Kochi Metro celebrates its 2nd Birthday

KOCHI (Metro Rail News): The Kochi Metro has completed two years of successful operations on Monday. Kochi metro has affected a consequential shift in the city’s public transport system. The metro service from Aluva was commissioned on June 17, 2017, and the service was only till Palarivattom. The metro’s services were extended to Maharaja’s College.

Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) authorities stated that “Kochi Metro’s daily average ridership is 40,000 passengers. The average ridership goes up to 45,000. It is likely to go up when the services are extended till Thykoodam.”

The Kochi Metro also had several firsts to its credit in the two years of its operations. Kochi Metro credit include feeding pods on Metro stations, E- auto feeder service, solar power plants in its yard and station roof, plastic bottle recyclers and rainwater harvesting.

The Metro authorities are planning to further extend the services to Petta by March next year. As the services are scheduled to be extended till Thykoodam by this August. Once the service reaches Petta, Kochi metro phase 1 will be completed.

The purpose of Kochi metro will be fully served only if the services offer connection to Tripunithura and the areas like Kakkanad said buy the stakeholders of city’s development.

V K Vijayakumar Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Financial Services said that “Kochi Metro is yet to break even. The passenger volume traffic has not witnessed a spurt. It has partly succeeded in decongesting the roads from Aluva to Kochi. The Kerala Model of economic development – high quality of life even with low per capita income – had attracted global attention for its inclusivity and women’s empowerment. Keeping in tune with this Kerala model of inclusion, Kochi Metro has made a laudable inclusive initiative by employing many transgender (TG) persons.”

Rail Tracks Unloaded For Mumbai Metro Line 7

MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), in the wee hours of Sunday, unloaded the first lot of Metro rails for the Dahisar (East) to Andheri East) Metro-7 corridor near National Park station.

The rails imported from Japan were transported from Wadala yard using 70 ft trailer to the site. Thereafter, using a 50-ton mobile crane, the rail bundles (each consisting 3 rails) were lifted and unloaded on the Viaduct. The Metro team was able to accomplish the task within the stipulated time.

The unloading of rails for the present stretch of Viaduct will continue for another 3-4 days.

Once placed on the Viaduct, the rails will be welded using Mobile Flash butt welding machine, which is also ready to be lifted on the Viaduct for deployment.

The Ballastless track laying process will begin thereafter on the Viaduct. The track plinth concreting will be done and the already welded rails will be placed in position using Double resilient Rail fastenings.

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) hopes to complete the track laying work in soon.

Varanasi plans cable cars to provide hassle-free travel

LUCKNOW (Metro Rail News): The Newest form of urban transport for the citizens of one of the world’s oldest cities on earth. PM Narendra Modi’s constituency may become the first Indian city to have cable cars as means of transportation If a proposal mooted by the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) gets the nod from Union Urban Development ministry and other stakeholders.

The idea has already cleared the first stage. RITES presented a draft Detailed Project Report to Varanasi’s divisional commissioner, Deepak Agarwal, who is also the ex-officio chairman of Varanasi Development Authority (VDA).

RITES did a ground survey and came out with its draft report which recommended the facility for the city. As per the report, the proposition of cable cars for public commutation would be 10 times cheaper than the Metro Rail

Three leading companies are ready with presentations supporting the proposal to run cable cars with details of passenger capacity, operational costs, environment sustainability and impact on weather. The companies have said cable cars required no major ground coverage, as elevated stations were feasible in congested areas. One cable car could accommodate 80 passengers and the system could ferry more than 11,000 passengers per hour, according to sources.

Kerala Govt. likely to get two 3 Phase EMU in July 2019

Thiruvananthapuram (Metro Rail news):  The passenger trains will be replaced by two 12-car rakes running in the Thiruvananthapuram railway division. The three-phase EMU is now in the EMU car shed at Avadi, Chennai, awaiting safety clearance and is to reach the State in July 2019.

Kerela will now have two three-phase EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) 12-car rakes, a ‘little sister’ of Train-18, with higher acceleration and deceleration and a host of passenger-friendly features, to replace the passenger trains

The coaches are fabricated with a stainless steel body and have higher hauling capacity, and are manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (IFC), Chennai. GPS- based passenger information system for announcement of the approaching stations and display.

It also has corrosion resistance, stainless steel pipelines for more reliability and minimal maintenance, public address system, and emergency stop button in the cabin for an immediate halt in emergencies, all these qualities make rakes unique.

