Kochi (Metro Rail News): Kochi Metro Rail Limited( KMRL ) on Monday started the construction works of the 1.16 KM Metro stretch from SN Junction to Thrippunithura beginning with pile load test.
“One major challenge KMRL is facing in the stretch is the presence of existing Railway Overbridge after SN Junction which is falling on a sharp curve having a 152-metre radius. To meet the challenge KMRL is planning to construct a 60-metre special span” its Managing Director Mr. Alkesh Kumar Sharma said.
“KMRL is adopting a unique steel open web girder system. The steel superstructure will be supported over the pier cap with a pedestal and bearing arrangement”, He further said.
“We have completed the tender process in record time and now the pile load testing has also started. We hope the results are positive. Reaching Thrippunithura is vital for KMRL as well as for people of Thrippunithura.” said Mr. Sharma. The initial pile load test of 1200 diameter circular pile for the stretch is being done to validate the safe pile capacity considered for the design. The test load is 1050 tonne which is 2.5 times the safe load of 420 tonnes considered in the design. The testing is expected to be completed in 48 hours. KMRL had engaged the consortium of KEC-VNC for this phase of construction.
Chennai (Metro Rail News): The Madras High Court has permitted the CMRL to encash more than Rs 142 crore worth bank guarantees issued by Transtonnelstory-Afcons JV, a Russia based company which was awarded contracts worth more than Rs 2,500 crore for construction of underground Metro stations in Chennai. It is being seen a matter of great relief for the CMRL.
The CMRL initiated encashment due to delay and quality issues in the completion of the projects by the company. Justice N Sathish Kumar granted the relief to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) in order while dismissing the plea moved by the Russian company. However, since the counsel for the company sought a week’s time to prefer an appeal against the order before a division bench, Justice Kumar instructed the CMRL to maintain status quo till August 21. CMRL was also granted liberty to encash the guarantees if the appeal is not filed within that time. The issue pertains to a resolution passed by CMRL to encash two bank guarantees issued by the company for Rs 25.77 crore dated October 16, 2018, and Rs 117.51 crore dated December 29, 2010, for the alleged delay caused by the company in completing the underground station construction and quality issues in the project. Aggrieved, Transtonnelstory-Afcons JV, a joint venture of Transtonnelstroy Limited, Moscow and Afcons Infrastructure Limited, Mumbai, moved the high court seeking to restrain CMRL from encashing the guarantees. The company bagged a contract to design and construct underground metro stations at Shenoy Nagar, Anna Nagar East, Anna Nagar Tower, Thirumangalam and associated tunnels for a price of Rs 1,030.99 crore. It inked a second contract worth Rs 1,566.81 crore to design and construct underground stations at Washermenpet, Mannadi, High Court, Chennai Central, Egmore and associated tunnels.
According to the company, despite mobilisation of necessary resources, there was a delay in commencement of work and attributed the delay to CMRL.The petitoner said they requested CMRL to revise the key dates, but it declined the same and this issue became a dispute between the parties. Hence, the matter was referred to an arbitral tribunal for extension of time as well as for costs of the claim, the petitioner said.
The CMRL while opposing the pleas, contended that despite numerous requests and reminders, the company failed to complete the outstanding works and fix snags to the satisfaction of CRML compelling it to encash the guarantee. Recording the submission, the judge held that the company has not made out any case for granting injunction against CMRL and dismissed the pleas.
New Delhi (Metro Rail News): It is being seen as an apparent effort by Indian Railways to maximize its freight revenue. The Railways has expanded its basket of freight that is used by it to move goods from one location of country to another and it is launching new initiatives to attract companies. In the same move, Pepsi bottles were transported in 5 parcel vans from Azara Station in Assam to Naharlagun in Arunachal Pradesh yesterday.
In a move to attract more companies to choose Indian Railways as the means of transportation for movement of goods in the country, The Indian Railways has announced a series of benefits for corporates which includes lenient freight rates to dedicated delivery within the given timeline.
In a different initiative, The Railways has also started Kissan special trains that aim to move Agri products at much cheaper rates, thus helping farmers and the agricultural sector. The first of this series was running Kisan Special Parcel Train between Maharashtra’s Devlali and Bihar’s Danapur on August 7. The train made stoppages at different stations carrying vegetables, fruits etc. The parcel train had a composition of eleven coaches. It was also mentioned by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during the presentation of the Union Budget 2020-21.
