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TN Government Funds Chennai Metro’s Phase II Project While Awaiting Center’s Approval

20/07/2023

CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): The Chennai Metro Phase II project, valued at Rs 61,843 crore, is currently awaiting approval from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). Despite receiving approval from the Public Investment Board two years ago, the project’s clearance is still pending. The Tamil Nadu government has been funding the project in the hope of eventual approval from the center. However, if the funds are not released on time, the project may face obstacles.

The Phase II project aims to construct 128 stations and three rail corridors covering a total length of 118.9 km. The corridors include Corridor 3 (Madhavaram to SIPCOT for 45.8 km), Corridor 4 (Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass for 26.1 km), and Corridor 5 (Madhavaram to Sholinganallur for 47 km). The state government has already given its approval, seeking matching funding from the center and financial assistance from bilateral/multilateral agencies.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has offered a loan of Rs 20,196 crore for a 52.01 km stretch of Phase II, connecting Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (35.67 km) and Madhavaram to CMBT (16.34 km). Additionally, in-principle approval has been secured for funding the remaining 66.89 km through multilateral banks like the Asia Development Bank (ADB).

Chennai Metro Rail’s Managing Director, M A Siddique, confirmed that the proposal is with the Union government, and the state is permitted to proceed with the project pending CCEA’s decision. According to the officials, once the clearance is received, the state is expected to receive a matching equity contribution from the center. The commissioning of the entire Phase I is estimated to be completed by the end of 2025 or 2026, while Phase II has a deadline of 2028 for completion.

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L&T Secures Rs. 15,697 Crore Contract for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail’s Package C-3

Staff Reporter

20/07/2023

Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train/Representational image

DELHI (Metro Rail News): The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL) has awarded Larsen & Toubro (L&T) a substantial contract worth Rs. 15,697 crores for Package C-3 of the Mumbai – Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (Bullet Train) project. The longest elevated Package C3 (135.45 km) in Maharashtra will connect Shilphata to Zaroli and will include three stations at Thane, Virar, and Boisar.

The contract signing ceremony is expected to take place later this month.

L&T emerged as the winner among three other bidders when the financial bids for Package C-3 were opened last month. The construction deadline for this project is set at 1704 days (approximately 4.66 years).

The scope of the contract covers designing and Construction of Civil and Building Works, including Testing and Commissioning on Design Build Lump Sum Price Basis for Double Line High-Speed Railway including Viaducts as well as Bridges (excluding fabrication and transportation of steel truss girder components), Maintenance Depot, Earth Structures, Tunnels, and Stations (Thane, Virar and Boisar), between Shilphata in the State of Maharashtra and Zaroli at Maharashtra-Gujarat border from MAHSR Km 21.150 to MAHSR Km 156.600 [excluding Thane Depot] for the Project for Construction of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail.

With this latest contract, L&T is now responsible for constructing 469.32 km (approximately 92.35% of the main-line) from Shilphata Ramp on the outskirts of Mumbai to Ahmedabad’s southern outskirts. This is the final civil package of the entire main-line to be awarded, marking a significant milestone in the project’s progress. The first package of the main-line, 237.1 km Package C4, was awarded in November 2020.

The completion of this package will bring the project closer to its much-anticipated realization, enhancing connectivity and travel efficiency between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

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PMC Likely to Approve Khadakwasla to Hadapsar Metro DPR

Staff Reporter

20/07/2023

PUNE (Metro Rail News): Pune may soon get a new metro route from Khadakwasla to Hadapsar as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is likely to approve the detailed project report (DPR) in the next general body meeting. The Pune Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (PUMTA) has already given its approval to the project.

Once approved by the PMC and the state government, the proposal will be submitted to the Centre for final approval. The Centre will share the financial burden with the Maharashtra government and the PMC.

Both the Tata Group and Maha Metro have expressed interest in developing the metro route. The PMC needs to decide between the two for speedy execution.

In the previous year, Maha Metro submitted proposals for various metro routes in Pune, including Vanaz to Chandni Chowk, Ramwadi to Wagholi, Khadakwasla to Swargate, SNDT to Warje, Hadapsar to Kharadi, Swargate to Hadapsar, and the high-capacity mass-transit route (HCMTR) in the city center. The Tata Group, along with the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), is jointly working on metro line 3 (Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar) under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The expansion of metro line 3 to Civil Court and Hadapsar is planned. However, the Swargate to Katraj metro route is still awaiting approval from the central government before Maha Metro can begin work on it.