The rakes will have ergonomically-designed seats, a modular roof-mounted ventilation system in addition to the regular fans to pump in fresh air, there are CCTV cameras in all the compartments for women, LED lights, and LED indication when a chain is pulled in case of emergency and have driver cabins on both the ends of the rake.

The three-phase EMUs have 1,168 seats and provision for 4,852 standing passengers which is 20% more than the existing EMUs. The three-phase EMU puts out 5,744 hp, as against 3,584 hp by a single-phase train.

A single motorman will only be needed for train operations. The increase in maximum speed is 105 km per hour.
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“We will gain two to three minutes at every stop owing to the fast acceleration,” said Divisional Railway Manager Shirish Kumar Sinha and he also said “Short-distance commuters, especially office-goers and students, can look for a cozy ride in the three-phase EMU car rakes and it will further improve punctuality. We have yet to take a call on the two passenger trains to be replaced,”

Bombay HC to hear experts before deciding on cutting mangroves: Mumbai – Ahmedabad bullet train project

MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project– Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, the Bombay High Court recently said that it will have to hear environmental experts Before deciding on an appeal seeking elimination of mangroves in order to pave way for upcoming India’s first Bullet Train project.  A division bench of Justice N M Jamdar and Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog was hearing an application filed by the firm implementing the bullet train project – National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). The corporation has been seeking permission to cut mangroves spread over an area of 13 hectares, according to a PTI report.

March 2019, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority had told the Bombay High Court that it had given its approval for cutting over 53,000 mangroves trees for the high-speed bullet train project.  In April this year National High – Speed Rail Corporation Limited had received the approval of the expert appraisal committee of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for the abolition of mangroves in the districts of Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar.

According to the report the division bench noted that it will first have to hear the arguments of the environmental experts before granting its nod. Chief Justice Nandrajog stated in the report asking that if for every public project, permissions are granted like this, then what will be their impact on the environment.

The bench said that NGO Bombay Environment Action Group should be made a party respondent in the matter and posted for hearing in the month of August. The 508-km long Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is expected to reduce the travel time between both the cities from six-and-a-half hours to two-and-a-half hours.  

The train will cover 12 stations including Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Vapi, Boisar, Sabarmati, Bharuch, Bilimora, Surat, Vadodara, Anand and Ahmedabad stations on en Route both the direction. The high-speed train is likely to start operations by 2022-23.

The bench directed for NGO Bombay Environment Action Group to host a party respondent in the matter and posted it for hearing in August.
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Mumbai Metro lines 4 & 5 are to be linked at a station in Thane

MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has recently tweaked the design of the upcoming Metro-5 (Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan) line, to integrate it with the Metro-4 (Wadala-Thane-Kasarvadavli) corridor by a common station in Thane. While line 5 was to start from a station 500m away from the upcoming Metro-4 Kapurbawdi station, it has now been integrated with the same.

This will not only save commuters a walk of half a km but also save ₹20crore (the cost of building another station) for authorities. “While the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had planned it away from the Metro-4 station, we noticed that there could be one station and conducted a technical-feasibility study a month ago” said by senior MMRDA official.

The official added that the DMRC has prepared detailed project reports for most of the upcoming corridors. The Kapurbawdi station is the 6th station on the route from Thane to Wadala. With the stations integrated, citizens will find it easier to travel from the city to upcoming metropolitan areas.

The MMRDA is currently in the process of evaluating bids for work on line 5. It has got bids from Afcons, L&T and NCC. The authority is looking at closing the tendering process in another two months. In December 2018 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had undertaken the ground-breaking ceremony for Metro-5. By 2021 the 24-km Metro line will have 17 stations, with an expected ridership of 2.29 lakh passengers.

Metro-4 is currently under construction. As of June 3, 80% of soil-investigation works have been completed and 66% of utility works have also been completed. The 32.32-km elevated corridor will also have two extensions — a 12.7-km extension from Wadala to south Mumbai’s General Post Office and a 2.7-km extension from Kasarvadavli to Gaimukh.

 

Metro Man E. Sreedharan gets a reply from AAP on free Metro rides

DELHI (Metro Rail News): “Metro Man” E. Sreedharan’s got a respond from The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday for public opposition to the Delhi government proposal for free rides for women, stated that the measure would not hurt Delhi Metro since the state authorities would bear the financial burden.

The Former Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Sreedharan and now a principal adviser to the Delhi and Lucknow Metro had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to agree to the AAP government’s proposal on June 10.

He wrote that Sir, when the first section of the Delhi Metro was to be opened, I had taken a firm and conscious decision that no one would be given any travel concession.

