New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged-off the Delhi-Faridabad Metro Line that would allow hassle free travel for around two lakh daily commuters between the national capital and the industrial hub in Haryana.
The extension of the Delhi Metro connects Badarpur to Escorts Mujesar in Faridabad.
The total cost of the project from Badarpur to Escorts Mujesar is nearly Rs. 2,500 crore. Out of this, Rs. 1,557 crore was borne by the Haryana Government, the Centre contributed Rs. 537 crore, while the Delhi Metro provided Rs. 400 crore.
All these are elevated and located on either side of the Delhi-Mathura Road (NH-2).
“The nine-station metro corridor which was 95 per cent indigenously built will provide people a safe, affordable, quick, comfortable, reliable, environment-friendly and sustainable transport facility,” a Haryana government spokesperson said.
Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar, addressing a press conference on Saturday, had thanked the Prime Minister for “gifting” the Metro service which would take the city to “another level of progress” with better connectivity with other NCR towns.
He had also said that the Prime Minister would be announcing the go-ahead for connecting Gurgaon with Faridabad by Metro.
CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the Vande Bharat Express will be painted in saffron color, taking inspiration from the Indian national flag. This decision was made during a review meeting of the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. The new color will be applied to the 28th rake of the Vande Bharat Express, which is currently being manufactured at the ICF.
The New Saffron Vande Bharat Express
The saffron-colored Vande Bharat Express is currently stationed at the ICF and is undergoing trials. It is expected to start operating in the coming months. Presently, there are 25 operational rakes of Vande Bharat Express on different routes, including New Delhi-Varanasi, New Delhi-Katra, and Mumbai-Ahmedabad. Additionally, two rakes are being kept for future use. Railway officials mentioned that the color change for the 28th rake is being tested on a trial basis. Improvements and Make in India Concept
According to Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, 25 improvements have been made in the Vande Bharat trains. These trains are a result of the Make in India concept, where they are designed by Indian engineers and technicians. The feedback received from the field units regarding aspects such as air conditioning and toilets during the operation of Vande Bharat has been used to make design changes, ensuring continuous improvement.
Introduction of Anti-Climbing Devices
During the progress review of Vande Bharat Express, Minister Vaishnaw discussed the implementation of a new safety feature known as “anti-climbers” or anti-climbing devices. The purpose of these devices is to ensure safety by preventing trains from climbing on top of each other in the event of a collision, as the anti-climber device will absorb the maximum impact. These devices will become standard in all Vande Bharat and other trains.
The Vande Bharat Express, a domestically manufactured semi high-speed train, is now available for service in all electrified railway states nationwide. With 50 operational services, this train has brought about a revolutionary change in rail travel by offering advanced amenities and significantly reducing travel time for passengers.
Metro Rail News Conducted an Exclusive interview with Shri Sushil Kumar, Managing Director, UPMRC
Metro Rail News team conducted an exclusive email interview with Shri Sushil Kumar, Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation. Shri Sushil Kumar is a highly experienced and accomplished professional in the field of metro rail operations. He joined the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) in 2015 and has made significant contributions to the growth and development of the Lucknow and Kanpur metro rail networks. He is a graduate in electrical engineering from the University of Roorkee(now IIT Roorkee) and has a master’s degree from IIT Delhi. He is also an officer of the Indian Railway Electrical Engineering Service (1991 batch).
Previously, Mr. Kumar had worked as General Manager (Operations) in theUttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (formerly Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation) and later took over as Director (Operations) in 2018. He has also held the position of Additional General Manager in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. The interview mainly discusses the ongoing and upcoming metro projects in Uttar Pradesh, including Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Jhansi, Bareilly, and Meerut. Here are some excerpts from the interview. What is the extension plan for Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Jhansi, Bareilly and Meerut Metro? What is the status of the Agra Metro Project? Are you meeting the deadline of the projects?
