Maccaferri’s efforts aim at assisting India in building a green economy with sustainability at the core of its developmental infrastructure plan: Vikramjiet Roy
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Metro Rail News conducted an email interview with Mr Vikramjiet Roy, MD, Maccaferri India. In the interview, Mr Roy talked about various Rail projects in India.Mr Vikramjiet Roy, the Managing Director of Maccaferri Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd (MESPL) in India and the Regional CEO of the ISEAP Region (India, South-East Asia & Pacific) of the Officine Maccaferri group, is a first-generation entrepreneur and has close to three decades of experience in businesses – ranging from Industrial Products & Civil Engineering Solutions to Core Infrastructure & Environment Solutions. Having graduated in commerce from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata and an associate member of ICWA, Mr. Roy possesses an experience of over 27 years.Here are the edited excerpts: –Q1. Please tell us about the USBRL project you are collaborating on with SRM – Rajinder Project for railways. How important is this project for the company’s portfolio?The USBRL project will connect Kashmir valley with the rest of the country through railways. This makes it a project of national importance as it will help boost tourism. However, due to the valley’s topography and harsh weather conditions, the project has many civil-engineering challenges. In addition to this, the need for sustainable infrastructure has become necessary. Considering this, Maccaferri provided solutions for a flexible hybrid reinforced soil (RS) structure out of tunnel muck that directly supports the railway track, offers increased resistance to earthquakes, and is entirely sustainable. This is a first-of-its-kind solution constructed at this height. Furthermore, by reducing traditional construction materials and replacing them with locally available ones, we could lower the overall carbon emissions of this project by up to 80%.Being a part of this project has significantly added to our work portfolio. We are delighted to contribute our technical expertise in building this first-of-its-kind reinforced structure for a project of such national importance.Q2. What other strategically important projects of Indian Railways that are you working on presently in single operations/collaborations? What is the status of various other projects on the order book?For Surat Metro Line Project, we are working with ITD Cementation to provide an effective alternative solution to replace filter media behind the retaining wall. The product used for this project is MacDrain- drainage geo-composite. Another significant project is the Jafrabad-Akbarpur section ground improvement and slope protection work for Northern Railways. We have used solutions like MacGrid EG- polypropylene biaxial geogrid, MacTex N – nonwoven geotextile, and Paralink- monoaxial geogrid. In addition, we are providing Reno mattress solutions using Paramesh and Gabion for Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor in collaboration with GMR & DFFCIL. We are also working with TATA on their Ambala project.Q3. Maccaferri is known for designing and manufacturing innovative, long-lasting and environment-friendly solutions for civil engineering. What are your major contributions towards carbon-friendly construction solutions? How are you conforming towards UN SDG goals towards reducing carbon emissions?Maccaferri serves as a solution provider for enterprises and governments adopting alternative construction materials that curb carbon emissions. Traditional construction materials such as concrete and steel significantly contribute to carbon footprints. With the government’s increased emphasis on infrastructure development, reducing the use of these materials and replacing them with more sustainable, climate-resilient solutions is critical. We understand the importance of the Indian infrastructure sector and are committed to designing & developing innovative solutions that focus on sustainability and environmental preservation. One of the most effective ways to reduce construction-related emissions is to use prefabricated components for construction and recyclable/reusable building materials. Gabion and geosynthetics are examples of green construction materials. Geosynthetic materials in infrastructure development enable the use of local materials with low overall transportation costs, further reducing the carbon footprint.In line with UN Sustainable Development Goals and India’s commitment to becoming a net-zero emitter by 2070, Maccaferri’s efforts aim at assisting India in building a green economy with sustainability at the core of its developmental infrastructure plan.Q4. What are the major challenges faced during project work in tough terrains of the Himalayas or other hilly areas in the country? How is construction in these areas different from other sites and locations?Construction on hilly terrain comes with many challenges. In a restricted hilly area, climatic conditions, geological features and hydrological parameters vary considerably. In addition to this, construction works can have a significant impact on the landscape of a mountain region. If not done correctly, it can cause deforestation, erosion, water pollution, and damage to habitats. Considering all these factors, construction in hilly areas necessitates meticulous planning, careful selection of construction methods, and using climate-resilient materials for safe, economical and successful project completion. Furthermore, landslides, avalanches, debris flow, and high winds require special attention to prevent unwanted complications. Q5. What are the major innovations and recent R&D for Rockall protection, retaining structures, soil reinforcement, and railway erosion control systems?Rockfall protection and erosion control are critical elements in infrastructure security and safety and people’s livelihoods. With over 60 years of experience in rockfall protection systems and natural hazard mitigation, we offer a wide range of products to stabilize rock faces, soil slopes and snow masses, reducing risks and costs. One of our innovations, HELLOMAC, is an alert system that detects rockfall events such as boulders, stresses, sagging, etc. An alert signal is sent immediately on computers and smartphones via email, SMS or app. The device also permits to activation of local sirens and traffic lights. It can be placed in the remotest of locations, as it requires no maintenance and can send information through data transmission modes like satellites.Our other products, like MacArmour and MacMat HS, provide durable solutions for rockfall mitigation. MacArthur is a safe and effective drapery that combines a homogeneous steel wire rope structure with double-twist wire mesh. It maximizes the serviceability of the protected infrastructure and reduces installation time and other risks associated with on-site activities. Q6. In what ways Maccaferri is providing in-depth technical and Design support to provide real-world solutions for projects reducing project risks, cost and time for the clients? What is the strategy adopted for waste usage from tunnel construction, avalanche, erosion etc.?Maccaferri offers environmental solutions for complex civil engineering works. Our products, services, and technology are appreciated and in demand by key infrastructure segments like the transport sector, water resource and water management arena, environmental sector and urban infrastructure development sector. Being an innovative solution provider, our services range from Design to execution, i.e. Design, supply, site supervision, technical support, installation, and consultancy. High quality, quick assembly, easy handling, cost-effectiveness, and the highest safety standards of our systems provide us with a competitive edge over conventional systems.With expertise and a solid manufacturing base, we can tailor solutions to problems related to soil erosion. Selecting from a wide range of geomatics, fabrics and materials, the combinations of products are almost endless and are suggested basis the nature of the cause. Some products are Biomac® biodegradable biomass, MacMat® reinforced and unreinforced geomatics, MacWeb® cellular soil containment systems and the traditional double twist steel wire-based products; Gabions, Reno mattresses and wire mesh.Q7. What are your business plans in India amidst the nation’s effort to restructure its rail infrastructure across all verticals by 2030? How are you contributing to a developing freight management system in the country? The government’s economic packages play a significant role in making India “self-sufficient.” Infrastructure is one of the pillars of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat‘; various initiatives, such as the Bharatmala Project, the Paravatmala Project, and the Setu Bharatam Project, are on the go to improve road and rail connectivity. We are inevitably advocates of alternative construction materials and look forward to contributing techniques for sustainable development in ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects. We enable the use of local materials with low overall and transportation costs, eventually reducing the carbon footprints and contributing to India’s commitment to meet Net-zero targets. We recognize the importance of the Indian infrastructure and are working to develop better, more cost-effective solutions and technologies tailored to the Indian climate. India’s infrastructure growth estimates are expected to rise year after year over the next decade. Our mission is to be a trusted partner to stakeholders, encouraging creativity, innovation, and the adoption of alternative solutions to complex civil engineering challenges with a focus on sustainability.Q8. What would be your message to the youth willing to join the civil and construction industry, especially railways? What would be your message to our readers?India has been at the receiving end of the growing climatic imbalance. The rising global temperatures in the country have led to severe heat waves, erratic monsoons, flash floods, tropical cyclones, and a compounding sea level rise. India needs to build a green economy with sustainability at the core of its developmental plans when 75% of infrastructure by 2050 is yet to be built. With the government committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2070, the responsibilities lie on the ‘young India’. The new generation of civil engineers must prioritize sustainability and climate-resilient infrastructure for all upcoming construction development projects. There is an immediate need to focus on value engineering and sustainable development to improve the quality, dependability, and durability of the infrastructure built in India. The youth joining the civil and construction industry should prioritize sustainable development and follow a systematic approach to develop structures that meet infrastructure needs without affecting the environment. Metro Rail News is a trusted platform dedicated to urban mobility solutions in India with vital and up-to-date information on infrastructure and growth. On behalf of Maccaferri, I want to encourage Metro Rail News readers to keep supporting the platform, which extensively writes about in-depth infrastructure topics, developments, and challenges.