The stand was taken to maximize revenues so that Metro fares could be kept low so as to be affordable to ordinary citizens and at the same time Metro would make sufficient operational surpluses to pay back the loans taken from Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The Delhi government had announced it would fund free public transport, including Metro rides, for women, last week. The Metro authorities said this week the scheme could be implemented in six to eight months and would cost the state a little over Rs 1,500 crore and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has agreed to.

 Sreedharan wrote, “now if ladies are to be given free travel concession in Delhi Metro, it would set an alarming precedent (for) all other Metros in the country,”

He also wrote that, “The argument of Delhi Govt that the revenue losses would be reimbursed to DMRC is a poor solace…. One shareholder cannot take a unilateral decision to give concession to one section of community and push Delhi Metro into inefficiency and bankruptcy.”

 Saurabh Bharadwaj Chief AAP spokesperson said: “We want to assure Mr Sreedharan that Delhi Metro will not suffer any losses since the Delhi government will reimburse the agency for free rides taken by women, thus eliminating the possibility of inefficiency” on Friday.

 “The purpose of this scheme is to increase the participation of women in public transport and public spaces. Making travel free for women will encourage more ridership in public transport, and with more women present in buses and metros, they will become safer spaces” Saurabh Bharadwaj added.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia writes to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation advisor Dr E Sreedharan on free Metro travel for women
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia writes to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation advisor Dr E Sreedharan on free Metro travel for women

Sreedharan got a reply from Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, saying the Delhi Metro was carrying an average of 25 lakh passengers a day, at “less than 65 per cent” of capacity, which was a “pretty bad performance for a company”. He added: “By Delhi Metro’s own admission, free ridership for women will increase women’s ridership by 50 per cent.”

Metro fares had almost been doubled in 2017.

Maha Metro will start laying tracks in Pimpri and Phugewadi

Pune (Metro Rail News): The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) will start laying tracks on the completed portion of the viaduct first in Pimpri and Phugewadi. The first consignment of tracks arrived at the Pimpri Metro station from Nagpur on Friday. The tracks will be lifted onto the viaduct and will be installed in the next two weeks, said an official.

The tracks are between 18 and 24 meter long, Maha Metro said that they will construct a cement plinth on the viaduct, on which the tracks will be installed. An official said that the tracks will be installed and welded simultaneously to ensure uniformity in the tracks’ level. They plan to lay 2km in one month, 3.2km of viaduct has been completed on the Metro stretch between Pimpri and Phugewadi.

The viaduct will comprise two sets of tracks – one in each direction. Both sides will be laid simultaneously. The work will continue during the monsoon and will be halted during heavy showers.

An agency has been appointed by Maha Metro to lay tracks in the PCMC-Dapodi-Range Hills section and is in the process of appointing a firm to take up the work in the Vanaz-Garware College-Civil Court portion, where a 1.3km viaduct is ready.

Maha Metro does not see any obstacles ahead as the viaduct is ready. They are starting the work from Pimpri at first, and then from Phugewadi. The agency has been told to expedite the work and complete it within the deadline, the total work period of the entire stretch expected was 18 months but it would be completed before that, Said an official.
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Single Smart Card to Travel in any Metro Rail In India

DELHI (Metro Rail News): Soon, Metro commuters would be able to travel in every single metro rail service in India using a single smart card.

A commuter would be able to avail a limited number of trips on various metro networks in the country, under this initiative. This is reportedly said to be separate from the One Nation One Card initiative which the Central Government is already planning for various modes of public transport like buses and metro. The card also is used to make a retail purchase.
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This card needs regulatory observance like KYC, people visiting a particular city or India for a limited period may find it convenient to use. This problem can be solved by the limited period smart card has been visualized.

This card can be obtained by showing identity proof like a passport for foreigners and Aadhaar card for Indians and is likely to be launched in the next sixth month, as per the Urban Affairs.

‘Metro Man’ Sreedharan writes to PM against AAP’s offer free rides for women.

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Former Delhi Metro chief E. Sreedharan, well know as Metro man for his contribution towards setting up the Delhi Metro, has written letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him not to agree to The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi had recently announced its decision to give free travel facility to women passengers on buses and Metro trains.

He wrote in his letter of June 10, The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi had recently announced its decision to give free travel facility to women passengers on buses and Metro trains. One shareholder cannot take a unilateral decision to give concession to one section of the community and push Delhi Metro into inefficiency and bankruptcy.