Uttar Pradesh is fast emerging as a ‘metro’ state with a maximum number of ongoing metro projects which are operational as well as in the execution stage. Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation, after executing Lucknow and Kanpur Metro Projects, is now executing Agra Metro Rail Project at a fast pace. Lucknow and Kanpur Metro Projects became operational in a record time before their set deadline, and Agra Metro Project is also being executed along the same lines.
Right now, 5 cities of UP have metro projects which include Lucknow, Kanpur, Noida, G.Noida, and Ghaziabad. There is a plan to get the metro operational in cities like Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Jhansi, Bareilly, and Meerut. The DPR of Gorakhpur for 15.14 km long corridor is approved by the UP govt and PIB. In the rest of the cities, the feasibility study has been done, and the preparation of DPR is under consideration.
Status of Agra Metro Rail Project:
Agra Metro
Agra Metro Rail Project, inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 7th December 2020 in the presence of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, is being executed at a very fast pace by the dedicated team of UPMRC. On the 6 km long priority corridor running from Taj East Gate to Jama Masjid, the civil works on the 3 km long elevated section are complete, with finishing works in an advanced stage. The underground section is also being executed at a fast pace, and TBM ‘Ganga’ and ‘Yamuna’ are constructing the tunnel from Ramlila Maidan till Taj Mahal Metro Station. Raja Ki Mandi metro station work is being carried out in a phased manner so as to provide minimum inconvenience to people going to Rajaki Mandi Railway Station. The third rail work, systems and utility works are also in place, and the trial of the metro train on the 700-metre-long test track in the world-class metro depot has also begun.
Special features of the project:
There will be 28 metro trains with 3 cars each for Agra Metro Rail Project. The Rolling Stocks
(Metro Coaches) for the Project are being manufactured in Savli, Gujrat, in line with the initiatives of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ that have been promoted by the Government of India.
Trains will have dedicated space for wheelchairs and will have priority sittings for senior citizens, differently able, and women.
Trains will be equipped with LED lights to reduce energy consumption with USB charging ports for charging mobile phones.
Energy-efficient HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning) units will also be installed for passenger comfort, apart from Digital Route Maps for route and station identification. Separate LCD screens will be installed in order to display advertisements and special/emergency messages.
All the cars will be under CCTV surveillance, and passengers can also talk directly to the train operator in case of any emergency. Each car will be equipped with fire extinguishers for passenger safety.
Shedding some more light on the architecture of metro stations, Managing Director UP Metro Shri Sushil Kumar said, “The city of Agra bears an ancient, illustrious heritage and even today the city continues to hold a powerful impact on the culture of Uttar Pradesh. Keeping in mind the rich, traditional culture of this city which is gradually intermingling with modern times, we have conceptualised and created a world-class metro system which will truly resonate with the soul of this beautiful city.”
Speaking about Gorakhpur Metro Project, which will likely operate as a metro-lite system, the DPR consists of two corridors from Shyam Nagar to MMM Engineering College and BRD Medical College to Nausad Chauraha. The Revised DPR was submitted to the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Subsequently, the DPR approved by State Govt was submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India. The PIB granted approval for Gorakhpur Metrolite System on 29.11.2021, and cabinet approval is awaited.
Similarly, for Meerut Metro Rail Project, DPR Prepared for Meerut Metro identified two corridors to be implemented, namely: Corridor-1 from Partapur to Modipuram (18 km), which has now been merged with RRTS being implemented by National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).
Corridor-1 from Partapur to Modipuram (18 km) of Meerut Metro coinciding with the RRTS corridor in Meerut City has been merged with RRTS being implemented by National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).
Corridor -2- Shradhapuri Ph-2 to Jagriti Vihar Extension (15 km)
CMP of Meerut is being prepared by UMTC, and AAR and DPR of Meerut Metrolite Project are being prepared by Meerut Development Authority through M/s RITES Ltd. as per instructions of GoUP.
For Varanasi Metro Rail Project, in order to explore alternate possibilities of Public Transport, RITES has been engaged by Varanasi Development Authority to explore Rope-way System along with Integrated Multi-Modal Public Transport for Varanasi city.
