DMRC Awards Rs 412 Crore contract to HG Infra Engineering Ltd.
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): HG Infra Engineering Ltd. was awarded an order worth more than Rs 412 crore by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC) on January 13. DMRC gave the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) to the company dated January 13 for the design and construction of an elevated viaduct and four elevated Delhi Metro stations.Earlier this month, the company was pronounced the lowest bidder by DMRC for the project, with a bid cost of Rs 412.11 crore against DMRC’s estimated project cost of Rs 398.63 crore. The construction work on the 3.512 km stretch will likely be completed in 24 months.The project’s scope includes part design and construction of an elevated viaduct and four stations — Keshopur, Paschim Vihar, Peeragarhi, and Mangolpuri — from P2 to PP88 from P103 to Mangolpuri Station of Janakpuri West to RK Ashram Corridor of Phase- IV of Delhi MRTS.On January 16, HG Infra shares rose as much as 1.9 per cent at the start of trading, reaching its 52-week peak of Rs 714.25. HG Infra has seen an increase of 13 per cent in the past month after receiving several orders, with the most recent being a Letter of Award (LOA) from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to construct a 6-lane Greenfield Karnal Ring Road between Shamgarh village and Samalkha village under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.HG Infra Engineering Ltd.’s total revenue for the first half of the current financial year was Rs 1,817.74 crore, an increase of 9.05 per cent from the year-ago figure of Rs 1,666.81 crore. Profit after tax (PAT) was Rs 162.3 crore compared to Rs 158.8 crore in the same period of the previous financial year.The company’s stock price is trading at 0.41 per cent higher at Rs 669.05.
Indian Railways to launch Ayodhya to Janakpur ‘Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train’
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): To realize the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places to the people of India and the world, Indian Railways is going to run its Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train on an exceptional tour “Shri Ram-Janaki Yatra: Ayodhya to Janakpur” covering two most significant pilgrimage sites Ayodhya and Janakpur from the neighbouring countries India and Nepal. The tourist train will start from Delhi on 17th Feb 2023, and this initiative will strengthen the bilateral relations and promote the cultural relations between the two countries.The tourist train will include the visit of Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Kashi and Prayagraj as added attractions in the tour. There will be a two-night stay in the hotels, each at Janakpur and Varanasi, respectively. At the same time, the visit to Ayodhya, Sitamarhi and Prayagraj will be covered in the day halt at the destination.The State of Art Deluxe AC Tourist Train has many astounding features, including two fine dining restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles in coaches, sensor-based washroom functions, foot massager. The fully air-conditioned train provides two types of accommodation viz. 1st AC and 2nd AC. The train has enhanced security features of CCTV cameras and Security Guards for each coach and is also equipped with an infotainment system for the entire train.The proposed seven-day Bharat Gaurav Tourist train tour has its first stop at Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, where tourists will visit Shri Ram Janmbhumi temple and Hanuman temple and additionally Bharat Mandir at Nandigram. After Ayodhya, the train will move to Sitamarhi Railway station in Bihar, and tourists will proceed to Janakpur in Nepal by bus, which is 70 Km away from Sitamarhi Railway station. During their stay at Janakpur, tourists can visit Ram Janki Temple, Sita Ram Vivah Mandap and Dhanush Dham. After visiting Janakpur, on the following day, tourists will return to Sitamarhi and visit the Janki temple at Sitamarhi and Punaura Dham. From Sitamarhi, the train will proceed on an overnight journey to Varanasi. While at Kashi, tourists visit Sarnath, Kashi Vishwanath temple & corridor, Tulsi temple and Sankat mochan Hanuman temple. Tourists will move from Varanasi to Prayagraj by bus and visit Sangam, Shankar Viman Mandapam, Hanuman temple and Bharadwaj Ashram. After Prayagraj, the train will return back to Delhi on the 7th day of its journey. Guests will be travelling roughly 2500 Kms in this tour.To make this package more attractive and affordable to a large population, IRCTC has tied up with Paytm and Razorpay payment gateways to provide EMI payment options for breaking the total payment into small amounts EMIs. Users can avail of the EMI payment option for making payments in 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 or 24-month EMIs. These EMI payment options can be made through Debit/Credit Cards. COVID-19 final Vaccination is mandatory for all guests aged 18 years and above.The Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train launch is in line with the Government of India initiative “Dekho Apna Desh” to promote domestic tourism. At a price range starting from Rs. 39,775/- per person, the train will be a seven days all-inclusive tour package. The price will cover the train journey in respective class; Night stays at AC hotels; all meals (VEG ONLY); all transfers & sightseeing in buses; travel Insurance and services of a guide etc.
