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Metro rail vendors threaten strike over payment delay by irmafia on 28 May, 2013 - 08:00 AM
avatar irmafia Metro rail vendors threaten strike over payment delay on 28 May, 2013 - 08:00 AM

JAIPUR: The Jaipur Metro rail project may hit a road block as dozens of vendors who supply raw material to the DSC-contracted firm have threatened to strike work as their dues have not been cleared by the firm. This might come as a setback for the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in meeting its deadline. The vendors alleged that the DSC firm had not paid their dues for the past one year and the strike was announced after post-dated cheques given by the firm on March 15 bounced. Lokendra Rawat who supplies gravel to the firm alleged, "The post-dated cheques given by the firm bounced once again. On Monday, the matter was brought to the notice of Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) and DMRC, however, no one paid heed to it. On May 31, we will call for a strike once again if our payments are not made." He claimed, "Payment worth Rs 5-6 crore have not made by the firm. It is intentionally not making the payments and is cheating the vendors."

Vendors claimed that the payment was not made for materials like sand, gravel and steel which are used for casting work. Moreover, payment is due for services like crushers and cranes.

DMRC, general manager Atul Gadgill said, "It's wrong on the part of the firm for not making the outstanding payment of the vendors. DMRC cannot interfere much in the matter as it's a contract between the firm and the vendors. However, now in any case the work will not be disrupted as there is police protection at the sites."

In February work at Metro's casting yard in Mansarovar came to a grinding halt for two days for the same reason. With the June deadline for completion of civil construction work inching closer, disruption in supply of raw material can derail the project. "We have stock for and alternative arrangements will be made if supply is disturbed," added Gadgill.

The DSC contracted firm has failed to perform properly in the Jaipur Metro rail project since a long time. Earlier DMRC suspended work of the contracted firm from many of the work sites, and handed them over to another firm.