RRTS Special – Metro Rail News Magazine December 2018 Issue Out

Narendra Shah
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RRTS Special – Metro Rail News Magazine December 2018 Issue Out

Our December edition has special sections for the readers which cover interesting developments such as Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), Chennai Metro Project, Train 18, Talgo Trains, Safety on Railways. An Exclusive interview with Achal Khare, MD, NHSRCL. It also includes upcoming tenders, events, latest technologies, section on Women in Metro Rail, new development and business opportunities, our trademark “Industry Watch” section and so more…

Highlight of Metro Rail News December 2018

  • Honorable PM Shri Modi inaugurates Escorts MujesarBallabhgarh section of the Delhi Metro Violet line (Editor’s Desk)
  • News Highlights of November 2018 (Round Up-Catch up with the Industry’s to top stories)
  • Most highlighted stories of the month (Editor’s Picks)
  • Interview with Mr. Achal Khare, MD, NHSRCL (Interview)
  • Railway Safety & Disaster (Articel on Railway Safety)
  • Leaders Series – Mr. N. V. S. Reddy, MD, HMRL
  • Cover Story – RRTS Project
  • Technology Update – AFC System & MAHA CARD
  • Project Of The Month – Chennai Metro
  • New Development – Metro Railway Project
  • InnoRail 2018 and CILT India Post Event Coverage
  • Meet With Ms. Nimisha Singh: Women In Metro Rail Project
  • Train 18 Exclusive; Route and news update
  • Industry Watch: Egis Group Appoints Sandeep Gulati as the Managing Director, Egis India
  • Talgo high-speed trains update
  • Latest status of Metro Rail projects in India (Progress Report as on 15.12.2018)
  • Live tender notices in Metro and Railways industry. (Live Tender)
  • A round-up of upcoming Industry Events. (Event Diary)
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MMRDA Year End Review Report for 2018

Narendra Shah
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MMRDA Year End Review Report for 2018

Mumbai, Metro Rail News: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has released its year-end review report for the year 2018 recently. According to the report, the MMRDA in the year 2018, has once again showcased its commitment and intent to undertake many mega infrastructure projects and paved the way forward towards completing them on a war footing. A cursory look at the progress it has achieved in the year 2018 is proof enough of its credibility –

  1. The two Metro corridors – 18.5-km Dahisar-W to DN Nagar Metro-2A (Rs.6,410 crore) and 16.5-km Andheri-E to Dahisar-E Metro-7 Corridor (Rs.6,208 crore) – are being implemented on a war footing. Both projects are looking at completion of civil construction in 2019.
  2. The Authority has also begun the construction of the 23.5-km DN Nagar to Mankhurd Metro2B (Rs.10,986 crore) and 32-km Wadala-Ghatkopar-Mulund-Thane-Kasarvadavali Metro-4 Corridor (Rs.14,549 crore). The work on 14.5-km Swami Samarth Nagar-JogeshwariKanjurmarg-Vikhroli Metro-6 corridor (Rs.6,672 crore) has also started this year.
  3. The Authority approved Detail Project Reports (DPRs) for Gaimukh to Shivaji Chowk (Mira Road) Metro-10 (Rs.4,476/- crore), Wadala to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Metro-11 (Rs.8,739 crore) and Kalyan-Taloja Metro-12 (Rs.4,132/- crore) corridors. All the three DPRs will now be recommended to the State Government for approval.
  4. The establishment of Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd. is another step forward as the State expects to throw open Andheri (East) to Dahisar (East) Metro-7 and Dahisar to DN Nagar Metro-2A corridors next year. The Corporation will be an autonomous body and will deal with operation and maintenance of Metro Lines as also Monorail. In addition, the decision to create more than 1,000 posts has also been taken.
  5. The crucial decision of establishing Project Implementation Unit (PIU) to implement the Multi-Modal Navghar to Belavli corridor was taken in view of the various daunting tasks, such as land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation of the project affected families, appointment of contractors, handling legal hassles, coordination with different state and central government entities for various permissions, security arrangement etc.
  6. The Authority also appointed MMRDA as the Special Planning Authority for the Mumbai University’s Kalina Campus. MMRDA is constructing two roads, A 2-km long elevated road connecting BKC and Hans Bhugra marg and the other 690-meter road to facilitate entry/exit from and to Bandra-Kurla Complex, which construction will require some land owned by the University.
  7. The Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis also released a series of heritage circuit maps covering heritage properties (built/natural) within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The task was commissioned by the MMR-Heritage Conservation Society. These maps represent perhaps the first such attempt to record and make accessible to the public heritage properties and natural sites in the MMR, several of them relatively unknown and neglected.
  8. The Authority further widened its region by including the entire Palghar Taluka, the remaining region of Vasai Taluka, Alibaug, Pen, Panvel, and Khalapur in Raigad District in the MMRDA’s jurisdiction. This decision will help develop these regions in a planned way. “These areas have tremendous development potential and prone to fast unplanned growth if left as it is. This decision will now see these regions not only develop in a planned manner but also sustain the development on its own”, said the Chief Minister. There will be an emphasis on the development of “Growth Centers”, which will work as a catalyst for the development of the region.
  9. Chief Minister also inaugurated the “War-Room and Innovation Center” at MMRDA much on the guidelines of a war-room that is set up in Mantralaya by himself. War Room’s need was felt by the Metropolitan Commissioner keeping in mind the large number of projects undertaken by MMRDA. The War-Room will be busy not only to streamline mega projects, discuss and take quick decisions with regard to any and all emergencies, it will also undertake critical research activities to pave the way towards “total development” of the city and its metropolitan region.
  10. MMRDA, in the month of September 2018, successfully restarted the first phase of Monorail from Chembur to Wadala and will start operations of the second phase in the next year.
  11. MMRDA successfully conducted the bid process and received lowest quotes for coaches, lifts, escalators and auto fare collection machines. This year the Authority inaugurated 1.4-km Ghansoli-Talavli flyover and a 575-m long flyover from Savita Chemicals towards Belapur. The Bhoomipujan for the 796-m ROB at Kopri, Thane; and 3.5-km Road connecting Thane-Belapur Road was also performed.
  12. The New MMRDA Logo was launched by the Chief Minister which is indicative of the nature of varied projects the Authority has been implementing in the recent past. “The change in Logo was pertinent in the wake of the changed and enhanced scope of work undertaken by MMRDA over a period of time. It conveys the diverse development activities MMRDA undertakes today and the way forward the Authority has planned”, expressed Mr.Fadnavis.

