First Look of Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train out: Details here

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Embassy of Japan has released the first official pictures of the E5 Series Shinkansen, which will be modified for use as rolling stock for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project

The project, a collaboration between the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) and the Japanese government, is estimated to cost Rs 1.08 lakh crore, and was originally supposed to be completed by 2023, but is likely to be delayed according to officials. 
The E5 Series Shinkansen, operated by the East Japan Railway Company, travels at an average speed of 320 km per hour, with a top speed of 350 km per hour.
In September, the NHSRCL had opened bids for the highly publicised project. L&T Construction, the construction arm of Larsen & Toubro won the bid, ahead of Tata Projects, Ircon International–Afcons Infrastructure–JMC Projects consortium, and J Kumar Infra Projects–NCC-HSR consortium.
The contract will cover the 237-km corridor between Vapi and Vadodara in Gujarat, which will include four stations — Surat, Vapi, Billimora and Bharuch — as well as 14 river crossings, 42 road crossings and six railway crossings, including one 350-metre-long mountain tunnel. Of the 508-km-long high-speed rail project, 348 km will be in Gujarat, 156 km in Maharashtra and 4 km in Dadar & Nagar Haveli. 

Kanpur Metro: First I-girder placed near IIT-K station

KANPUR (Metro Rail News): Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) has erected the first ‘I-girder’ near IIT-Kanpur Metro station and the erection of four I-girders has been accomplished between Pillars no 9 and 10 near IIT-K station.‘I-girder’ is an arrangement used in place of U-girder on the elevated corridor for creating scope for track crossing or platform switching for Metro trains.

“Total of 178 I-girders will be placed on the 9km long elevated Primary Section. Terminal Metro stations – IIT-K and Motijheel and the Polytechnic Metro Depot are the three designated spots where I-girders are to be placed. Approximately 27 meters long I-girders will be placed at the three designated spots”, the UPMRC said in a statement.

The width of one I-girder is about one meter while the weight would be around 58 tons.
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‘I-girder’ is used instead of ‘U-girder for the arrangement of cross-over or track change on the elevated corridor. Two U-girders can be placed above the Pier Cap between two piers or pillars while at the same space, there is an arrangement for the placement of four ‘I-girders’. There is no wall or boundary between I-girders and because of this competence, the train can easily move from one track to another.

The ‘I-girder,’ shaped like the alphabet ‘I’ are also pre-cast and placed with the help of cranes on the corridor after which slabs are prepared on them while the U-girders are complete structures along with base and sidewalls. The parapet of ‘I-girder’ is prepared in the casting yard separately and then placed to side edges.

After Bombay HC stay on transfer of Kanjurmarg land, MVA government may consider Metro shed at bullet-train plot in BKC

MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): A day after the Bombay High Court (HC) ordered an interim stay on the transfer of a 102-acre land in Kanjurmarg to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for an integrated Metro car shed, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is looking at other options, including using the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), where a terminus for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train has been proposed.

The on-going tussle between the Central and state government could take an uglier turn if the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government goes ahead with the BKC plot. Officials said chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday asked the officials concerned to relook at all records related to the project. “The chief minister has asked for all records again. He is likely to announce the next step himself,” said an official.
Chief secretary Sanjay Kumar confirmed they were considering BKC as one of the options for Metro car shed. “The Kanjurmarg plot, where the car shed is being planned, is entangled in a legal process, which will take time. Hence, it has been proposed to examine the technical feasibility of the BKC plot. Based on the findings of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), the state government will take the further decision,” Kumar said.
While the then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had handed over a plot in BKC to the National High-Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRC), which is implementing the bullet train project, the MVA government has been non-committal on the project since it came to power. Earlier, Thackeray had also questioned if the bullet train is of any benefit to Maharashtra. The government has not made it clear if it is the plot earmarked for the bullet train’s Mumbai terminus.