We are continuously working on the development and upgradation of new products: Shri Amit Banerjee
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Metro Rail News conducted an email interview with Shri Amit Banerjee, Chairman & Managing Director of BEML Limited, a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence. In the interview, he discussed about Rolling Stock.Shri Banerjee is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from IIT (BHU), Varanasi. He joined as Assistant Engineer and has vast experience of over 37 years in R&D and manufacturing functions.He has worked for the indigenous development of Metro Cars for Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Bangalore & Mumbai, Stainless-Steel EMU & Intermediate Metro Cars, Catenary Maintenance Vehicle, and PMS Bridge for the Indian Army, among others. Before assuming the present position, Shri Banerjee was Director (Rail & Metro) BEML.Here are the edited excerpts:As the leader of one of the most promising manufacturing units in the country, what are the significant challenges you face, and how are you responding to them? The most critical challenge is to keep our supply chain uninterrupted, control the increased input cost and maintain the margins. The current geopolitical situation and after-effects of COVID-19 have led to the increased price of input raw materials, viz. steel & aluminium and disruptions in logistics. As a result, we have taken advanced actions and have entered into long-term contracts with major suppliers to meet commitments. Also, stiff competition in all segments of business against global players is a significant challenge. More than 70% of BEML orders from customers are won in open tenders involving global MNCs and local players. With increased input and labour costs, margins often have to be compromised. Another critical challenge is the absorption and retention of talent as the Railway rolling stock business is growing. Some initiatives include forward-looking people practices, improving quality of life, open work culture, providing challenging roles, etc.BEML is mandated towards indigenization and self-reliance of the country. What is the achievement percentage of the objectives? How do you rate yourself to the efforts of private players like Bombardier and Alstom in terms of quality & technology? BEML has achieved an indigenization level of 66% to 70% in the manufacture and supply of Metro cars. BEML is further targeting to improve indigenization and develop alternate sources to ensure cost competitiveness. BEML is on par with international players like Alstom and other Rolling stock suppliers in terms of Quality and Technology. BEML is the first Indian Rolling stock manufacturer to supply Rolling stock suitable for operation on CBTC Signaling system for Kolkata Metro. In addition, BEML is the first Indian Rolling stock manufacturer to Design, Manufacture and supply Driverless trains (UTO – Unattended Train Operation) to Mumbai Metro. After Delhi Metro, Mumbai is the second city in the country to have Driverless trains.What are the major orders in the book? Which significant achievement of BEML in the last few years you shall quote to be one of the most influential for the country’s defence and non-defence sectors? At present, the order book position of the Company is over Rs. 8000 crores comprising all three business verticals, i.e. Mining & Construction, Defence & Aerospace and Rail & Metro. Out of this, some of the major orders are Metro cars for Mumbai Metro Line 2 & 7, Main Line Electric Multiple Unit, Rail Grinding Machines in Rail & Metro business, Armoured Recovery Vehicle, Pinaka Vehicles, Track Width Mine Ploughs, 1500 HP engines for Defence applications, 21 Cu.m. Rope Shovel & high-end dozer, dump trucks and excavators in the Mining & Constructions business.The most significant achievement which was influential in the growth of defence and non-defence sectors is the success of our R&D. Our R&D teams across all three business verticals have indigenously designed and developed several new products for the country. This has also been possible due to our government’s thrust towards Atmanirbharta.Further, as a manufacturing Company and to sustain the market, we are continuously working on developing and upgradation of new products. In Defence, keeping given emerging trends in technology and also in line with the unfolding business scenario, R&D has put in place a plan of action to develop a series of products/aggregates, such as the Development of a High Mobility Vehicle (HMV) 12×12, Self-propelled mine Burrier 8×8, Bar mine layer 8×8, Upgrading of Axles for higher load carrying capacity with ABS feature for use on chassis for special projects, Upgradation/Overhauling of Armoured Recovery Vehicle pilot project and Development of Trawl Roller & Track Width Mine Plough for demining operation.Under Rail & Metro, the Rail Grinding Machine for maintenance of Rail Tracks is under production in addition to the driverless metro cars for the Mumbai metro.Under Mining & Construction, we have taken up the design & development of 21 cu.m. Rope Shovel required for Mega Coal Projects. The Indian Urban Rail Transport is getting widely scattered, with many cities opting for LRTs / Trams/MetroNeo etc. As a dominant player in Indian metro rolling stock manufacturing, what are your plans to meet this new trend and requirement of Indian cities? – RJBEML, as an established Indian rail car manufacturer, intends to fulfil the various needs of the customers by expanding our product portfolio as and when they arise and are keen to adapt our expertise and capacities for the purpose. These different urban transport modes, viz. metrolite / metronome/trams, are still in nascent stages and need to be proven. However, BEML keenly observes the market trend, and we shall tie up with global players or design agencies to address the same. We are also investing in our human resources, in-house R&D and manufacturing set-up for Design & Development. The metros in the country are also looking for intermodal and last-mile connectivity. What are the ways through which you can contribute to this requirement of metro systems? Has there been any mentionable innovation or R&D? Currently, the vehicles required for intermodal and last-mile connectivity are predominantly road based and, as such, not part of our product portfolio. However, BEML is keen to address the requirement of monorails / PRT / Pods as and when they arise. What is the export status of the organizations? You have had several MoU and Tie-Ups with various organizations in the last few years. Please tell us about that. What have been the significant accomplishments? – MX. BEML exported Mining & Construction equipment worth Rs 48.36 Crs in Fy 2021-22, which includes 32 pieces of equipment valuing Rs 35 Crs to the Roads & Highway Department, Bangladesh. In the current financial year, exported worth Rs 81.24 Crs till Nov 2022, which includes 31 Mining & Construction equipment valuing Rs 72.58 Crs to the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MOEPRD), Cameroon and further export of 40 Mining & Construction equipment valuing Rs 75 Crs is under execution. The Important initiatives undertaken to cater to the requirement of the International Market are:
- BEML has registered its branch office in Kenya to expand its African market network.
- Widening Overseas market network through Representatives
- Participating in International Export Promotion Exhibitions
- JVs in India/abroad – MoU signed with RITES and exploring participation in overseas Metro Project along with RITES.
- BEML is exploring the possibility with DMRC to supply Rolling stock for metro projects globally.
- BEML is also exploring the possibility with IRCON to supply Rolling stock for the Mauritius Metro phase-IV.
