Bombardier signs US$4.5b contract to build Cairo monorail

Kanika Verma
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Bombardier signs US$4.5b contract to build Cairo monorail

MONTREAL (Metro Rail News):  Canadian manufacturing group Bombardier announced on Monday it had signed a multi-billion dollar agreement to build two automated monorail lines in Egypt’s notoriously congested capital Cairo.

The US$4.5 billion agreement, which was signed with Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels, is subject to “final signatures of supplementary documents,” Bombadier and its Egyptian partners Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors said in a joint statement.

The monorails, which will be able to transport 45,000 passengers per-hour in either direction, “will dramatically improve the quality of life for millions of residents by significantly reducing their daily commuting time,” said Danny Di Perna, president of the company’s railway division Bombardier Transportation.

He noted the monorails will also reduce traffic congestion in the city that’s home to more than 20 million people.

The three companies will be responsible for the construction, development, and maintenance of the new monorail lines for 30 years, according to the statement.

The first line will run 54km from east Cairo to the new administrative capital being built in the desert. The second line, which will run for 42km, will connect 6th October City to Giza.

Bombardier Transportation, which will build the system’s 70 four-car Innovia Monorail 300 trains, has a US$2.85 billion share in the project, and Orascom has a US$900 million share, the statement said.

The Innovia Monorail 300 trains are already in use in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and set to be deployed in similar projects in Bangkok, Thailand and Wuhu, China.

Bombardier’s stock plummeted on Thursday after higher-than-expected losses in the second quarter and, for the second time in three months, a downward revision of earnings guidance for 2019.

Chennai metro Rail launches feeder service cab at Rs 10

Kanika Verma
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Chennai metro Rail launches feeder service cab at Rs 10

CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): Aimed at increasing patronage for metro services, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has launched a feeder service cab at a flat rate of Rs 10 to enable metro users to travel between the stations and their residences.

According to reports, the service was launched on Monday and will help commuters book a seat in the cab and pay using their Metro smart card. The service was launched on Monday by the state Minister for Industries MC Sampath. The feeder service will operate through a mobile app in collaboration with Bengaluru Mega cabs Private Limited. 

Designed to work like Ola and Uber cab aggregator apps, this application will enable users to choose the nearest pickup point following which the app will provide the arrival time of the cab. Every station is provided with at least five pickup points within an area of six to eight kilometers from the station. The users can either pay upfront or finish the trip and pay for the ride. 

The service, which was inaugurated at the Nandanam station on Monday, will soon be made available at all stations in the next three months, CMRL said.

In January this year, the CMRL launched feeder services to the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) in collaboration with Ford’s corporate shuttle feeder services. The service was launched at the Alandur Metro station and was designed to ferry commuters to their offices on the IT corridor.

CMRL started feeder services in August 2018 on a trial basis for six months. The services constituted share autos and cabs from 13 stations up to a 3-km radius from the stations. The services were also made available between 6.30 am and 9.30 pm. MTC had also run mini-bus services to some of the metro stations to ferry users to and from the stations.

India to have the World’s First Hyperloop System

Kanika Verma
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India to have the World’s First Hyperloop System

MAHARASHTRA (Metro Rail News): Typically, a journey from Mumbai to Pune could take up to 3.5 hours. But with the Hyperloop project, the first-of-its-kind in the world, this duration could come down to 35 minutes.

The government of Maharashtra has deemed hyperloop a public infrastructure project and given a green signal to Virgin Hyperloop One to develop the world’s first hyperloop train between Mumbai and Pune.

As mentioned on Virgin’s website, “The DP World – Virgin Hyperloop One consortium was also named as the Original Project Proponent for the Mumbai-Pune hyperloop project and preparing to start the public procurement process. This landmark announcement for building the Pune-Mumbai hyperloop transportation system recognizes hyperloop technology alongside other more traditional forms of mass transit.”

DP World, a Dubai-based port operator, and Virgin Hyperloop One’s partner will spend $500 million to complete phase one of the project while the rest of the funds will come from other investors, the Verge notes.

Around 75 million passengers travel between Mumbai and Pune every day and the number is expected to rise to 130 million by 2026. The upcoming project, passing through the Navi Mumbai international transport, will undertake 150 million trips each year.