Besides Metro-2A & 7 MMRDA is looking at completing many other projects in 2019 –

  1. After taking over the operations of the Monorail, MMRDA has been running it quite successfully and is now aiming completion of phase-2 of Monorail. MMRDA, in the larger public interest, has terminated the contract with M/s. LTSE for their failure to perform and fulfill contractual obligations, in turn, causing great inconvenience to the Monorail commuters. The Monorail is expected to carry a number of commuters daily once the second phase from Wadala to Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk is commissioned.
  2. Nearer home, MMRDA is keen to introduce smart parking in the Bandra-Kurla Complex with the help of RTO and Traffic Police. There will be parking patrolling vans operating within the complex to deter illegal parking which invariably causes traffic chaos in the peak hours.
  3. There are three more projects that MMRDA has vowed to complete in 2019. The first is 1.6- km long Bandra-Kurla-Chunabhatti (EEH connector) of which the estimated cost is Rs.156 crore. This Connector crosses Mithi, LBS Road, Central and Harbour Rail tracks to help motorists save 30 minutes and 3-km drive. Motorists will be able to avoid traffic congestion and pollution in the Sion-Dharavi area.
  4. Then there are two flyovers (Estimated cost Rs.163 crore) and a road coming up to clear BKC Junction. The total length of the two flyovers – one from BKC to the Sea Link and two Sea Link to BKC is 1,888 meters. Also planned is a 300-meter long and 12 feet wide road running through the government land to streamline traffic from Dharavi to Sea Link.
  5. MMRDA is also working on a war footing to de-congest BKC and SCLR junctions by constructing two roads at an estimated cost of Rs.449 crore. The 1.3-km elevated road running from MTNL junction to LBS Flyover will clear Bandra-Kurla Complex and another 3.89-km elevated road from Kurla (Kapadia Nagar) to Vakola near Western Express Highway will help decongest SCLR junction.
  6. Yet another project that MMRDA intends to undertake is an improvement of signages on Western and Eastern Express Highway as also in the Bandra-Kurla Complex. While implementing this project MMRDA will pay special attention to the positioning, placement, and information on the signages.
  7. Two other projects that are at the final stage are – The 650-meter long Mankoli bridge and 655- meter long Rajnoli bridge (Rs.121 crore). These two bridges will prove crucial to clearing congestion and road rages at Mankoli and Rajnoli junction on the Mumbai-Nasik National Highway and provide faster connectivity. After terminating the contracts with the contractors for their failure to perform and fulfill contractual obligations, the new contractors are in the process of being appointed and these two much-awaited bridges will be thrown open to the public by the end of 2019.

In the year 2019, MMRDA also is looking at undertaking the “Access Control System” to achieve signal-free WEH for which MMRDA will be interacting with consultants in the field. There are suggestions to break down a flyover or two to make the WEH congestion free. The consultants may also suggest a few elevated roads and or underpasses at particular junction. MMRDA is keen to undertake this project.

Source: MMRDA

MoHUA Share Year-end review reports on Metro Rail for 2018

Narendra Shah
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MoHUA Share Year-end review reports on Metro Rail for 2018


New Delhi , Metro Rail News: The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Govt. of India has today shared year-end review report for 2018 and summarized the development activities carried out in Urban Transport sector in the year.

Metro Lines Commissioned/Operational

At present, about 536 kms of Metro Rail lines are operational in 10 cities i.e. Delhi & NCR, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai and Gurugram. Since May, 2014 to till date, about 287 Kms of metro rail lines have been commissioned in Delhi & NCR, Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Gurugram. In 2018 (from January, 2018 to till date), about 110 Kms of metro rail lines have been commissioned in Delhi & NCR, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Metro Projects approved

Since May, 2014, 13 new metro projects with a total length of about 248 Kms at a total cost of Rs. 68,021 crore have been approved for Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Gurugram, Lucknow, Chennai Extension, Pune, Delhi Metro Extensions, Noida – Greater Noida, Bhopal and Indore. In 2018 itself, 3 new projects with a length of about 66 Kms at a total cost of Rs. 16,408 crore have been approved for Bhopal, Indore and Delhi Metro Extn from Noida City Centre to Noida Sector 62.