Construction of water viaduct of Mumbai metro completes
MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the first metro viaduct to cross a body of water has been finished. As part of Phase I of Mumbai Metro Line 5, which connects Thane to Kalyan through Bhiwandi, the last span of the 550-meter-long Kasheli Creek Metro bridge, was built on 22nd January. Metro Line 5’s project implementer is the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).The Kasheli Creek Bridge has 15 segments and 13 spans, nine of which are on the water, and is the first to reach 15 metres above a water body. Each span is 42.23 metres long. With the use of launching girders, the spans were constructed in 123 days or around four months.Afcons, a Mumbai-based infrastructure company that built the Kasheli Creek bridge, is also building an 11-km viaduct for the same project that will connect Metro Line 4 (Wadala to Kasarvadavali) with Line 5. It will also connect six Metro stations, including Balkum, Kasheli, Kalher, Purna, Anjurphata, and Dhamankar Naka. Afcons claims that the 9.3 kilometres (km) superstructure of the 11.68 km viaduct is already complete and that 60% of the work in all six stations has been finished. For the bundle, more than 70% of the work has been finished (CA-28).The Kasheli Creek bridge-building needed help. The entanglement of unwanted material caused the regular clogging of the rotary drill machine. Sukesh Singh, project manager for Afcons, stated, “We were forced by necessity to remove the drilling arrangement entirely and reinsert the same after cleaning. In addition, the team had to rely on barges and tugboats for the building work because a large amount of the bridge was over the water. Nevertheless, the manoeuvre was dangerous and difficult because of the high tide.Only during high tide was the maritime equipment transported. As it was below high tide, casting the tie beam in nautical spans proved difficult. Every day, we had a window of four hours for construction. But with careful planning and great attention to machinery and procedures, we were able to build 22 tie-beams in just four months, Singh added.
End Review 2022 – A year of significant accomplishments
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Railways has made significant investments in improving and expanding its network in recent years. This technique has aided railways in meeting rising transportation demands. Railways have demonstrated operational excellence while benefiting from high GDP growth. Railways’ capex increased from Rs 53,989 cr in FY14 to Rs 1,90,267 cr in FY22, with a provision of Rs 2,45,800 cr made for FY23. The current year’s expenditure trend has been positive, and the budgeted capex target is expected to be met.Higher capital investments, frequent monitoring, and timely settlement of inter-ministerial issues will aid in linking the hinterland with the completion of important projects in J&K, Uttarakhand, and the North East States. The commissioning of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) and other key throughput augmentation projects will result in increased capacity. These initiatives, together with the acceleration of the Bullet Train project, will benefit the construction industry by creating jobs. Railway capital investments have a massive multiplier effect on the economy as a whole.The downward trend in modal share has been reversed, and Railway has loaded an additional 184 MT in FY22 and 75 MT in FY23 till the end of November 2022. Railway receipts have entirely recovered from the negative impact of the pandemic experienced in the previous three years in the current fiscal, and until the end of November’2022, they have grown at a CAGR of 10.3% over the equivalent period of 2019-20. (i.e. pre-covid phase). In the post-covid context, the recovery is primarily supported by buoyancy in loading and a growing share of PRS passengers in total passengers.Passenger Convenience
- Induction of Semi-High Speed Vande Bharat Trains : Integral Coach Factory/Chennai produced semi-high speed self-propelled trains with indigenous efforts, which is known as the Vande Bharat Express. These trains have ultramodern features such as quick acceleration, significant reduction in travel time, a top speed of 160 kmph, on-board infotainment and GPS-based passenger information system, automatic sliding doors, retractable footsteps and Zero discharge vacuum bio toilets, CCTV cameras, and other modern features in accordance with global standards.
- Six Vande Bharat trains are now in service on Indian Railways. Since 2019, two Vande Bharat trains have been travelling between New Delhi and Varanasi, and New Delhi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra. Three new and improved Vande Bharat trains with better safety measures and passenger amenities have recently been introduced between Mumbai Central and Gandhi Nagar Capital, New Delhi and Amb Andaura, Chennai and Mysore, and Nagpur and Bilaspur.
- Introduction of Vistadome coaches : Vistadome coaches give panoramic views through bigger body side windows and transparent areas in the top, allowing passengers to experience the visual beauty of the locations they travel through.
- Introduction of Tejas Rajdhani trains : Indian Railways has launched ultramodern Tejas trains with sleeper cars on the LHB platform. These ultramodern trains include the following notable features: Passenger Announcement / Passenger Information System, Fire and Smoke detection system, CCTV cameras, Improved lavatory – vacuum aided flushing with bio-toilets, and so on.
- AC Economy Coaches : A new model of the LHB AC three-tier coach, the AC Economy coach, has also been introduced into service, with improved facilities and higher passenger capacity. IR intends to introduce AC Economy coaches to meet the demands of the general public and to meet their expectations of travelling in AC class. These coaches are planned to replace general sleeper class coaches. One prototype coach was produced in 2020-21, and 519 similar coaches were produced until 30.11.22.
- Proliferation of LHB coaches : IR has opted to mass produce Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches, which are technologically superior with characteristics such as anti-climbing arrangement, secondary air suspension with failure notification system, and less corrosive shell. When compared to traditional Integral Coach Factory (ICF) coaches, these coaches ride and look better. To that purpose, IR Production Units have ceased production of ICF coaches beginning in 2018-19. Trains running with traditional ICF carriages are gradually being replaced with LHB coaches.
- Record Freight Loading : On mission mode, Indian Railways’ freight loading for the first eight months of fiscal year 2022-23 surpassed the loading and earnings for the same period last year. On a cumulative basis from April to November 22, freight loading of 978.72 MT was accomplished, an improvement of 8% above previous year’s loading of 903.16 MT over the same period. Railways generated Rs 105905 crore as opposed to Rs 91127 crore last year, representing a 16% increase over the same period last year. Following the mantra ‘Hungry For Cargo,’ IR has made ongoing efforts to increase the convenience of doing business as well as service delivery at reasonable pricing, resulting in new traffic flowing to railways from both conventional and non-conventional commodity streams. The customer-centric strategy and activities of Business Development Units, backed up by agile policies, aided Railways in reaching this historic milestone.
- Provision of Electronic Interlocking (EI) to increase Safety and Flexibility – Electronic interlocking are being used to reap the benefits of digital technologies in railway operation and to improve safety. 480 stations have been provided electronic interlocking systems during 2022. Up to 30th Nov, 2022, 2837 stations have received Electronic Interlocking, covering 44% of IR. The largest electronic interlocking in Indian Railways, with 1002 routes, was commissioned on May 30, 2022, in Bandel yard of the Eastern Railway’s Howrah division.
- Automatic Signalling (ABS) – Automatic Block Signaling is a cost-effective approach for increasing line capacity so that more trains may run on Indian Railways’ existing High Density Routes. ABS was deployed on 305 Rkm in 2022. Till 30th Nov 22, ABS has been deployed on IR’s 3643 kilometres route. The rollout is planned to carry out in mission mode. Increased capacity is expected from the introduction of Automatic Signaling, allowing for more train services.
- Kavach – Kavach has been adopted as the National Automatic Train Protection system in the spirit of the vision Atam Nirbhar Bharat. Indian Railways has begun the deployment of Kavach on the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah circuits (about 3000Rkm), for which tenders were awarded in 2022.
- Interlocking of Level Crossing Gates – Level crossing gate safety has been a big concern. To improve safety at level crossings, Indian Railways installed interlocking with signals at 317 Level Crossing Gates during 2022. Till Nov 30, 10986 LC gates have been provided with gate signals for interlocking.
- Sliding Boom at LC Gate – When Level Crossing Gates are broken by road vehicles, especially in suburban areas, the use of Interlocked Sliding Booms has proven to be quite efficient in minimising disruption to train services. With installation of Sliding Boom Interlocking, the Signalling System can continue to operate regularly with minimal disruption to train operations. Enhancing Safety at Level Crossing Gates with Sliding Booms (in case of gate breakage) has been completed at 488 level crossing gates during 2022.
- Intermediate Block Signalling – The usage of Intermediate Block Signaling (IBS) has been particularly effective in increasing line capacity without incurring additional recurring revenue expenditures in the form of running labour and amenities necessary when establishing and operating a block station. Indian Railways has installed intermediate block signalling in 67 block sections during 2022, for a total of 700 block sections as of 30.11.2022.
- Signal Design Automation Tool for Electronic Interlocking (SigDATE) – To expedite infrastructure work, improve efficiency, and enable safe railway operations, an indigenously built automatic Route Control Chart generating system has been adopted. The standing committee approved standard typical circuits for Electronic Interlocking Version 2.0 on March 29, 22 for use in all future installations up to 100 routes to improve efficiency in signal design and circuit approvals.