Four Firms Compete for Kasheli Depot Construction Project of MMRDA
MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): On 13th January, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) opened technical bids concerning the civil construction of Mumbai Metro Orange Line (Line-5) ‘s Kasheli Depot (Package CA-151). Four different construction firms have put forth their bids for the project, which is slated to be located on a 27.13-hectare land parcel south of the Kasheli metro station that Afcons Infrastructure is currently developing in northeast Mumbai.In October 2022, MMRDA put out a tender for the construction of a 690m long test track, an SBL with 30 lines, a WSL area with three lines, an IBL area with four lines, and other administrative buildings with a 36-month completion deadline and an Rs. 472.02 crore estimate.
Bidders are :
- Montecarlo Ltd.
- NCC Ltd.
- Rithwik Projects Pvt. Ltd.
- Vishwa Samudra Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
3 bidders Offers for New Mogharpada Depot of Mumbai Metro Green Line
MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): After the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) opened technical bids on 13th January, three construction companies have tendered offers for the civil construction project of Mumbai Metro Green Line’s Mogharpada Depot (Package CA-160). This new train depot will function for the 35.2 km Line-4 & Line-4A being constructed to link Wadala – Kasaravadavali – Gaimukh with 34 stations.This is a new invitation for tenders for the depot. Its initial call for tender was issued in August 2020 with a 36-month timeline and an estimated construction cost of Rs. 596.60 crores. However, that tender was cancelled in May 2021 after MMRDA had continuously pushed back its submission deadline via 14 amendments. The latest tender documents show that the layout of the depot has been drastically changed, reducing its area from 41 to 35 hectares. The contract period remains the same at 36 months, but the estimated cost has increased to Rs. 711.34 crores.
Bidders are :
- NCC Ltd.
- Rithwik Projects Pvt. Ltd.
- Vishwa Samudra Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
Noida Metro Rail Corporation Increases Card Minimum Balance to Rs 50
GREATER NOIDA (Metro Rail News): The Noida-Greater Rail Corporation (NMRC) has raised the minimum balance needed on a metro smart card to enter a station from Rs 10 to Rs 50 to control the overcrowded problem within metro stations. So if you plan on using the Noida-Greater Noida Metro beyond next week, you should ensure your metro card has the required minimum recharge. With effect starting on January 16, there will be an increase in the required minimum balance on an NMRC Smart Card to gain entrance to the station.According to a press statement from the company, “NMRC is implementing the modification in minimum balance amount in NMRC smart card to solve operational challenges and concerns encountered by commuters.”Right now, a person needs an Rs. 10 balance on their metro card to enter any station in Noida and Greater Noida, and if they want to go to more than two stations, they have to get their card refilled. This resulted in congestion.More than 45,000 individuals commute daily using trains in Noida and Greater Noida. The NMRC will make announcements regarding the change within the metro stations to inform the general public.The metro network in Noida and Greater Noida is rapidly expanding and is planned, managed, and built by the NMRC. By constructing new lines between the two cities and between Sector 142 and the Botanical Garden, the corporation hopes to expand the reach of the Noida Metro and Greater Noida Metro.
