Hyderabad: Chief Secretary SK Joshi on Friday asked the officials concerned to complete the green lungs tender process in one month to develop 59 urban forest parks under Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) limits.
At a review meeting at the Secretariat here with officials on urban forest parks spread in seven districts, he said: “the related works had to be completed by next March.” The Chief Secretary said, “59 sites had been identified in HMDA limits which could be developed as forest parks.”
He directed different departments including the Forest Department to take up the works and to develop 15 parks. HMDA should develop 17 parks, TSIIC 11, Tourism 7, Forest Corporation 4, GHMC 3 and Metro Rail 2 and complete the fencing and tender process works as per schedule, he said.
Joshi also asked to conduct a baseline survey through EPTRI and assess the underground waters, air quality and other factors to be involved. The officials were directed to frequently check the works by conducting inspections to ensure the quality of works.
All the parks, he said, should be developed for the benefit of the people in a pro-environment manner.
Principal Secretary of Forest Ajay Mishra, Principal Secretary to Industries Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary to Tourism B Venkatesham, HMDA Commissioner Chiranjeevulu, Metro Rail MD NVS Reddy, EPTRI DG B Kalyana Chakravarthy and other officials were present.
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has said the construction work of Mumbai Metro III can be done at night. Mumbai Metro III project’s construction that was stayed by the court for almost a year is finally set to resume. The year-long stay had cost the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) an estimate of Rs 6,100 crore.
After hearing the petition, Chief Justice Naresh Patil said, “We allow the MMRCL to carry out work even during the night hours, i.e. from 10 pm to 6 am.”
After hearing the petition, Chief Justice Naresh Patil said, “We allow the MMRCL to carry out work even during the night hours, i.e. from 10 pm to 6 am.”
The stay on metro construction at South Mumbai during the night was implemented because residents had complained of high noise pollution. Metro authorities can work easy now as the stay has been lifted and they are now allowed to work at midnight. The authorities will have to implement the National Environmental Engineering Institute (NEERI) recommendations to curtail noise levels. The state will also have to initiate a facility that the residents can approach to complain about grievances regarding noise levels.
noise pollution at the construction site of Mumbai Metro III
While preparing its report NEERI founds out that the MMRCL had not taken some measures to keep the noise levels under control. Some of the measures that were flouted by the authorities included putting noise barriers around sites, using sound mufflers, erecting acoustic enclosures around noise-making equipment and machines.
Mumbai Metro III map
Once completed, the 33-km underground Colaba-Bandra SEEPZMumbai Metro III project will connect Cuffe Parade in South Mumbai to the SEEPZ economic zone and the international airport in Andheri. The metro line is likely to benefit many commuters once the project is completed.
Surat: The diamond city of Gujarat will soon add another diamond to its crown. As per recent development, metro rail project in Surat is likely to be launched in 2019. There is news that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Surat Metro Rail will be approved by the state government. In couple of days the nod is likely to be given and this will set the ball rolling for the ambitious metro project in the city.
Surat will then become the second city in Gujarat to launch metro rail network after Ahmedabad. The estimated project value of metro project is around Rs 21,600 crores. The project will be launched in the first quarter of 2019 and work for the same might be wrapped up in four years. As per the tentative plan four elevated stations will be constructed under public-private partnership (PPP) model.
M Thennarasan, municipal commissioner of Surat while interacting with media said that amendments were made to include private player in the project.
He informed that the DPR is with Government of Gujarat’s finance department. Post approval, a decision will be taken whether the project should be undertaken by MEGA (Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad) or a new company to be formed to implement the Surat Metro project, added M Thennarasan.
As per the revised DPR there will be a total of 38 stations constructed on 40km long two metro corridors. There will be four elevated ones and built at a cost of Rs111.88 crore on PPP system.
The elevated Surat Metro stations will come up at Rupali canal and Althan tenement on metro corridor number 1. On metro corridor 2, aquarium and Athwa Chowpaty stations will be constructed. Corridor one will start from Sarthana up to Dream City. While corridor number 2 will begin from Saroli up and extend up to Bhesan.