- Centre of Excellence for Modern Signalling – On May 24, 2022, the ‘Centre of Excellence’ for Modern Signalling was established in Secunderabad with the primary goal of providing knowledge and technical inputs through competence building, research, design, and standardisation.
- Reduction/rationalisation of single journey fare structure of AC local services and first class over suburban section.
- Provision have been made for issue of Quarterly, Half Yearly and Yearly season tickets for AC ordinary local train services.
- The second class unreserved coaches, in long distance Mail/Express trains, which were withdrawn due to Covid -19 have been restored.
- Military/Defence Forces book special trains/coaches on Full Tariff Rates (FTR) for transit from one area to another. There had been a number of situations of pending reimbursements due to late submission of required papers, such as original receipts/folders, or loss of original receipts/folders, for which no refund/part refund was permitted under Tariff rules. In light of this, General Managers of Zonal Railways have been assigned authority to decide all such refund situations, even those that go beyond tariff guidelines, for booking of special trains on Full Tariff Rates (FTR) by Para Military Forces/Defense Forces beginning in January 2022.
- On a trial basis, the Station Ticket Booking Agent (STBA) method for issuing unreserved tickets at NSG-5 and NSG-6 category stations has been expanded to NSG-4 and SG-3 stations (pilot for one year).
- DRMs have been authorised to accept the suggestions of the JAG level screening committee for YTSK engagement, to provide approval for YTSK location change, to reduce YTSK office facilities, and to extend the duration of YTSK licensee. These powers were previously available to CCM(PM)/CCM(PS) of Zonal Railways.
- An application has been developed for digitalising the procedure for issue of photo ID cards to persons with disabilities. The application has been rolled out at Secunderabad (SCR), Chennai (SR) and Mumbai (CR) Divisions w.e.f. 01.10.2022.
- CRIS has developed a utility for data-driven quota optimization for reserved classes of the train known as ‘Ideal Train Profile’ to assist zonal Railways in finalising distribution of reservation quota, which should result in optimal utilisation of available accommodation, maximise revenue, and meet public demand. The utility enables the customer to evaluate demand, choose the best remote sites, and divide current berth/seat capacity into an ideal quota mix. It is expected to assist zonal railways in undertaking periodic reviews of train quotas to reflect changing demand mix due to holidays, festivals, seasons, and so on.
- Vande Bharat Express train : Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the sixth Vande Bharat Express between Nagpur in Maharashtra and Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh on December 11, 2022. The Vande Bharat Express, the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ programme, has been a major accomplishment so far. The elite and premium train, formerly known as Train 18, is the country’s first of a new generation of trains. It is a semi-high-speed train that travels from one location to another in a shorter time. Despite the fact that the trains are moving, passengers have the impression that they are flying. ‘400 new generation Vande Bharat trains with improved efficiency to be brought in over the next three years,’ said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget 2022-23. There are now seven Vande Bharat Express trains operating in the country.
- Train coach with a baby berth : On Mother’s Day this year, the Lucknow division of the Northern Railway zone made a special arrangement and added a lower berth, especially for the children in the lower berth, on May 8, 2022. The Indian Railways has introduced new ‘baby berths’ on the side of the lower main berth in the Lucknow Mail. This service has been introduced for the convenience of passengers (particularly mothers) travelling with their babies. To help mothers travelling with their babies, a baby berth has been introduced in Coach no 194129/ B4, berth no 12 & 60 in Lucknow Mail.
- Azadi Ki Rail Gadi Aur Stations week : The Indian Railways observed ‘Azadi Ki Rail Gadi Aur Stations’ week (from July 18, 2022 to July 23, 2022) as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, during which 75 stations were designated as ‘Freedom Stations’ around the country. Apart from that, 27 trains were identified for showcasing and flagged off by freedom fighters or family members. Some were associated with Mahatma Gandhi, such as the Ahimsa Express, which runs between Ahmedabad and Pune, and the Ashram Express (Ahmadabad-Delhi); others with famous poet Rabindranath Tagore, who wrote songs hailing the Indian independence movement and raising the spirits of freedom fighters, such as the Shantiniketan Express (Howrah-Bolpur), Gitanjali Express (Mumbai CST-Howrah), Gurudev Express (Nagercoil-Shalimar) and others like Netaji Express (Howrah-Kalka) and Azad Hind Express (Pune-Howrah) linked to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
- ‘Kavach’ : Kavach, an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, shall be installed across the entire rail network, starting with 2,000 kilometres in 2022-23. Every year, it will be extended by 4,000 to 5,000 kilometres. ‘Kavach,’ the world’s cheapest automatic train collision protection system, has been developed with the objective of ‘zero accidents’ in view. It is built to automatically stop a train when it detects another train on the same line within a specified distance. In a situation where Loco Pilot fails to manage the train’s speed, it applies automatic application brakes.
- Bharat Gaurav Tourist train : Under the new policy of the Ministry of Railways, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, abbreviated as IRCTC, ran its first Bharat Gaurav Tourist train. On June 21, 2022, the train commenced its 18-day journey. It followed the Ramayana Circuit identified under the Swadesh Darshan system, visiting significant locations linked with Lord Rama’s life, including the Ram Janaki temple in Janakpur, Nepal. The Bharat Gaurav Tourist train made its first stop in Ayodhya, Lord Rama’s birthplace, where travellers viewed Shri Ram Janmabhumi temple and Hanuman temple, as well as Bharat Mandir in Nandigram, dedicated to Lord Rama’s younger brother Bharat. The Bharat Gaurav Tourist train, consisted of ten three-tier AC coaches, accommodating 600 tourists at a time. The 18-day tour cost was Rs 62,370 per person.
Delhi-Meerut RRTS Rapid Rail Smashes India’s Speed Record with 160 kmph Trial Run
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The first rapid urban network in India will be the high-speed rail system connecting Delhi and Meerut is completed. The railway line is currently being built, and it will run from Delhi to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh through Ghaziabad, Modinagar, and Muzzafarnagar. Although the NCRTC will use new trainsets with a peak speed of 180 kmph on the RRTS line, the tracks still need to be ready to test the trains to their full potential. A video of India’s first fast regional rail traveling at 150 kph past an RRTS railway station still under construction has since appeared on Twitter.This demonstrates that the RRTS trains will overtake the Vande Bharat Express as the fastest rail in India once fully operational. Although the Vande Bharat Express is also intended to reach a high speed of 180 kmph, the top speed of the Vande Bharat trains is only 130 kmph due to safety restrictions on the rails. The RRTS, on the other hand, will be an elevated railway line without any disturbance from the public and may easily reach speeds of more than 150 kmph.In a split second, the RRTS train arrives at the station and departs. The reported speed is between 150 and 160 kmph. The RRTS trains will be India’s first regional rapid rail and the quickest metro trains. The parent organisation of Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail, NCRTC, is now doing test runs at Duhai Depot.Alstom, the company that makes rapid rail on this route, just delivered four new trainsets to the depot. By 2025, it is intended that the full Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS will be running. The NCRTC had said that the Duhai-Sahibabad priority segment in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, is anticipated to be operational by early 2023.The first Alstom trainset arrived at National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) on June 3, 2022, after travelling by road for ten days, having been despatched from Savli in Gujarat. Modi presented the NCRTC with the first train set of the RRTS during a ceremony held at the production facility in Savli, in the Vadodara district.The Delhi-Ghaziabad Rapid Rail Transit System’s (RRTS) first rake recently passed a night experiment. The footage was tweeted, making internet users even more impatient for the train’s arrival.