Second 8-Coach Trainset for Mumbai Metro Line 3 Reaches City for Better Connectivity
MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): Mumbai metro line 3 project is undergoing fast completion. The second 8-coach train manufactured in the Alstom Plant, Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, arrived in Mumbai a few days ago and will also undergo the required mandatory tests in a 5-km stretch between the Ramp at Sariput Nagar and Sahar.All eight coaches, weighing 42-tonne each – traversed 1,400-km, from Andhra Pradesh, in 10 days by special 8-excelled trailers with 64 wheels.The MMRC has also received the Environmental Initiative of the Year Award in the Tunnelling Association of India (TAI) Tunnelling and Underground Space Awards-2022.Ms. Ashwini Bhide, MD, MMRC, said, “We will roll the first phase of Metro Line-3 from Aarey to BKC this 2023” “MMRC received all the eight coaches of the second train only yesterday, which will be assembled and put to trial runs soon. It is also significant to note that the first train has already undergone all dynamic and static tests through more than 1,500 km trial runs. Successfully”.Mr. S. K. Gupta, Director (Projects), MMRC, said, “MMRC completed the entire tunnelling of 54.5-km – up and down the line – on November 30, 2022. We required 17 tunnel boring machines (TBM) and 1,700 workmen to complete 100% tunnelling for the 33.5-km long corridor” 2,86,000 cubic meters of concrete, and 29,500 metric tonnes of concrete steel were used for the monumental task. Also, 50% of track laying work has been completed.Mr. A. A. Bhatt, Director (Systems), MMRC, said, “On the Systems front, The train trials with various tests – static and dynamic – are going on regularly. As a result, 53% of the Overhead Contact System (OCS) installation of 88% of the Power Supply System has been completed. Besides this progress, in all 105 escalators, 19 lifts, 10 Platform Screen Doors, and 12 Passenger Information Display systems have been installed at various stations and the work is in full swing”.
Uncertainty Lingers Around Proposed Monorail Project in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD (Metro Rail News): The Telangana government is now concentrating on the Hyderabad Airport Metro Express, there is still some mystery around the opening of the projected monorail project in Hyderabad.The government previously established a task team to investigate the viability of the Hyderabad monorail project. The task committee included representatives from the public and private sectors.The task of identifying cost-effective modes of transportation, such as trams and monorails, was handed to the group. It was also intended to provide financing recommendations.There is still anxiety around the Hyderabad monorail project because no significant progress has been achieved in its debut.Unlike metro rail, which has two tracks, a monorail only has one rail per track. The monorail is a less expensive choice than the metro rail since it occupies less area.It not only offers a different kind of transportation, but it also facilitates last-mile connection. Moreover, the monorail can be built in fewer areas; therefore, it may be installed in various locations around Hyderabad.Chandrashekar Rao, the chief minister of Telangana, laid the foundation stone for the Hyderabad Airport Express Metro last year.The project will provide public transit to southern Hyderabad in addition to acting as a crucial link between the Aerocity in Adibatla and the intended Pharma City.A particular purpose entity called Hyderabad Airport Metro Limited (HAML) was established for the 31-kilometre Airport Metro line. It is a collaborative venture between Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC), Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority, and Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL).
PM Modi to Inaugurate Metro Lines 2A and 7 After Grant of Safety Clearance
MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): The commuters of Mumbai have been given a delightful bit of news as the long-awaited second phase of the Metro Line 2A, and Line 7 has been granted safety clearances by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS). This announcement is made days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the lines.S.V.R. Srinivas, the Commissioner of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), reported that Eknath Shinde, the Chief Minister, and Devendra Fadnavis, the Deputy CM, took a tour of the lines on 12th January.Srinivas stated that the testing of rolling stock, signalling system, civil works, tracks and speed trials had been concluded successfully. The CMRS’s mandatory safety certification for the Phase II of both lines was received on 12th January. He added that they were now prepared to offer high-quality services to the people of Mumbai following the clearance for the commercial operations of the lines. Line 2A links Dahisar East with DN Nagar Andheri, while Line 7 links Dahisar East with Andheri East on the two major roads – the New Link Road and Western Express Highway, respectively.In April 2022, then CM Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated Phase 1 of both Line 2A, which is 18 km long and has 17 stations, and Line 7, which is 17 km long and has 13 stations. It is estimated that 3 lakh commuters will use the two lines daily. Already, 25,000 people are travelling on the two lines every day. To connect Line 2A and Line 7, an interchange has been set up at Andheri East and Andheri West with the existing Mumbai Metro One line, which runs from Versova to Ghatkopar and starts operating in June 2014. It is expected that the regular services on the second phase of Line 2A and Line 7 will start at the end of the month, according to officials.