New Delhi (Metro Rail News): The Private entities who are going to be handed over 150 trains to ply on 109 routes by the Railways will have a free hand to choose halt stations of the trains they operate according to documents released by the Indian Railways.
The private operators will need to submit in advance to the Railways the list of such intermediate stations on the trains’ route where they are going to propose halts in advance.
They will also have to provide the time in and time out at the intermediate railway stations, which shall form part of the train operation plan. This has to be submitted in advance and will be in place for at least a year, after which it can be revised, the same documents say.
The Railways has been reported to say that the number of such halts of the private trains will not be more than the number of existing halts of the fastest train of the Railways operating on such routes. The train operation plan submitted by private operators will also have to include the stations at which the water tanks in the trains need to be filled and also the railway stations, washing lines or stabling lines, as the case may be, at which the train toilets would be evacuated.
These trains are scheduled to begin operations by 2023. It has been further reported that the fare system of these trains will not be regulated by any authority and will be decided by the private players itself.
Bombardier Transportation India, Siemens Limited and Alstom Transport India Ltd are the biggest players of this process among 20 such other firms. The project is going to bring in private players to run trains is expected to gain private sector investment of around Rs 30,000 crore. The 109 routes have been formed into 12 clusters that will cover major parts of the Indian Railways network.
Indian Railways will earn by charging the private entity fixed haulage charges and energy charges as per actual consumption. The national transporter will also get a share in the gross revenue which will be decided through a transparent bidding process. As of now, the private train operator would need to access the Railway’s PRS (passenger reservation system) for management and distribution of its ticket inventory. For usage of such reservation system, they may have to pay a charge to the Indian Railways, as per the document.
New Delhi (Metro Rail News): The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has started preliminary work on the 5th Metro bridge over river Yamuna, which is coming up on the Majlis Park – Maujpur Metro corridor of Delhi Metro Phase 4. The bridge will be 560 metres long. As of today, there are four existing bridges of Delhi Metro on the Yamuna River
The bridge is going to connect the Soorghat Metro Station and the Sonia Vihar Metro Station of the Majlis Park – Maujpur corridor. After carrying out a geotechnical investigation at the location of proposed piers, the activity of casting of test piles is in progress. The active course of Yamuna has been constructed by raising the level of the ground by filling of earth and sand from a nearby area with the protection of its slope through bamboo, jute netting and sandbags. The level of cofferdam has been kept the same as the level of the adjacent road to ensure smooth supply of construction materials.
This bridge will come up between two existing bridges on the Yamuna. These existing ones are Wazirabad Bridge and the Signature Bridge. If officials are to be believed, it is going to be first-ever Metro bridge over the Yamuna to be built using the Cantilever construction method. A cantilever is a rigid structural element which extends horizontally and is supported at only one end. Typically it extends from a flat, vertical surface such as a wall or pier, to which it must be firmly attached. Cantilever construction allows overhanging structures without additional support. This beautifies the look of a structure.
DMRC today began casting of 28 meter long U-girders to build the elevated viaduct for a 4.28 km section of the 22KM long Aerocity – Tughlakabad corridor of Phase 4. This stretch includes construction of 4 stations namely Sangam Vihar, Khanpur-Devoli, Ambedkar Nagar & Saket-G. pic.twitter.com/sMpNJyxBeR
— MetroRail
To finalize the Phase 4 designs, DMRC’s engineers are using the BIM platform, through which they have been able to finalise the designs even during the days of the pandemic when physical meetings weren’t possibleThis bridge crosses river Yamuna at about 385m downward of old Wazirabad Bridge and 213m upstream of existing Signature Bridge.
According to sources, mandatory approvals from the concerned agencies have been obtained for the construction of the bridge. DMRC is committed to fulfilling the conditions given by the Principal Committee on the Yamuna for construction of the bridge.
Imphal (Metro Rail News): – Indian Railways has initiated many projects in North East India in its effort to provide better connectivity to the region with a special focus in connecting the remotest areas of the seven sister states. The Railways is taking multiple steps for improving transportation and connectivity in some of the backward areas of the region.
One such step of the Indian Railways is to construct a pier bridge in Manipur. The North-East Frontier Railway zone of the Indian Railways has started the construction of the world’s tallest pier bridge in the North-Eastern state of Manipur. This move is going to provide efficient and effective rail connectivity to the region. The bridge which is being constructed across river Ijai near Noney is being seen as an engineering marvel because of the tallest pier height in the project will be of 141 meter. It will surpass the existing record of 139 meters of Mala – Rijeka viaduct that of Montenegro in Europe.
