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Dr. Lokesh M Assumes Role as Managing Director of NMRC

27/07/2023

NOIDA (Metro Rail News): Dr. Lokesh M, the CEO of Noida and an IAS officer, has assumed the role of Managing Director at NMRC on July 25, 2023. During his first day, he directed NMRC to focus on increasing ridership and non-fare revenue. He also suggested finding a new nickname for the Aqualine and exploring options for multi-modal connectivity, potentially using e-rickshaws for commuters.

Thereafter, Dr. Lokesh M took a ride on the Aqualine, traveling from Sector-51 to Sector-101.

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Tata Projects Emerges as Lowest Bidder for Chennai Metro’s Underground Package UG-06/RT-01

Staff Reporter

26/07/2023

CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): On Tuesday, Tata Projects Ltd. (TPL) became the lowest bidder for the civil construction of underground Package UG-06/RT-01 in Chennai Metro’s Line-5

This package involves the construction of twin tunnels and 5 underground stations spanning around 5.8 km between Kolathur and Nathamuni on line 5 that connects Madhavaram and Sholinganallur with 45 stations.

The contract for this package was retendered by CMRL after the original round in August 2021 saw only one bidder, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), with a substantially higher bid than CMRL’s estimate. Consequently, the tender was canceled, and bids were re-invited in December 2021 with an estimated value of Rs. 1580 crore and a completion deadline of 1395 days (approximately 3.8 years).

In the new round, 5 bidders were revealed after the technical bid opening in May, and Tata Projects emerged as the lowest bidder with a bid of Rs. 1445.98 crore, which was below CMRL’s estimate. The other bidders in the fray included Larsen & Toubro (L&T), J Kumar Infraprojects (JKIL), HCC – KPTL JV, and DRA – Soma JV.

The scope of the contract involves the construction of underground stations at Kolathur, Villivakam Sub-urban Station, Srinivasa Nagar, Villivakam bus-terminus, and Nathamuni. It will include entry/exit points, ventilation shafts, plumbing, earthmat, architectural finishes, signages, and twin bored tunnels from Kolathur retrieval shaft to Nathamuni launching shaft and ramps with U-section in corridor-5 of CMRL phase-II project.

With Tata’s bid being below CMRL’s estimate, the contract is expected to be awarded in the coming weeks without a lengthy financial bid evaluation period. This will mark Tata’s third civil contract in Phase 2 of Chennai Metro, with their previous involvements in Line-3’s Package TU01 and Package UG-02. For this project, Tata will be required to deploy at least 4 tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to execute the construction efficiently.

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Production of Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains to Commence From June 2025 at TRSL’s Bengal Plant

Staff Reporter

26/07/2023

Vande Bharat Express — Vande Bharat Train/ Representational image only

KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL) is set to begin the commercial production of Vande Bharat sleeper trains at its plant in Uttarpara starting from June 2025, an official from the company informed. TRSL with its partner BHEL, has been given the responsibility to build 80 sets of these semi-high-speed trains.

Around 50-55 percent of the train components will be produced in Bengal by the consortium, with Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd holding a 52 per cent stake in it. The total contract value for the Vande Bharat sleeper trains is Rs 24,000 crore, and TRSL’s share of the order is Rs 12,716 crore.

Umesh Chowdhary, Vice-chairman & MD of Titagarh, mentioned that they are in the process of setting up separate lines and infrastructure facilities at the Uttarpara plant for the commercial production, for which a significant portion of the Rs 650 crore budget has been allocated.

The initial eight train sets will be completely manufactured at the Uttarpara plant, while the final assembly, testing, and commissioning for subsequent train sets will take place at Indian Railways facilities located in Chennai.

Mr. Chowdhary further mentioned that the entire order would be executed over a span of six years, and the first prototype is expected to be delivered within two years from the commencement of production.

Vande Bharat train’s key components such as bodies and interiors, will be manufactured in the state, while electrical components and others will come from the consortium partner.

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K-RIDE Proposes 452 Km Bengaluru Suburban Rail Expansion

Staff Reporter

25/07/2023

Suburban Rail — Representational image only

BENGALURU (Metro Rail News): The Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Company (K-RIDE) has come up with a new proposal to extend the Bengaluru Suburban Rail project (BSRP) to nearby cities and towns. It is now awaiting approval from the Ministry of Railways to conduct the pre-feasibility study for the project.

According to the latest proposal, the BSRP network will be extended to Kolara, Tumakuru, Mysuru, Bangarapete, Hosuru, and Gauribidanuru, covering a total length of 452 km. This extension is considered as Phase-2 of the project.

The proposed extensions will include the following corridors:

1. Devanahalli to Kolara along Corridor 1 – 107 km
2. Chikkabanavara to Tumkur via Dabaspete along Corridor 2 – 55 km
3. Kengeri to Mysuru along Corridor 3 – 125 km
4. Whitefield to Bangarpete along Corridor 3 – 45 km
5. Heelalige to Hosuru along Corridor 4 – 23 km
6. Rajanukunte to Gauribidhanuru via Doddaballapura along Corridor 4 – 52 km

Additionally, the proposal includes a new lane called ‘Corridor 2A,’ extending from Chikkabanavara to Magadi, covering a distance of 45 km.