The hyperloop transport system envisioned and modeled by Tesla founder Elon Muck is a new form of passenger or freight transport that includes pods floating in low-pressure hyperloop tubes. Richard Branson backed Virgin Hyperloop One was the first company to test the technology last year.

“It will generate hundreds of thousands of new high tech jobs, create over $36 billion USD in wider socio-economic benefits, and create new hyperloop component and manufacturing opportunities for Maharashtra to export to India and the rest of the world,” said Virgin.

Myanmar to start Yangon sky train project in 2020

Kanika Verma
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Myanmar to start Yangon sky train project in 2020

YANGON (Metro Rail News): Aug. 5 (Xinhua) — Myanmar planned to implement a sky train project in the commercial city of Yangon starting 2020, according to the Ministry of Transport and Communications Monday.

The over 1-billion-U.S. dollar project, which includes 13 stations, is expected to be completed by 2027.

The project, which is also called the Yangon Urban Mass Rapid Transit, will connect the eastern and western parts of Yangon.

The 18-km sky train project will start from Hlaingthaya township Station, run along the Yangon-Pathein road, cross over Hlaing River in the south of Bayinnaung Bridge and then run from Okkyin Station along the Parami Road before reaching Tokyaung Kalay Station.

The sky train is claimed to be based on standard models of Thailand and Indonesia.

Indian Railways offers aircraft-like services in Vande Bharat Express

Kanika Verma
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Indian Railways offers aircraft-like services in Vande Bharat Express

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Indian Railways passengers are getting flight-like hospitality in Vande Bharat Express! Indian Railways has started a pilot project whereby the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been entrusted with the responsibility to supervise the pilot project which has been implemented in Vande Bharat Express.

Flight like air hostesses, flight steward: The IRCTC has already deployed stewards and train hostesses to look after Indian Railways passengers’ convenience in the Delhi-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express train. Thirty-four trained train hostesses and flight steward have been hired for the Vande Bharat Express train, according to the sources.

The IRCTC has been working on to provide premium services to Indian Railways train passengers, according to the IRCTC spokesperson.
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Usually, a person, who serves food to passengers, earns Rs 8,000- Rs 10,000 from a licensed caterer. However, train hostesses and stewards in Vande Bharat Express will be paid Rs 25,000 per month for providing better services, the IRCTC spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report.

The trial service has been launched for six months. If this turns out to be successful, then the service will be extended to other Indian Railways trains, the report says.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Vande Bharat Express’ first journey from Delhi to Varanasi. The Vande Bharat Express was earlier known as Train 18. Vande Bharat Express was designed and developed by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai in 18 months.

This train is a product of ‘Make in India’ project. The train has a regenerative braking system in coaches which helps save 30 percent of electrical energy. In April, Vande Bharat Express, which is the first Indian Railways engine-less semi-high speed train, created a record for being on-time on the most days.

Indian Railways has also conducted the trial of the second Vande Bharat Express on the Delhi-Katra route. It has been learned that soon the commercial operations will begin on this route. Vande Bharat Express on the Delhi-Katra route will reduce travel time to only eight hours from the existing 12 hours to 8 hours.

More than 3,000 Bangalore Metro smart cards affected by the glitch

Kanika Verma
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More than 3,000 Bangalore Metro smart cards affected by the glitch

BANGALORE (Metro Rail News): More than 3,000 metro passengers are still waiting for the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to credit their money into their smart cards. Metro officials attributed the delay to a ‘technical snag’ and issues with the server.

Regular passengers, who depend on the smart card for their daily commute, are frustrated by the BMRCL’s failure to fix the problem, which began a few days ago. While some recharged their cards for ₹50, others have paid as much as ₹2,750.

Of the 3,000 passengers affected, the majority 2,874 recharged their accounts through the website. BMRCL has put a list of affected cards on its website.

Many commuters expressed frustration by the lack of support from the ground staff. Keerthana, a metro passenger, said she has been waiting for four days for the ₹200 she paid to be reflected. “The amount is yet to be credited to my card. When I checked at the ticketing counter, the staff were unable to give me a clear answer,” she said.

Niranjan R., another passenger, said, “I contacted the BMRCL call center but received no response. I then dialed another landline number that was available on the website for travel-related inquiries. An employee who received the call told me that they have been informed that the matter would be resolved in two days. That was two days ago, and nothing has happened.”