RTA Grants Approval for 114 Feeder Buses in Ghaziabad as Part of RRTS Project
GHAZIABAD (Metro Rail News): Officials revealed on 12th January that the necessary steps had been taken to operate 114 feeder buses on 17 routes in Ghaziabad as part of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project. The regional transport authority (RTA) has approved the buses to run.The Uttar Pradesh government gave its final approval in a meeting on 11th January to operate feeder buses on 17 proposed routes and determine the number of buses to be used. This was the result of the in-principle approval given earlier by the government.The RTO, Arun Kumar, reported that the RTA had accepted the proposition, which will set the groundwork for running around 114 feeder buses from three RRTS stations in Ghaziabad. These buses, with a capacity of 20-22 passengers, will be in service within a 10-km radius of the three stations. The feeder buses will likely accommodate up to 100,000 passengers daily.In November 2022, the transport department proposed 17 paths from three RRTS stations in Ghaziabad: Ghaziabad, Ghaziabad City and Guldhar. This 17-kilometre stretch is the first to open up for passengers in India and is projected to launch in March.Kumar said they request bids from bus operators to provide buses under BS-VI standards and run on CNG. He anticipates finishing the process by February, before the 17-kilometre priority section opening. The proposed routes include nine departures from the Sahibabad RRTS station, four from the Ghaziabad City RRTS station, and four from the Guldhar RRTS station.
PM Modi’s Hyderabad Tour to inaugurates various rail projects postponed until further notice
HYDERABAD (Metro Rail News): The state BJP informed on January 11 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s one-day tour of Hyderabad on January 19 had been postponed until further notice. Initially, the PM had been expected to flag off the Vande Bharat Express train from Secunderabad to Visakhapatnam, inaugurate various central government-sponsored developmental projects, and speak at a rally of supporters at the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad.The state unit president Bandi Sanjay announced in a statement that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit has been temporarily postponed and that the schedule for the PM’s visit to the state will be announced soon. This was also tweeted from the party’s official handle.On January 19, the PM was planning to arrive in Telangana. From Platform 10, he was to launch the semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express train between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam. In addition, he was to lay the foundation for doubling the 85-km long tracks between Secunderabad and Mahabubnagar, costing Rs 1,231 crore. He was also scheduled to inaugurate the modernisation works of Secunderabad railway station, costing Rs 700 crore, and kick off the works on a wagon workshop at Kazipet near Warangal, which is estimated to cost Rs 521 crore.On January 9, G Kishan Reddy, the Union Minister, tweeted the preliminary schedule announcing that during his visit to Telangana on the 19th of this month, the Prime Minister will “dedicate to the nation and conduct Bhumi Puja for various projects worth more than ₹7,000 Crores, including the inauguration of the Vande Bharat Train”.
CMRL Signs Agreement with Mitsui & Co Ltd to supply HHR for Driverless Trains
CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): T Archunan, director of projects of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), signed an agreement with Hajime Miyake, senior general manager of Mitsui & Co Ltd, Japan, to supply 60kg head hardened 1080 grade rails for the operation of driverless trains on a 52km stretch of phase-2 of CMRL, at the cost of Rs 163.31crore.CMRL announced that they will supply a total quantity of 13885 metric tonnes of rails over three lots between September 2023 and February 2025 for use on Corridor-3 between Madhavaram and Sholinganallur and Corridor-S from Madhavaram to CMBT. This will mark the beginning of production and testing of the rails in April 2023.CMRL will likely have the 118.9km phase-2 project, consisting of three corridors, ready by 2026. To cut costs, ballastless tracks will be laid in the entire stretch, with ballasted tracks in the depots.