Metro Inauguration

Foundation of 6 metro projects has been laid since May, 2014, for Nagpur, Pune, and 4 lines in Mumbai. Several new  metro lines have been inaugurated since May, 2014 in Delhi, Hyderabad and Kochi. Delhi Metro extension from Mundka to Brigadier Hoshiyar Singh (11.18 Km) and Delhi Metro extension from Escort Mujesar to Raja Nahar Singh Ballabgarh (3.205 km) was inaugurated during 2018.  Around 650 kms of metro rail projects are at various stages of implementation in Delhi & NCR, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Jaipur, Mumbai (including State initiatives by MMRDA), Hyderabad, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Pune, Noida, Bhopal and Indore. About 750 kms of metro rail systems and 373 km of Rapid Rail Transit Systems (RRTS) are under planning in various cities.

In order to promote “Make in India” and indigenization of various metro rail system, standard specification of rolling stock, signalling system, electrical & electromechanical metro rail components and civil engineering structures have been issued. Further, eligibility criteria for procurement of rolling stocks has also been issued.  I-Metros (Indian Metro Rail Organisations’ Society) – a platform to exchange ideas, pooling of knowledge and sharing of experience, best practices, innovations etc. among the Indian metro rail companies to nurture excellence in performance was launched in March 2018.

With PIB Inputs

Uber partners with Delhi Metro to make last mile connectivity easier

Narendra Shah
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Uber partners with Delhi Metro to make last mile connectivity easier

New Delhi, Metro Rail News: On-demand ride-sharing company Uber announced the second phase of partnership with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). Under this partnership, the company will install kiosks on 50 more metro stations till the first half of 2019. In the first phaseof this partnership, Kiosks have been installed at Sikandarpur, Dwarka Sector-21 and Rajiv Chowk to facilitate the passengers. This partnership will facilitate the last-mile connectivity.

As part of this partnership, Uber will appoint Uber Rider Assistant on the proposed Metro Stations for the convenience of its riders, who will be able to book Uber Ride without any app. Dr. Mangu Singh, Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said, “DMRC has always kept the interest of its passengers in the center of their work. Facilitate our agenda mobility and make feeder transport accessible to the passengers in a convenient way.

He said, ” With this partnership with Cab aggregators like Uber and Ola , we will encourage more and more people to travel from the metro so that they can get convenient connectivity to the corner.” Madhu Kanan, Chief Commercial Officer (Asia Pacific) of Uber, said, “By simplifying the journey of various places from the metro stations, we can reduce the need of parking and make corner connectivity easier.”

He said, “We are excited to work with DMRC and expand the reach of public transport in Delhi-NCR.” This will define the future urban mobility. It is the first participation of Uber with one of the world’s largest transit networks. ‘

Mumbai Metro 3 corridor achieve Second TBM breakthrough at SEEPZ station

Narendra Shah
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Mumbai Metro 3 corridor achieve Second TBM breakthrough at SEEPZ station

Mumbai. Metro Rail News:The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) today achieve the breakthrough of the second TBM of Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro-3 corridor at SEEPZ station. The first breakthrough was achieved on September 24 at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) Terminal 2 station.


The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), named Wainganga 2, tunneled from the launching shaft at Sariput Nagar, near Aarey Colony to SEEPZ station. It was was commissioned on 23rd August 2018 from Sariput Nagar launching shaft completed its tunnel drive of 568 metres in package 7 to see the light at its end at SEEPZ station. One more time it marks the achievement of an important milestone towards the steady completion of the 33.5-km long Metro-3 corridor. It is the result of consistent and continuous effort by a team of nearly 250 engineers, technicians and workers together to make this reach of tunneling successful.

“This is a second big milestone for the MMRC. We are delighted on completing another challenging achievement. The credit equally goes to the engineers and other stakeholders involved in the project.” said, Ashwini Bhide, managing director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC)

Wainganga 2, made its way through the rocky strata made of Basalt drilling relentlessly for exactly 125 days to attain the breakthrough. It has charted its course from under Jogeshwari – Vikhroli link road. The 92-meter long Wainganga-2 bored, on an average, 4.5 meters daily, with a peak rate of 10-12m per day, shaping the tunnel with 405 RCC cement rings.

The first two breakthroughs are part of the Package 7 of the project, which runs from Marol Naka to SEEPZ via MIDC. The first breakthrough was also achieved by Wainganga 1, which was launched for Marol Naka. The package will provide crucial linkages to the other Metro corridors, the existing Mumbai Metro One at Marol Naka station and the upcoming Swami Samarth Nagar-Vikhroli Metro 6 at Aarey station.

It will also provide rail connectivity to commercial hubs of SEEPZ and MIDC. The 4.16-km-long package is being executed by the consortium of Larsen & Toubro and the Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company.

All 17 TBMs have been commissioned at 10 TBM shafts and tunneling for around 15 km of the 52.21 km has been completed. The first TBMs were lowered at Naya Nagar in Mahim, which are expected to achieve breakthrough in the first quarter of 2019 in Dadar.

Metro-3 corridor in its reach between CSMIA T 2 station to the ramp at Aarey colony will provide access to Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro-1 at Marol Naka and Swami Samarth Nagar-JogeshwariKanjurmarg-Vikhroli Metro-6 corridor at Aarey Station and also to business hubs like MIDC and SEEPZ which today are not connected by suburban rail.

