NAGPUR (Metro Rail News): Nagpur Metro, a venture of Maha Metro has installed a unique Mass Spring System (MSS) at Zero Mile Station for mitigation of vibration, caused due to train movement. Such a floating track slab on the via-duct has been executed for the first time in any metro projects across the country. The system absorbs any vibration and thus reduce vibration being passed on to the metro building.
“As the track structure is passing through the building structure at Zero Mile station, vibrations generated from the train wheels rolling on the tracks are directly transmitted to the building structure. At Zero Mile Station, the track is on the fifth floor and integral part of the station, which is not the case with other Metro Stations. Hence this system has been executed here.
The track structure at the Metro station has been specially designed as a Floating slab (30 mm above Station slab) supported on 176 no of Chrome alloyed Steel Spring system isolators. The Track Slab of 135 meter length, covers the full length of Platform on both UP & DOWN lines and has been concreted in single pour on each track slab without any expansion joint”, the Maha Metro said in a statement.
The chrome alloyed steel spring system absorbs the vibrations created during train movement. The MSS Track Slab System is a Maintenance free system and having a designed life of 75 Years. The Zero Mile station is a Multi Storied Commercial Building. The building has multi-level underground parking with a concourse level below the Platform level.
Nagpur Metro installs a Mass Spring System (MSS) at its Zero Mile Station
Railways waiting for Cabinet Nod to Corporatise Rae Bareli Coach Factory
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Railways is firming up a cabinet proposal to corporatise Modern Coach Factory at Rae Bareli first as the corporatisation move of rail production units has gathered momentum. Officials of the Finance Ministry, NITI Aayog and Indian Railways are meeting this week to finalise the roadmap for the corporatisation of MCF, to begin with.
“Earlier, the proposal was to corporatise all eight production units of railways. However, now it has been decided to begin with MCF first and later on carry out the exercise for other units in a phase-wise manner,” said a Railway official.
RITES, a railways PSU, assigned the task of undertaking a study on the corporatisation of the rolling stock units, has submitted the report for MCF corporatisation. The aim is to make all our production companies market-driven and export-oriented, said the official.
Till now, all production units including MCF have railways as captive buyers and their productions were depending upon budgetary support but with changing times, corporatisation was long overdue as most of these units are not a force to reckon within the market, it was felt.
The corporate structure is expected to free these units from the rigid bureaucratic system of the government, which would result in gaining flexibility and improving efficiency in a coordinated manner. These units, which are suffering from technological stagnation, would be able to infuse new technology and also garner the financial resources to enter the international market in a competitive way.
The idea of hiving off all production units of the Indian Railways into a single entity, called the Indian Railways Rolling Stock Company, was floated as part of the 100-days action plan of the Indian Railways last year.
According to the plan, the merger of eight production companies including three each of coach and locomotive manufacturing units and two-wheel factories into one giant entity would make these units strong and viable in the world market with the latest technological collaboration.
MCF at Rae Bareli, which produces about 2,000 LHB coaches a year, would become an autonomous one under a corporate structure and is expected to increase its efficiency.
Currently, Railways is working with a holistic approach to modernise its infrastructure to make its network feasible for running high-speed and semi-high speed trains.
Ultimately, rail production units will have to produce coaches and locos, which are fit for a speed of 160 kmph, while the Railways has also allowed private players to run trains on selected routes.
The railway’s production units are Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Integral Coach Factory, Diesel Locomotive Works, Diesel Modernization Works, Wheel & Axle Plant, Rail Wheel Plant, Rail Coach Factory and Modern Coach Factory.
Alstom’s WAG 12B e-locos become India’s first freight locomotives approved to run at 120 kmph
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Alstom-built 12000 HP electric locomotives have been officially approved by the Ministry of Railways and RDSO to run freight trains at a maximum speed of 120 kmph. Earlier this year, Indian Railways began inducting the WAG 12B e-locos, which are the most powerful locomotives to run on Indian tracks. Cumulatively, these electric locomotives have already clocked over 1 million kilometres, thus providing a significant fillip to the country’s freight logistics landscape.
“These electric locos will allow faster and safer movement of heavier freight trains capable to haul ~6000 tonnes at a top speed of 120 kmph. Planned to be deployed for operations on major freight routes of Indian Railways including the Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs), they are expected to increase the average speed of freight trains in India by at least 20-25 kmph’, the firm said in a statement.