In the Comprehensive Mobility Report, RITES has suggested the implementation of MRTS corridors in two phases.
Phase-1:
Corridor-1: BHU to BHEL- 16 km
Phase-2:
Corridor-1: Kashi MMH to Sarnath- 7 km
Corridor-2: Kashi MMH to Mughal Sarai- 11 km
Corridor-3: BHU to Ramnagar- 6.5 km
Prayagraj Metro Rail Project:- Draft DPR for Metro/Metro-lite has been prepared and is under consideration by Prayagraj Development Authority.
Two Corridors with a total length of 42.4 km have been considered in the DPR.
Corridor-1 is from Bamrauli to City Lake Forest of length 22.30 Km with 16 elevated and 2 underground stations.
Corridor-2 is from Shantipuram to Cheoki of length 20.11 km with 16 elevated stations.
GoUP has instructed for the preparation of AAR, DPR and CMP of the Prayagraj Metrolite Project.
M/s RITES Ltd. has submitted the final AAR of Prayagraj Metrolite to Prayagraj Development Authority, and Final CMP was prepared and submitted by UMTC.
DPR is yet to be prepared as LOA to be issued by PDA for preparation of DPR.
Similarly, the DPR for Bareilly and Jhansi Metro System is also in the preparation stage and will soon be sent for approval.
U.P. is heading for the highest number of metro projects in the country. What is the plan and strategy to complete the projects in time? Are you also planning HSR, S-HSR, and BRTS projects in the state?
Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a state with the highest number of metro projects, with maximum cities either having operational or under execution metro projects. Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation, the organisation which is constituted to execute the metro project in Uttar Pradesh, is setting new benchmarks with every project and is striving hard to give the people of Uttar Pradesh a world-class metro rail system.
UPMRC has a record of completing and commissioning metro projects ahead of its schedule. Lucknow and Kanpur Metro Projects were also commissioned way ahead of their schedule.
After creating history by successfully commencing the operations of Lucknow Metro in a very short span of time – precisely speaking, 36 days before its schedule, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation broke its own record by commencing the revenue operations of Kanpur Metro in just 2 years and 2 months and achieved an illustrious milestone in the area of infrastructure development.
Team UPMRC is consistent and devoted towards its goal of commissioning the Agra Metro Rail Project before the proposed timeline of August 2024 and give the people of Agra a world-class metro rail system.
As per recent developments, the Government is planning on connecting the entire proposed UPSCR through metros and expressways.
With the highest number of citizens, UP is also one of the most densely populated states. What is the urban plan envisaged for densely inhabited & congested regions across the state?
UPMRC strives to work in close coordination with other departments involved in urban planning and ensures multi-faceted development of the city in all respects and not just public transport. The governing body of UPMRC is the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Govt. of India, and Govt. of Uttar Pradesh and analysis pertaining to tackling the problem of population influx in cities is done on the basis of geological and demographic segmentation.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Metro system is operational in cities where the pressure of population is increasing day by day, and these cities have many densely inhabited and congested areas. For instance, Lucknow, being the capital of Uttar Pradesh, is facing massive urbanisation and migration due to better livelihood and career opportunities. In the present as well as proposed corridors, all major transport terminals, universities, schools, parks, market areas, and medical colleges are connected through the metro.
Kanpur is a densely populated industrial city in Uttar Pradesh. With the population of over 35 lacs, it is going to benefit the residential areas, schools, hospitals, colleges, universities, and businesses operating in an array of segments. Kanpur metro will decongest the areas witnessing traffic congestion. It will save time and money for the commuters.
Agra being the fourth most populated city of Uttar Pradesh, will soon have a metro system that will not only help in the decongestion of traffic and reduce pollution caused by vehicles but will also help in multi-modal integration and make urban transit hassle-free.
All metro systems have been designed in such a way that they blend seamlessly with the aesthetic of the city and are an unobtrusive means of transport.
What is the work-out plan for intermodal and last-mile connectivity to commuters amidst infrastructure being developed in the state, especially expressways and metros?