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RVNL and TMH Resolve Differences, Sign Agreement for 120 Vande Bharat Trains

Staff Reporter

19/07/2023

New colored Vande Bharat Train — Vande Bharat Train/ Representational image only

NEW DELHI(Metro Rail News): Indian Railways PSU, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), and Russian rolling stock manufacturer, Transmashholding (TMH) have settled their differences and signed a shareholders agreement for producing 120 Vande Bharat trains with sleeper coaches. The joint venture had been declared as the lowest bidder for this project.
The resolution allows the JV to proceed with submitting the bid security amount to Indian railways for contract signing. RVNL announced the share purchase agreement with TMH subsidiary-Metrowagonmash and Russian equipment supplier, Locomotive Electronic Systems (LES), in its BSE filing.

Previously, RVNL had requested a greater share in the JV, which TMH had rejected.

The dispute over majority shareholding in the JV was a major crisis threatening to derail the TMH’s awarded contract. However, with intervention from top government officials, the issue was resolved, as TMH engaged with senior government authorities and railways.

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Ircon International Secures Contract Worth Rs 144 Crore From N F Railway Construction

Staff Reporter

19/07/2023

Northeast Railway — Representational image only

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Ircon International Ltd, a prominent construction company under the Ministry of Railways, has announced its successful bid for orders worth Rs 144 crore from N F Railway Construction in Manipur.

The Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from N F Railway Construction was received by the company on July 17th.

As per the regulatory filing, Ircon has been entrusted with the task of supplying, testing, installing, and commissioning an integrated tunnel communication system, optical fibre cable-based industrial-grade network system. This comprehensive project will involve laying optical fibre cables and other necessary cables across tunnels and stations in the Jiribam-Khongsang section of the Jiribam-Imphal new railway line project.

The competitive bidding process led to Ircon’s successful acquisition of this Rs 144 crore-order. The project is expected to be completed within 365 days from the issuance of the Letter of Acceptance (LoA).

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CMRL Signs INR 1204.87 Cr Contract with TATA Projects for Station Construction

Staff Reporter

19/07/2023

Contract Signing Ceremony between TATA Projects and CMRL

CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): On Tuesday, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited signed a contract with M/s TATA Projects Limited for a project worth INR 1204.87 Cr. This agreement, part of the funding received from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), marks an important milestone in the expansion of Chennai’s metro rail network.

The contract, C3-CP02-UG-02, was awarded to M/s TATA Projects Limited following the issuance of a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) on June 2, 2023. The scope of work entails the construction of four underground stations at Otteri, Perambur Barracks Road, Pattalam, and Kellys and works other than diaphragm wall of two underground stations at Ayanavaram & Puraisaiwakkam High Road Cum Crossover Box In Corridor-3 Of Chennai Metro Phase-II Project, a press release stated.

The signing ceremony was attended by esteemed personalities, including Thiru. M.A. Siddique I.A.S., the Managing Director of CMRL. Thiru. T. Archunan, Director (Projects) of CMRL, and Thiru. Raman Kapil, Executive Vice President of M/s TATA Projects Limited.

The presence of Thiru. T. Livingstone Eliazer, Chief General Manager (PP&D), Tmt. Rekha Prakash, Chief General Manager (PD), and Thiru. Reepu Daman Dube, Joint General Manager (UG), among other officials from the General Contractor (GC) and the contracting company, added significance to the event.

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Major Reshuffle in Indian Railways as 35 DRMs Transferred Across Zones

Staff Reporter

18/07/2023

DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Indian Railways has undergone a major reshuffle with the transfer of 35 Divisional Railway Managers (DRM) across different zones in the country. Each of the 70 divisions is headed by a DRM. The transfers were made to ensure effective management and supervision of railway operations.

Bhartesh Kumar Jain, previously with the South Eastern Railway, has been posted as the Divisional Railway Manager of the South Central Railway’s Secunderabad division. Eerya Bhukya Vishwanath, who served in the South Central Railway, is now the Divisional Railway Manager of the Southern Railway’s Chennai division.

The transfers of DRMs occur periodically as they have a two-year tenure. The Railway spokesperson explained that transfers are done in batches since all 70 DRMs can’t be transferred simultaneously.

These transfers come in the wake of the tragic Balasore train accident on June 2, which resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and over 1,000 injuries. The Central Bureau of Investigation has sent three accused members (Arun Kumar Mahanta, Senior Section Engineer/ Signal, Mohd. Amir Khan, Section Engineer, and Pappu Kumar, Technician) to judicial custody, and the Commissioner of Railway Safety emphasized the importance of proper supervision in maintenance work and wiring to prevent such accidents.

The incident highlighted the need for a vigilant supervisory staff to ensure a culture of safety in the Railways. A DRM holds a crucial role as the administrative head and CEO of the division, overseeing train operations, track maintenance, and other assets within the division’s jurisdiction. DRMs report to the General Manager of their respective zones, with a total of 19 zones in the Indian Railway System.

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Track Laying Work Begins in Delhi’s Underground Section on RRTS Corridor

Staff Reporter

18/07/2023

Track work commences on the underground section of RRTS corridor.

DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Track-laying work has begun in the underground tunnels of the Delhi segment on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor. On both the up and down platforms of the Anand Vihar station, this procedure has started, and track slabs are now being placed. The track laying work will soon be carried out in the tunnels and move in the direction of the New Ashok Nagar station as this project advances. Both parallel tunnels that run from Anand Vihar to New Ashok Nagar have already been built.

In addition, the elevated segment between New Ashok Nagar RAPIDX station and the Khichripur underground tunnel ramp has had almost 2 kilometres of track installed. For both the up and down lines, a total of 5 kilometres of the track will be installed on this elevated segment between Anand Vihar and New Ashok Nagar, out of which approximately 2 kilometres of that track have already been laid.

The viaduct construction from New Ashok Nagar to the Khichripur ramp is finished, and the ramp connecting the underground tunnel and elevated section is in its final phase. This will soon connect the underground and elevated sections of the Delhi corridor.

For the first time in India, advanced technology is being used to produce high-strength ballastless track slabs. These slabs have a longer lifespan, require less maintenance, and reduce overall costs. These slab tracks, measuring 4m x 2.4m, are made of high-quality concrete. A PCC (Plain Cement Concrete) base is first constructed to strengthen the track in the circular tunnel.

To reduce tunnel vibrations caused by high-speed trains, NCRTC is implementing a mass-spring system. In the process of this mass-spring system installation, a layer of first-level concrete is applied on the tunnel’s surface, before laying the slab tracks in the tunnels. After that, a mass-spring sheet is laid on this layer, and the track is laid on top of it. It significantly reduces the vibration inside the tunnel.

After installing the slab tracks, the signalling system and traction (OHE) installation will begin. The track technology will enable the operation of high-speed, high-frequency RAPIDX trains with a design speed of 180 km/h, ensuring passenger safety and comfort.
The construction of Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, and Anand Vihar RAPIDX stations is progressing well, with advanced work on platforms and concourse levels. The goal is to commission the entire Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor by 2025, with the Sahibabad to Duhai Depot section already ready for operations.

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Central Railway’s Sustainable Step: Solar Plants to be Established on 2,700 Acres of Land

Staff Reporter

17/07/2023

Solar Plant installation by Central Railway in Nagpur Division — Representational image only

NAGPUR (Metro Rail News): In a significant commitment to renewable energy, the Central Railway has announced its plans to establish 1MW solar plants at 81 locations across its network including one at Ajni, Nagpur.

Shivraj Manaspure, chief public relations officer (CPRO), stated that about 2,700 acres of unoccupied or underused railway land has been located to enable the installation of solar systems. These areas have enormous potential for the development of solar power infrastructure and would contribute in further lowering the carbon emissions of the Indian Railway.

As part of its sustainability efforts, Central Railway has already installed solar rooftop plants with an expanded capacity of 135kWp at various stations in the year 2023.

Solar rooftop plants have been installed successfully at many stations in the Solapur division, including Osmanabad, Barshi, Wadsinge, Salgare, Parewadi, Mohol, and Tilati. In the Nagpur division, installations have been completed at Kala Akhar, Pola Patthar, Maramjhiri, Taku, Jaulkhera, and Dodaramohar stations.

Additionally, the railways has also won a tender for a 1MW capacity solar plant for the new Ajni electric locomotive shed. This solar power facility will provide sustainable energy and help the railway become less reliant on non-renewable resources through a power purchase agreement (PPA). Further increasing its use of solar energy and reaffirming its commitment to a cleaner future, Central Railway also has plans to build a 1MW solar facility in Pune.

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Bengaluru Metro: Pink Line likely to be Operationalised by March 2025

Staff Reporter

17/07/2023

Bengaluru Metro/ Representational image only

BENGALURU (Metro Rail News ): BMRCL (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited) has set a deadline of March 2025 for the commencement of commercial operations on the Pink Line, which spans from Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara, covering a distance of 21.3km. The BMRCL is also constructing a 13.8km tunnel network from Dairy Circle to Nagawara as part of the Pink Line project.

Mr. Anjum Parwez, Managing Director of BMRCL, said that 80% of the tunnel construction had already been finished. To construct the twin tunnels and stations, the agency undertook underground Metro work in four packages. Nine tunnel-boring machines were deployed; four are still working, and five have finished their assignment.

The tunnelling work for a stretch of over 4.5km from Vellara Junction to Pottery Town is nearing completion. Additionally, 80% of the work from Dairy Circle to Vellara Junction and 54% of the work between Tannery Road and Nagawara has been finished. BMRCL MD, Anjum Parwez, stated that the remaining works are progressing well, and their goal is to open the entire Pink Line at once.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar recently inspected the tunnel works at MG Road and Lakkasandra and expressed satisfaction with the progress. Trial runs for the missing links of the Purple Line, from KR Puram to Byappanahalli and Kengeri to Challaghatta, will commence on July 22.

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