The state has claimed that the salt department has not been able to prove its ownership of the plot. A senior official from the state government said, “A 2018 order by the then BJP revenue minister clearly states that saltpan lands belong to the state government. The transfer order by the suburban collector also quotes this order.
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Chief secretary Sanjay Kumar confirmed they were considering the BKC plot for bullet train as one of the options for Metro car shed. “The Kanjurmarg plot, where the car shed is being planned, is entangled in a legal process, which will take time. Hence, it has been proposed to examine the technical feasibility of the BKC plot. Based on the findings of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), the state government will take a decision,” Kumar said.

PM Modi likely to flag off Delhi Metro’s first driverless train soon

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): India may soon get its first driverless metro train by December end with Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagging it off on the Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line. 
As per sources quoted by a news agency, the train will be flagged off on the Janakpuri West-Botanical Garden line of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
It is being said that the driverless trains are to operate on the Magenta Line and eventually the Pink Line, that was made as part of the Phase-III of the DMRC.In September 2017, the Delhi Metro had started trials of its new ‘driverless trains’ along the 20-km stretch on Pink Line.
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Notably, the line was yet to be commissioned back then. The trials were to test the automation of the new metro trains, that were equipped with Unattended Train Operations (UTO) and CBTC (Communication Based Train Control) signalling systems.

The new driverless trains have undergone several technological upgrades and are equipped with several advanced features. To increase passenger comfort, many additional features have been added to them. The DMRC trains are designed for a maximum speed of 95 kmph and an operational speed of 85 kmph.
Initially, drivers will be deputed for operating the trains but they will be gradually withdrawn.”These trains would be more energy-efficient than the earlier trains of the Delhi Metro because of improved design features such as better regeneration of energy during braking, energy-efficient subsystems like LED lighting and air conditioning systems,” the DMRC had earlier said.

UP Metro Hits Double Century of U-Girder Erection In Just 130 DAYS; 2.5 KMs Base Ready For Track Laying

KANPUR (Metro Rail News): Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (UPMRC) has demonstrated its commitment and achieved another milestone by completing the erection of 200 ‘U-girders’ under the Priority Corridor (IIT to Motijheel) with the objective to deliver world-class Metro services to the city within the stipulated time. So far, a base of about 2.5 KMs for laying of Metro track has been prepared. 

“With the efficient strategy and extraordinary dedication, the team of UP Metro engineers has completed the erection of 200 ‘U-girders’ within just 130 days. Under the Kanpur Metro Project’s Priority Corridor, the erection of ‘U-girders’ was commenced on August 11, 2020, in the gracious presence of Shri Rajendra Kumar Tiwari, Chief Secretary, Government of UP and under the leadership of  Shri. Kumar Keshav, Managing Director, UPMRC”, the UPMRC said in a statement.

UP Metro had hit the century of U-Girder erection in 67 days while the erection of another 100 ‘U-girders’ has been completed in just 64 days. A total of 622 ‘U-girders’ is to be erected under the Priority Corridor of the Kanpur Metro Project. 

Expressing satisfaction over the speed of Metro construction in Kanpur, Mr Kumar Keshav, Managing Director of UP Metro said, “UPMRC has again achieved a milestone by erecting 200 U-girders at a very fast speed on the Kanpur Metro Project that too in ongoing difficult COVID times. The Whole team of highly professional UPMRC’s engineers and the contractor are leaving no stone unturned to achieve the targets. We shall continue with our courage and determination.” 

“It is to be mentioned that, on the 15th of November 2019, the construction work of 9 KMs long ‘Priority Corridor’, between IIT and Motijheel, was inaugurated by the Hon’ble CM Shri Yogi Adityanath in the impendence of Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, GoI”, the statement added.

It has been a year and a month, since the commencement of civil construction works of the Kanpur Metro project. In such a short tenure, the dedicated and skilled team of UP Metro’s engineers and the contractor has accomplished numerous achievements associated the civil construction of the Priority Corridor and has been sustaining the pace of work. 

Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Achieves 35th Breakthrough at Dadar Metro Station

MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) achieved its 35th breakthrough at Dadar Metro Station. With the 1.12 kilometre (km) long tunnel from Siddhivinayak to Dadar, package-4 has completed its entire tunnelling of 10.96 km. Three Tunnel Boring Machine (TBMs) were deployed in total for this tunnelling work.
“We are happy to announce 100 per cent completion of tunnelling work in 4 out of 7 packages. Tunnelling in package-4 was a particularly challenging task as all the stations are located in close proximity to developments, active road traffic, and popular religious places,” said Ranjit Singh Deol, Managing Director, MMRC.

“The Herrenknecht made TBM Krishna-1, equipped with Earth Pressure Balance technology, had started its main drive on July 7, 2020, and has completed the downline stretch using 805 rings. The overall progress of Dadar Metro Station is around 42 per cent,” informed S.K. Gupta, Director (Projects), MMRC.

Package-4 which includes Siddhivinayak, Dadar, and Shitaldevi stations, witnessed 8 breakthroughs (Nayanagar to Dharavi (Upline – 589m and downline – 589m), (Nayanagar to Dadar (Upline – 2491m and downline – 2472m), (Siddhivinayak to Dadar (Upline –1106m and downline – 1126m), (Siddhivinayak to Worli (Upline – 1305m and downline – 1284m).

DRA Infracon Wins Ahmedabad Metro’s Thaltej Gam Section

AHMEDABAD (Metro Rail News): Dinesh Chandra R. Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd. emerged as the lowest bidder to construct the roughly 900-meter Thaltej to Thaltej Gam section of Ahmedabad Metro’s 20.737 km Line-1, after the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) opened financial bids.
Construction work for this elevated section (Pier 1 to Pier 59) of the 39.259 km Phase 1 project‘s Reach-2 was originally awarded in January 2017 to Tata Projects Ltd – China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (TPL-CCECC) JV with a value of Rs 721 crore.
Land acquisition issues involving around 350 residential properties which led to a legal battle between TPL-CCECC and GMRC in 2019-2020, with TPL-CCECC claiming Rs 140 crore for the underutilization of its resources has decreased the pace of works.
GMRC then initiated a change in alignment and design of Thaltej Gam Station to reduce the number of properties to be acquired and then invited bids for its construction in September-end with an estimate of Rs. 109.23 crore and completion period of 18 months.

Financial Bid Values:


DRA Infracon – Rs 118.85 crore

Ranjit Buildcon – Rs 140.44 crore


Sadbhav Engineering – Rs 164.93 crore


Scope of the work includes Construction of Elevated Viaduct from Dead End P1 to P59 in E-W corridor R2 including station Thaltej Gam, including western side transition span between station and viaduct for Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase – 1.

Feeder Bus Service Likely for The New Metro Corridor in Gurugram

GURUGRAM (Metro Rail News): A feeder bus network has been planned to improve connectivity in areas near the proposed metro stations in the city. A total of 49 buses will be brought in by 2025 when the metro project is likely to be ready. A copy of the detailed project report (DPR) for the metro corridor, which will start from Huda City Centre, says that the feeder buses would be “ultra-modern and customer-oriented”, they will be fast, comfortable and cost-effective.

The air-conditioned vehicles will have low floors so that they are easy to board, attractive and eco-friendly. Each bus will have a capacity of 35 passengers. In terms of non-motorised transport, a public bike-sharing system shall also be rolled out and the two-wheelers can be used within a 2km-radius of a particular metro station. The services will be free for those using the metro.

Additionally, the DPR also mentions pedestrian facilities, like continuous footpath that is 2m wide, zebra crossing at intersections. The report also mentions the relocation of encroachments.
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A plan for laying down cycle tracks around metro stations shall also be drawn up depending on availability of the land. The report states that the proposed metro rail system should be user friendly and ensure proper access for differently-abled people, those travelling with small children and those with luggage. It should work for people who have temporary mobility problems and the elderly.

The proposed metro route was approved by the state government in May this year. The proposal will now be sent to the Centre.