The existing BSRP project comprises four corridors with a total length of 148.17 km. These corridors are:

1. KSR Bengaluru City to Devanahalli (Corridor 1 – 41.4 Km)
2. Baiyappanahalli to Chikkabanavara (Corridor 2 -25.01 km)
3. Kengeri to Whitefield (Corridor 3 – 25.01 km)
4. Heelalige to Rajanukunte ( Corridor 4 – 46.25 km)

During the BSRP review meeting held in early June, Minister MB Patil advised K-RIDE officials to prepare a revised proposal including the above-mentioned places. The extension is expected to improve commuter convenience and promote industrial development in the region.

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MRVC Postpones Bidding for 238 Air-Conditioned Vande Bharat Metro Rakes

Staff Reporter

25/07/2023

Vande Bharat Express/Representational Image — Representational Image

MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has decided to postpone the bidding process for the procurement of 238 air-conditioned Vande Bharat metro rakes, just a month after inviting tenders. A total of 2856 AC cars were to be acquired as part of the tender, which could configure both 12-car and 15-car trains. On May 19, the decision to procure the rakes under MUTP-3 and 3A was taken after receiving approval from Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

However, according to the notice on the MRVC website, the tender for the procurement and lifetime maintenance of Vande Metro (suburban) rakes, along with the establishment of new maintenance depots and upgrading existing maintenance facilities, has been deferred until further notice.

MRVC had initially aimed to finalize the contractor by September, with an estimated cost of around Rs 90 crore for each 12-car rake. The plan was to receive the first rake by 2026, followed by at least 50 rakes per year, and completing the entire stock by 2030.

Mr. Sunil Udasi, MRVC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, clarified that they have delayed the tender process due to the need to consider inputs from Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR). Additionally, they are awaiting the report on the migration strategy for transitioning from non-AC to AC services.

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RITES Secures Lowest Bid for Locomotive and Wagons Supply to Mozambique

Staff Reporter

25/07/2023

locomotive — Representational image only| Image copyright: Respective Authority

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): RITES Limited, a government of India enterprise operating under Indian Railways, has been declared as the lowest bidder in two tenders from CFM, Mozambique. The tenders are for the supply of ten locomotives and one hundred and fifty wagons.

The bid is now subject to the scrutiny and evaluation process of CFM, Mozambique. The company will have to meet all the requisite requirements mentioned in the tender documents before the order is officially awarded to them. The estimated value of the bid stands at approximately Rs. 500 Crore.

The tender win reflects RITES Limited’s prowess in the railway sector and showcases their expertise in providing high-quality solutions for rail transportation. As a multi-disciplinary consultancy organization, RITES offers a comprehensive array of services in the fields of transport, infrastructure, and related technologies.

Recently, the company signed an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with TransNamib Holdings Limited, Namibia. The MOU aims to foster the development of railways and related infrastructure, encompassing the supply of rolling stock.

Established in 1974, RITES Limited is a public limited company governed by a Board of Directors comprising eminent professionals from various engineering and management sectors. The company follows ISO 9001:2015 standards, and its core focus is on the transfer of technology to client organizations.

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UPSSF Takes the Charge of Agra Metro Security

Staff Reporter

25/07/2023

The Director-General of Police, Mr. L. V. Antony Dev Kumar, in the presence of other officials inspected the Agra Metro Project and discussed the various safety aspects for it.

AGRA (Metro Rail News): The Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force, formed under the guidance of the Honorable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Yogi Adityanath, will be responsible for the security of Agra Metro. In this regard, the Additional Director General of Police, Mr. L. V. Antony Dev Kumar, from the Special Security Force, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, conducted an inspection of the Agra Metro Rail Project. During the visit, the Project Director of Agra Metro, Mr. Arvind Kumar Rai, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (City), Mr. Suraj Kumar Rai, the Commandant of the 4th Battalion of the SSSF, Mr. Amit Kumar, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Sadar), Ms. Archana Singh, along with other officials were present.

The Director-General of Police, Mr. L. V. Antony Dev Kumar, held a meeting with the officials of Agra Metro to discuss various aspects related to Metro security. After that, he inspected the Agra Metro Rail Project, including the elevated and underground sections. During this visit, the Project Director of Agra Metro, Mr. Arvind Kumar Rai, briefed the Director-General of Police, Mr. L. V. Antony Dev Kumar, about various aspects related to Agra Metro.

It is worth mentioning that, similar to Lucknow and Kanpur Metro, CCTV cameras will be installed in all stations and trains of Agra Metro for surveillance. There will be no area in the premises and stations of Agra Metro that will not be covered by CCTV cameras. Additionally, special attention will be given to women’s safety at all Agra Metro stations by deploying female security personnel and housekeeping staff.