Surat Municipal Corporation also plans give close by commercial plots to developers.
HYDERABAD: The inspection of 33 kV and 415V indoor substations in four Hyderabad Metro Rail stations from Madhura Nagar, Yousufguda, and Jubilee Hills Road: No 5 and Jubilee Check Post, has been done by Chief Electrical Inspector, Government of India (CEIG) for Hyderabad Metro Rail project, DVS Raju.
These stations which are part of Corridor-III (Ameerpet to Hitech City stretch) of the Hyderabad Metro Rail Project. The main motive of this inspection is a process of the sanction for Energisation of stations which will facilitate the testing and commissioning activities of Railway Systems viz. Signaling, Telecommunications and Automatic Fare Collection etc. in this section.
All the Metro Rail Stations receive power at 33 kV voltage from 132/33/25 kV Receiving Substation (RSS) located at Yousufguda and Uppal.
After the inspection,” the commissioning of these Auxiliary Substations in Metro stations will further boost the progress and hasten up the completion of Metro Rail section between Ameerpet and Jubilee Check Post of Corridor-III,” DVS Raju said.
Managing Director, K V B Reddy said that this is an important development for Corridor-III. The commissioning of these Four Stations (Madhura Nagar to Jubilee Check Post) auxiliary power supply is made available from Ameerpet to Jubilee Check Post.” L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited
In last week MMRDA’s one-member committee submitted its report.
Mr. Rajeev Metropolitan Commissioner said that the report has been submitted and now we hope that LTSE will accept its recommendations. It has suggested increasing the trip rate. We will disclose the figure only after they agree to it.
This committee report which has been prepared by former Central Railway General Manager Subodh Jain. In his committee report, he recommended that rising of trip rates from Rs 4,600 per trip. This was the rate in place until services were disrupted in November due to a fire. However, it has also rejected the contractor’s demand for Rs 18,000 per trip on the Chembur-Wadala line.
He further added that the earlier trip rate was a part of their three-year contract with MMRDA. Now that the contract is over they can demand a higher trip rate but it still has to be reasonable and they cannot make undue profits from public money. They need to get something but they should make profits with their efficiency.
He also added that we have suggested trip rates and if the LTSE accepts the recommendation we will disclose the rates. We have suggested an economic and sustainable trip rate. After going through all the parameters it will cost approximately Rs. 2.50 per passenger per kilometer.
Further, the report has also given some other recommendation:
No hiking of fares till the monorail runs at full capacity.
The staff at all stations will be limited to only 50 people, including security.
Ahmedabad: On Wednesday the Metro Rail Authority scrapped all rumors about closing relief road for two years to facilitate Metro work. The Chief Minister Vijay Rupani stated this during an event of Metro rail tunnel work inspection.
From few past days, this fake message has been viral on social media that due to the ongoing Metro work, relief road will be closed for traffic movement for two years.
IP Gautam, MD of Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) said that the Metro work is not going to affect any vehicular movement on any road in the walled part of the city. Around 6.5 km of Metro in this portion will run underground. We are working 20 meters below the surface. Therefore, the message is baseless.
A big leap for transportation
After the visit of a part of the tunnel near Kalupur, “The city has taken a big leap forward vis-a-vis transportation.”
Mr. Rupani said that there will be an amalgamation of three modes of railway connectivity at Kalupur. The metro rail is a big leap for transportation which will give last mile connectivity to people.
While visiting Kalupur Metro Station outside platform no 12 of Ahmedabad Railway Station. He further added that we have instructed the authorities to complete the project within the given time frame and to start operations on a priority basis on the stretch between Apparel Park and Vastral by January 2019.
He has also assured that vehicular movement will remain smooth. And said that we have instructed the Metro authority to take all necessary measures to cause the least inconvenience to the citizens during the construction as well as operational stages.
The Phase I of Metro rail project is 39.25 km out of which 6.5 km is underground and the rest is elevated. This project will connect four corners of the city with 2 corridors and 32 stations.