Delhi Metro MD Mangu Singh’s tenure extended till March 2021

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Delhi Metro Managing Director Mangu Singh’s tenure has been extended till March 31, 2021. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has issued an order after receiving a request from the Delhi Government. Mangu Singh’s tenure was set to end this month. Singh has been a part of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) since its inception.

This was the second extension given to Singh. The first extension of tenure came in December 2016. Singh had taken over the reins of the DMRC from E Sreedharan on January 1, 2012.

“To convey the concurrence of the Ministry to the proposal of the Delhi Government for the extension of Mangu Singh as the Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd with effect from 15.12.2020 to 31.03.2021”, the Ministry said in a letter to Special Commissioner (MRTS) Delhi Government transport department.

The process to find out Singh’s successor will have to be completed by March 31. As per clause 144a of the Articles of Association of DMRC, the Managing Director is to be designated by the Delhi Government with the prior concurrence of the Central Government. The metro phase III works is yet to be completed while the phase IV works have already been started in the national Capital.

Bullet Train Project: L&T Gets another tender worth Rs 1389 Crores

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Larsen and Toubro (L&T)-IHI Infrastructure Systems Consortium has emerged as the lowest bidder for the procurement and fabrication of 28 steel bridges for crossing over lines, rivers, highways and other structures for the 508 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, officials said on Friday.
National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) spokesperson Sushma Gaur in a statement said that the financial bids for procurement and fabrication of 28 steel bridges for crossing over railway lines, rivers, highways, road and other structures (P-4 Package) for the MAHSR Corridor were opened today.
“L&T-IHI Infrastructure Systems (Consortium) is the lowest bidder. This is a consortium of Indian and Japanese companies,” she said.
She informed that a total of eight bidders had participated in the bid and only four qualified after technical evaluation.
Among the four bidders were Tata Projects Ltd, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, NCC Ltd and L&T- IHI Infrastructure Systems Consortium.
She said that it is estimated that about 70,000 MT of steel will be used for the fabrication of these steel bridges and the Indian steel industry and allied supply chains will get a big boost.
“NHSRCL has already sensitised the steel industries to cater to such a huge demand for India`s first High-Speed Rail corridor,” she said.
The NHSRCL has already awarded civil contracts for the construction of 64 per cent of MAHSR alignment which includes five HSR stations at Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Anand/Nadiad, train depot at Surat and one mountain tunnel of 350 metres.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the then Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe had on September 14, 2017, laid the foundation stone for the ambitious Rs 1.08 lakh crore ($17 billion) project.
The initial deadline to complete the project is December 2023. The bullet trains are expected to run at 350 km per hour covering the 508 km stretch in about two hours. In comparison, trains currently plying on the route take over seven hours to travel the distance, whereas flights take about an hour.

High-Level Stakeholder Meeting Held for Ayyampuzha GIFT City

KOCHI (Metro Rail News): A high-level stakeholder meeting on the proposed Global City at Ayyampuzha was held in Kochi. The meeting aimed at assessing the market demand for the multi-crore project was attended by industrialists representing Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce &Industry, the Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Kochi. 

The meeting was convened by Kochi Kochi Bangalore Industrial Corridor (KBIC), which is headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Special Projects) Alkesh Kumar Sharma IAS. KINFRA MD Santhosh Koshy Thomas, Ernakulam District Collector S Suhas, Palakkad District Collector D. Balamurali IAS and the representatives of CH2M HILL International Ltd(Jacobs Engineering Group), the master-planning agency attended the meeting.

“The Industries and Trade bodies have given valuable suggestions for an eco-friendly, non-polluting development of the project. They appreciated the plans as the project will create huge investment and employment opportunities. The stakeholders meeting was focussed to identify the specific service, trade and knowledge components in Ayyampuzha project.” said Mr Sharma.

The agency is currently developing the detailed master plan and they are expected to complete it by March 2021. 

Services between Vishwavidyalaya and Rajiv Chowk Stations of Yellow Line of Delhi Metro to Be Affected Today

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Services between Rajiv Chowk to Vishwavidyalaya section of Yellow Line of Delhi Metro will be affected on Saturday night and the Sunday morning as the DMRC is going to undertake track maintenance works on the said section. It is scheduled to be conducted between 11:00 PM (19th December) to end of revenue hours and up to 9:00 AM (20th December).

