French Firm Systra Refutes MMRDA Deficiency Charges

French engineering and consulting firm Systra's Indian arm Systra India has refuted charges of deficiency during the construction of Mumbai Metro projects executed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and has expressed its interest in resuming work on these.

- Ateeq Shaikh

MUMBAI:

A contractual dispute turned into a diplomatic one when Systra India approached the French embassy seeking assistance to deal with the "severe harassment" it allegedly faced from MMRDA officials, including a demand for undue favours through "monetary benefits". These allegations led to embarrassment not only for MMRDA but also for the Maharashtra government, which has ordered an inquiry. Systra India has also moved the Bombay high court to get its termination in the capacity of general consultant from Mumbai Metro lines of 5, 7A and 9 revoked.

In an attempt to subside the ongoing tensions between Systra India and MMRDA, the company's CEO Hari Kumar Somalraju, in a statement issued on Thursday, displayed confidence in continuing to work on the Mumbai Metro projects.