DMRC Optimising the Use of Concrete Making and Mixing
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Good quality concrete is one of the key objectives for various metro rail elements like piles, pile caps, piers/pillars, pre-cast girders etc. It is a product of cement, sand, aggregate (10mm and 20mm), micro silica/fly ash and water. The strength of reinforced concrete reflects the strength of all the structures in a metro project. Casting concrete structures at the casting yard ensures better quality management where factory-like quality systems are provided compared to cast in situ. Priority is to ensure it provides a quality product with utmost precision, which is a significant concern for the safety and durability of concrete structures in any Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) like Patna Metro.As metro structures have a design life of more than 100 years, various tests are being done on fresh and hardened concrete to ascertain the quality. These tests are performed in the quality lab made at the casting yard and independent third-party labs.Importance of casting yard and batching plant in ensuring suitable quality structures: Metro projects are primarily built in busy cities. Hence, most of the construction work takes place at the casting yard to provide premium-quality structures and avoid any inconvenience to the public. For underground stations, 40% of the concrete casting takes place at the casting yard, and the figure goes up to 60% for elevated stretch. However, 100% of concrete mixing and making is done at the batching plant, usually at the casting yard’s premises. This amplifies the role of the casting yard and batching plant in the Patna Metro project immensely. Currently, three casting yards are in work; two are near LCT ghat and one near Fatuha.Quality SupervisionFresh and hardened concrete is tested in the labs to ensure quality. Every casting yard and batching plant has its quality lab to look after the strength and calibre of the product. Separate tests for all components, such as impact value, crushing value, water absorption, silt content etc., are conducted. Fresh concrete sample cubes are cast and kept in water for 28 days to test their strength and durability. After completing all the tests mentioned above, the pre-cast structures are erected at the site.Environmental SupervisionThe focus on preventing environmental degradation while casting pre-cast structures is paramount. Beton wash is used to recycle waste concrete from concrete-carrying mixers/vehicles. This waste concrete is further used for making paver blocks, kerb stones, footpath restoration and other site development works. Dust suppressors and dust arrestors prevent air pollution near batching plants. A wheel wash facility is also used at the exit point of the casting yard to wash the wheels of every construction vehicle that goes out. This prevents mud and soil from exiting the site along with the wheels of the vehicles. Other activities like topsoil conservation, translocation of trees, bio-toilet, etc., are also followed religiously. DMRC follows the abovementioned practices rigorously and does not compromise on these parameters that the organisation has followed for the last 25 years, yet ensures timely project completion within the planned time frame.
iCBTC : Helping towards unmanned train operations
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Communications-based train control (CBTC) is a railway signalling system that utilizes telecommunications between train and track equipment to regulate traffic and control infrastructure. The exact position of a train is known more precisely with CBTC systems than with traditional signalling systems. This results in a more efficient and safe way of managing railway traffic. Metros (and other train systems) can increase capacity while maintaining or even enhancing safety.A CBTC system is a continuous, automatic train control (ATC) system that uses high-resolution train location determination independent of track circuits; continuous, high-capacity, bidirectional train-to-wayside data communications; and train borne and wayside processors capable of implementing automatic train protection (ATP) duties, as well as optional automatic train operation (ATO) and automatic train supervision (ATS) services, as defined in the IEEE 1474 standard. CBTC can be classified based on operational requirements:
- Only ATP functions without ATO or ATS.
- ATP and partial ATO and / or ATS functions.
- CBTC can be only train control system or may be used in conjunction with other auxiliary wayside systems.
- Continuous Automatic Train Protection (ATP), Automatic Train Operation (ATO), and Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) are implemented with wayside and train-borne processors by processing train status and control data.
- The maximum capacity per track design is obtained through CBTC signalling. The system can support maximum number of trains. There are no trackside signals or track circuits. Greater precision in determining train location – independent of track circuits. Continuous data exchange between the train and the wayside.
- Unlike traditional signalling systems, where block length is fixed, CBTC employs the Moving Block concept, in which block length is continuously modified based on the speed of the preceding train.
- High precision train location detection without track circuits, by train-borne system.
- Transmission of train location & other train status data to wayside controller/equipment.
- Wayside controller generates limit of Movement Authority (MA).
- Transmission of MA to train-borne system.
- Determination and enforcement of ATP profile by train-borne equipment
- Implementation of MA by train-borne system.
- Communication of commands from wayside to external interlocking and status from external interlocking to wayside.
- Communicating data from one wayside controller to other wayside controller.
- Communication between multiple sets of train-borne equipment within a train.
- CBTC makes effective use of infrastructure in following ways:
- Allows trains at closer headways.
- Greater precision and control of trains is possible.
- Provides continuous safe train separation & over speed protection.
- Utilizes the track in the most efficient manner while ensuring safety.
- Driverless system (or upgradable to driverless) to reduce operating costs;
- Less wayside equipment
- Improved reliability
- Real time diagnostic data
- i-CBTC, which is being developed in India for the first time, shall enable unmanned metro and train operations. It is a significant step forward in metro and rail automation, and it will support the Government of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ mission. The project is being carried out under the auspices of the Government of India’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The MoU seeks to benefit on BEL and DMRC’s complementary strengths and skills.
- Traditional railway signalling relies on colour light signals and train detection via track circuits and axle counters. Although this technology is suitable for train detection and control, it is still unable to fully utilise section capacity. The indigenous communication-based train control system (iCBTC) enters the scene.
- For traffic management and infrastructure control, the current communication-based system utilizes telecommunications between the train and track equipment. It facilitates tracking the precise location of a train, which is superior compared to conventional signalling methods. It helps in a more effective and safe railway traffic management. This helps in Metros (and other train systems) enhance headways while preserving or even improving safety.
- With the integration of cutting-edge innovation, the i-CBTC is the preferred choice of mass transit railway operators globally today, with over a hundred systems already in operation. In India, the technology is also being used in metro systems. With a rise in population throughout major cities/towns, the requirement for mass transit and signalling systems must evolve and adapt to safely meet this increase in demand and traffic capacity. As a result, i-CBTC is being widely embraced for its characteristic of moving blocks, which allows for high frequency of system operation and guarantees efficient use of Metro infrastructure while also guaranteeing safe operations.
DMRC to Serve as General Consultant for Jaipur Metro’s Phase 1C, 1D Corridors
JAIPUR (Metro Rail News): The DMRC has been chosen as a general consultant for two planned Jaipur Metro routes. To guarantee quality and a deadline-bound conclusion of the project, Officials announced on 21st January.The Jaipur Metro’s currently running routes were built with assistance from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).Phase 1C will see the extension of the 11.97 km Pink line (Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar) to Transport Nagar, including two stops at Ramganj Chaupar. The anticipated cost of building this stretch in Transport Nagar is Rs 856 crore. The current 11.97 km Pink Line (Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar) will be expanded in Phase 1D from Mansarovar to 200-foot Bypass, Ajmer Road, with one Station, According to the detailed project report (DPR).For the future, Jaipur Metro routes from Badi Chaupar to Transport Nagar (Phase 1C) and Mansarovar to 200 ft Bypass, Ajmer Road, DMRC, have been chosen as the general consultant (Phase 1D).The Delhi Metro tweeted, “DMRC will now give consultancy for the project’s quality aspects and timebound completion.” For several metro projects around the nation, the DMRC has offered consulting services.