Commenting on this achievement, Alain SPOHR, Managing Director, Alstom India & South Asia said, “The approval from RDSO is indeed a matter of pride for all of us at Alstom and a testimony of our technical expertise in partnership with the Indian Railways. In line with India’s push towards self-reliance, we have successfully leveraged our local engineering and manufacturing capabilities. Alstom is also committed to support IR in reducing its carbon footprint and adopt cleaner technologies in its quest to transform into the world’s largest Green Railway network. India is a priority for Alstom, and we are committed for working closely with the Indian Railways for all their future modernization endeavours.”
“Equipped with Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBT) based propulsion technology, it would lead to considerable savings in energy consumption due to the use of regenerative braking. The technology is also helpful towards making the acceleration process more efficient by reducing the heat generation and traction noise. Additionally, this move will not only bring down operational costs but also reduce the congestion faced by Indian Railways”, he further added.
Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the advent of Unlock 1.0, Alstom restarted significant production at all its manufacturing facilities, ensuring all necessary permissions and adhering to government protocols. The company’s focus is to give maximum support and protection to all teams and workforce in the present adverse situation.
NCRTC fined Rs 50 lakh for violating pollution norms
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Sunday issued directions to impose a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) after he observed absence of dust-control measures at the construction of its INA market site.
The minister was on a visit to inspect demolition sites at Netaji Nagar and Kasturba Nagar. After he noticed uncovered mounds of dust at the NCRTC site near Vikas Sadan, he expressed his annoyance over alleged violation of air-pollution control norms.
The NCRTC, which is implementing the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project across the National Capital Region (NCR), is constructing its office at INA market.
“Massive dust pollution is happening at the site.
The guidelines regarding pollution control are not being followed; therefore, strict action will be taken against the NCRTC. The NCRTC is already aware that anti-dust operations are being carried out all over Delhi but they are not following the rules completely. If despite fine this the agency continues the violation then the work will be banned,” Rai was stated saying by a media agency.
On Saturday, the Delhi government had imposed a fine of Rs 20 lakh on the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) for violating dust control norms at a demolition site on Tansen Marg near Mandi House.
Strict guidelines and heavier fines
It is mandatory to install anti-smog guns at construction and demolition sites larger than 20,000 square meters. Fines ranging between Rs 20,000 and Rs 5 lakh have also been imposed on 31 concrete plants for not taking sufficient measures.
UPMRC erects more than 100 double T-Girders in just two and a half months
KANPUR (Metro Rail News): The civil construction of the Kanpur Metro Project is being rapidly and flawlessly executed by Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (UPMRC).
UPMRC has achieved a new milestone today by erecting 106 double T-girders in just about 2.5 months. The team UPMRC engineers are working day and night to complete the construction work of 9 km long Priority Corridor, which is being built between IIT, Kanpur & Motijheel. The Corridor comprises 9 Metro Stations and a total of 384 double T-girders are to be used for constructing the concourse level of these stations.
“The erection of double T-girders for preparing the concourse level of the Metro stations was commenced on 25th July 2020 and that was the first time in India when double T-girders were used for constructing concourse level of a Metro station. Erection of all the 50 double T-girders at IIT Metro station has been accomplished; double T-girders are being erected daily at Kalyanpur and SPM Metro stations. 36 double T-girders have been placed at Kalyanpur Metro Station and 20 at SPM Metro station, while 52 double T-girders are to be erected at the base of the concourse of each above mentioned Metro stations”, a statement by UPMRC added.
“Strategic time management leading to the remarkable pace of the Kanpur Metro’s civil construction! After erecting double T-girders on one side at the Kalyanpur Metro station, the teams of UPMRC engineers have started the erection of double T-girders at SPM Metro station. Metro engineers did a tremendous job by using a unique strategy. Different teams of contractors execute different jobs at construction sites. UPMRC engineers are planning the civil construction in such a way, that at a given time no team of the contractor shall wait for their turn to execute their exclusive responsibility and sit idle”, Mr Kumar Keshav, the MD of UPMRC said praising the works of its works.
On the completion of the erection of more than 100 double T-girders, UP Metro’s Managing Director Shri Kumar Keshav praised the strategy of the Metro engineers and said, “Utilizing the time in an appropriate manner, is the most important part of our strategy and it is the only way by which we will complete the Kanpur Metro Project’s Priority Corridor within the stipulated time.”