  • second TBM Break Throuh 3
    PIC 1: Second TBM breakthrough at SEEPZ station
  • 2nd TBM Breakthrough 2
    PIC 2: Second TBM breakthrough at SEEPZ station
  • 2nd TBM Breakthrough 1
    PIC 3: Second TBM breakthrough at SEEPZ station

MMRC, as of today, has completed about 15-km of tunnelling. For the purpose, 17 Tunnel Boring Machines have been commissioned at ten TBM shafts.

On the occasion Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, MMRC said “This is a second big milestone for Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC). We are extremely delightful for completing another challenging achievement and the credit equally goes to the engineers and other stakeholders involved in this Project. Without their hard work and continuous efforts reaching this milestone is unimaginable”

M/s Larsen & Toubro and Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. Ltd. are consortia partners for the construction of Package-7 which runs from Marol Naka to SEEPZ via MIDC. The total length of the tunnel is 7.07-km and the contractors expect about eleven lakh cubic meters of muck to be generated. The generated muck will be disposed of at Talawali-Pise, a government land spared for dumping the muck. As of today the contractors have disposed of 4.2 lakhs cubic meters of muck.

Delhi Metro Pink Line Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 Corridor to open on 31 Dec 2018

Narendra Shah
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Delhi Metro Pink Line Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 Corridor to open on 31 Dec 2018

New Delhi, Metro Rail News: A New year gift from Delhi Metro to Delhi – NCR People. Finally, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced the opening date of 9.7 km long stretch between Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 of Pink Line. This section is all set to start the 9.7-km Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 corridor of the Pink Line on 31st December 2018. The train services for the public will start from the same day at 4 pm onwards. “The route underwent safety inspection on 24 Decmebr 2018 paving way for its opening” Said Metro officials.

The DMRC has shared this information through its newly opened official Twitter handle.

The inauguration of the train service between Lajpat Nagar – Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 will be done through the video conferencing from the DMRC Headquarters Metro Bhawan on 31st December 2018 at 11 am by the Hon’ble Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puriand Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodiya. The train services for the public will start from the same day at 4 pm onwards.

The new stretch of the 59-km-long Delhi Metro Pink Line, which spans from Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar, is part of the Phase-III of the DMRC network. ‘

“The Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) inspected the Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 corridor of the Pink Line. The 9.7-km segment has five stations, three underground and two elevated,” a senior DMRC official said.

The 6 stations are — Lajpat Nagar, Vinobapuri, Ashram, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Mayur Vihar Phase-I and Mayur Vihar Pocket-1. Mayur Vihar Phase-I and Mayur Vihar Pocket-1 are elevated stations, the official said.

The Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 corridor will boost connectivity between south Delhi shopping hubs such as Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, INA and South Extension and east Delhi. It will also make Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station more accessible, besides offering an interchange at Mayur Vihar I, connecting Pink and Blue lines. With completion of this route, the entire Pink Line will be 59 km long. Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro completed 16 years of its operations on Monday.

Former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee had inaugurated the DMRC’s first-ever corridor — an 8.2-km stretch between Tis Hazari and Shahdara stations of the Red Line — on December 24, 2002, fulfilling a long-cherished dream of the capital city. The 3.2 km-long Escorts Mujesar-Raja Nahar Singh (Ballabhgarh) section of the Violet Line was opened to public in November, taking the entire span of the Delhi Metro network to 317 km. While the Shahdara-Tis Hazari section had six stations, DMRC now boasts of 231 stations, with an average daily ridership of about 28 lakh.

The official said, as part of Ph-IV of the DMRC, a 103 km-long project has been proposed and Delhi Metro will continue to serve people with greater amenities and efficiency. On December 20, the DMRC had also launched its Twitter account, which now has over 3,200 followers.

Better Inter-City Connection

The Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket 1 corridor increase connectivity between shopping hubs in south Delhi like Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, INA and South Extension and east Delhi. It will also make Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station more accessible, besides offering an interchange at Mayur Vihar I.

Delhi Metro Celebrated 16 years of operation on Monday

Narendra Shah
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Delhi Metro Celebrated 16 years of operation on Monday

New Delhi, Metro Rail News: The Delhi Metro has changed the public mode of transport for the ordinary man in Delhi over the years and continues to expand its reach, having added nearly 100 km of network this year.

It was on December 24, 2002, when the Delhi Metro was inaugurated by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then prime minister, along with the then Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Now Delhi Metro is a massive metro network of 314 kms and 229 metro stations across Delhi and national capital region.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The metro has spread its network across 317 km
  • The Delhi Metro ferries approximately 26-27 lakh riders every day
  • It has eight colour-coded lines: Red, Yellow, Blue, Violet, Orange, Green, Magenta and Pink

The Delhi Metro, which began its journey with a mere 8-km-long Red Line connecting Shahdra and Tis Hazari, has turned 16 on Monday.

The metro has gone strength to strength since then and will soon boast of being one of the largest metro networks in the world, after Shanghai and Beijing, and is expected to even overshadow the London Underground.

During its construction in three phases, the metro has spread its network across 317 km of the city and its suburbs.

By the time the Phase-III winds up next year, it will have expanded to 349 km, and with Phase-IV, which has just been given the green signal and is expected to be completed by 2022, the Delhi Metro will cross the 400-km mark.

In words of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, the current year was “historic” in terms of construction of several new stretches, totalling a length of a “record” 87 km.

The expansion of the metro has not been a cakewalk along the years, with the transport system facing all kinds of roadblocks, from acquiring land– as in the case of Shakurbasti and Trilok Puri– to tunnelling around the Old Delhi area, known for its historical monuments.

