Nagpur, located in the central part of India, known as “Orange City”, is the 13th largest city in India and the 3rd largest city of Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune. It is recognised as the ‘‘Heart of India’’. The city is famous for its pilgrim sites, “ Deekshabhoomi” and “ Dragon Palace”, as well as museums like Nagpur Central Museum and Narrow Gauge Rail Museum.
Nagpur serves as a crucial hub for transportation and trade due to its location and is also considered as a fast growing logistic hub. The city hosts the regional office of the Reserve Bank of India.
As of the 2011 census, Nagpur municipality has a population of 2,405,665. The city is an emerging metropolis and has been witnessing major population growth due to rapid urbanisation. In fact, an Oxford economic report claimed that Nagpur is projected to be the fifth-largest growing city in the world from 2019 to 2035, with an average growth of 8.41%.
The growing population caused some serious issues in the city, such as severe traffic congestion on the roads and environmental concerns. Due to this, the city saw the urgent need for an improved public transport infrastructure.
In response to these challenges, the metro system in Nagpur was introduced. However, the issues of traffic congestion on the roads in Nagpur still remained unsolved as Nagpur metro was able to provide connectivity in the city but the surrounding towns and regions of the city remained ignored. To address these challenges and enhance connectivity in the adjacent towns and outskirt parts of the city, The Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro, a Regional Rapid Transit System ( RRTS) project, was introduced for the city of Nagpur. This commuter rail initiative plans to utilise the existing tracks of the Central Railway to connect Nagpur with the nearby towns.
What is a Broad Gauge Metro?
Broad Gauge Metro Systems, typically designed to serve both urban and regional areas, Operate on broad gauge tracks. The broader tracks provide stability to trains operating at high speeds and high passenger capacity.
- Track Width: The broad gauge track measures 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in). This width is greater than the standard gauge (1,435 mm).
- Speed: The broad gauge metro will be capable of operating at a higher speed, with the potential for even higher speeds based on its design capabilities.
Difference between Broad Gauge Metro and Standard Metro System
| Features | Broad Gauge Metro System | Standard Metro System |
| Track gauge | Broad gauge (1,676 mm or 5 ft 6 in). | Standard gauge (1,435 mm or 4 ft 8½in). |
| Purpose | Primarily designed for regional and urban transit. Enhance connectivity between the adjacent towns and outskirt areas. | Designed for urban transit. Enhance connectivity within the cities, focusing on short-distance travel. |
| Integration with other system | Can integrate with existing broad gauge railways for regional connectivity. | Typically operates independently from other rail systems, focusing on urban areas. |
Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro
Overview
Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project is a Regional Rapid Transit System ( RRTS) spanning 268.63km with 4 suburban rail lines proposed in 2018 to connect the city with the adjacent towns of Wardha, Katol, Narkhed, Ramtek and Bhandara through a more convenient and advanced railway system.
The Urban Mass Transit Company (UMTC) prepared the Detailed Project Report ( DPR) of the Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project. The DPR estimated the project to cost approximately Rs. 418 Crores, stating that half of the project cost will be acquired by the modern rolling stock.
November 2019: The Railway Board approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project.
October 2020: The Maharashtra State Government’s cabinet approved the (DPR) of the project.
Funding Mechanism
As per the DPR, the project is estimated to cost Rs 418 Crores. The DPR of the project stated that 70% of the total project cost will be financed through a loan, and 30% will be financed through Maharashtra and Central Government.
Key Specification
| Authorised Authority | Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha Metro). |
| Speed and track | Top speed: 200 kmphOperating speed:160 kmphTrack gauge: Broad Gauge – 1676 mm |
| Rolling Stock | 3 coaches (DT-T-DT) |
| Capacity | 885 passengers |
Project Cost
| Rolling Stock | Rs. 200 cr |
| Depot | Rs. 80 cr |
| Station Integration with Nagpur Metro | Rs. 25 cr |
| Station upgrades | Rs 23.12 cr |
| IT Infrastructure | Rs. 15 cr |
| Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) System | Rs. 11.64 cr |
| Pre-operative / Admin Expenses | Rs. 11.64 cr |
| Taxes | Rs 48 cr |
| Total cost | Rs 418 cr |
Routes
| Operational | 0 km |
| Under construction | 0 km |
| Approved | 0 km |
| Proposed | 268.63 km |
Line 1: Nagpur – Wardha
- Length: 78.8 km
- Estimated Daily Ridership: 5,669
- End-to-End Travel Time: 70 mins
- Number of Stations: 13
- Station Names: Nagpur Junction, Ajni, Khapri, Gumgaon, Bori, Borkhedi, Sindi, Tuljapur, Dahegaon, Seloo Road, Varud, Sewagram, Wardha Junction.
