A Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report has pointed out several anomalies in the Lucknow Metro, including concerns related to passenger safety, noise pollution, violations of government norms, and misappropriation of funds.
The CAG report on Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) tabled in the Uttar Pradesh assembly on Friday, covering the period from 2017 to 2022, revealed serious irregularities, including the laying of weak rail tracks that compromised passenger safety and the failure to renew the interim speed certificate.
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The report states that the rail tracks on the Lucknow Metro are inferior to the prescribed standards. It also notes that the Metro Corporation has put passenger safety at risk by operating the metro without renewing the speed limit certificate.
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According to the CAG report, IIT Kanpur inspected the Lucknow Metro tracks and found that they were weaker than the prescribed standards. The hardness of the tracks at the depot ranged from 229 to 242 BHN (Brinell hardness number), while on the main line it ranged from 291 to 308 BHN. These levels were considered below Indian Railways standards.
Simply put, the metro system was fitted with tracks that were less robust than prescribed standards, which could lead to faster wear of both the tracks and train wheels, leading to higher repair costs in the future.
IIT Kanpur also tested the metro’s noise levels and found that while the international standard is 65 decibels, the noise level inside a stationary train at Munshipulia station exceeded 76 decibels. Even during operation, the noise level exceeded the permissible limit.
The noise level between Munshipulia and KD Singh Babu Stadium reached 83 decibels, against the prescribed standard of 75 decibels. This indicates that the noise level inside the metro exceeded international standards, whether the train was stationary or moving.
The CAG admitted that the company had failed to renew its interim speed certificate. The certificate was issued in March 2017 and has a five-year validity period. This certificate determines the safe speed at which a metro train can operate and the extent of wear and tear on its wheels. In short, failure to renew the speed certificate puts passenger safety at risk.
The report further stated that Phase 1 of the Lucknow Metro Rail Project comprised 22 stations over a distance of 22.88 kilometres. According to the DPR, Mahanagar station was projected to be ranked third in terms of daily passenger capacity in 2015 and second in 2020.
However, the Metro Rail Corporation only built 21 stations and excluded the Mahanagar Metro Station from the project. The company violated the DPR, MOU, financing agreement, and project agreement by removing the Mahanagar Station from the project without obtaining permission from the Government of India.
The CAG report also acknowledged that tube wells were installed to supply the water required for the Lucknow Metro. For this, registration with the Ground Water Department and obtaining an NOC (No Objection Certificate) were mandatory. However, the company failed to register with the Ground Water Department or the Central Ground Water Authority. It also failed to obtain the required NOC for groundwater extraction between 2013 and 2023.
Besides the government order, the contractor was required to obtain additional performance guarantees, but the company failed to do so. Despite awarding the contract at an 11.50% lower rate, the guarantees totalling Rs 75.30 crore were not obtained. An advance of Rs 31.74 crore was given to the contractor for machinery and equipment, even though the company already had the necessary machinery and, ignoring the terms of the contract, an irregular payment of Rs 14.01 crore was made to the contractor. The work, originally estimated at Rs 15.75 crore, was completed at a cost of Rs 51.40 crore, resulting in significant cost overruns.
The CAG has acknowledged that the Lucknow Metro Corporation selected a security firm for the security of Lucknow Metro stations, depots, and offices through direct nomination rather than open tender. M/s G4S was awarded the security contract. Once the tender was awarded, it was repeatedly renewed. The firm was paid Rs 76.04 crore between 2016 and 2022.
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