At present, it has eight colour-coded lines: Red, Yellow, Blue, Violet, Orange, Green, Magenta and Pink, with the last two being the latest addition to the fleet.

The phase-IV, still to go on floor, is no less ambitious and aims to touch some of the harder to reach outskirts of the city, like Bawana and Narela in northwest Delhi.

With 231 stations over and below ground across the network, the Delhi Metro ferries approximately 26-27 lakh riders every day.

To commemorate the 16th anniversary of Delhi Metro’s operations on December 24, 2018, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has put together an exhibition showcasing metro’s journey so far since the commencement of operations in 2002. The exhibition was inaugurated by DMRC’s managing director Mangu Singh at the Rajiv Chowk Metro station on Monday.

  • An exhibition documenting the 16 years of Delhi Metro was inaugurated by MD DMRC Dr. Mangu Singh at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station today 1
    Pic 1
  • An exhibition documenting the 16 years of Delhi Metro was inaugurated by MD DMRC Dr. Mangu Singh at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station today 3
    Pic 2
  • An exhibition documenting the 16 years of Delhi Metro was inaugurated by MD DMRC Dr. Mangu Singh at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station today 5
    Pic 3
  • An exhibition documenting the 16 years of Delhi Metro was inaugurated by MD DMRC Dr. Mangu Singh at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station today 2 1


    Pic 3: An exhibition documenting the 16 years of Delhi Metro was inaugurated by MD DMRC, Dr. Mangu Singh at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station on Monday

The exhibition is in the form of colourful panels that showcase the journey and year-by-year growth of Delhi Metro. The panels have been installed at the viewer’s gallery at the metro station, which is usually accessed by commuters to cross from one side of the platform on Blue Line (Dwarka-Vaishali/Noida City Centre) to another. Apart from panels, banners have also been put up by DMRC at the station. While the panels showcase metro’s journey, interesting facts and trivia about Delhi Metro have also been displayed as part of the exhibition, including major landmarks such as the beginning of reserved coach for women, first eight-coach trains etc.

Hon’ble PM Modi inaugurate Bogibeel bridge

Narendra Shah
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Hon’ble PM Modi inaugurate Bogibeel bridge

Dibrugarh, Metro Rail News: This Christmas Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates the completion of a Bogibeel Bridge project his predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurated 16 years ago.

All you need to know about Bogibeel Bridge

Bogibeel Bridge is India’s first and only fully welded bridge construction. Which combined road and rail bridge over the Brahmaputra river in the state of Assam between Dhemaji district and Dibrugarh district. The bridge has double rail line and 3 lane road on the upper deck, built 17km downstream of Dibrugarh in the south and Dehmaji to the river’s north, spans 4.98km, and emerges as a vital link between Assam and Arunachal. The bridge will provide connectivity to nearly 50 lakh people residing in Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, giving direct access to north bank from the rest of the country. This is the 4th longest bridge in India after Dhola Sadiya Bridge, Bandra-Worli Sea Link and Mahatma Gandhi Setu.


The Bogibeel Bridge Now Open for Public Today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurate India’s longest rail-cum-road Bogibeel bridge Today. The bridge is, in many ways, considered a dream come true for the people of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Tight security has been arranged on both sides of the bridge for the inaugural programme. The 4.94 km-long bridge over the mighty Brahmaputra river is situated 17 km downstream of upper Assam’s Dibrugarh city.

The Bogibeel bridge project was a part of Assam Accord 1985. Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda had laid the foundation stone of the bridge on January 22 in 1997. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had inaugurated the construction work of the bridge on April 21, 2002.

The project was initially sanctioned at a cost of Rs 3,230.02 crore and the final cost was revised to Rs 5,920 crore.

“Completing the Rs 5,900-crore project over two decades (the foundation was laid in 1997) has been but a daunting task, especially taming and bridging the unpredictable and flood-prone river during monsoons,” said Mahendra Singh, chief engineer, Northeast Frontier Railway’s Bogibeel project. The bridge built 17km downstream of Dibrugarh in the south and Dehmaji to the river’s north, spans 4.98km, and emerges as a vital link between Assam and Arunachal. “Once the bridge is opened, troops and supplies can move faster to Arunachal Pradesh, which is India’s eastern-most state sharing border with China,” said an Army official.


The bridge reduces travel time from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh to four hours because all this time, one had to detour via Tinsukia covering an additional 170km. The current route through Guwahati in the south bank is long and torturous.

“Located just 20km away from the Assam-Arunachal border, it now becomes the most preferred alternative to the Kolia Bhomora Setu in Tezpur,” said Singh.

Bogibeel Bridge falls in Seismic Zone-V, which is most vulnerable to earthquakes with magnitudes more than 7.0. To offer good stability, the heavy spans (1,700MT) are provided with seismic restrainers.