The City of Oranges riding on most advanced metro systems
NAGPUR (Metro Rail News): Nagpur Metro Rail is the new rapid transit system in Maharashtra, India. The MRTS is 38.21 kilometres long. Nagpur Metro is an advanced public transit system that serves the city of Nagpur. The system, which is still in its early stages, includes 24 metro stations with a total length of 26.1 kilometres. Nagpur Metro is being built in two phases, each with a single line. These three-coach trains have a top speed of 90 km/h and an average speed of 33 km/h. Nagpur Metro operates on standard gauge lines with overhead wires that produce 25 kV alternating current.On August 20, 2014, the Union Cabinet approved the development of the metro project, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone on August 21, 2014, during his visit to the city. On March 8, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari started its operations via video conference.Nagpur Metro Rail LinesNagpur Metro rail currently has two lines in operation. These are:
- Sitabuldi to Khapri (Orange Line or Line 1)
- Sitabuldi to Lokmanya Nagar (Aqua Line or Line 2)
- On October 3, 2022, the state cabinet approved a cost increase of approximately Rs.600 crores for Nagpur Metro Phase 1. This portion of the project was initially approved at a cost of Rs.8,680 Crores. It has now been increased to Rs.9,276.6 crores. Given the rise in the cost of land purchase, the cabinet approved this prolongation. The enhanced funding for Nagpur Metro Phase 1 will also contribute to the construction of two new stations, Cotton Market and Airport South. The authorities had declined this approval five years back while approving other upgrades.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Nagpur Metro Phase 1 and laid the foundation stone for Nagpur Metro Phase II. PM Modi rode in the train with students during the inauguration of the Nagpur metro route. He used the metro from Zero Mile Freedom Park to Khapri Stations. Before boarding the train, he went to Zero Mile Station to see an exhibition about metro projects.
- The Phase II Nagpur metro project will cost roughly Rs 6700 crore. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis laid the foundation stone. The Mahametro Rail Corporation has planned to seek financing from the European Investment Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The authorities have finalised the funding arrangement scheme for the development of Nagpur Metro Phase II.
- The Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank would contribute USD 200 million and $239 million, respectively, according to the final financial plan. The total loan amount could reach Rs. 3,568 crore. The Nagpur Metro Phase II development project will cost approximately Rs.6,700 Crore in total. The Central and State Governments would fund around Rs.3,100 crore of the total sum. Nagpur Metro Phase II construction is projected to be finished by 2026.
- Nagpur Metro Finds a Place in Guinness World Records for Longest Viaduct : The Nagpur metro just gained a place in the coveted Guinness World Records for building the largest double decker viaduct for a metro line. The Nagpur Metro’s Wardha Road section features a 3.14-kilometer-long viaduct. Brajesh Dixit, MD, Maharashtra Metro, received the record certificate from the Guiness World Record management at the felicitation ceremony. He stated that building the viaduct was one of the most difficult aspects of the entire metro project.
- Furthermore, the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records have already designated the stretch as the longest viaduct in Asia and India, respectively. The concerned viaduct is a double decker built in collaboration between the National Highways Development Authority (NHAI) and Maharashtra Metro. While the first layer has an existing highway, the second layer has a flyover highway and the third tier has Nagpur metro rail. The flyover roadway is nine metres above ground, while the Nagpur metro level is roughly twenty metres. A similar building is also proposed for Pune’s Ganeshkhind Road.
NCMC : Uniting India’s Public Transport System
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) is an interoperable transportation card developed by the Government of India’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It was unveiled on March 4, 2019. The transport card allows the user to pay for transit, tolls (toll tax), retail purchasing, and cash withdrawals. It is made possible by the RuPay card mechanism. The NCMC card is available as a prepaid, debit, or credit RuPay card through partnering institutions such as the State Bank of India, Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, and others.In late 2010, the Government of India envisioned a programme that would provide seamless access to public transportation networks. The system, later known as the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS), aimed to allow customers to pay across several public transportation platforms using a single system. This was formed in an effort to unite the country’s public transportation system under one cover. The government wanted to improve public transportation accessibility by making it available to everyone in every city. The project is also designed to involve customers from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds. An additional emphasis was made on reducing transaction time in order to make the payment experience as smooth as possible. It is also arranged in such a way that the financial risk to the parties involved in the project is minimised. It is a mechanism for EMV-based Open Loop Payments.The NCMC is an Indian-made product that is part of the Make In India initiative. It was first proposed as part of the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) in 2006. An earlier attempt to develop a similar national mobility card resulted in the introduction of the More Card. Due to the card’s lack of interoperability across the country, Venkaiah Naidu, the then-Minister of Urban Development, formed a committee to develop a card that is interoperable across the country’s various transportation networks.The urban development ministry tasked the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) with payment management, clearing and settlement, card and terminal simulation, and network maintenance. The reader prototype was developed by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).A leading Indian Daily on April 8, 2019 stated, that Visa was looking to offer National Common Mobility Cards. On May 13, 2019, Visa announced the release of specs to support the NCMC. Visa has completed the specifications for issuing cards on the NCMC network and has begun conversations with banks to issue their cards on the NCMC network as well, but it will take some time for the cards to be pushed out in the market. On May 22, 2019, Mastercard announced that 15 Indian banks were in ‘Different stages of signing up’ for the NCMC.Acceptance of NCMC by different transport SystemsThe following public transportation systems in the country presently accept fare payments using the National Common Mobility Card, with many more public transportation operators around the country in various stages of planning/implementation to accept NCMC as a means of payment over the next few years.
In March 2019, the Chief Secretary of the Government of Telangana asked state officials to investigate the feasibility of implementing a National Common Mobility Card for usage on all public transportation in Hyderabad, as well as autos, taxis, and ride-sharing services. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited announced in April 2019 that the National Common Mobility Card would be implemented on Phase 2 of the Namma Metro. The agency would invest Rs. 148 crore in installing the required technology. The system’s current contactless smart cards will be phased out over time. In October 2021, Delhi Metro began systematically converting all of the fare gates to accept NCMC cards.National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) strengthening the NCMC The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. It is a joint initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) established under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act of 2007, with the goal of developing a strong payment and settlement infrastructure in India. NPCI has been developed by RBI to operate retail payment and settlement systems in India. The National Payment Corporation is working towards strengthening the National Common Mobility card. Few recent developments are as under:
| State | Locale | Operator | Transport system | Acceptance | Commissioned | Comments |
| Delhi | National Capital Region | DMRC | Delhi Metro | Partial – Airport Line Only | 28 December 2020 | To be expanded to all Delhi Metro lines by June 2023. |
| Goa | Statewide | KTC | Intercity bus | Complete | 21 December 2021 | |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad | GMRC | Ahmedabad Metro | Complete – All Lines | 4 March 2019 | |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru | BMRCL | Namma Metro | Complete – All Lines | 21 October 2021 | All Phase 1 stations have been retrofitted with NCMC readers. All Phase 2 stations have NCMC compliant readers. |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai Metropolitan Region | BEST | Transit and intercity bus | Complete | 25 April 2022 | |
| NMMT | Transit and intercity bus | Partial – 25% of routes | March 2019 | NMMT began rolling out NCMC across all routes in August 2022. | ||
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | MPMRCL | Bhopal Metro | Under construction | 2023 | NCMC will be accepted after the system opens. |
| Indore | Indore Metro | Under construction | 2023 | NCMC will be accepted after the system opens. | ||
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai | CMRL | Chennai Metro | Complete – All Lines | February 2022 | |
| Telangana | Hyderabad | HMRL | Hyderabad Metro | Complete – All Lines | 29 November 2021 |
- NPCI enhanced Indians’ mobility through ‘One Nation. One Card’ – Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi launched ‘One Nation. One Card,’ which gave wings to the National Common Mobility Card Ecosystem at NCPI. The National Common Mobility Card, which is enabled by the RuPay platform, enables offline payment for multi-modal transit. Customers can utilise their existing Debit/Credit card for payments across all segments, including metro, bus, suburban railroads, toll, parking, smart city, and retail, with the National Common Mobility Card. The card’s stored value enables offline transactions for all travel needs with low financial risk for stakeholders. The service area feature of this card facilitates operator-specific applications such as monthly passes, season tickets, and so on.