New Delhi: The Indian Railways will start trials for indigenously-built and much-awaited semi-high speed ‘Train 18’ from next month, a senior official of the ministry said, three months after its scheduled unveiling.
Once, successfully tested, it shall be inducted in the railways fleet.
The Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), which is a technical adviser to the Indian Railways, will conduct testing and give its validation to the train.
Rather than being pulled by a locomotive, ‘Train 18’ sets are powered by traction motors fitted underneath each coach to render them self-propelled, just like metro trains. The made-in-India fleet was earlier scheduled for roll-out in June.
The Train 18, which is built by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, would promote Make in India, and is capable of running at a speed of 160 km per hour, the official said.
The Train 18, which is built by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, would promote Make in India, and is capable of running at a speed of 160 km per hour, the official said.
Train 18 series will replace existing fleet of the Shatabdi Express trains. The ICF will make six such train sets, out of which two will have sleeper coaches, the official said
Laced with state-of-the-art features, all of its coaches will be inter-connected by fully sealed gangways, automatic doors with retractable footsteps, onboard Wi-Fi and infotainment, GPS-based passenger information system, modular toilets with bio-vacuum systems, rotational seats which can be aligned in the direction of travel (available only in the executive class), roller blinds and diffused LED lighting and accessible toilet for people with disability.
Upon successful implementation of Train 18, the IFC will start working on ‘Train 20’ which will have an all aluminum body. Aluminum will make the train more aesthetic, lightweight, energy efficient, and durable.
On 7 March 2018 proposal for the Delhi to Jaipur semi-high speed train just in 90 minutes has been disclosed.
Mumbai: Mumbai residents have decided to on the poll issue they will target the government ahead of 2019 elections. Over 10 lakh residents, a sizable vote bank have come together and have made it clear that they will use Metro 2B line as a poll issue.
A meeting was organized on Sunday in which residents from Juhu, Bandra, Santacruz, and Khar assembled at Jamnabai Narsee School in JVPD. They met to work out a plan involving auto rickshaw and taxi unions as well as Advanced Locality Management (ALMs) and residents’ groups in their movement.
The bone of contention is the long-standing demand for an underground Metro 2B line. This will start from DN Nagar in Andheri to Mandela in Mankhurd via Bandra.
Residents have made it clear that they will take it up as a key issue during the upcoming 2019 elections. The residents have threatened that they are pledging to exercise NOTA (none of the above) option if their demand is not accepted by the government.
The residents of the western suburbs from Bandra, Khar, Santacruz, and Juhu gathered at the Jamnabai Narsee School in JVPD on Sunday to chalk out a strategy to involve taxi, autorickshaw unions, all the Advanced Locality Management (ALMs) and residents’ groups in their movement.
Even well-known names like Former Rajya Sabha MP Javed Akhtar, eminent urban planners PK Das and Nitin Killawala and architect along with Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar were there in the resident meeting.
Kirtikar has assured that he would take the responsibility of taking the citizens’ delegation to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The detailed project report was presented by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) by Killawala. It was subsequently approved in August 2014 in which decision relating to underground was taken for Metro 2B line.
The following three alignment options were studied:
Dahisar to Juhu section partially elevated or underground with a depot at Charkop, Eksar or Oshiwara
Elevated up till Juhu with ramping within Juhu aerodrome
The third option was a separate corridor with Dahisar to DN Nagar elevated and DN Nagar to Mankhurd underground.
As reported in Mumbai Mirror, to keep away from land acquisition for ramping down and other construction-related and social issues, the section was proposed as completely underground with a depot at Oshiwara.
Killawala shared that MMRDA had fully prepared DPR by RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) and approved for underground metro on August 2014. He said that they would like that report to be put into practice. The planner gave misleading information on the cost and time factor which is now being challenged in court added Killawala.