Glimpse of Bogibeel Bridge Inugration

  • PM

    PM Narendra Modi being received by the dignitaries on his arrival at Dibrugarh, Assam.
  • Inauguration of BogibeelBridge by PM

    Pic 2: Inauguration of Bogibeel Bridge by PM
  • Pic 1 Inauguration of BogibeelBridge by PM

    Pic 1: Inauguration of Bogibeel Bridge by PM
  • PM Shri @narendramodi is addressing a public meeting in Dibrugarh Assam
    PM Shri Narendra Modi is addressing a public meeting in Dibrugarh, Assam
  • Inauguration of BogibeelBridge by PM 3

    The first passenger train was also flagged off
  • Unveiled BogibeelBridge

    Unveiled Bogibeel Bridge
  • Bogilee Bridege 6
    Sunset View of Bogibee Bridge

Delhi Metro Year End Review Report for 2018

Narendra Shah
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Delhi Metro Year End Review Report for 2018

New Delhi, Metro Rail News: The year 2018 was a historic year for the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). This year, a record, 86.72 kilometres of new sections of phase III were opened by Delhi Metro. E-Rickshaws were also launched from some stations as part of efforts to increase the last mile connectivity from the stations.

       2nd January:   The Delhi Metro started the test runs on the Noida – Greater Noida Corridor on 2nd January. The train was flagged off by Dr. Mangu Singh, Managing Director, DMRC and Mr. Alok Tandon, Managing Director, NMRC. 

       14th March: The Majlis Park – Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus Pink corridor of the Delhi Metro was formally inaugurated for passenger services by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs, Sh. Hardeep Singh Puri and the Chief Minister of Delhi, Sh. Arvind Kejriwal in the presence of Union Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan and many senior dignitaries.   

       28th May:  The 24.82 kilometre long Kalkaji Mandir – Janakpuri West Metro corridor was flagged off on 28th May, 2018 (Monday) by the Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Sh. Hardeep Singh Puri and the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, Sh. Arvind Kejriwal from the Nehru Enclave Metro station.

        24th June: The 11.18 kilometre long City park (Bahadurgarh) – Mundka Metro corridor was flagged off via remote by the hon’ble Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi on 24th June, 2018. Bahadurgarh became the third city in Haryana to be connected by the Delhi Metro.

        3rd August: Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Delhi, Shri Anil Baijal flagged off a fleet of 100 e-rickshaws, called SmartE, from Dwarka Sec-10 Metro station to boost the last mile connectivity service in Dwarka sub-city for Metro commuters. These E-rickshaws ply from 8 Metro stations of Dwarka sub-city namely, Dwarka, Dwarka Sec-14, Sec-13, Sec-12, Sec-11, Sec-10, Sec-9 and Sec-8 from 6 AM to 11 PM.

     6th August:  The 8.10 kilometre long Durgabai Deshmukh South Campus – Lajpat Nagar Metro corridor was formally flagged off on 6thAugust for passenger operations by Sh. Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Housing and Urban Affairs and Sh. Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister, National Capital Territory of Delhi in the presence of the Sh. Anant Kumar, the Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs. 

      16th September: The Delhi Metro introduced QR code based ticketing facility for travel on Airport Express Line from 16th September. With the introduction of this facility, commuter’s using Delhi Metro’s Airport Express Line can use the QR Code generated on their smart phones instead of smart cards or tokens to travel.

      31st October: The 17.8 kilometre long Trilokpuri Sanjay Lake – Shiv Vihar Metro corridor was formally flagged off on 31st October for passenger operations by Sh. Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Housing and Urban Affairs and Sh. Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister, National Capital Territory of Delhi.

        19th November: The 3.2 km long Raja Nahar Singh (Ballabhgarh) – Escorts Mujesar extension of the Kashmere Gate – Escorts Mujesar corridor (Violet Line) of Delhi Metro was formally flagged off via remote by the hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Sh. Narendra Modi on 19th November, 2018. 

Source: DMRC

Now Hyderabad Metro will run every 6 minutes during peak hours

Narendra Shah
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Now Hyderabad Metro will run every 6 minutes during peak hours

Hyderabad, Metro Rail News: Good news for Hyderabad people, A train is now being operated every six minutes during peak hours on the route, To reduce the waiting time for Metro Rail passengers, especially those travelling on the Miyapur-LB Nagar route.

On 22 December 2018, The L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad announced that the service frequency of Metro trains on the Miyapur-LB Nagar route is now for every six minutes during peak hours i.e. from 8 am to 12 noon and 5 pm to 9 pm. The service frequency during non-peak hours has reduced to 7 minutes against earlier which was 8 minutes.

Hitec City Metro work may take more time

A majority of the eight stations on the Ameerpet-Hitec City Metro Rail line is yet to get staircases and lifts. Staircases have been built at Durgam Cheruvu, the demolition of buildings on the other side was still taking place on Friday.

The staircase construction is in progress at Madhapur and Jubilee Hills Road No. 5 . Construction of piers and viaduct uptil Cyber Towers is underway.

An official on condition of anonymity stated that not only access to the commuters but also the signalling system would take time to be synchronised.

As work on the Cyber Towers piers for train reversal facility has not been completed, HMRL has hit upon the technical solution of “twin single line method” wherein double line railway track functions as two separate single lines. 

But the twin single line needs a lot of testing. Additionally, since Metro Rail systems involve highly complicated signalling systems, they have to be synchronised for proper functioning. The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) will conduct an inspection, only after which the final approval will be received.

Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan had asked Metro Rail officials to start the Ameerpeet-Hitec City services from this month. While that looks unlikely, officials, while not wanting to divulge a date, said they were targeting an inaugural with basic amenities in January. 

However, it appears that the works would seem to take longer than that. The official pointed out that land acquisition had been completed across the stretch. The deadline for making the line operational is March.

