BEML and Bharat Electronics Ltd. Sign MoU to Develop i-TCMS

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05/04/2024

BANGALORE (Metro Rail News): BEML Limited (formerly Bharat Earth Movers Limited) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday to jointly develop an indigenous Train Control Management System (i-TCMS).

The MoU was exchanged at BEML headquarters, attended by esteemed dignitaries, including Shri Shantanu Roy, Chairman and Managing Director of BEML, and Shri Manoj Jain, Director (R&D) representing BEL, alongside other senior officials from both organisations.

Shri Shantanu Roy, CMD of BEML, said, “We are happy to sign this initiative with India’s leading professional electronics player, BEL Ltd that will be aimed towards reducing India’s import dependency for train communication technology and enhancing the nation’s indigenization capacity. Our joint endeavour aligns perfectly with India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” ambition, aiming to achieve the world-class products for rail industry”.

In line with the “Make in India” initiative, the collaboration aims to develop TCMS indigenously to meet the future needs of rail projects in the country.

Train Control Management System

TCMS facilitates seamless data communication interfaces with other train-borne and wayside systems, ensuring efficient and reliable rail operations. Through this strategic alliance, BEML and BEL are poised to revolutionise the landscape of rail transportation in India, ushering in a new era of technological advancement, operational efficiency, and national self-reliance.

TCMS is also known as the “brain of the train,” and it aims to play a pivotal role in coordinating control and monitoring across various systems. It encompasses a distributed control system comprising:

Computer devices, software, human-machine interfaces, digital and analogue input/output capabilities, and secure data networks.

A Step Forward

Currently, Train Control Management Systems (TCMS) are predominantly supplied by propulsion suppliers, leading to a dependency on imported technology.

This momentous occasion signifies a significant step forward in aligning with the ‘Make in India’ initiative championed by the Government of India. The primary objective of this partnership is to identify potential areas of cooperation between BEML and BEL, with a focus on exploring the joint development of high-value products and solutions tailored to the requirements of Indian Railways and Metro systems.

BEML & BEL

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and BEML Limited are two leading PSUs under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, playing a pivotal role in serving the nation’s core sectors. BEL is a Navratna PSU, known for its leading-edge technology and contributions to India’s defence and electronics sectors, while BEML is a multi-technology ‘Schedule A’ company, serving India’s core sectors like Defence, Rail, Power, Mining, and Construction.

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Bengaluru Sub-Urban Railway Project: SWR Allocates Land For Corridor-4

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Staff Reporter

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04/04/2024

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Suburban Rail project. — Bengaluru Suburban Rail (Representational image)

BENGALURU (Metro Rail News): The South Western Railway (SWR) took a step forward on Tuesday by allocating 114.472 acres of land for the Bengaluru Sub-Urban Railway Project (BSRP), specifically for the construction of Corridor-4. This corridor spans 46.25 km from Heelalige to Rajanukunte in Bengaluru.

The South Western Railway transferred the land to the Rail Infrastructure Development Company-Karnataka Limited (K-RIDE), the executing agency responsible for overseeing the BSRP. K-RIDE is a joint venture between the Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Railways.

Additionally, a lease agreement for revised Railway land was signed, reducing the area for Corridor-2, also known as the Mallige Line, from 157.07 acres to 85.707 acres.

This land transfer was crucial for completing the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP), valued at ₹15,677 crore, spans 148.17 km, and is expected to be completed by December 2027.

Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project Corridor – 2 and 4 Overview

Corridor	Corridor – 2	Corridor – 4
Route	Baiyyappanahalli Terminal – Chikkabanavara	Heelalige – Rajankunte
Length	25.01 km	46.24 km
Type	Elevated (12.905 km) & At-Grade (12.105 km)	Elevated (13.29 km) & At-Grade (32.95 km)
Depot	Jalahalli Depot	Silkboard Depot
No. of Stations	14	19

Calls for Expediting

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw urged the Karnataka government to expedite the project in a statement in mid-March. Vaishnaw emphasized the importance of bringing in technical expertise to streamline project execution.

“The state government needs to understand that railway is a technical subject and bring technical people in K-RIDE. It doesn’t have people with high technical expertise. I request the Karnataka government to engage such experts so that the project work can be expedited,” Vaishnaw stated.