#IndianRailways constructing the world’s tallest pier bridge in Manipur.
The bridge which is being constructed across river Ijai near Noney is an engineering marvel because the tallest pier height will be of 141 meter. pic.twitter.com/sINp9OsnuU
— MetroRail
The bridge is a part of Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal new BG line project (111 Km). The total length of the bridge will be 703 meters. The piers of the bridge are constructed using hydraulic augers, the tall piers needed specially designed “slip-form technique” to ensure efficient and continual construction.
“The total length of the bridge will be 703 meters. The piers of the bridge are constructed using hydraulic augers. The tall piers needed specially designed ‘slip-form technique’ to ensure efficient and continual construction,” a Railway official said. The steel girders are pre-fabricated in a workshop, transported in segments and erected at the site.
Hyderabad ( Metro Rail News ) – Hyderabad will soon be home to the country’s largest railway coach factory in the private sector, with IT and Industries Minister K T Rama Rao laying the foundation stone for the Rs 1,000 crore Medha Servo Rail Coach factory at Kondakal village in Ranga Reddy district on Thursday.
Rangareddy: Telangana Industries and IT Minister KT Rama Rao at the groundbreaking ceremony of Medha rail coach factory in Kondakal of Shankarpally Mandal in Rangareddy district on Aug 13, 2020. (Phto: IANS)
Underscoring Telangana’s emergence as a major investment destination in various sectors, the Minister, speaking after the groundbreaking ceremony, said: “Hyderabad has an aviation hub at Adibhatla that makes components for Boeing, Apache and Sikorsky aircraft and helicopters, a tractor factory in Zaheerebad, a bus building unit in Hyderabad and now railway coaches will also be manufactured in Telangana.”
The factory which will have facilities to manufacture coaches, locomotives, intercity trainsets, metro trains, monorail, among others, will provide direct employment to at least 1,000 persons besides generating indirect employment for another 1,200. The planned production capacity would be 500 coaches of various types and 50 locomotives per year. Rama Rao, stating that the State government’s proactive approach and conducive policies had encouraged Medha Group to establish its world-class rail coach factory in the State, said the facility signals the creation of an ecosystem for rail coach manufacturing in Telangana State.
He called upon Medha, established by home grown entrepreneurs, to explore the possibility of venturing into the Rs 30,000 crore initiative of the Union government for manufacture of Metro coaches. He also urged the company to participate in monorail or metro rail projects in tier two cities like Warangal, besides entering the huge Electric Vehicles (EV) market taking advantage of the State government’s recent EV policy. “You must analyse our policy and come up with ideas to manufacture EV buses, cars, two-wheelers and even three-wheelers,” he said
He attributed the stupendous growth of Medha, established in 2005, to sheer hard work, and pointed out that it had grown from a Rs 25 crore company to setting up 12 factories across five continents. “Medha being a homegrown company makes Telangana proud,” he added.
Telangana must transform into a self-reliant State, which is the aim of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. We must acquire the knowledge to manufacture world-class equipment.
Medha can partner with European companies and make Telangana the only State to produce world-class railway coaches,” he said, adding that once the 160 km speed locomotives manufactured by Medha hit the tracks, the entire lifestyle of daily commuters will change.
Daily commute
“Anyone who works in Hyderabad need not necessary have to live in the city. A person from Adilabad can reach Hyderabad in just one hour. Similarly, anyone living in Vijayawada can reach Hyderabad in two hours and from Hyderabad to Bengaluru in just three hours,” he was stated saying.
Urging the Medha Group to consider adopting Kondakal and Velmal villages as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, the Minister also appealed to the MPs to spend money from MPLADS in establishing skill development centres to train local youth under Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK).
Chennai (Metro Rail News): In a distinguished style, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) celebrated the 74th Independence Day on Saturday with adopting different methods than the previous years amid the rising cases of Coronavirus infections.
The Managing Director of CMRL Mr. Pradeep Yadav hoisted the national flag. A parade was also organised at the CMRL headquarters in Koyambedu. Competitions such as chess, carrom, badminton, tennis, and brisk walk were conducted. Among the participants, 45 of them won prizes. The prizes were distributed by the managing director. Sujatha Jayaraj, director of finance, Rajeev Narayan Dwivedi, director of projects, also participated in the event.