Well, UPMRC has taken a holistic approach in this regard by integrating various modes of urban transportation so that first and last-mile connectivity can be significantly improved in the long run. Various tie-ups and collaborations with mobility partners like Rapido, Ola, and Uber are playing a vital role in enhancing smart mobility to the doorstep. Integration with the city bus transport services in the respective cities (Lucknow & Kanpur, where the metro is operational) is also changing the current scenario when it comes to providing last-mile connectivity.
In fact, Lucknow Metro recently received the National Award from the Government of India for the Best Multi-Modal Integration.
For instance, the CCS Airport is just 92 meters from the CCS Airport Metro Station, and passengers coming from the airport can conveniently take their luggage trolleys to the Airport Metro station and leave them there.
The Charbagh Railway Station is directly connected from the metro station gate through a Foot-over bridge and lifts.
The Lucknow Junction railway station is connected with the Durgapuri Metro station internally in such a way that a passenger lands directly at the platform of Lucknow Junction from the Metro station concourse through the escalator and FOB.
Similarly, Badshahnagar railway station is also within 120 metres from Badshahnagar Metro Station gate.
Alambagh Bus Terminal, the largest bus terminal of Lucknow, is just 22 meters from the gate of Alambagh Bus Stand metro station and is connected through a FOB.
The under-construction Kanpur Central Metro Station will be the game changer with direct connectivity to the city’s biggest railway station, the Kanpur Central Railway Station and the bus stand.
The inter-modal integration with existing modes have been planned at all metro stations of UPMRC for efficient passenger movement. Major interchange stations have been planned with other existing bus/rail terminals, which serve as complementary/ feeder for the passengers from their respective origins to destinations and vice-versa. For interchange station planning, many factors, such as nature of the station, its catchment, availability of access/dispersal modes, interchange with other public transport modes, distance from the station, trip length and destinations etc., have been considered. It provides a convenient and economical connection of various modes to make a complete journey from origin to destination.
Besides, parking provisions have also been made at almost all the metro stations of Lucknow & Kanpur metro services. Dedicated parking provision for metro commuters is one of the key factors determining the success of the metro system. Parking provisions, along with a priority to pedestrians through foot over bridges and feeder bus services, would encourage more commuters to use the metro system. Passengers can safely park their vehicles at the nearest station, walk to the station or rely on feeder connectivity.
Right from the planning stage of any metro project, UPMRC aims at intermodal integration, which enhances the usefulness and viability of the project. Intermodal integration refers to the connectivity between important transport hubs and modes of transport so that commuters can seamlessly travel within and between cities.
UPMRC has adopted many initiatives to boost last-mile connectivity, which includes tie-up and signing of MoUs with taxi services like Uber, Ola and Rapido Bike Service. These services provide pick-and-drop services easily to commuters willing to take the metro.
With an infrastructure boost in the state of Uttar Pradesh in the form of expressways and highways, inter-city connectivity has also increased, and people can easily travel from one city to another in just a couple of hours. As soon as they enter the city, they may park their vehicle at the metro station parking and explore the city via metro, which connects almost all-important points. Such integrated movement will help in optimising resources and providing a premium travel experience to tourists as well as locals.
The state being a land of holy rivers, epics, ancient cities, and pilgrimage, what can be the plan for the development of metro and rail circuits connecting these important sites? Has there been any important development in this regard?
Yes, Uttar Pradesh is a state which is culturally rich and diverse. It has several life-source rivers, historical monuments, ancient cities and several pilgrimage sites, which not only hold historic significance but are also great tourist attractions.
The operational Lucknow Metro already seamlessly connects the Gomti River, ancient temples, and century-old markets that hold a strong historical and religious significance.
Similarly, the Famous Taj Mahal in Agra will now be connected with the Metro and even have its own dedicated Metro station, i.e. the Taj East Gate. Visitors from all around the globe can witness the grandeur and beauty of the famous monument much more easily by taking the metro to the nearest station.