It is noteworthy that in September 2020, the Honorable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Yogi Adityanath, established the UPSSF (Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force) for the security of courts, prominent religious places, metro projects, and various institutions. The headquarters of the Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Security Force is located in the capital city, Lucknow. The Uttar Pradesh government has formed battalions of UPSSF in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Mathura, and Saharanpur, and appointed a commandant for each of them.

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Boosting Railways in Northeast: Amrit Bharat Scheme to Enhance 35 Stations in NFR Zone

Staff Reporter

24/07/2023

Indian Railways/Representational Image — Representational Image

GUWAHATI (Metro Rail News): The Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) zone is set to receive a boost in infrastructure as part of the Central government’s “Amrit Bharat” initiative. About 35 major stations, including Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Kamakhya, New Tinsukia, Dimapur, New Bongaigoan, Katihar, Kokrajhar Siliguri Town, Silchar and others, will be developed under this scheme.

Across the country, a total of 1309 railway stations have been identified for development, with 35 falling under the NFR zone. The scheme focuses on continuous improvement with a long-term approach.

The development plan includes creating Master Plans and implementing them in phases to enhance station amenities. This involves improving station access, waiting halls, toilets, and providing facilities like free Wi-Fi, local product kiosks, and better passenger information systems. The scheme also considers integrating the station with the city, ensuring sustainability and eco-friendly solutions, and creating city centers at stations in the long term.

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Bengaluru’s Jayadeva Junction: Largest Metro Station Expected to Open by End of 2023

Staff Reporter

24/07/2023

BENGALURU (Metro Rail News): The largest Metro station in the city, Jayadeva junction on Bannerghatta Road, is expected to open partially by the end of 2023.

The station is a part of the Yellow Line linking RV Road to Bommasandra and the Pink Line from Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara. It has the capacity to handle 25,000 passengers during peak hours. Around 90% of the work on the station has been completed, and its total built-up area is 19,826 sqm, said the officials.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has set 2023 as the target to open the Yellow Line after missing several deadlines. The Pink Line is likely to be operational by March 2025.

The Yellow Line also includes a double-decker flyover to facilitate road traffic and Metro trains, easing direct access to Silk Board for commuters coming from the Ragigudda side without stopping at signals.

The Jayadeva interchange station will be fully functional once the Pink Line from Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara begins commercial operations, according to Ajum Parwez, MD, BMRCL. It is anticipated to receive significant footfall after the Majestic interchange station, which is currently used by over 1 lakh passengers daily.

When both the Yellow and Pink Lines open to the public, BMRCL estimates that Jayadeva station will be utilized by around 80,000 to 90,000 passengers.

Once the Yellow Line connecting to Electronics City opens, Bengaluru will have three interchange Metro stations, with RV Road station as the third interchange station, where the Yellow Line will meet the Green Line (Silk Institute to Nagasandra). The opening of the Yellow Line is expected to increase Metro ridership by 2 lakh.

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Alstom and RAILPOOL Ink €260M Deal for 50 Traxx Universal Locomotives

Staff Reporter

24/07/2023

FRANCE (Metro Rail News): Alstom, a renowned global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has joined hands with RAILPOOL, one of Europe’s leading rail vehicle leasing companies, to sign a significant contract for 50 Traxx Universal multi-purpose locomotives. This substantial deal is valued at up to 260 million euros.

The Traxx Universal locomotives are designed to operate for both freight and passenger corridor services. Noted for their exceptional reliability and flexibility, coupled with optimized power consumption, these locomotives are known to deliver efficient cross-border operations. Additionally, they boast extended maintenance intervals, easing operational planning and reducing costs, ultimately enhancing their overall availability.
The deployment of these locomotives will span eight European countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Poland.

Kevin Cogo, the Vice-President of Rolling Stock, Locomotives & Components for Alstom DACH, expressed delight at RAILPOOL’s decision to partner with Alstom in expanding their operations across several parts of Europe. This contract is a testament to the long-standing and successful partnership between the two companies. The use of the proven Traxx locomotives, along with Alstom’s state-of-the-art Atlas signalling solution, reflects Alstom’s commitment to promoting more efficient and sustainable freight and passenger transport systems.

Torsten Lehnert, the CEO of RAILPOOL, also shared his excitement regarding this purchase. He emphasized that it solidifies their commitment to developing their unique full-service offering in the French market, following the recent opening of an office in France under the leadership of Frédérique Erlichman. These 50 locomotives ordered from Alstom will not only enhance operations in France but also significantly contribute to the advancement of sustainable, high-performance rail transportation throughout Europe.

All locomotives will be equipped with Alstom’s leading signalling system Atlas, which is the onboard solution for the European Train Control System (ETCS). This advanced system enables seamless operation on extended corridors, providing the broadest coverage of countries and lines, both for ETCS and legacy system operation.

Engineering of the locomotives will be carried out at Alstom’s site in Mannheim, Germany, while the final assembly is planned to take place in Kassel, Germany. Other locations involved in the project include Wroclaw, Poland for carbody shell production, Zurich, Switzerland for project management, and Siegen, Germany for bogies production.

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