- RuPay contactless cards – Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) and HDFC Bank have collaborated to launch Navi Cards. The card will allow Navi Mumbai residents and visitors to use the prepaid card to pay NMMT bus fares. Acceptance will currently be enabled only on certain routes. HDFC Bank is the first bank to offer cards to NMMT commuters. Customers can obtain these contactless cards at the NMMT bus depot’s counters. Navi cards can be used at POS terminals, E-commerce sites, and ATMs with ease. Navi Cards are created in accordance with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) principles to provide a secure, user-friendly, and cost-effective solution for low-value payments and the development of a cashless transaction environment.
- Efficiency:Daily operations at transportation locations become easier and faster with this card, thereby improving operational efficiency. Passengers or users do not have to wait in long lines to get their work done; with this card, they may pay promptly and without any hassle. This saves time and effort for both consumers and operators.
- Accountability:The second advantage is that the operator is more accountable to the client. The operator gains superior date insights and records of all transactions done with this card.
- Lower cost of ticketing operation:This approach improves efficiency while lowering tickets costs. It also minimises the operator’s operating costs and cash handling.
- Interoperability for passengers:It means that travellers can use this same ticket across many transit systems such as buses, trains, taxis, parking, toll plazas, and so on. The traveller is not required to carry cash or multiple cards for each transit operation.
- This card is powered and enabled through the RuPay card interface and is It supported by an indigenously developed Open Loop Automatic Fare Collection System known as ‘Sweekar’ and an Automatic Fare Collection Gate known as ‘Swagat’.
- People can use this card to travel to Metros in any region of the country. Along with travel, it may also be used as a prepaid, credit, or debit card, with support from 25 partner institutions including as SBI, PNB, and others. It can be used on a city bus, metro, suburban railways, BRT, and other public transportation, as well as for shopping at retail stores and merchants.
- Paytm Payment Banks, along with SBI and other banks, can issue the RuPay card. It’s a contactless card, similar to a metro smart card. It accepts transactions both offline (contactless) and online (contact & contactless). Citizens can also use the National Common Mobility Card to pay for tolls and parking.
- Cardholders of the One Nation One card can now use it at Discover and Diners Club International businesses and ATMs. When travelling abroad, cardholders can also receive a 10% reward at merchant locations and a 5% cashback at ATMs.
- This card’s balance can be stored for offline payments. This saved value enables offline transactions across the user’s whole travel needs. Because offline transactions are authorised for stored value (available balance), there is minimal financial risk to any of the stakeholders (i.e. bank or merchant) while also ensuring minimal transaction time.
- Nandan Nilekani committee of Reserve Bank of India proposed the idea of development of NCMC. The committee recommended that NCMC should include two instruments: a standard debit card that may be used at ATMs and a local wallet. Banks mandated by the Department of Financial Services have been urged to make their debit cards NCMC compliant in order to ensure service availability. The committee has also proposed a slew of changes, including all government payments to citizens being made digitally, in order to minimise the country’s reliance on cash.
Bangalore Metro to Connect KR Puram and Whitefield in March: MD
BANGALORE (Metro Rail News): The metro project between KR Puram and Whitefield is anticipated to be opened in March, BMRCL MD Anjum Parvez said. The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has been invited for inspection by the commissioner of metro rail safety.Tracks, station safety, signalling, and electrical installations throughout the line will all be inspected. “We have provided the metro rail safety commission with all the necessary paperwork for this route’s metro work. On February 16, the commissioner is anticipated to begin the inspection process and submit the report within four to five days. Then we shall start our test runs. According to Parvez, we anticipate that the stretch will be operational by March of this year.Even though the KR Puram-Whitefield stretch is a part of the Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield length’s phase 1 metro development, the phase 2 metro work between KR Puram and Baiyappanahalli won’t begin until June. “Under phase 2, the railway crossing line close to the Baiyappanahalli depot continues to provide a significant difficulty. When the project is finished, we may anticipate that operations will begin in June. For customers who wish to travel past KR Puram from Whitefield, we will set up BMTC feeder buses from Baiyappanahalli to KR Puram until then, added Parvez. The KR Puram-Whitefield line, ordinarily taking over an hour to traverse by road, aims to cut the journey to 24 minutes. The Information Technology Park Limited (ITPL) facility near the Pattandur Agrahara metro station will have pedestrian access from 12 stops. To give direct access through a walkway from the concourse level of the Pattandur Agrahara station to the International Tech Park, Bengaluru (ITPB), a memorandum of agreement was signed on Tuesday between BMRCL and ITPL.The ITPL will construct the access infrastructure by the BMRCL-approved plans. This seeks to make it easier for the more than 55,000 people working on the ITPB campus to get directly from the metro station to their workplace without crossing the street. According to a BMRCL press statement, this is the first arrangement of its kind on the Baiyapanahalli-Whitefield line.
A Metro system for the most focused City of the Country
JAMMU (Metro Rail News): Jammu is the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, a union territory of India. It is the union territory’s capital and the largest city in the Jammu district. Jammu, located on the banks of the Tawi River, is surrounded by the Himalayas in the north and the northern plains in the south. It is the second most populated city in the UT.Jammu, often known as the City of Temples because of its ancient temples and Hindu monuments, is the most visited union territory. The neighbouring Samba district borders Jammu city. Jammu city is the administrative division’s leading cultural and economic centre. One of the most well-known local Basmati rice varieties is grown in the RS Pura area near Jammu and processed in Jammu rice mills. Apart from rice mills distributed throughout Jammu, the industrial estate at Bari Brahmana is home to many industrial units producing a wide range of items such as carpets, electronic goods, and electric goods.A metro system to boost the local transport networkTourism is the primary industry in Jammu. As the second-to-last railway terminal in North India, it serves as a hub for pilgrims heading to Vaishno Devi and the Kashmir valley. All routes leading to Kashmir, Poonch, Doda, and Ladakh begin in Jammu. As a result, the city is always crowded with people from all across India. Historic palaces of importance include Mubarak Mandi Palace, Purani Mandi, Rani Park, Amar Mahal, Bahu Fort, Raghunath Temple, Ranbireshwar Temple, Karbala, Peer Meetha, and the Old City. In addition, Jammu has a railway station called Jammu Tawi (station code JAT), which connects the city to most of the important Indian towns. Pakistan discontinued the ancient railway link to Sialkot in September 1947, and Jammu had no rail services until 1971 when the Indian Railways built the Pathankot-Jammu Tawi Broad Gauge line. The new Jammu Tawi station was opened in October 1972 and served as an interchange for Express trains. With the completion of the Jammu-Baramulla railway, all trains to the Kashmir Valley will pass through Jammu Tawi.A portion of the Jammu-Baramulla project was completed, and the track was extended to Katra. The portion between Jalandhar and Pathankot has been duplicated and electrified. Jammu is linked to the Kashmir valley by National Highway 44, which runs through the city. Jammu is linked to Poonch by National Highway 1B. Jammu is located 80 kilometres from Kathua and 68 kilometres from Udhampur. Katra, a famous pilgrimage town, is located 49 kilometres from Jammu.Jammu Airport is located in the heart of the city. Direct flights are available to Srinagar, Delhi, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Jammu Airport receives and departs 30 flights per day from Go First, Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Vistara. In addition, the city offers JKSRTC city buses and minibuses that follow specific routes for local transportation. Matadors are the name given to these minibuses. In addition to this, auto-rickshaw and cycle-rickshaw services are also available. Local taxis are also available. Therefore, owing to the needs of a fast-developing city and meeting the requirement of the growing population in the second most populous town in the UT, the central government has envisaged a modern transport system for Jammu Metrolite both for Jammu & Kashmir primarily to reduce the congestion on roads and provide the commuters with a modern, clean, safe and sustainable public transport system. J&K is also one of the country’s priority areas where the government wants to develop significantly.Jammu Metro : InformationThe Jammu Light Metro (Metrolite) with two lines and forty stations is a light rail transit (LRT) system proposed by the Housing and Urban Development Department of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir to be built in Jammu. The 23-kilometer Jammu Metro Phase 1 project will include two elevated lines and 22 stations, with an interchange at Exhibition Grounds. Both lines will be extended further in Phase 2.The union territory’s Administrative Council agreed in principle in February 2020 to engage the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to assist with the appraisal and approval of the project’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) by the central government, in addition to any possible external funding.Key Figures
- Operational : 0 km
- Under Construction : 0 km
- Approved : 0 km
- Proposed : 43.50 km
- Estimated Project Cost : Rs 4825 cr (Phase 1)
- Estimated Ridership : 2 lakh (2027)
- Length : 17 km
- Type : Elevated
- Depot : Bantalab
- Number of Stations : 17
- Station Names : Bantalab, Chinori, Roop Nagar, Janipur, High Court, Lower Laxmi Nagar, Ambphalla, Secretariat, Raghunath Temple, Exhibition Ground, University, Panama Chowk, Jammu Railway Station, Trikuta Nagar, Trikuta Nagar Extn, Narwal, Greater Kailash
- Length : 6 km
- Type : Elevated
- Depot : Udheywala
- Number of Stations : 6
- Station Names : Udheywala, Tirath Nagar, Suraj Nagar, Circuit House, Jewel Chowk, Exhibition Ground
- Length : 6 km
- Type : Elevated
- Number of Stations : 5
- Station Names : Greater Kailash II, Kaluchak, SIDCO Factories, Bari Bahmana, Bari Brahmana Railway Station
- Length : 14.5 km
- Type : Elevated
- Number of Stations : 12
- Station Names : Rangora, Narwal Mandi, Transport Nagar, Malik Market, Sector 6, Sainik Colony, Greater Kailash, Kunjwani Chowk, Gangyal, Preet Nagar, Sanjay Nagar, Satwari Chowk
- The Metro Rail in Jammu will be 23 kilometres long and will cost Rs 4069.68 crore, while the Metro Rail in Srinagar will be 25 kilometres long and will cost Rs 4892.51 crore. The MetroLite project for Jammu would be approved up to Bari Brahmana, according to plans. The Ministry has decided to extend MetroLite up to AIIMS Vijaypur in the second phase because extending it beyond Bari Brahmana in the first phase will cause the project to be further delayed because a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) would have to be written.