A majority of passengers had topped up their smart cards in the last week of July. The smart card is popular as it provides a 15% discount over the token. In June, 61.3% of Namma Metro commuters on the Purple Line used smart cards. More than half (54.62%) the commuters on the Green Line use the card.

“We are working on the problem. We will fix the problem in a day or two,” said B.L. Yashwanth Chavan, Chief PRO of BMRCL.

The BMRCL resumed normal train services from 11.25 a.m. on Sunday after it had suspended operations temporarily between Baiyappanahalli and M.G. Road stations to carry out maintenance work at Indiranagar.

Mr. Chavan said, “On Sunday morning, the train services were normal between Mysuru Road station and M.G. Road station. After 11.25 a.m., trains were operated on the entire Purple Line.”

During the suspension of services, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) operated additional buses from various metro stations on the reach. Some passengers expressed unhappiness over BMRCL failing to offer bus services for free as it had done the last time it carried out repair work at Trinity station.

Only 2% of city commuters take Metro Rail

Kanika Verma
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Only 2% of city commuters take Metro Rail

HYDERABAD (Metro Rail News): Commuters in the city depend heavily on personal vehicles to travel, with 47.8% using them and only a meager 2% taking the Metro Rail.

Analyzing the latest government report on road transport in Hyderabad, experts said it was alarming to note that 1,200 new vehicles are added to the roads every day, and shared autorickshaw’s share is about 64%, while the model share of bus transport has declined over the years.

The city’s daily bus ridership is about 3,300,000, reveals an analysis of Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI).

“Forty electric buses were introduced into the TRSRC fleet, but we need to encourage E-vehicles, especially in the public transport system,” said professor Srinivas Chary, center head for Centre for Energy, Environment, Urban Governance & Infrastructure Development.

While Metro Rail caters to the commuting needs of about 2 lakh passengers every day, being a major public transport, the share of Metro is just 2%. However, Metro has the potential to make it big, as more lines get added in the future.

The total share of the private mode of transport, including intermediate public transport like share autos, stands at 64%, which underscores the need for encouraging more public transport.

The transport supply and demand pattern in the city shows that the share of buses has dropped from 64.3% in 1988 to 34.5% in 2018. In the same period, the model share of personal vehicles has increased from 28.8% to 47.8%. “I own a car, but I have reduced its usage.

Instead, I take Metro Rail or buses for longer distances,” said SK Rao, a retired private employee from Himayatnagar. Non-motorised cycles account for 22% of all travelers and 40% of trips within the city.

Commuters clueless on the scope of Kochi1 Card

Kanika Verma
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Commuters clueless on the scope of Kochi1 Card

KOCHI (Metro Rail News): With the Centre launching the common mobility card ‘One Nation One Card’, those who are holding a Kochi1 Card, which is currently in use in Kochi Metro and a few private buses, are wondering whether they could use it in other public transport systems across the country.

“I have a Kochi1 Card, but I do not know whether I can use this card for traveling in Delhi Metro, Bengaluru Metro or any other metro system or public transport system in the country,” said V M Suhaib (name changed), who holds a Kochi1 Card. Commuters like Suhaib are confused whether they should buy another smart card to enjoy the benefits of making payments for public transport across the country, including bus, metro and rail services, and toll booths.

The Kochi1 Card has been introduced with the aim of providing seamless transport systems and also facilitates payments after shopping. It is a prepaid Rupay payment card, issued by Axis Bank and Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL).

D Dhanuraj, chairperson, Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) said that there needs to be clarity on how commuters using the Kochi1 Card could get the benefits of One Nation One Card system.

“It remains unclear how commuters will get the benefit of traveling on various modes of transport across the country using the Kochi1 Card.
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Though there is the possibility to integrate these smart cards on a common platform, it is still not known how and when the process will be executed,” he said.

Meanwhile, officials with Kochi Metro said the Kochi1 Card meets the specifications of national common mobility card (NCMC). Though currently, it is not possible to use the Kochi1 Card at other metros and public transport systems in the country, “it would be made possible in course of time”.

However, he said there would be considerable delay in ensuring the benefits of One Nation One Card to Kochi1 Card holders. “This is due to technical aspects,” he said. Issues related to bank specifications, security concerns and related matters need to be sorted out. “We cannot say how long it will take to complete the process,” added the official.