Thales to Supply Operation Control Centre for Santiago Metro Line 7
SANTIAGO, CHILE (Metro Rail News): Thales and the operator of the Santiago metro in Chile recently signed two contracts for the supply and maintenance of the Operation Control Centre of Line 7, which is due to enter service at the beginning of 2027. The ten-year maintenance contract will come into effect at the beginning of the services.The new Line 7 of the Santiago metro will connect the city from west to east, serving residents of the districts of Renca, Cerro Navia, Quinta Normal, Santiago, Providencia, Las Condes and Vitacura.The project will improve the travel experience and reduce travel times by half for the capital’s 1.569 million inhabitants. With the incorporation of Line 7, the operational metro network will reach a total length of 174 kilometres with 162 stations.The OCC will command and supervise energy equipment and auxiliary systems, including elevators, escalators, lighting and ventilation equipment, at the new line’s 19 stations. Other key functions include energising the line through the traction logic subsystem and managing the access and intrusion control subsystems, which monitor the flow of authorised personnel in the line’s stations and workshops to improve operations safety and security.
A back-up centre will ensure line supervision in the event of a failure or emergency to guarantee continuity of service.“We are very pleased to continue working with Santiago metro, as decades of experience have positioned us as a strategic supplier providing the command and supervision systems for all the lines currently available. We are very confident we will be deploying a high-level system.” Jean Phillipe Le Nagard, Thales Country Director Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay).“We are proud to have been selected to help expand the metro system in Santiago de Chile. Line 7 will significantly improve passenger mobility in one of Chile’s the most densely populated regions. Thales is already the supplier of the command and supervision centres on all existing lines of the Santiago metro (L1, L2, L3, L4, L4A, L5 and L6). The contract for the new line consolidates an enduring relationship with the Santiago metro that dates back for 50 years, and confirms the customer’s trust in the commitment, professionalism and resilience of Thales’s teams, We are delighted to bring our latest-generation OCC to Santiago. It is a major recognition of Thales capability to capture and deliver complex projects based on integrated solutions. This large-scale, strategic project further strengthens our leadership in the region.” – Benoît Couture, Vice-President for Integrated Communications and Supervision activities, Thales.
RVNL bags contract of Rs 1,134.1 Crores from Chennai Metro Rail Project
CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): On January 11, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) saw its share price edge higher during the afternoon session following their announcement of being awarded a Rs 1,134.1-crore Chennai Metro Rail project.This project includes the construction of an elevated viaduct (approximate length of 10 kilometers), nine elevated metro stations and a stabling viaduct. As of 2.11 pm, RVNL was trading at Rs 71.65, up Rs 1.30, or 1.85 percent, on BSE. It touched an intraday high of Rs 72.70 and an intraday low of Rs 70.30.RVNL, which is engaged in the business of implementing rail infrastructure projects assigned by the Ministry of Railways, such as doubling, gauge conversion, new lines, electrification, major bridges, workshops, production units, and sharing of freight revenue with the railways, saw a 36.5 percent jump in its consolidated net profit to Rs 381.22 crore in the September quarter of FY23, on the back of a 21.9 percent rise in net sales to Rs 4,908.90 crore compared to Q2 FY22.
PM Modi to Inaugurate Navi Mumbai Metro’s 5.96-km Stretch on 19th January
MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to visit Mumbai on January 19 to inaugurate the 5.96-km stretch between Central Park and Belapur stations of the Navi Mumbai Metro.Additionally, the 35-km stretch of Mumbai Metro’s 2A and seven lines will likely be commissioned in Modi’s presence that same day. However, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are due to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos between January 15 and 19. Furthermore, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which constructed the elevated Mumbai Metro 2A and 7 lines, is having difficulty obtaining confirmation of dates from the government regarding the inauguration of these lines, as per sources.In April 2022, then Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray flagged off the first phase of the 2A and 7 lines, the 20-km stretch from Dhanukarwadi (Kamran Nagar) to Aarey Colony in the western suburbs of Mumbai. Passing through Link Road and Western Express Highway (WEH), these Metro lines are expected to reduce traffic from these significant roads and help alleviate crowding in existing suburban local train services. On average, this stretch has been drawing 25,000 riders daily.Once the entire stretch of these two lines with 30 stations and a 35-km elevated corridor is operational, it is estimated that it will be able to carry nearly 3 lakh passengers daily, according to officials of Maha Mumbai Metro Operations Corporation Ltd (MMMOCL), which takes care of the metro rail’s operation and maintenance.