phase 2 of the metro project, covering the 14.2km stretch between Sector 9 and Cyber City. The preparatory work is intended to prevent delays by ensuring that construction can begin at sites cleared of utilities and other obstructions.Unlike Phase 1, when utilities were shifted gradually after the civil construction contract was awarded, GMRL will take up the preparatory work separately so that the contractor hired for civil construction can begin work at sites that are ready, a senior GMRL official said.In Phase 1, delays in utility shifting, particularly along the 2.2km stretch between Hero Honda Chowk and Umang Bharadwaj Chowk, affected construction progress.“Earlier, we shifted utilities one by one after awarding the civil work. This time, we want to start utility shifting separately so that when the main civil contractor comes in, some of the work is already done and construction can begin,” the official said.The preparatory work will cover the relocation of water, sewer, stormwater and gas pipelines, along with other utilities obstructing the alignment. It will also include site clearance, removal of debris and unsuitable soil, dismantling temporary structures, road construction and footpaths. Traffic diversions and a comprehensive traffic management plan will be drawn up, while trees and other obstructions will be cleared wherever required.The work is particularly important because the alignment passes through densely populated areas where most roads are 30 metres wide or less.“Space is limited, and there are several trees along the alignment. We also need to maintain traffic movement, which will require road widening and carefully planned diversions at some locations. We have started the process of engaging an agency for pre-construction work so that the site is cleared by the time the civil contractor comes on board,” the official said.The preparatory work is estimated to cost Rs 62.2 crore and is scheduled for completion within nine months.Earlier this month, GMRL also initiated the process of engaging an agency for the main civil construction, covering the viaduct and elevated stations between Sector 9 and Cyber City. Phase 2 is estimated to cost Rs 1,662 crore, with a 30-month completion period from the award of work. The stretch will have 13 stations, including two flyover-cum-metro structures spanning around 1.2km on Old Delhi Road and 800 metres on Bajghera Road.The corridor will connect densely populated residential areas of Old Gurgaon with employment hubs in Udyog Vihar and Cyber City. It will serve sectors 7, 4, 5, 3, 22 and 23A, Ashok Vihar, Bajghera Road, Palam Vihar and Palam Vihar Extension. It will eventually form part of a 28.5km metro network between Millennium City Centre and Cyber City. In May, the Haryana govt approved an additional 1.8km spur from Sector 5 to Gurgaon railway station.Meanwhile, around 30% of the civil work on Phase 1 of the Millennium City Centre-Cyber City corridor has been completed. Piling is under way at several locations, including between Hero Honda Chowk and Umang Bharadwaj Chowk and between Basai and Sector 10.