A statement issued by the CMRL said that events were done according to the Covid safety norms. “The staffs wore masks and maintained social distancing as a protective measure against Covid-19” , the statement said.
New Delhi (Metro Rail News) Twenty-three firms including GMR group, Spanish coach and component maker CAF, Bombardier India along with public sector entities RITES and Bharat Heavy Electricals, are reported to have shown interest in operating train services in the country. Other companies that attended the first pre-application conference (also the first meeting) on the private train project, convened on Wednesday, included RK Associates, Sterlite Power, Medha Group (which had also bid for the Train 18 project), Railways’ catering arm IRCTC, Bharat Forge, and JKB Infrastructure, reports citing sources said. Railways, however, has not revealed the names of companies that have participated in the meeting. Under the private train project, Indian Railways is supposed to lease out 109 routes across the railway network to private entities to run modern passenger trains. The Railways proposes to hand over 151 routes to private operators on lease. The project for private participation in passenger train operations will bring in a paradigm shift in passenger experience by significantly enhancing the quality of service while reducing transit time and supply-demand deficit through the introduction of modern rolling stock. The project will augment the availability of transportation services for the public, a railway ministry release stated.
These trains will be in addition to trains already on board of the Railways.The private train project would entail private sector investment of around Rs30,000 crore. Introduction of these additional private trains will also boost job opportunitiesThe private partners for undertaking the project will be selected through a two-stage competitive bidding process comprising of Request for Qualification (RFQ) and Request for Proposal (RFP).Post first pre-application conference, the railway ministry reduced the RFQ fee by a tenth for participating in more than one project, removed restriction of up to three projects per bidder and clarified that leasing of trains is allowed. The ministry has also shared traffic data, draft concession agreement, draft feasibility report and draft manual for standards and specifications of trains etc.
As part of the bidding process, the railway ministry conducted the second Pre-Application Conference on August 12, 2020, which received an overwhelmingly positive response, with participation from about 23 prospective Applicants with varied profiles.
The Railways will announce the responses to second pre-application conference by 21 Aug 2020.
London (Metro Rail News): A passenger train hit a landslide before derailing in Scotland earlier this week, killing three people, U.K. rail investigators confirmed Friday.
A train track obstruction had been suspected of playing a role in Wednesday’s derailment near the coastal town of Stonehaven, about 100 miles (160 kilometres) northeast of Edinburgh because it happened after heavy rain and flooding in the area.
Thankfully, fatal derailments are a rare occurrence on the U.K.s national network, Simon French, chief inspector of rail accidents, said. However, landslips and other earthworks failures remain a risk to trains that need to be constantly managed and this is becoming even more challenging for the rail industry due to the increasing incidence of extreme weather events.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch, which French oversees, said that after the train derailed, it kept going in a straight line as the track curved to the right.
The lead power car struck a bridge parapet and fell down a wooded embankment with the third passenger car.
Prince Charles is visiting the accident site Friday to thank emergency workers who came to help others in rugged terrain.
Infrastructure manager Network Rail dispatched engineers, contractors and surveyors in helicopters to assess sites similar to the location of the derailment.
Bangalore (Metro Rail News ) – Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday said that he hopes to complete the Rs 30,695 crore Bengaluru metro phase 2 project in the city by 2024, and said his government was taking measures to reboot “social and organic facilities” here to improve the basic infrastructure.
In his speech during the 74th Independence Day celebrations here, he said, “we will take up Phase II of Bangalore Metro at a cost of Rs 30,695 crore and we hope to complete the project by June 2024.”
Noting that some 110 acres of land that belongs to NGEF near the Byappanahalli Metro station has been identified and “we are designing people-friendly plans here”, Yediyurappa said, “In this plot, we will grow plants with a wide variety of species with organic diversity.”
The plans also include setting up of food court, traditional cottage industry, fun park for children and provide space for handloom exhibition and sale, he said.
Yediyurappa said the government has a plan to create greenery on either side of the 400 km primary canals, besides carving out bicycle and pedestrian trails next to the bund.
In the first stage, the historic major canal from Dharmanbudhi Lake to Bellandur lake will be taken up for this project with eco-system, construction of 36km length walking and cycling path and embellish the citys cultural and social facets in that region, he added.