“I am happy that we have maintained our rhythm and speed since inception and definitely we will complete the work of the Priority Corridor between IIT and Motijheel on time, this is our commitment and we are moving forward towards our goals with the correct speed”, he further added.
Delhi Metro to conduct an online survey to study travel patterns
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC) is conducting an online survey to study the possibility of commuters planning their travel in flexible timings in order to avoid overcrowding the metro. The link for this online survey will be made active today on DMRC’s social media pages.
The survey link will be available till 27th October 2020.
“The survey is aimed at collecting information from the Metro commuters on their ability/possibility to schedule their travel in off-peak hours so as to avoid the rush during morning and evening peak hours. The questions of the survey are designed to cover basic aspects of metro travel, such as the timings of travel, line utilization, the flexibility of planning the travel in non-peak hours, and whether the commuters have an option to work from home”, the DMRC said in a statement.
“The inputs provided in this survey would help the Delhi Metro to understand the commuters’ requirements better and to further improve the services”, it further added.
After the Delhi Metro resumed its full-fledged services on 12th September 2020 – with the new norms and social distancing in place due to the ongoing to Corona pandemic – the occupancy on metro has been limited. However, it has been observed that certain sections of the DMRC network have witnessed 100% occupancy during morning and evening peak hours.
“In view of this, the commuters are requested to ‘break the peak’ by staggering the travel timings to decongest the peak hours and avail the additional capacity available during off-peak hours for their own convenience and safety amidst the Corona pandemic”, said Mr Anuj Dayal.
Kerala CM to inaugurate Champakkara Bridge tomorrow
The bridge was completed in 10 months as per the official statements.
KOCHI (Metro Rail News): Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the Chambakkara Bridge on Thursday. Kochi Metro decided to construct two bridges at Champakara as the old bridge was only two lanes. KMRL along the Kochi Metro alignment has managed to widen the roads and maintain 4-lane width. The new bridges are constructed across the national waterway 03 across the Champakara Canal.
“We have completed the construction of the second bridge in a record 10 months time. With the opening of the new bridge vehicular traffic will finally be smooth in the area. We are glad that Hon’ble CM is inaugurating the bridge on Thursday” said Alkesh Kumar Sharma IAS, MD KMRL.
Kochi Metro’s work up to Thykoodam was commissioned by 3rd Sep 2019. Subsequently, Thykoodam-Petta stretch metro work was taken up. As part of preparatory work, the road was widened and a 2 lane bridge on the left side of the bridge (coming from Ernakulam side) was constructed at a cost of Rs 25 cr. And the same was commissioned on 9th May 2019. Kochi Metro completed the construction of the first bridge in 19 months even though there were land acquisition hiccups.
Kochi Metro began the construction of the metro viaduct and Thykoodam-Petta stretch was ready by March 2020. The same was commissioned by the Chief Minister on 7th September 2020. The total cost of construction of the project is about Rs.50cr.
The bridge is of 245m with a central span of 45m bowstring girder with 7m vertical clearance to enable for navigation.
Siemens Mobility to deliver 109 light rail vehicles for Düsseldorf and Duisburg
DUISBURG (Metro Rail News): Düsseldorfer Rheinbahn AG and Duisburger Verkehrsgesellschaft AG have jointly ordered 109 Avenio HF high-floor light rail vehicles from Siemens Mobility, including an option for an additional 48 units.
“The contract also includes the maintenance and servicing of the Duisburg vehicles for 24 years and an option for a further eight years. A 24-year spare parts supply contract was signed for the Düsseldorf vehicles. The order has a volume of almost €400 million”, a statement by the company said.
“This order has a very special meaning for us since it marks our return to the market for high-floor light rail vehicles. Our trains will offer more than two million people in Düsseldorf and Duisburg the highest level of passenger comfort. Our services will also guarantee our customers optimal availability and a sustainable increase in value over the vehicles’ entire lifecycle,” said Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility.
The vehicles will be used on the approximately 85-kilometer long light rail network in Duisburg and Düsseldorf, and will also run to the cities of Neuss, Krefeld and Meerbusch. Delivery of the first vehicles is planned for 2025. The Avenio HF seats 51 passengers and has standing space for 178. In order to serve different platform heights, all vehicles are equipped with folding steps. Air suspension, air conditioning and infotainment systems ensure maximum passenger comfort.