Project Timeline Adjustment

This call for expedited work comes after the Karnataka government postponed the project completion date from December 2025 to December 2027. The delay prompted concerns regarding the project’s progress and the need for efficient management to ensure timely completion.

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Chennai Metro Phase II: Arrival of Driverless Trains Expected in August

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Staff Reporter

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04/04/2024

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CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): Chennai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (CMRL) is expected to receive its first delivery of a three-car driverless trainset in August. The trainset will operate on Corridor-4 of the Chennai Metro Phase II, connecting the eastern and western parts of the city from Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass.

CMRL’s initial plan includes opening the elevated stretch from Kodambakkam Suburban to Poonamallee Bypass on Corridor-4 by 2025. Trains will be parked and maintained at Poonamallee depot, which is under construction and expected to be completed by next year.

A senior official from CMRL disclosed that one trainset is scheduled to arrive in August, followed by six additional trainsets in the subsequent two months. However, the laying of ballastless tracks on the elevated line within the corridor must be completed before the first train’s arrival. The laying of ballastless tracks is targeted for July.

Driverless Trains Unique Features

In February, CMRL unveiled the first look of its driverless trains, showcasing unique features such as standing perch seats, CCTV surveillance both inside and outside the compartments, charging points for electronic devices, differently coloured grab handles at accessible heights for female passengers, designated areas, and extended waiting buttons for wheelchair users, as well as LCD screens displaying real-time route maps and entertainment content.

WhatsApp Image 2024 04 04 at 13.38.24 074f24d4 1 — Representational image of upcoming driverless trains for the Chennai Metro Phase 2 project.

Each of these three-car trains can accommodate approximately 1,000 commuters, with a design speed of 90km/hr and an operational speed of 80km/hr. Equipped with obstacle detection sensors, anti-derailment mechanisms, and regenerative braking systems to conserve electricity, CMRL requires 138 three-car trainsets to provide hassle-free service for the upcoming 116.1km phase-2, expected to open in separate phases from 2025 to 2028.

Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase II – Corridor 4

Corridor 4 of the Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase II extends from Lighthouse in the east to Poonamallee Bypass in the west, covering a distance of 26.8 km. This stretch comprises 16.5 km of elevated tracks and 10.3 km underground, featuring 18 elevated stations and 12 underground stations. Operations on this route are expected to be started by the end of 2027.

Chennai Metro Phase 2map page 0001 — Chennai Metro’s Route Map.

Funding for the project is provided jointly by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and New Development Bank (NDB).

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Kanpur Metro Corridor-2: Excavation Begins at Rawatpur UG Metro Station

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Staff Reporter

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02/04/2024

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construction work begins at Rawatpur UG Metro Station

KANPUR (Metro Rail News): The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (UPMRC) has announced the initiation of excavation work at Rawatpur Underground Station for the Lowering of the First Diaphragm Wall (D-Wall) as part of the construction of the Kanpur Metro Corridor-2.

The 4.10 km long Rawatpur-Double Pulia underground section, a significant portion of Corridor-2, witnessed the commencement of ground excavation on 1 April 2024. The inaugural ceremony was held in presence of Senior officials from UPMRC and contracting agencies.

WhatsApp Image 2024 04 02 at 13.59.51 57145d5c

The pre-construction stage activities, including soil testing, barricading, and utility shifting, had been underway since December 2023, after the tender was awarded. With the initiation of the excavation process for the D-Wall, the construction work on this section has now progressed to the next stage.

Rawatpur Underground Station has an interchange station connecting Corridor 1 and Corridor 2 of the Kanpur Metro. It ensures that commuters will seamlessly transition between the two corridors at this station, enhancing connectivity across the city.

Construction method

The D-Wall, serving as the boundary of the underground metro station, will be constructed with small rectangular panels. A total of 65 such panels of varying sizes will be utilized for the Rawatpur Metro Station, each approximately 5-6 meters in width and 0.8 meters in thickness. The wall will extend to a depth of approximately 19 meters, necessitating excavation up to about 21 meters below ground level.