The One Nation One Card launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi In March 2019 is essentially an amalgamation of all the smart cards used for different public transport services and can be used for paying for any mode of travel across the country.

MoUD, NITI Aayog raise questions about Chennai Metro’s phase II cost

Kanika Verma
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MoUD, NITI Aayog raise questions about Chennai Metro’s phase II cost

CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): The Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) and NITI Aayog have questioned the estimated cost of phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail at ₹69,180 crore, running for a length of 118.9 km in three corridors.

 NITI Aayog had written to the MoUD and the Department of Economic Affairs about the huge cost involved in the project told by the Highly placed sources.

A source said “They wanted to know how the project would be funded, the amount of loan, if the State government could bear the cost and many other details. On its party, the MoUD wrote to CMRL officials for the third time, asking them to justify the entire project cost and find ways to cut it down.

MoUD has sent a slew of questions asking why certain elements of the project cost so much and if it could be cut down, according to the sources.

CMRL officials said they had already cut the cost from ₹80,000 crore to the present ₹69,000 crore.

In the initial plan, there were many underground stations, but several of them were converted into elevated stations, and their sizes too were reduced, officials said.

“We have explained how and why each element of the project cost a certain amount,” a CMRL official said.

Officials also claimed that queries on the high cost of projects by MoUD and NITI Aayog were routine, especially when the cost was enormous.

Of the total cost of ₹69,180 crore, the State will bear ₹13,723 crore.

For the remaining ₹55,457 crore, funding agencies will be tapped for 60% funds and the Centre and the State will fund 20% each.

Nagpur Metro giving infra projects a good name

Kanika Verma
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Nagpur Metro giving infra projects a good name

NAGPUR (Metro Rail News): In a country where infrastructure projects hog headlines for time and cost overruns, the Nagpur Metro is ahead of targets, with the backing of two political leaders ensuring that hurdles in the way of the project are removed in double-quick time.

Says Brijesh Dixit, MD of Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (Maha Metro), “it is common for such projects to suffer delays and cost overruns of 50-100% but the Nagpur Metro will be finished ahead of schedule and at around 10% fewer costs than estimated”. And it has certainly helped that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Road Minister Nitin Gadkari both hail from Nagpur and are closely involved with the project.

Since construction started in May 2015, more than 80% of the physical work and 60% of the investments have been done, says Dixit. Operations on the first 13.5-km stretch between Khapri Metro Station and Sitabuldi Interchange Station were inaugurated in March this year, and the next stretch of 11 km from Sitabuldi to Lokmanya Nagar Metro Station is scheduled to get operational next month.

With that, around 25 km of the 38.215-km network to be built in Phase I of the project would be ready. The entire network is expected to be operational by mid-2020.

Meanwhile, the state government has given its nod to the `11,216-crore Phase II of the project, which is slated to add 48 km of lines to the network. The detailed project report (DPR) for the purpose is awaiting the Centre’s nod.

The `8,680-crore Phase-I has two lines – the North-South Orange corridor from Automotive Square to Khapri (19.658 km) and the East-West Aqua corridor from Prajapati Nagar to Lokmanya Nagar (18.557-km). Ridership on the project’s completion has been estimated at 3.63 lakh per day.

The Nagpur Metro is being funded by the Centre and the state government through a mix of equity and debt.

Highlighting the steps taken for efficiency, costs have been cut by `500 crores so far.

Among these is the procurement of rolling stock from China for `718 crores instead of the envisaged 920 crores. Instead of investing in an automatic fare collection system, Maha Metro has asked a State Bank of India-led consortium to build and run the system and pay it a royalty of `30 crore. This has resulted in savings of `300 crores said Dixit.

Generation of solar power from panels that have been installed on station rooftops, depot roofs, boundary walls, and administrative offices would meet 65% of the network’s requirements, allowing Maha Metro to save 5.95 per unit of power. In what is a first for India, the network would allow multiple transport modes to share the right of way with a three-layer system that includes a road, a flyover and the Metro line on top. In the pipeline is a four-decker system that includes a railway line.

While Metro projects in most cities have followed the wheel of development, Nagpur might see the project becoming an engine of its economic development. Already the third-largest city of Maharashtra with a population of 35 lakh, the city is billed to be an aviation and logistics hub in the coming years and economic activity along the Metro network may well prove the catalyst for the transformation of its landscape.

