Simplex fired after delays on Namma Metro line

The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has terminated Kolkata-based Simplex Infrastructures Ltd's contract for work on Bannerghatta Road, due to inordinate delay. Simplex is a non-performing asset (NPA) in a bank.

The construction firm had received the contract for two elevated metro lines—the 3 km Nagasandra-Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) on Tumakuru Road, and 7.5 km Kalena Agrahara-Swagath Road Cross on Bannerghatta Road in 2017.

Deadline for completion of work was 2019. However, only 68% civil work on Tumakuru Road and 35% on Bannerghatta Road were completed by December 2020.

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A fresh tender to complete the pending work has to be floated by BMRCL now.

Last year, United Bank of India (UBI) classified Simplex as an NPA.

BMRCL set the deadline for Kalena Agrahara-Nagawara corridor as June 2024. In September 2017, BMRCL awarded this section to Simplex at a cost of Rs 579 crore. The section includes five Metro stations—IIM Bengaluru, Kalena Agrahara (Gottigere), Hulimavu, Swagath Road Cross, and JP Nagar 4th Phase. While Kalena Agrahara and Swagath Road Cross stations are elevated, the underground section is between Nagawara and Dairy Circle.

Simplex received the BIEC Metro contract in February 2017 with three stations including Madavara (BIEC), Manjunathanagar and Chikkabidarkallu (Jindal), at a cost of Rs 299 crore. The Nagasandra-BIEC line is expected to be completed in January 2022.

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