WhatsApp Image 2024 04 02 at 13.59.51 facb26d9

The construction of underground metro stations in Corridor 2 will follow the Top-Down Method, wherein the stations will be built from top to bottom. This method aims to minimize disruptions to traffic flow by initially preparing the roof slab and subsequently constructing the concourse platform levels.

Greetings

Mr. Sushil Kumar, Managing Director of UPMRC, extended congratulations to the entire team on the commencement of construction at Rawatpur Metro Station. He emphasized the significance of this milestone in advancing the underground construction of Corridor-2 and reiterated the commitment to enhancing commuting convenience for residents.

Kanpur Metro

Presently, commuter services are operational on the 9 km-long Priority Section of Corridor-1 (IIT-Motijheel). Alongside the progress in Corridor-2, construction is also underway in the Balance sections of Corridor-1, further augmenting the city’s metro infrastructure.

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Bhubaneswar Metro Project Kicks Off with Depot’s Boundary Wall Construction

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Staff Reporter

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01/04/2024

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Bhubaneswar (Metro Rail News): The long-awaited Bhubaneswar Metro Phase I project has finally gained momentum with the start of construction on the metro depot at Phulapokhari near Barang in Cuttack. This marks a momentous step forward for the project.

The contractor began the work by initiating the construction of the depot’s boundary wall, which is expected to be completed within 12 months at a cost of approximately Rs 9 crore. The entire depot will sprawl over 16 hectares of land and is estimated to cost Rs 104.74 crore.

Following the completion of the boundary wall, construction will commence on the main depot facilities.

DMRC Oversees the Project

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is serving as the Turnkey Consultant for the Bhubaneswar Metro Phase I Project, providing crucial expertise throughout the construction process. Recently, DMRC successfully floated three civil work contracts for the Phase I project.

Bhubaneswar Metro Phase I Project

The project envisions a 26.024 km elevated line connecting Trisulia Square with Biju Patnaik Airport through 20 stations. The total project cost is estimated at Rs.5926.38 crore. The entire Phase I project is anticipated to be completed within four years.

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Pune Metro Line 3: First Segment Launched for Double-Decker Viaduct Construction

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Staff Reporter

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01/04/2024

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PUNE (Metro Rail News): Pune Metro IT City Metro Rail Ltd. workers initiated the launching of 8.5-meter-wide segments for the construction of a double-decker viaduct on the Pune Metro Line-3 project last week on Ganeshkind Road towards Pune University. The 1.6 km viaduct will connnect Aundh Road and RBI Chowk.

WhatsApp Image 2024 04 01 at 11.27.45 7e10c3aa — Photo credit: Devesh Shah

The estimated cost of construction is Rs. 570 crores. Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) are sharing the costs.

PMRDA is developing the city’s new Line-3 on a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) mode through a 35-year concession agreement signed with Tata’s TRIL Urban Transport Private Limited and Siemens Project Ventures GmbH.

WhatsApp Image 2024 04 01 at 11.27.45 6f274a08 1 — Photo credit: Devesh Shah

Pune Metro Line-3 (Megapolis Circle—Civil Court) is being built after demolishing two flyovers at the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) Chowk and E-Square Carnival intersections.

Operator(s): PMRDA (Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority)

Length of the Metro Line	23.3 km (14.5 miles)
Elevated/Underground	Elevated
Number of Stations	23
Line Colour	Red
Metro Type	Rapid Transit
Estimated Project Completion Cost	Rs. 8,100 crore

Estimated Project Completion Date

March 2025

Pune Metro, a mass rapid transit system, serves the twin cities of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad in India. It comprises three lines with a combined length of 54.14 km. Currently, 24.12 km across two lines are operational, connecting key areas like PCMC, Swargate, and more.

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Maha Metro to Commercialize Pune Metro’s Stations’ Names

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Staff Reporter

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30/03/2024

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Pune Metro's Ruby Hall Clinic Metro Station Board.

PUNE (Metro Rail News): Maha Metro, the authority managing the Pune Metro System, has an innovative strategy to boost revenue by commercializing the names of metro stations. The Pune Metro System currently displays names of companies and organizations on its six stations, resulting in an annual addition in total revenue ranging from Rs. 55 to Rs. 72 lakh/station.