Mr. Sreedharan being an instrumental part of the Delhi Metro since its inception, Mr. Sreedharan stepped down as managing director in 2011. He wrote in the letter that he had decided not to intervene in the working of the Delhi Metro after stepping down, but the Delhi government’s decision had forced him to come forward.
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He wrote the letter on June 10 in which he stated” One shareholder cannot take a unilateral decision to give concession to one section of the community and push Delhi Metro into inefficiency and bankruptcy,” Mr. Sreedharan wrote that “Sir, when the first section of the Delhi Metro was to be opened, I had taken a firm and conscious decision that no one would be given any travel concession on Delhi Metro. This stand was taken to maximize revenues so that Metro fares could be kept low so as to be affordable to ordinary citizens…” and at the same time, Metro would make sufficient operational excess to pay back loans taken from JICA.

He recalled that the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee bought a ticket for himself when he went to inaugurate the first section of the Metro on December 23, 2002. Mr. Sreedharan stated in his letter that the argument of Delhi Govt that the revenue losses would be reimbursed to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is a poor solace. The amount will go on increasing as the Metro network expands and with further fare hikes on the Metro. Now, if ladies are to be given free travel concession in Delhi Metro, it would set alarming precedence for all other Metros in the country.

Other sections of commuters, including the “more deserving” like students, the disabled and senior citizens, as well as other Metros in the country would raise similar demands if Delhi’s proposal for free travel for women becomes a reality, he wrote.

One more train introduced on the Ameerpet-Hi-Tec City route

Hyderabad (Metro Rail News): On Thursday Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) introduced one more train for the increasing rush in the metro train from Ameerpet to Hitec city.

Due to the maximum rush on the Ameerpet-Hi-Tec City route, one more train is being introduced as 14,000 passengers travel during the peak hours in the morning. There will be one more extra train trip per hour from Ameerpet to Hi-Tec City and the additional train will be continued till the reversal facility at Hi-Tec City is completed, after which the frequency of trains will be increased as per requirement, stated NVS Reddy.

NVS Reddy, the Managing Director of HMRL, said that with the opening of Ameerpet-Hi-Tec City route, arrangements by software companies for their employees to travel by metro and gradual introduction of more shuttle services from various locations of the city was resulting in increasing commuter numbers on Hi-Tec City route.  

On November 2017, Hyderabad metro was launched with limited connectivity. Out of the original Phase I length of 71.16 km across three corridors (red, blue and green lines), a stretch of 56.5 km and 48 stations (out of the proposed 64) is currently functional. This is helping commuters like Radha Kola, who works in HITEC City.

In the first week of june, The Hyderabad Metro Rail has introduced self-driving cars to improve first and last-mile connectivity. The HMRL tied up with Zoom cars and hired 25 metro cars at the Miyapur station. The cars of Mahindra company are being run to Shamshabad airport and Madhapur from Miyapur. Passengers getting down at Miyapur station can make use of the cars to reach their destination. The passengers will be charged Rs 40 per hour for the car. To avail the services, commuters can download Zoom car app and upload your driving license.

Metro Railways: A Paradigm shift in the Transportation industry

Metro Railway is a rapid rail transit system with improved reliability, punctuality & passenger comfort. 1st Metro Rail service was inaugurated on 24th October 1984 in Kolkata. Today, there are 17 Operational Metro railways in the country & yet there are many more to come in the near future in different cities. More than a billion passengers travel annually through metro railways. From, 24th October 1984 to today, we have witnessed a paradigm shift in the transportation industry of this country.

How Metro Railways brought a paradigm shift in Transportation Industry?

When the clock is running at its pace, but you are patiently waiting for your Train. There is no fear of getting late & there is no fear of having your train stuck in between for hours. It’s not just you, there are a thousand others waiting for it very patiently. Everyone looks so assured that their train will come on Time. From having our trains late for hours to having 99.95 % punctuality. From having major train accidents to almost none accidents during travel. From having an untidy, uncomfortable train coach to having clean & comfortable coaches. We have witnessed a paradigm shift in the transportation industry. It’s the metro rail system which has brought a major shift in the transportation industry.

Metro rail systems are equipped with advanced signaling & communication system. If speaking in the general sense, it is the perfect blend of almost all major technological advancements that mankind has ever witnessed. With the help of technological edge over traditional railways, the metro railways have been able to give us assured safety, punctuality & passenger comfort. Metro Railway is no luxury, everyone can afford to pay for it. Assured safety, punctuality & passenger comfort at affordable price is the gift that Metro Railways have given to us. It is the most efficient rail system which is successfully carrying millions of passengers daily, without posing a challenge to the environment. 