Hansel D’Souza, member of Juhu Citizens Welfare Group in an interview with Mumbai Mirror said, “If a party changes, does it mean the logic and engineering has changed? Residents had even spent Rs 12 lakh in 2012 and submitted an IIT report which proposed underground metro. MMRDA too approved it in August 2014. How can the present government reverse this plan?’’ asked D’Souza.
The trio – Ashoke Pandit, Gautam Rao and Anandini Thakoor spearheading this movement informed that the Western suburb pays Rs 3,500 crore in property taxes. They also said that population is heading northwards by five percent and traffic density by 15 percent as compared to South Mumbai, but they are getting an underground Metro.
The trio shared that the authorities have increased stamp duty by 1 percent on property sales here which will be invested in building the Metro. “This is just an elitist discrimination. We have submitted in court how the elevated Metro has failed in the Middle East,’’ said Rao to Mumbai Mirror.
If the proposed elevated metro 2B comes there are several institutions that will get affected. These include:
Mithibai College
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
Sacred Heart Boys School
Sacred Heart Church burial ground
Bohri cemetery
St Theresa School in Santacruz and
MM Pupil’s Own School belonging to Khar Education Society,
Mumbai: The Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) for all modes of public transport in Mumbai and its satellite towns is likely to become reality in the next six months as chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and railway minister Piyush Goyal, on Thursday, overcame the final hurdle, which was the mode of payment. They also decided to fast-track major suburban railway projects stuck because of land acquisition and rehabilitation issues.
At a cost of Rs 130 crore, the Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) is the first of its kind project in the country, which allows all the commuters to use a single ticket for multiple modes of public transport such as rail, taxis BEST buses, and Metro.
Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) idea for Mumbai
Although the state had planned to launch the system by the end of this year, the authorities disputed on payment mode. While the state has finalized a payment mode called account based system (ABS) in which a user’s account balance is maintained on a server, the Railways wanted ABS and a store value card-based system (SVC). Under SVC, the balance is stored in cards. ABS is a more advanced system, which allows commuters to travel without the card, and they can simply use their phones to pass through ticketing gates.
“Issues to implement ITS in Mumbai have been resolved in the meeting held today,” Fadnavis tweeted later.
Issues to implement Integrated Ticketing System in Mumbai also was resolved in this meeting held in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/zEWB83EEcU
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and railway minister Piyush Goyal discussing Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) is the first of its kind project in the country
“Railway was insisting upon SVC which is being adopted in cities such as Delhi and Kochi. But they have agreed upon ABS,” said a senior official from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the implementing authority.
“The state has promised that the store value can be maintained on the cards issued under ABS system,” said an officer from Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MVRC). The railways were insisting for SVC system following the guidelines issued by the union government for National Mobility Card, he added.
The system will benefit more than one crore commuters.
Meanwhile, the state government has given an in-principle approval to build more floors in the influence zone under MUTP-3A, which costs Rs55,000 crore. It has set a floor space index of 5 for construction. “The financial structure of the demand will be examined first,” said UPS Madan, additional chief secretary, state finance department.
Fadnavis and Goyal also discussed land acquisition issued for the 6th line between Mumbai Central and Borivli, Belapur-Seawood-Uran new line project, Panvel-Kalamboli coaching terminus and doubling of the Roha-Veer line.
Railway officials vowed to complete the 12.5-km Seawood-Kharkopar line will be ready in the next two months. The line is the first phase of much delayed 26-km Belapur-Seawood project.
After his meeting with the CM, Goyal reviewed three zonal railways — central, western and Konkan. Goyal directed officials to improve punctuality of trains without affecting the routine maintenance works.
In another meeting between civic officials and Goyal, it was decided that the Railways and BMC will build Delisle or Lower Parel bridge, which has been shut for vehicles since July 24 owing to safety reasons.
Hyderabad: Public transport in Hyderabad will become all the more efficient with Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) planning to integrate its service with metro rail.
TSRTC is now looking to firm up plans to offer enhanced connectivity to commuters.
Suni Sharma, Roads and buildings principal secretary shared that RTC will soon integrate its services with the metro rail network. This will ensure a smooth and hassle-free commute for those taking public transport.