Kochi ( Metro Rail News ) – Even though the pandemic is getting worst, the work of Kochi Metro Rail’s extension up to Tripunithura from Petta is progressing according to the deadline. The first precast girder and viaduct for the stretch were placed near Panamkutty Bridge at Petta here on 13th.
The Phase I extension of Kochi Metro consists of two stretches, first from Petta to SN Junction comprising of two stations — Vadakkekotta and SN Junction — and a two-lane bridge across the Panamkutty river. The estimated cost of the work is Rs 360 crore according to official sources.
“Kochi Metro restarted the construction work on April 21. It followed COVID protocol in all aspects. Despite the challenges, we were able to retain the labour force. We are planning to complete the construction in a time-bound manner,” Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) managing director Alkesh Kumar Sharma was stated saying.
Hailing KMRL’s efforts, Secretary of Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Durga Shanker Mishra tweeted, “In spite of the challenges, precast pier cap and girders were launched yesterday. Heartiest congratulations to Kochi Metro Rail team! I am sure you will continue working with the same grit and determination for getting metro rail operational in time to bring ease in living to citizens.”
Different projects of the Kochi Metro Rail are running without delay and are expected to get completed on time as per sources in the Kochi Metro Rail Limited.
Mumbai ( Metro Rail News ) – Around 182 train services are expected to run to and from Mumbai to various part of Konkan from August 15 to cater to the rush of passengers on the occasion of the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Among these, 163 services will be operated by Central Railway (CR) and 20 will be operated by Western Railway. Only those with confirmed tickets will be allowed to board these trains as per official sources.
CR’s chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar was stated saying, “Passengers are advised to adhere all norms, SOPs related to Covid-19 during the boarding, travel and at destination.”
Train no 01101/2 CSMT-Sawantwadi Road special will run between August 15 and September 23. It will leave CSMT at 11.05 pm and Sawantwadi at 10.10 am. Train no. 01103/4 LTT-Kudal will leave LTT at 11.50 pm August 15 to August 22. The train will run from Kudal at 12 pm till August 23. Train no. 01105/6 CSMT-Sawantwadi Road will leave CSMT at 10 pm daily between August 15-22. From Sawantwadi Road it will leave depart at 08.50 am between August 16 and 23. Train no. 01107/8 LTT-Ratnagiri special will leave LTT at 10.30 pm between August 15-22. On its return journey, it will leave Ratnagiri at 6.30 am till August 23. Train no. 01109/10 CSMT-Sawantwadi Road will leave CSMT at 07.10 am and from Sawantwadi at 8.35 pm daily from August 25 to September 5. Train no 01111/12 CSMT-Sawantwadi will leave CSMT at 5.50 am and Sawantwadi at 4.15 pm daily between August 25 and September 5. Train no 01113/14 LTT-Sawantwadi Road Special will leave LTT at 5.30 am and Sawantwadi at 5.30 pm daily from August 24 to September 5
Chennai (Metro Rail News) The Pandemic has delayed many infrastructure projects, but the elevated metro rail maintenance depot, which could eventually hold a 20-storey apartment complex in the future, coming up in Wimco Nagar would be ready on time as per the inputs provided by official sources.
“The depot will be ready by December as per the initial deadline. The depot is under construction on a 48,000sqm area to accommodate 11 stabling units for daily maintenance and minor repair works for trains that will be operated on a 32km corridor”, said one official.
Although the nationwide lockdown in view of COVID spread has already hit the economy as well as the infrastructure projects badly, the CMRL (Chennai Metro Rail Ltd) officials have been saying that the works are going on with full pace. While the extension line, which was expected to be ready by mid-2020, is likely to be delayed by six months, officials said there won’t be any delay in getting the depot ready.
The lockdown has not caused any delays in the construction of the depot. Work is going on as per the schedule and we will meet the deadline,” an official said. “We stopped work for a month and a half and started soon after the government gave instructions to start work with 50% workers in May. We have nearly 1,200 people working now at the north Chennai line and the depot and we are also trying to bring back other workers who left for their native town. We are expecting the extension line to be ready by December,” an official said.
As construction is underway, CMRL floated a tender for design, manufacture, supply and installation of spares and consumables needed for the facilities being built at the depot, including the automatic train wash plant, car body stand, retractable overhead equipment (OHE) and self-propelled battery operated scissor lift. The depot will serve both the existing 23km corridor from Washermenpet to Airport and under construction 9km extension line Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar.