Stations

Some of the station names whose entrances currently feature names of these entities are Pune Railway Station, Ruby Hall, Phugewadi, Nal Stop, Garware College, and Kalyani Nagar.

MahaMetro plans to extend these initiatives beyond existing stations, using station names for advertising at upcoming stations such as Mandai, Budhwar Peth, Khadki, and Yerwada.

Untitled design 2024 03 30T165755.144 — Pune metro stations.

Maha Metro Objectives

Recognising the challenges posed by maintaining low ticket prices, MahaMetro prioritises alternative revenue streams to compensate its passenger traffic income. In addition to station name commercialization, MahaMetro is exploring advertising opportunities on metro trains to bolster non-fare box revenue.

These efforts align with MahaMetro’s broader strategy to explore various sources of non-fare box revenue and increase the share of non-fare box income in its total earnings. By integrating the names of well-known companies and organizations in Pune Metro, MahaMetro has successfully converted it into an advertising hub.

This approach of diversifying revenue sources shows MahaMetro’s commitment to financial sustainability and operational efficiency in managing Pune’s metro system. The initiative secures MahaMetro a steady income. It presents businesses with a unique advertising platform, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship that contributes to Pune’s metro infrastructure’s overall growth and success.

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Kolkata Metro: CCRS Inspects Beleghata-Hemanta Muk. Stretch

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Staff Reporter

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30/03/2024

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Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS), inspection.

KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): Shri Janak Kumar Garg, Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS), inspected the newly built Beleghata to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay stretch of the Orange Line and undertook a trolley inspection of this stretch, on March 29. CCRS inspection and approval are mandatory for commissioning the Hemanta Mukhopadhyay-Beleghata stretch of the Kolkata Metro Orange Line.

Metro services are available from Kavi Subhash to Hemanata Mukhopadhyay Metro stations on this corridor. This route will be 29.87 km (18.56 mi) long and connect the southern and eastern parts of the city with Kolkata Airport.

Kolkata Metro Line 6 map.svg — Orange line

During the inspection, CCRS checked the Entry and Exit Gates, AFC-PC Gates, Ticketing System, Escalators, Lifts, Signage Boards, Station Control Room, Electronic Interlocking (EI) System, Signal Equipment Room, Booking Counters, Fire Detection and Suppression System, and other passenger amenities at Beleghata, Barun Sengupta, Ritwik Ghatak, and VIP Bazar stations.

CCRS had also held a high-level meeting with Metro Railway and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) officials.

Untitled design 2024 03 30T113708.981 — Trolley Inspection.

Shri Janak Kumar Garg started his inspection from Beleghata Metro station and inspected tracks, points, viaduct, girders, ramp, etc. while undertaking a trolley inspection on this stretch up to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay station.

Apart from this, a speed trial on this stretch from Hemanta Mukhopadhyay to Beleghata station and back was also conducted in his presence.

During this inspection, Shri V.K. Srivastava, Principal Chief Engineer and Additional General Manager (AGM), other high-level Metro Railway officials, Shri Amit Roy, PED, and other officials of RVNL accompanied him. Shri Garg expressed his satisfaction after completion of the inspection.

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Patna Metro: DMRC’s Advisor Reviews Construction Progress

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Staff Reporter

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29/03/2024

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Shri Daljeet Singh, Advisor (Special Works), DMRC, inspecting construction sites of Patna Metro Rail Project.

PATNA (Metro Rail News): Shri Daljeet Singh, Advisor (Special Works), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), took stock of the construction sites of Patna Metro Rail Project and inspected the ongoing civil, electrical and track-related works at the construction sites. He said that the Metro is committed to operate safely within its assigned timeline.

Major inspection sites: Malahi Pakdi, Khemnichak, Bhootnath Road, ISBT Depot, RPS Mor, Sagunamore, Patliputra Station, etc.

Objectives

The purpose behind conducting inspections on construction sites from time to time is to ensure that construction is carried out safely and smoothly, besides speeding up the construction work.

Shri Singh said that the Metro is committed to minimum inconvenience to public along with quality work as well as safety of citizens in the areas around the Metro construction sites.