Sharma made this announcement during an expert committee meeting at Bus Bhavan early this week. The meeting was chaired by Transport minister P Mahender Reddy who shared reforms will be rolled out in RTC.
Present in the meeting were Somarapu Satyanarayana (Chairman of RTC) along with TSRTC executive director Purushottam Naik and Telangana Mazdoor Union general secretary E Ashwathama Reddy
Reddy also informed that an expert committee would be formed for deliberation once in a week. They will also study subsidies presented by RTC in other states. The committee based on study and research offer list of suggestions for proficient utilization of resources to usher in efficiency.
After the directives from the chief minister, a high-level committee will be constituted to conduct in detail study of RTC.
The committee formed with prepare following plan to implement the following changes:
Measures for efficient functioning,
Ways for holistic transformation
Improving internal efficiency
Bringing down expenditure
Maximum utilization of resources
Comprehensive design study
Integrating the latest technology
The comprehensive report will be submitted to Sharma with detailed plans and suggestion.
Reddy also added that a report on the expert committee meetings would be handed over to the RTC joint action committee.
Once both public transport buses and metro rail services will be integrated, commuting will become a cakewalk in the city.
Chennai: With the view to keep commuters hooked to metro transport, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has kept a free dental check-up camp. Those travelling via Chennai Metro train can avail this free check-up on Saturday.
CMRL in partnership with Dr Smilez Dental Centre will be conducting oral health awareness camps on August 25. These camps will be held at 10 selected metro stations in the city.
The stations earmarked for free dental check-up camps are – Alandur, AG-DMS, Saidapet, Thirumangalam, Ashok Nagar, Vadapalani, Ekkattuthangal, Nehru Park, Shenoy Nagar and Central Park.
The camp is open for metro commuters as well as general public. A team of dentists will be present at the camp.
Following checks will be done during the camp:
Bleeding of gums
Oral soft tissues
Tooth decay
Bad breathe
Smile evaluation
Brushing techniques
Diet counselling
There will other check-ups too and people will be able to ask questions to doctors. There will be live demonstrations too during the free camps.
Besides this, CMRL had conducted an Oral Hygiene screening and awareness camp at CMRL Admin Building and at Metro Trains. This was done on the occasion of Oral Hygiene Day on Aug 1. The camp was conducted in association with Meenakshi Ammal Dental College.
Oral Hygiene Day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of the doyen of Indian society of Periodontics and the founder of the Indian society of Periodontology, Dr. GB Shankwalkar.
In the one day camp, over 250 employees and staff and contract workers were benefitted. A team of 25 doctors headed by Dr. Jaideep Mahendra, Director of PG Studies, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Maduravoyal, Chennai conducted the screening and awareness camp.
A team of doctors also travelled on the Metro Trains to educate passengers about the importance of Oral hygiene. Free samples were distributed for all staffs attending the screening camp and for commuters on the train.
Chennai: Commuters boarding metro trains from Vadapalani Chennai Metro Station will get a glimpse in ‘making the metro’. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) along with Photographic Society of Madras (PSM) are celebrating the World Photography Day this year. The seven-day photo exhibition that started from August 19, commuters will showcase the mighty side of the metro.
World Photography Day is an international event that celebrates the passion for photography. Commemorating the World Photography Day, a photography exhibition highlighting the positive impact of infrastructure creation and the various facilities of Chennai Metro Rail will be showcased.
Chennai Metro Rail Limited in association with Photographic Society of Madras (PSM) celebrated World Photography Day today (23.08.2018) by inaugurating the Photography Exhibition at Vadapalani Metro Station. pic.twitter.com/pyKv4Ce6KV
A team of 38 Members from Photographic Society of Madras (PSM) visited the various installations of CMRL, captured and curated a photo gallery consisting of about 100 photographs which shows the tremendous efforts being put in / put in by CMRL, its staff, its contractors and vendors towards creation of this world-class facility for the benefit of commuters of Chennai.