“To undertake planned track maintenance work on UP line of the above section, train services between Rajiv Chowk and Vishwavidyalaya section of Yellow Line will be run on a single line (through DOWN Line) after 11 PM till the end of revenue services on 19th December 2020 and from the start of revenue services till 9:00 AM on Sunday i.e, 20th December 2020”, said the DMRC.
To ensure that there is no inconvenience to commuters during these late and early morning off-peak hours on 19th/20th December, the Delhi Metro has made the following arrangements: 

1. Normal train services will remain available from Samaypur Badli to Vishwavidyalaya and Central Secretariat to HUDA City Centre sections during the said period. The frequency of the trains will remain as per the routine time table in the above sections. 

2. Due to maintenance work on Up Line in the given section, trains will be available from Vishwavidyalaya to Central Secretariat section with a frequency of 8-18 minutes during the given period.

3. Announcements will also be made at the stations and inside the trains on Yellow Line about the destination of trains and respective platforms for change over during this period.

Jammu and Srinagar to Get Metro Projects Soon: Here are the Details

JAMMU (Metro Rail News):  Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha recently chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat to steer Light Metro Rail Projects for Jammu and Srinagar.
The Jammu Light Rail System will have a 23-kilometre length with 22 stations between Bantalab and Bari Brahmana whereas Srinagar Light Rail System will have a 25-kilometre length. The representatives of MAHA-Metro gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding the works related to the project, besides highlighting the key issues on Jammu and Srinagar Metro Rail corridors, according to an official release.

“It was informed that the Jammu Light Rail System will have a 23-kilometre length with 22 stations between Bantalab and Bari Brahmana whereas Srinagar Light Rail System will have a 25-kilometre length which included 12.5-kilometre length from Indira Nagar to HMT Junction and 12.5-kilometer length from Hazuri Bagh to Osmanabad with 24 stations (12 stations on each corridor),” it said.
The Lieutenant Governor stressed upon speedy implementation and directed that the project once approved should be completed within two years from the date of commencement.
He observed that the elevated Metro Rail System will not only facilitate the people but also have a positive impact on the economy and quality of life.
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Mr Sinha said that the Metro project for the two cities will be cost-effective and a leap towards sustainable public transport.

Bullet Train Project: Second Agreement Signed between NHSRCL and L&T For High-Speed Rail Corridor

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), implementing the bullet train project in the country, signed a second contract agreement with infrastructure conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for the design and construction of the 88 km long (approximately) viaducts between Vadodara and Ahmedabad in Gujarat, including the construction of an elevated station at Anand/Nadiad, maintenance depot, and bridges for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor on Wednesday, December 16.

With this, the NHSRCL has awarded civil contracts for the construction of 92 per cent of high-speed rail corridor alignment in Gujarat, which is 325 km out of 352 km in the state. According to NHSRCL, the agreement also includes five high-speed rail corridor stations namely Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, and Anand/Nadiad, train depot at Surat as well as one mountain tunnel of 350 metres.

These contracts are likely to provide a boost to the steel and cement industries and its allied supply chains. The total cost of the awarded contracts is Rs. 32000 crores approximately, according to the organisation.

NHSRCL team has signed two big contracts for the civil works of MAHSR project in last one month. As the construction works will soon start, besides the steel and cement industries the local industries, manufactures and allied supply chains will also get a boost. The construction activities will also create jobs, for which NHSRCL has already started providing construction-related training,” said Mr Achal Khare, Managing Director of NHSRCL.

Earlier, NHSRCL signed a contract agreement with L&T for the 237 km long viaduct between Vapi (Zaroli village at Maharashtra-Gujarat border) and Vadodara (Gujarat). This is said to be the country’s biggest infrastructure contract for construction and design. The contract involved 47 per cent of the high-speed rail alignment, which includes the construction of four corridor stations and a depot.