Inspection & Enquiry

Besides inspecting the progress works of Patna Metro Rail Project, he also inspected public safety in and around the construction sites, removal of encroachments from the narrow roads parallel to the construction sites, arrangement of parallel roads to avoid traffic jams around the metro construction sites, expediting the construction works.

Shri Singh also inquired about the progress of the ongoing construction work of the 1.5 km long underground heritage art tunnel (Art Tunnel) being constructed by DMRC, connecting Bihar Museum to Patna Museum and also the future execution plans and progress of work at other Patna metro construction sites.

Direction & Suggestion

Advisor (Special Works), directed the DMRC officials to ensure compliance by the contractors with respect to cleanliness, safety issues, providing proper zebra crossing facilities for pedestrians at places of diversions due to construction.

He also directed the officials about speeding up the construction work of the metro and also directed them to expedite metro construction works safely.

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Kanpur Metro: TBM Azad Achieves Breakthrough at Nayaganj for Package KNPCC-06

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Staff Reporter

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29/03/2024

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EVM Azad. Picture credit: Atul Singh Yadav

KANPUR (Metro Rail News): Afcons—Sam India Consortium’s TBM S-640B, nicknamed Azad, achieved its first tunnel breakthrough for Kanpur Metro’s Phase I project at Nayaganj station on March 28 under package KNPCC-06. Afcons—Sam India Consortium was awarded the 4.65-km Package KNPCC-06, connecting Nayaganj Station and Transport Nagar Ramp, by UPMRC on 14.03.2022.

Anubhav Kumar Upadhyay 1 1 edited — Picture credit: Anubhav Kumar Upadhyay

TBM and Breakthrough

TBM Azad (S-640B) is a Herrenknecht Earth Pressure Balance machine commissioned in October 2023 to construct Kanpur Metro’s underground package KNPCC-06. For its first assignment of Kanpur Metro, it built a 1250m long underground tunnel from Kanpur Central Station to Nayaganj Station. Afcon Infrastructure had previously deployed Azad to build Kolkata Metro’s 16.34 km Line-2 in June 2017.

Anubhav Kumar Upadhyay 2 — TBM Azad’s head. Picture credit: Anubhav Kumar Upadhyay

TBM Vidyarthi (S-639) was also commissioned in December 2023 as Afcon’s second and Kanpur’s fourth TBM for constructing a parallel down-line tunnel.

A total of 7 breakthroughs for Kanpur Metro’s Phase 1 project have been achieved after Gulermak – Sam India Builtwell JV’s TBM Tatya (S92) finished its sixth and final breakthrough for Line-1’s MacRobertganj Ramp – Nayaganj section for Package KNPCC-05.

The Package

Tender Ref. No.: KNPCC-06 [EIB Funded]
UPMRC’s Estimate: Rs. 1250 crore
Final Contract Value: Rs. 1087.67 crore
Awarded date: 14.03.2022
Completion Deadline: 36 months

The scope of the contract includes the Design and Construction of the TBM Tunnel, Cut and Cover Tunnel, an underground ramp from Kanpur Central end of Nayaganj station to the elevated ramp after Transport Nagar and three underground metro stations, i.e. Transport Nagar, Jhakarkatti, and Kanpur Central, including Architectural finishes, E & M, TVS, ECS etc. on Corridor-1 of Kanpur MRTS Project.

Dhanumjay vadakoppula 1 — Picture credit: Dhanumjay vadakoppula

Kanpur Metro Phase I Line I

The Kanpur Metro Phase I’s Line I is 23.785 km long and spans from IIT Kanpur to Naubasta. It features 15.164 km of elevated and 8.621 km of Underground routes.

The stations are IIT Kanpur, Kalyanpur Railway Station, SPM Hospital, CSJM Kanpur University, Gurudev Chauraha, Geeta Nagar, Rawatpur Railway Station, Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital, Moti Jheel, Chunniganj, Naveen Market, Bada Chauraha, Nayaganj, Kanpur Central, Jhakarkatti, Transport Nagar, Baradevi, Kidwai Nagar, Vasant Vihar, Baudh Nagar and Naubasta.

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