The photographs showcase the project sites, yards, its rolling stock, stations and people using metro, some aerial views of the trains crisscrossing the city and the last mile connectivity created by CMRL for the benefit of commuters.
The gallery will also showcase the photographs of Photographic Society of Madras (PSM) members exhibiting the positive vibes of the global environment through the images, which is the essence of the celebration of World Photography Day, covering various genres of photography viz nature, architecture, travel, wildlife, landscapes etc.,
Photographic Society of Madras (PSM) conducts an annual contest “Shoot Madras” capturing the essence and beauty of the City, coinciding with the Madras Day celebrations in August. Shoot Madras 2018 this year had 3 themes, Landscapes of Madras, Architecture of Madras and Madras by Night. The photographs of the contest winners and honorary mention will also be displayed in the Exhibition.
This exhibition will be held from 10 am to 8 pm at Vadapalani Metro Station, Concourse Area from 19th – 29th Aug 2018. Entry is free for all.
Noida: The Noida-Greater Noida Metro (Aqua Line) is finally scheduled to be opened for public by October. This link which will connect Noida sector 71 to Delta-1 Metro in Greater Noida. As this corridor covers a total length of the 29.8-km stretch. This link will connect Noida sector 71 to Delta 1 Metro station in Greater Noida. This corridor will provide the best transport services to commuters near Noida city.
The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) plan to equip the entire stations, as well as entire coaches, will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.
The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) has highly focused a lot over the beautification of stations, which includes artistic designs, mural paintings, and sculptures, among others.
The NMRC has planned to collaborate with the Shiv Nadar Foundation and along with another NGO, who will work on the beautification. The NMRC has made an agreement, they will not make it commercialize and not incur any cost for it, and the other parties will beautify the designated portions of stations.
Earlier NMRC had conducted a bid for co-branding of stations to generate revenue. Under this, a number of companies had been invited to sell naming rights for all the 21 stations for a period of 10 years by NMRC. The proposal has received a very good response and the winning bids will be finalized soon.
Apart from this, NMRC also plans to have all the stations a multi-nodal traffic integration plan. This multi-modal traffic will help for various purposes like designated spaces for parking of buses, taxis, e-rickshaws and even a vendor zone at all stations will be provided.
A special card namely “city one card” in collaboration with the State Bank of India will also be issued for commuters. This is a multi-wallet card which will be applicable in the Metro, parking area, buses and even for payment of Noida and Greater Noida utility services.
Ahmedabad: On Wednesday Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the much-awaited Ahmedabad metro train trial run would be conducted in January next year.
At first, during the trial, the train will be run from Vastral village to Apparel Park on a 6.5-km. Which will be known as priority reach in east Ahmedabad. This stretch is the part of the 20.
73-km-long East-West Corridor of the ambitious Metro Rail Project. That will connect Vastral area in east Ahmedabad with the western suburb of Thaltej.
Mr. further stated that the trial run (of the Metro train) on the ‘priority reach’ between Vastral village and Apparel Park would begin in January 2019. The work is going on in full swing. I have instructed the officials to make sure that the ongoing works do not cause any trouble to the people.
On Wednesday Chief Minister visited the underground section of the Metro Rail near the main Kalupur railway station. There as per official release he inspected the proposed integration of the Bullet Train, Metro and Kalupur railway station stated.
A “mock-up” model of the Metro coach will arrive in Ahmedabad by the end of the next month and it will be displayed at a suitable location for public viewing, it stated, said CM. The manufacturing and design include, a mock-up model is a scale or full-size model of a design or device.
The Metro Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) a wholly owned company of Gujarat Government is implementing the Metro Rail Projects. The total cost of this project will be approximately Rs 10,773 crore, this project is designed to connect eastern-western and northern-southern suburbs in Ahmedabad. In the second phase, MEGA is planned to extend its network to the Gandhinagar. The total project cost for East-West corridor is approximate Rs. 20.73 km long; the North-South corridor which is connecting Motera with APMC Market is 18.52-km long.