The Siemens Tram Assistant digital collision warning system supports the driver with radar and video sensors that provide early detection of potentially dangerous situations, helping to avoid accidents.
Afcons, Shankaranarayana lowest bidders for BMRCL’s Phase – 2A project as BMRCL open bids for ORR Metro
BENGALURU (Metro Rail News): The long-pending Outer Ring Road Metro line received a fresh lease of life after Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) opened financial bids on Tuesday. While the Centre is yet to approve the project, BMRCL decided to go ahead with the bids after chief minister BS Yediyurappa gave the green signal. In December, BMRCL floated a tender for the 19-km elevated stretch with 13 stations along with ORR. However, it was put on hold due to delay in getting the Centre’s approval.
Officials have recently said that nine firms participated in the tender floated in two packages. In the first — 9.8km elevated section with six stations (Central Silk Board Junction, HSR Layout, Agara Junction, Iblur Junction, Bellandur, Kadubeesanahalli and construction of a 2.8m flyover at Central Silk Board) — Mumbai-based Afcons Infrastructure Limited emerged as the lowest bidder with Rs 785 crore. In the second — 9.7km elevated section with seven stations (Kodibisanhalli, Marathahalli, ISRO Layout, Doddanekkundi, DRDO Sports Complex, Saraswathi Nagar (Mahadevapura) and K R Puram and a 2km link line to Byappanahalli depot) — Bengaluru’s Shankaranarayana Constructions Pvt Ltd was the lowest bidder with Rs 623 crore.
Other firms including L&T, ITD Cementation, GR Infra, NCC, Gayathri – China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited JV, Sunway – VNCPL JV, GGHB – CVCC JV participated in the tender. BMRCL officials said they are yet to issue work orders to Afcons and Shankaranarayana.
“We will hold another round of negotiations with the firms. We are expecting the Centre’s approval soon.”Civil work is likely to begin in December 2020 and is expected to be completed in 2024-25. ORR Metro (Light Blue Line) is crucial for the city as it passes through the IT corridor housing several multinational companies. With 90% of land acquisition already completed and utility shifting contracts awarded, there are no major hurdles in implementing the Light Blue Line”, said an official.
The estimated cost of the ORR Metro corridor has been revised to about Rs 5,300 crore excluding the construction of loops and ramps for the 2.8km flyover at Central Silk Board. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to finance the project.
Indian Railways to soon resume services of New Delhi- Katra Vande Bharat Express
NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Indian Railways on 10 October gave approval to railway zones for running 39 new trains. The Ministry of Railways said that these trains will be introduced as special services from an early convenient date. The list of trains also includes the second Vande Bharat Express train which operates between New Delhi and Katra in Jammu & Kashmir.
It is a semi-high speed train and has remained suspended for nearly 200 days since the government imposed a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the covid-19 pandemic in the country. The New Delhi- Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Vande Bharat Express will operate six-day in a week except for Tuesday. Vande Bharat Express can run at a speed of 160kmph and is considered to be the country’s first semi-high speed train. Earlier, the Indian Railways had already started the New Delhi Varanasi Vande Bharat Express in the month of September.
Indian Railways suspended the operations of Vande Bharat Express on 23 March after a nationwide lockdown was imposed to stop the spread of covid-19 in the country. The second Vande Bharat Express train which operates between New Delhi and Katra, however, remains suspended as of now Indian Railways have started the New Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express which will operate five days in a week except on Monday and Thursday.
Uddhav government to relocate Metro car shed at Aarey
MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray recently announced the scrapping of Aarey metro car shed and said the project will now come up at Kanjurmarg here. “The land will be available at zero rates,” he said. He said the building which has come up in Aarey forest will be utilised for some other public purpose. “About Rs 100 crore expenditure was incurred for the purpose and it won’t go waste,” he said.
Thackeray said the government had earlier declared 600 acres of Aarey land as forest but now it has been revised to 800 acres. There will be no infringement on rights of tribals in the Aarey forest, he added.”Biodiversity in Aarey needs to be conserved and protected. Nowhere is there an 800-acre jungle in an urban setup. Mumbai has a natural forest cover,” he said.
Cases last year against citizens and environmentalists who protested against the Aarey project and felling of trees in that area have been withdrawn, he said.