Line-2: Nagpur – Narkhed
- Length: 85.53 km
- Estimated Daily Ridership: 2,616
- End-to-End Travel Time: 75 mins
- Number of Stations: 11
- Station Names: Nagpur Junction, Godhani, Bharatwada, Kalmeshwar, Kohali, Sonkhamb, Metpanjra, Katol, Kalambha, Tinkheda, Narkher Junction
Line-3: Nagpur – Ramtek
- Length: 41.6 km
- Estimated Daily Ridership: 3,929
- End-to-End Travel Time: 60 mins
- Number of Stations: 7
- Station Names: Nagpur Junction, Kalamna, Kamptee, Kanhan Junction, Dumri Khurd, Amdi Halt, Ramtek
Line-4: Nagpur – Bhandara Road
- Length: 62.7 km
- Estimated Daily Ridership: 2,556
- End-to-End Travel Time: 55 mins
- Number of Stations: 8
- Station Names: Nagpur Junction, Kalamna, Kamptee, Kanhan Junction, Chacher, Rewral, Khat, Bhandara Road
Benefits of Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro
1. Enhanced Connectivity: The Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro System will enhance the connectivity in the city by linking the outskirts parts of the city to the urban central parts of Nagpur. Through a Broad Gauge Metro System, the city will be able to provide a comprehensive transit network to the residents of adjacent towns and regions of the city facilitating a more convenient and comfortable journey.
2. Reduced traffic Congestion: Recently, the city of Nagpur witnessed a 20% increase in private vehicle registrations. Through a broad gauge metro system, the city will be able to get a more reliable and efficient alternative mode of transportation, which will reduce the traffic congestion on the roads of Nagpur.
3. Economic Growth: The enhanced connectivity in the towns and regions of the city is anticipated to stimulate the economic growth of Nagpur by attracting more business setups in the outskirts of the city. This will generate more employment in the city and will boost the local economies.
4. Integration with other modes of transport: The broad gauge metro system is planned to be integrated with the existing Nagpur Metro System. This integration will enable passengers to transition smoothly between different modes of transport at critical interchanges, including Khapri, Nagpur Railway Station, and Ajni.
Challenges in Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro
1. Financial Constraints: As per the DPR, the project will be financed through loans and funding from Maharashtra and the central government. However securing adequate funding over the project’s span still remains a concern. To make the project sustainable and avoid delays in operation and construction, a proper funding mechanism is required.
2. Land acquisition Issues: Previously, the Nagpur Metro project faced major challenges regarding the pending approvals for land acquisition that hampered the progress of the metro project in the city. This raises concerns about the acquisition of land for the Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project. The prolonged process of acquiring land for the project is a major challenge that can affect the progress of the project.
3. Ridership Concern: Achieving a high level of ridership is the most crucial factor to make the project sustainable and successful. For instance, In India, not a single Metro system has been able to achieve its projected ridership level, including the Delhi metro. Furthermore, the ridership level also depends on several factors like fare pricing, service reliability etc.
4. Integration Issue: The Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project plans to use the existing railway tracks, which necessitates close coordination with Central Railway for operation integration. This can complicate the scheduling and maintenance of rolling stocks.
5. Delay in Execution: The Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project has received the necessary approvals, yet no progress has been made so far. These delays have been affecting the execution and overall progress of the project.
Conclusion
The Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project is a critical step in connecting the outskirts of Nagpur City with the mainstream. The project will enhance regional connectivity and address the transportation challenges in Nagpur and its surrounding regions. By using existing railway infrastructure and integrating with the Nagpur Metro System, this initiative will offer a reliable, efficient and sustainable mode of transport. While the project holds the potential to mitigate traffic congestion, boost economic growth and improve the quality of life of residents of Nagpur, it also faces hurdles such as financial constraints and land acquisition issues. Strategic planning, regulatory support, and stakeholder collaboration will be critical to making the project successful.
If servicesare to run on existing BG tracks, the MEMU operating in many parts of the country is perhaps the better option. Or the upcoming Vande Metro.