PMRDA seeks local bodies’ inputs on Metro extension

Kanika Verma
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PMRDA seeks local bodies’ inputs on Metro extension

PUNE (Metro Rail News): The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has sought suggestions from Pune Cantonment Board and Pune Municipal Corporation on extending the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro line to Hadapsar.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had prepared a draft detailed project report (DPR) suggesting the extension, and PMRDA officials said were awaiting “suggestions and comments” from PCB and PMC.

The plan originally sanctioned provides for a 23km elevated Metro corridor from the IT hub of Hinjewadi to Civil Court in Shivajinagar. The draft DPR suggests connecting Hinjewadi to the Hadapsar industrial hub, which would mean a 14km extension. “The extension would connect Shivajinagar to Phursungi or Saswad Road.

This will boost connectivity to the Phursungi IT park and even to the proposed Purandar airport,” a PMRDA official said, adding that the extension if approved, will be taken up only in the second phase of the work on this Metro line. “The draft DPR has been submitted to the local authorities (PMC and PCB) for their comments, as the proposed extension will pass through both their jurisdictions.

Once PCB and PMC give their suggestions, we will forward them to DMRC, which will include it in the final draft of the DPR. The state government will then clear the proposal,” the official added, explaining the road ahead. In 2015, PMRDA appointed DMRC as a project consultant for this Metro corridor.
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DMRC carried out a passenger survey and a feasibility study and, taking into account citizens’ demands to connect the two IT hubs of Hinjewadi and Phursungi, prepared a draft DPR, suggesting an extension of the corridor till Hadapsar The Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar corridor will comprise 23 stations, while the 14km extension will have a further 14 stations.

The other two Metro corridors being developed by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited – Pimpri-Swargate and Vanaz-Ramwadi – will intersect with the PMRDA line at the Civil Court station, which is being planned as a multimodal transport hub.

The Pimpri-Swargate is elevated for 11.57km, till the Range Hills station, after which is runs underground till Swargate, while the 16.67km Vanaz-Ramwadi route is completely elevated. “If the Metro line is extended, the cost of the project will increase. The state government will have to decide whether the second phase of the project too will be implemented on the public-private partnership basis,” a PMRDA official said.

At the moment, the Hinjewadi-Shivajinagar Metro corridor costs Rs260 crore per kilometer. The 14km extension is expected to add Rs3,000 crore to the project cost.

NCRTC organizes ‘Vendor Meet-Consultation with Prospective Construction Partners’

Narendra Shah
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NCRTC organizes ‘Vendor Meet-Consultation with Prospective Construction Partners’

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) is a first of its kind mobility service being implemented in India. Keeping this in mind, since its inception, NCRTC is having regular consultations with stakeholders, industry leaders, etc. for the timely and efficient execution of RRTS project. In this direction, a ‘Vendor Meet – Consultation with Prospective Construction Partners’ was organized on August 5, 2019, in New Delhi. Representatives from more than 45 reputed and leading civil, electrical and architecture firms including IRCON, HCC, ABB India Ltd, AFCONS, Siemens Ltd, Simplex India, L&T, Tata Projects, etc participated in the meet.

Shri Vinay Kumar Singh MD NCRTC addresing the vendor meet
Shri Vinay Kumar Singh, MD, NCRTC, Addressing the vendor meet

During the meet, NCRTC officials gave a detailed overview of the project with special emphasis on procurement strategy and packaging plan of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor. The industry captains shared their valuable insights, expectations, suggestions, and ideas about the project execution, contract design, and risk allocation framework. 
Addressing the gathering, Shri Vinay Kumar Singh, MD, NCRTC, said, “Projects like RRTS are imperative for sustainable economic growth required to realize the Government’s vision of making India a $5 trillion economy. The responsibility given to NCRTC is huge and NCRTC is committed to facilitate and create a work environment – an ecosystem in which our partners can work efficiently & confidently.” Shri Singh further called on the industry to join hands with NCRTC in its endeavor to deliver excellence in this socially-oriented infrastructure project aimed at improving the quality of life of people and catalyzing polycentric, sustainable development of NCR.