Nizamuddin Railway station ready to connect with Delhi Metro Link

Narendra Shah
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Nizamuddin Railway station ready to connect with Delhi Metro Link

New Delhi, Metro Rail News: In the coming days, a new transport hub will come up after Delhi Metro links the city’s third busiest railway station at Hazrat Nizamuddin and the Inter-State Bus Terminus at Sarai Kale Khan. The new Hazrat Nizamuddin metro station, part of the Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket-1 stretch of the Pink Line, is expected to become operational later this month

Sources in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) revealed that a safety audit of the 9.7-km Lajpat Nagar-Mayur Vihar Pocket-1 section of the Pink Line’s Majlis Park-Shiv Vihar corridor will be likely conducted next week by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety. Once this is through and cleared, DMRC is expected to open the section to the public this month itself.

“The nearest metro stations at the moment are 3-4 kilometres away, but the new station at Hazrat Nizamuddin will change that,” observed Anuj Dayal, executive director (corporate communications), DMRC.

Delhi Metro’s presence will only add to the importance of the location as a transport hub, given the plans to have the three high-speed corridors of the proposed Regional Rapid Transit System converging at Sarai Kale Khan and connecting Delhi with Keeping in mind the integration with the RRTS station, DMRC has made one of the three entry gates wider. “Gate No 3 is 13 metres wide instead of the usual 7-8 metres,” said a DMRC official. “The entry point has extra-wide staircases and two escalators, with provisions for the addition of two more escalators in the future.”

Around 50,000 people are expected to use this metro halt, so the station has three atria unlike the two in most other son the Pink Line. The station has the history of the nearby areas reflected in the 30 artworks that adorn its interiors. Thematic impressions and ‘jharokhas’, apart from motifs from the architecture of Humayun’s Tomb, mark the station. But the beauty aside, there are a few drawbacks here. While Gate No 1 leads commuters to the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station, the second gate is close to the bus terminal. Commuters travelling between the railway station and the metro station will, therefore, have a 250-metre trek from one to the other.

  • 2J6A0145

    Pic 1: Hazrat Nizamuddin Metro Station
     interior
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    Pic 2 : Hazrat Nizamuddin Metro Station
     interior
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    Pic 3: Hazrat Nizamuddin Metro Station
     interior

Paucity of land forced the construction of the underground metro station at a considerable distance from the railway station. DMRC couldn’t even create a dedicated pathway connecting the railway station with the metro station because the road between them belongs to PWD. As soon as commuters exit the metro premises, they will be bang in the middle of traffic, crowds and encroached pavements. “We have provided whatever facilities we could wherever possible for commuters,” a DMRC official insisted. “There are two elevators, apart from escalators at the entry/exit point closest to the railway station so that passengers don’t have to carry their luggage.

Ominously, even before the station is officially open, many of its entry/exit point walls have been taken over by hawkers. “We have put up fences wherever possible to ensure there is no encroachment and also put up bollards on our premises so that vehicles don’t enter the area without authorisation,” the official claimed.

Lucknow metro to run on airport-Munshipulia route from April 2019

Narendra Shah
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Lucknow metro to run on airport-Munshipulia route from April 2019

Lucknow, Metro Rail News: From April 2019, commuters in the capital city Lucknow will have the option of taking a Metro ride from the airport to Munshipulia.

Currently, Lucknow Metro running on an 8-km stretch from Transport Nagar to Charbagh, the Metro will be operational on the entire 23-km stretch from Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport to Munshipulia (North-South corridor), said LMRC officials. The passenger load, which is around 10 lakh per year, is expected to increase 10 fold, they added.

“Now, the entire 23-km stretch would be available for the ride so more commuters are expected to board the Metro train. We have all the rolling stocks with us and they all would be pressed in according to the traffic on the route,” said an official.

The LMRC has completed all its engineering work, including construction of tunnels, track-laying work, signaling, well before time just to start Metro operations on time.

Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) will complete overhead wiring in two days. It has completed civil construction work near Polytechnic crossing, which further leads to the joining of the complete section from Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport to Munshipulia.

Besides, the corporation is focused on clearing the remaining installation work in this corridor by the end of this year. This would pave way for the test of Lucknow Metro by the Commissioner Railway Safety.

LMRC has also completed the track laying work from CCS Airport to Munshipulia Metro Station about a week back.

“The completion of all the work from CCS Airport to Munshipulia in such short duration could only be possible because of the highly skilled work force and dedication, expertise and right guidance,” said Kumar Keshav, MD, LMRC.

The LMRC has already moved an application for the clearance by the Commissioner Railway Safety. It will start testing the track, signalling, OHC work from next week or from the first week of the January, said an official.

Recently, Lucknow metro MD Kumar Keshav inspected the work from Lucknow University station to Munshipulia Station. The university metro station is one of the three stations in this corridor to have a radio tower with Badshah Nagar and Indira Nagar metro stations.

The tower installed here helps in the signalling of Metro that will help in making operational functioning like surveillance, tetra connectivity smoother. These towers will work on the frequency between 380 mhz-385 mhz.

The installation work for the glasses at the ticket office machine (TOM) has also started and it would be completed in the last week of this month.

The civil work of KD Singh & RS Mishra Metro Station is also progressing. Metro has developed a commercial space (property development area) on both sides of KD Singh Metro Station along with one side at all other seven elevated Metro stations.

The artwork at the outer side of Ram Sagar Mishra Metro Station has also started.

TRACK TESTING SOON

The LMRC has already moved an application for clearance by the Commissioner Railway Safety.