- According to the concept, Jammu will have a 23-kilometer MetroLite line from Bantalab to Bari Brahmana with 22 stations on the way, while Srinagar will have a 25-kilometer MetroLite line divided into two sectors of 12.5 kilometres each. The first corridor would connect Indira Nagar and HMT Junction, while the second will connect Hazuri Bagh and Osmanabad. Srinagar will have 24 stations, 12 on each corridor.
- The MetroLite is planned to run for 17 hours in Jammu and 14 hours in Kashmir. The MetroLite will have elevated corridors instead of underground tunnels. The MoHUA is reviewing the project and shall soon present it to the Cabinet for approval. The Jammu and Kashmir administration expect the plan to be approved by the Union Cabinet soon.
- According to sources, the MetroLite projects in Jammu and Srinagar is primarily intended to reduce traffic congestion in the two cities of Jammu and Srinagar along with the outskirts in the long run. The Central Government has prioritised Jammu and Kashmir over several other states and union territories in the approval of metro train projects. The funding scheme for the two projects has also been determined. Following formal confirmation by the Central Government, the project’s execution in both cities will commence.
Railways Finalise Rolling Stock Programme for 2023-24 at Record Cost of Rs 2.70 Lakh Crore
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): In the Rolling Stock Programme (RSP) 2023-24, 500 Vande Bharat trains, 35 hydrogen fuel-based trains, 4,000 newly designed automobile carrier coaches with side entry, 5,000 LHB coaches, 58,000 wagons, 100 Vistadome coaches and 1,000 refurbished premier trains, at an estimated cost of Rs 2.70 lakh crore, the highest ever, are being finalised.Additionally, Air disinfection systems in 1,000 AC coaches, costing the Railways Rs 3.3 lakh per coach, are also being provisioned to combat air pollution and Covid-like viruses.Indian Railways has resumed its services by spreading different coronavirus mutations; a mechanism is needed to clean the air inside coaches to benefit all those on board.The provision of making 500 Vande Bharat trains, with 8,000 coaches, priced at an estimated Rs 130 crore per rake, amounting to Rs 65,000 crore in RSP 2023-24, has also been put forth. Furthermore, for added safety of passengers, water mist-based fire extinguishers have also been installed in 1,000 coaches, costing Rs 18,000 per coach.It has been suggested that water mist-based fire extinguishers be used in many cases of fire. The Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) advised the Railway Board to employ stored pressure-type water mist-based portable fire extinguishers for coaches.Additionally, it was recommended that Pantries and Power cars, which are crewed by Railway staff, have the highest fire risk. Therefore, the current fire extinguishers in these coaches should be exchanged for stored pressure-type water mist-based portable fire extinguishers.The RSP has proposed installing an Axle Box bearing condition monitoring system for 1000 coaches at an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh per coach. This system would monitor the critical maintenance parameters in real time, thus enhancing safety and reducing maintenance time.The monitoring system will detect and analyse data while the rolling stock is running at maximum speed, thus giving a better insight into the health of the rolling stock compared to when it is stationary or not loaded. This system would reduce maintenance costs and improve the operating ratio.Indian Railways has proposed a refurbishment and upgradation of 1000 coaches of its premium trains, such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Humsafar, Tejas, Suvidha and so on, with updated passenger comfort items and superior interiors at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh per coach.To further attract tourists, the Railways plans to manufacture 100 additional Vistadome coaches, costing Rs 4.3 crore per coach, that provide panoramic views through more expansive body side windows and transparent sections in the roof, allowing passengers to appreciate the scenic beauty of their journey.
Jindal Stainless supplies stainless steel for Mumbai Metro Project flagged off by PM
MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): Giving an impetus to the government’s ‘Make in India‘ initiative, the Hon’ble Prime Minister launched Phase 2 of the Mumbai Metro Line 2A and 7. Jindal Stainless has supplied stainless steel for the project’s outer panels, car body, structurals, roofs, interiors, underframes, and other stainless steel applications. The PM inaugurated the Mumbai Metro line in a Dedication Ceremony organized in Mumbai yesterday. The line will be opened for the commute from today.For this Mumbai Metro project, Jindal Stainless started supplying high-quality stainless steel grade 301LN in various tempers and 2J finishes. The supply started in January 2021 and is expected to continue till December 2025. Jindal Stainless supplies material from its different manufacturing units across the country for the project. The trainsets are being developed by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) in batches, and out of the total 576 coaches required for this project, 144 coaches have been supplied so far. Approximately 5,760 metric tons of stainless steel would be consumed to develop the 18.6 km 2A Metro line and 16.5 km 7 Metro line, respectively.Commenting on this development, MD Jindal Stainless, Abhyuday Jindal, said, “As a completely recyclable metal, stainless steel is the most sustainable choice of material to enable a low-waste circular economy. We are always proud to partner with metro and railway projects, playing our part in ensuring safe, sustainable, and hygienic commute for people.”In the past, Jindal Stainless has supplied metro projects in Sydney and Queensland, apart from Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, and other metro projects.About Jindal StainlessFounded by Shri OP Jindal in 1970, Jindal Stainless (comprising Jindal Stainless Limited and Jindal Stainless (Hisar) Limited) has an annual melt capacity of 1.9 MT and an annual turnover of US $4.20 billion (as of March 22). Already in its expansion phase, the Company’s annual melt capacity will reach 2.9 MT by the end of FY23. It has two stainless steel manufacturing complexes in India, in the states of Haryana and Odisha, with an overseas unit in Indonesia. In addition, Jindal Stainless has a country-wide network of 10 sales offices in India with 12 global offices across the world. The Company’s product range includes stainless steel slabs, blooms, coils, plates, sheets, precision strips, blade steel, and coin blanks.