“We are looking for partners to work with us and take up challenges while being a part of this ambitious project with the idea of New India and next-generation infrastructure,” said Shri Singh.

Notably, the construction work between 17km-long Duhai to Sahibabd section of Delhi-Meerut (82km) RRTS corridor is in full swing. The priority section is expected to become operational by March 2023 while people of the region can travel on the full corridor from March 2025.

Rail based mass transport system for Metrolite more viable

Kanika Verma
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Rail based mass transport system for Metrolite more viable

PUNE (Metro Rail News): The metro rail system being developed at present is of high capacity which is required for bigger cities with very high ridership and peak hour peak direction traffic (PHPDT).

Seeing the success of metro rail in the country, several other cities with a lower projection of ridership are also aspiring for the rail-based mass rapid transit system, which could be fulfilled by light urban rail transit system named ‘Metrolite’ with lesser capacity at much less cost.

Metrolite would also act as a feeder system to the high capacity metro. In addition to less capital cost, the operation and maintenance cost of Metrolite would also be less, making the system more viable.

Zebra crossings shall be provided on either side of the platforms for passenger movement from the wide footpaths. Respective municipal corporations shall identify all possible paths for providing at least single-track operation of Metrolite trains between two parallel roads. Ring network shall be planned to reduce the headway.

Station area can be planned with more natural lighting and natural ventilation instead of heavy closed structures. AFC gates, platform screen doors, X-ray baggage scanner, and DFMD are not suggested in the Metrolite shelters. This will remove any signaling and PSD equipment rooms in the station platform making it unattended station. The system shall have a dedicated path separating the road traffic with Metrolite system.

Fencing can be provided on either side of the network. Shelter platforms shall be planned in a staggered manner in the alternate side for Up and Down lines to reduce the actual road space.

Hyderabad metro on a tricky track, running on losses

Kanika Verma
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Hyderabad metro on a tricky track, running on losses

HYDERABAD (Metro Rail News): Metro Rail MD NVS Reddy said that L&T Metro project is running in losses. Reacting to allegations of Hyderabad Intellectuals, a forum on Twitter, which alleged that “the Metro project has been reduced to world-class real estate project, and L&T is milking the project as they want”, Reddy said that L&T was losing money in the project. “Rs 1,300 crore per annum is the interest burden alone on the Hyderabad Metro project.

They have built only 1.2 million sq ft so far as against eligible 18.5 million sq ft. Metros all over the world lose money and are heavily subsidized by governments,” Reddy said. L&T has spent about Rs 16,000 crore on the project in which the viability gap funding is Rs 1,200 crore from the Centre.

The rest, Rs 14,800 crore was spent by L&T, of which Rs 3,000 crore is equity and Rs 12,000 crore debt.

Reddy said, “There are around 200 Metro projects in the world, and no Metro makes a profit. Governments subsidize Metro projects for survival and for increasing liveability condition of the city. In public-private partnerships, there are four or five attempts made, including Bangkok Metro, which is 35-km long, the biggest in PPP mode.” Reddy said, “I studied financially successful Metros such as the ones in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, and Taipei.

They are originally built by governments and handed over to the private sectors. We have adopted the same.” He added that 50% of the revenue came from passenger fare, 45% from property development, and 5% from advertisements. “As per the original financial model, Metro will run into losses for five to six years, and break-even only in the seventh year, that is 2025. Currently, revenue is Rs 1 crore per day.”

When it came to the number of passengers, Reddy said compared to other Metros, Hyderabad was doing much better. “In Chennai, even after four to five years and with several incentives, there are only 50,000 to 60,000 passengers a day. After seven years of Bengaluru Metro, the figure has now reached to four lakh a day.

Hyderabad Metro will reach four to five lakh passenger figure in the next year.” He said, “There are some companies that are into construction, and some into signaling and telecom. But L&T has end-to-end experience.” Reddy said, “They have built real estate projects in Panjagutta, Irrum Manzil, Hitech City and now in Moosarambagh. They are doing good so far.”

Hyderabad Intellectuals replied to Reddy, saying, “If L&T Hyderabad Metro project is losing money, why subsidize such huge values of public property for an unviable project? 1.2 million sqft itself looks huge, 18.5 m sqft would be staggering. If values calculated for 33 years of the lease, it’s definitely profitable multiple times.”

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