How well it addresses the Environmental challenges?

Metro Railway is a clean Technology. It runs on electricity thus reduces the emission of greenhouse gases. Today, there are several metro rail organizations in the country but a champion in this regard is no other Metro than the Delhi Metro. Delhi Metro is the first ever Metro railway system in the world to receive carbon credits. Delhi Metro is reducing the emission of 6.3 lakh ton of greenhouse gases every year. Due to the presence of the metro as a means of reliable mode of transportation, 91000 vehicles are now off road in Delhi daily. It’s not just the story of one city, several other cities have similar stories, but their stories are yet to come on record.

Where all it needs to get better?

In my opinion, the current metro system needs to get better at providing last mile connectivity. If we want to have a better tomorrow for ourselves, we need to make all effort to reduce GHG emissions in every possible way. E-rickshaws & cycles are among the few additional modes of transportations that can be promoted to connect users from metro stations to their homes. Also, I strongly believe that there is a need to upgrade from Track circuit-based train control system to communication-based train system or even an advanced signaling system to enhance the productivity of Metro Rail systems. 

Kerala govt gives green signal for extension of Kochi Metro

KOCHI (Metro Rail News): The state government has provided Kochi Metro with a green signal for extension of Kochi Metro to Tripunithura Railway Station. With the approval government cleared all the doubts that were raised for the extension in the wake of last year’s floods.

Due to the floods that occurred last year in Kerala the Tripunithura Municipality authorities requested the Metro agency to revise the Metro route to Tripunithura through the proposed road and bus depot planned beside Tripunithura railway station. In 2017 The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) prepared the DPR (detailed project report) for the extension of Metro services from S N Junction to Tripunithura Terminal. The DPR had proposed 1.2-km viaduct and one station- Tripunithura terminal. After working on the request, the DPR was revised and submitted to the government with an estimated cost of Rs 356 crore.

Official stated that “Now, all those doubts have been cleared. The Cabinet has approved the extension of Kochi metro from S N Junction to Railway station via bus depot. This is really a great moment for the residents of Tripunithura. The extension will cost Rs 356 crore and the work, once launched, will be completed in two years,”

As soon as the first phase of work until Petta is completed the contract between KMRL and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will end. The KMRL will directly execute the remaining work. 

Chennai metro invites corporate firms to co-brand stations

In a view to increase revenue, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is inviting big names from the corporate world to pick up co-branding rights of stations. 

According to the source, talks are on with a few companies, including real state developer DLF, World Trade Centre (Bengaluru-based Brigade Group holds licence to build this in five southern cities) and the Ozone Group

For Phase II project

In this project, a company’s name can be prefixed in front of a station’s name.  apart from this, we are exploring various other options like giving them rights to advertise inside stations and for announcements inside trains as well, added by the official.

Auctioning names of stations is not new for Chennai Metro Rail.  They have begun implementing it in a few stations such as Thousand Lights, Nandanam and Teynampet. For instance, a few months ago, Thousand Lights Metro Station would be renamed as Spencer Plaza Thousand Lights Metro Station for three years said by CMRL.

What is significant in phase II is that they are contemplating giving branding rights even as the station construction is yet to begin.

A source told THE HINDU that they may even consider giving companies the option of designing, building and operating a station. There are a few options that we have been discussing now; one is that the companies pay us a bulk amount (a few crores) depending on location and space. The rights will be given for a certain period Companies stand to benefit from this as it would give them good visibility and promotion.

DLF, which has already tied up with Chennai Metro for providing last mile connectivity from Alandur to DLF Cybercity through air-conditioned tempo vans, which discusses to explore various avenues of the partnership, the detailed design process is under way with CMRL and we will take this up in gradual steps. The distribution of the Metro line as well as the location of the station is yet to be finalised was said by. N.C. Somaiah, vice-president, operations, DLF Cybercity. Officials from the Brigade Group said that talks were on with CMRL but refused to divulge details, saying it was too early to provide comment.

S. Vasudevan, chairman and managing director of the Ozone Group, said, “We are in discussions with them for the station at Koyambedu because of its contiguity to our property. We are looking at exclusive connectivity from our project to the Metro Station.” He also added “We are also talking to them on a proposed station at Navalur in OMR. We have an Special Economic Zone (SEZ)development there. We are looking at whether we can connect our SEZ and the station,”

On an average, over 95,000 people swap through Chennai Metro so Corp orates feel that the tie-up would give them more brand visibility and ensure that public remember the company name.