The move to relocate the car shed from Aarey came amid reports that the state government was considering if two of the upcoming Metro lines could share maintenance facility. It had appointed Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to prepare a feasibility study on Metro 3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz) sharing its car shed with Line 6 (Vikhroli-Lokhandwala). There were also reports that Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd officials had expressed apprehension that the Metro Line 3 project may be delayed by three years and its cost may go up by over Rs 2,000 crore if the car shed for the line was shifted from Aarey Colony.
Biocon to give Rs 65 crores for building a metro station in Bengaluru
BANGALORE (Metro Rail News): Biocon Foundation has decided to provide Rs 65 crore to the state-run Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) for constructing the Hebbagodi metro station in the city`s southern suburb as part of its corporate social responsibility, the firm said on Thursday.
“In recognition of the Foundation`s contribution to society, BMRCL will name the proposed facility as Biocon Hebbagodi Metro station with the consent of the Karnataka government,” the firm said in a statement. Biocon chairperson and its Foundation’s managing trustee Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and BMRCL’s managing director Ajay Seth signed an agreement for the contribution. The new Metro station will be part of the Metro`s third phase of expansion, covering 128 km across the bustling city.
“We are fulfilling our CSR towards environmental sustainability by providing an alternate means of mobility for the citizens of Bengaluru. The metro project will help in easing traffic congestion with greater use of public transport,” Shaw said on the occasion.
“We value the Biocon Foundation`s support for sustainable urban development and transport. We are committed to adding 128 km of Metro network in the next five years,” Mr Seth said.
Titagarh Wagons to procure 4.8 MW solar energy from Fourth Partner Energy
KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): Solar power player Fourth Partner Energy has recently said that it has tied up with Titagarh Wagons Ltd to supply 4.8 megawatts (MW) solar energy to electrify the latter’s three manufacturing units in West Bengal. Passenger and freight trains maker Titagarh Wagons Ltd has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Fourth Partner Energy to procure 4.8 MW of solar power for its wagon and steel foundries at Titagarh and its passenger coach and propulsion unit at Uttarpara, to effectively replace nearly 25 per cent of its current annual electricity demand with clean energy, a statement from Fourth Partner Energy said. All three power plants are expected to be commissioned by January 2021 according to the statement.
“We are excited to on-board Fourth Partner Energy to solarise our Heavy Engineering division, Titagarh Wagons and Titagarh Steel facilities across West Bengal”, said one official.
India is targeting 100 per cent electrification of railways in three years, which will result in a near doubling of electricity demand by the sector, he said adding that Fourth Partner believes solar will play a crucial role in meeting this.
“We have also partnered with Indian Railways to solarise Jabalpur, Varanasi, Gorakhpur stations and the Nagpur Metro Rail,” said a source related with the development.
Fourth Partner Energy is a firm working for India’s solar energy solutions with 400 MW operational capacity executed for marquee clients like UltraTech Cement, Walmart, Hindustan Unilever, Coca Cola, Akzo Nobel, Skoda and Schneider amongst others.
JICA demands 80% of land acquisition in the Semi High-Speed Rail Project
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM (Metro Rail News): In a guarded move, Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) is said to have informed the state government that it could commit to funding the ambitious ‘Silver Line’ semi-high speed rail project only after at least 80% land acquisition for the project is complete.
The condition is put forward by Jica, one of the international financial agencies with whom the Kerala Rail Development Corporation LTD, a joint venture of railways and the state government, is in talks with for mobilizing Rs 33,700 crore funding for the project. The Silver Line project proposes to establish semi-high speed rail connectivity between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod.
However, the fresh condition set by Jica, say sources close to the developments, could give a flip to the project than affecting its prospects.
“From its experience, funding agencies usually incorporate new conditions while funding for new projects. Since land acquisition is a major hurdle in a state like Kerala, the agency must have thought of ensuring land availability before giving out a commitment to funding. Since the land acquisition is being done using funding raised through a different mechanism, it could further increase the chances for the realisation of the project at the earliest,” sources said.
The first tranche of funds to the tune of Rs 2,100 crore for land acquisition is expected to the released to K-Rail in a month or so. Funds for the land acquisition is being mobilized through KIIFB, Hudco and Indian Railway Finance Corporation. For the international funding, the talks are with Jica, ABDI, German Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.