It will start testing the track, signalling, OHC work from next week or from the first week of the January, said an official.

The installation work for the glasses at the ticket office machine (TOM) has also started and it would be completed in the last week of this month.

JICA sanctions Rs 4,760 crore for Chennai Metro Rail Phase-2

Narendra Shah
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JICA sanctions Rs 4,760 crore for Chennai Metro Rail Phase-2

Chennai, Metro Rail News: In a major step to the metro railway network in the Chennai, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Friday sanctioned a Rs 4,760.67 crore (75.519bn JPY) loan to kickstart the 107.55 km Chennai Metro Phase-2. An agreement in this regard was signed between C S Mohapatra, additional secretary, department of economic affairs, The ministry of finance, and Katsuo Matsumoto, chief JICA representative, New Delhi.

“The Chennai Metro Project (2) (I) aims to meet growing traffic demand by building mass rapid transit system to mitigate worsening road traffic/ traffic pollution and eventually lead to balanced regional development and enhancement of environmental condition in Chennai Metropolitan Area,” said a release from the ministry of finance.

Phase-2, initially estimated to cost Rs 85,047 crore, was cut by nearly Rs 11,300 crore after a revised detailed project report was prepared, officials said, adding that the Centre, which is yet to officially accord sanction, will share a part of the cost.

Line Map of Rail Network in Chennai City

Since 2008, JICA had funded Rs 11,000 crore in loans for developing around 52.4km of the metro rail network 45km of Phase 1 and a 9km extension. Phase 2 may link 4 corners to core of city

Phase-2, with 116 stations across corridors, is expected to link all four corners of the city with the core area. The corridors include the stretch from Madhavaram to SIPCOT in Siruseri via Mylapore over 46.1km, from CMBT to Lighthouse over 17.1km and from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur via St Thomas Mount over 45.2km.

A separate detailed project report has been prepared for extending the CMBT-Light House section to Poonamallee.

Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) will first begin construction of the priority corridor a 52.01km stretch from CMBT to Sholinganallur with 57 stations across the Madhavarm-Sholinganallur and Madhavaram-Siruseri sections and has begun conducting soil tests. “We have changed underground stations to elevated wherever possible. We have also trimmed down the size of the stations. This is to cut cost as well as the time of construction. The finer details will be ready only in the detailed design process which is underway,” a CMRL official said. “The priority corridor alone will have 15 to 20 elevated stations. We decided to change based on the availability of land and space.”

Several other measures have also been taken to bring down the cost. It includes acquiring government land wherever possible. So far, CMRL has issued notices to 800 people to the their land to build the priority corridor.

Officials said about around 30,000 square metres of land would be required for Phase 2, one-third the 90,000 square metres acquired for the 45km phase-1. The size of the stations in Phase 2 will be around 150 metres against 220 metres in Phase 1.

NMRC approves Safety inspection report, seeks Aqua Line inauguration date from govt

Narendra Shah
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NMRC approves Safety inspection report, seeks Aqua Line inauguration date from govt

Noida, Metro Rail News: On 21 Dec 2018, A final and mandatory safety inspection report has given the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) for the approval to launch commercial operations of the much awaited Noida’s Aqua Line. After the approval, the NMRC has now written letter to the Uttar Pradesh government to finalise the date of inauguration of the much-awaited Aqua Line that would run between Sector 71 station in Noida and the Depot Station in Greater Noida, covering 29.7 km through 21 stations.

“The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) report has been received and it has its sanction for the commercial operations of the metro service. The report also praised the civil and track work of the metro system, NMRC ED P D Upadhyay said.

NMRC’s managing director has written a letter to the state government for finalizing the date of inauguration, said Upadhyay, who was in Lucknow Friday, handed over a letter to Chief Secretary Anup Chandra Pandey.
He also said the fares of the Aqua Line would be decided in the NMRC Board meeting scheduled on December 28.

“Chairman Sanjay K Murthy, the additional secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHU) will chair the meeting, he added. 

Earlier, the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) approved the second phase of the Metro link from Noida Sector 71 to Knowledge Park 5 in Greater Noida.

The extension will comprise nine stations and with a project cost of cost Rs 2,602 crores.

This decision was taken at the Authority’s 113th board meeting. “NMRC would be the nodal agency for the project. The first phase of the Metro project comprising five stations from Noida Sector 71 to Greater Noida Sector 2 is expected to cost around Rs 1521 crore, officials said.

The extended line of Noida Metro’s Aqua Line will have a total of nine metro stations out of which two will be in Noida and seven will be in Greater Noida. The metro stations in Noida include sectors 122 and 123 and the metro stations in Greater Noida include sector 4, Ecotech 12, sectors 2, 3, 10, 12 and Knowledge Park V.

Akhilesh Yadav earlier had given its approval for construction of a 15-km Metro project.

“We have asked builders to contribute fund and generate ideas to lure investment and buyers,” said a senior official of UP government.

“We are adhering to the direction of the government. This project will change the fortune of this belt. We have decided to plan stress-free homes where we will offer facilities for all family members,” said Rahul Gupta, Director of Ace group.

“We believe that this project is crucial as it will benefit thousands of homebuyers who have shifted to the newly built apartment complexes in Greater Noida West and nearby Crossings Republik in Ghaziabad that has 36,000 housing units,” said Geetambar Anand, CMD, ATS.

Greater Noida West has around 3.5 lakh under-construction housing units of which around 40,000 are occupied.


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