The Kanpur Metro stations like Bada Chauraha, Naveen Market and Chunniganj connect the centuries-old Bada Chauraha market, the holy Ganga river, which is just 1 km away from the metro station and major places of business and historic significance.
Moreover, Varanasi, which is one of the oldest living cities in the world, bears an illustrious heritage and is a very important pilgrim site. A metro system in Varanasi will be extremely beneficial for the city as the pilgrims will be able to visit most of the temples and monuments easily through one means of transport.
Similarly, metro routes proposed in Gorakhpur, Ayodhya, Meerut etc., will also have seamless connectivity with all major places of interest, including heritage sites, rivers, temples, medical institutions etc.
The state government is planning to introduce ITMS in seven more cities apart from ten others where the system is already operational. In what ways the system would be unique compared to other cities? What are the plans to integrate metros and urban rail transit with ITMS?
As we all know, recent years have seen ‘Intelligent Traffic Systems’ becoming popular day by day due to their endless possibilities, which range from managing traffic congestion, information & control in traffic management to efficient infrastructure usage and road safety.
The concept of Intelligent Traffic Management Systems (ITMS) in India can be perceived as a multidisciplinary field of work, prompting several organisations worldwide to develop advanced solutions to ease traffic congestion and control. ITMS are becoming indispensable components of traffic management, saving time for commuters while ensuring smooth vehicle flow along with safety and comfort.
Through a comprehensive network of metro, buses, rope-ways, water metro and other eco-friendly vehicles for short distances, the load on roads and dependency on only one kind of mode of transport may be considerably reduced. Information technology may be effectively utilised to cater to the problem of traffic management.
Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation uses the state-of-the-art ‘Communication Based Train Control System’ (CBTC) in all its metro trains with Automatic Train Protection (ATP) for automatic braking to prevent any collision and Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) system to ensure automatic management of train movement.
Kindly share the details of the metro and rail transit plan for the state envisaged for the next 10-15 years. What is the vision to develop the system in a sustainable way?
The GoI has the vision of having metro rail in 100 cities of India by 2047. UP being the most populous state of India and 4th largest in terms of land area, will also see expansion in its metro rail metro with cities including Gorakhpur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Meerut, Prayagraj, Bareilly, Jhansi, Ayodhya, Varanasi, etc.
As an organisation, we aim to bring metro rail systems to the maximum number of cities in the state of Uttar Pradesh in the coming future.
All metro projects of UPMRC are sustainable and adopt multiple Green Initiatives like:
Harnessing Solar Energy: A 1.28 MW capacity solar plant has been installed at the Administrative Building premises along with a 1.1 MW capacity solar plant at Transport Nagar Metro Depot. It has generated 30 lakhs units of electricity till date and has resulted in a lower carbon footprint.
Regenerative energy in trains & lifts: Rolling Stock of Lucknow Metro has an efficiency of 40% due to regenerative braking technology. The lifts of Lucknow Metro also regenerate 37% of the energy consumed.
Rainwater harvesting: In a 23 km long stretch of North-South, more than 300 rainwater harvesting pits have been created with a capacity to harvest 20 lakhs litres of water.
Lucknow Metro became the First Metro in India to have 100% LED lighting in trains and stations.
Water efficient fixtures: UPMRC has installed efficient fixtures at Lucknow Metro stations to save lakhs of water.
Wastewater treatment: To minimise water wastage, a sewage treatment plant has been installed at various metro stations and metro depots. The wastewater is being recycled for horticulture purpose. The metro depot is also functioning as a ‘Zero Discharge Facility’.
Green median along North-South corridor: A green median has been developed with green plantation along the corridor to minimise the effects of vehicular pollution. It is built and executed in a very sustainable manner, right from the design to material sourcing and, ultimately, the operations. Energy and cost optimisation are always given topmost priority while executing a metro project.
All future projects will be designed and executed on similar sustainable lines.
What are the ongoing efforts toward achieving net zero carbon emissions? Kindly state the action plans being adopted with significant accomplishments till date?
Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) has always manifested its commitment towards environmental protection and has also ensured the various provisions of its metro projects for environment and energy conservation. The factor of environmental protection is the key aspect in the development of metro projects. Metro Projects are environment friendly as compared to other modes of public transport as the metro system operates with zero carbon emissions. UPMRC has further reinforced this factor through various innovations under Kanpur and Agra Metro projects. The use of regenerative braking technology in metro trains and lifts to generate and conserve energy through braking, the use of an HVAC system to control the air conditioning system in metro trains and 100% LED lighting in the entire metro system, etc., are excellent examples of UPMRC’s commitment towards environmental protection.
Taking another positive initiative in this direction and moving towards the goal of energy conservation and energy efficiency, UPMRC is going to install a solar plant under the Kanpur Metro project in line with the Lucknow Metro Project. The work of installing a solar plant in the Kanpur Metro Depot of Corridor-1 (IIT to Naubasta) has started, and it is likely to be completed by August this year. About 12 lakh units of electricity can be produced from this 1 MW plant in a year. UPMRC has already installed a total capacity of 1.28 MW rooftop solar plant at its premises in Lucknow Metro. Following are the various measures taken by UPMRC for environment protection:
Embracing Solar Energy
UPMRC has installed a total capacity of 1.28 MW rooftop solar plant at its premises. A 1.1MW capacity solar plant is installed at Transport Nagar Metro Depot. More than 30 lac units of electricity have been generated through these solar plants till date in Lucknow alone. In Lucknow additional 2MW solar plant establishment is in the process; this is in the Resco model and will provide ample green energy to charge auxiliaries for operations as well as cost saving would be there.
In Kanpur, also 1MW solar plant establishment is under process. It is expected to generate electricity in a couple of months. UPMRCL is also planning to install a rooftop solar plant in the ongoing Kanpur and Agra Metro projects. The work of installation of a 1 MW solar plant has started in the Kanpur Metro depot of Corridor-1 under the Kanpur Metro project. There are various benefits of solar energy ranging from being cost-effective in comparison to electricity procured from the grid. It costs almost 30% less than the electricity procured from the grid. Also, harnessing solar energy results in a lower carbon footprint for the organisation.
Regenerative Energy in Trains and Lifts
The rolling stock of the Kanpur and Agra Metro Project has an efficiency of 45 per cent through regenerative braking technology. Similarly, Rolling stocks used in Lucknow Metro Project have an efficiency of around 40% due to Regenerative Braking Technology. It means out of 1000 units being used in running Trains, almost 400 units are generated through Regenerative Braking Technology.
Besides rolling stocks, Regenerative Braking is also used in lifts of all UPMRCL Projects. The lifts in various Uttar Pradesh Metro premises recorded almost 37% energy efficiency. Along with this, the Kanpur Metro trains have a carbon-dioxide sensor-based air-conditioning system, which operates according to the number of passengers present in the train and saves energy.
Relocation and Transplantation of Trees
In Lucknow Metro Project, more than 400 trees were transplanted with the survival rate of more than 95%. A similar model has been followed in Kanpur, where till date, more than 100 big trees have been transplanted under the priority section of the Kanpur metro project. In Agra Metro Project, UPMRCL is working with the forest department to plant 10 trees in lieu of every single tree being cut during the Project execution. UPMRCL has identified the land parcel for compensatory afforestation in Agra in close co-ordination with the forest department to ensure the afforestation activity shall happen in a timely manner. UPMRCL has a strong commitment to safeguard every possible tree coming in the Metro alignment and to keep the number of trees to be cut down as minimum as possible.
Rain Water Harvesting
In the Lucknow Metro Project, comprising of 23km long alignment, more than 300 rainwater harvesting pits have been created to capture the rainwater for harvesting. With this, we have created a capacity to harvest almost 20Lac litre of water during the rainy season.
A similar arrangement has been planned in Kanpur and Agra Metro. It is expected that upon completion of the Projects, they will create an additional 15lac – 20lac litre rainwater harvesting capacity in the city of Kanpur and Agra.
Water-Efficient Water Fixtures
It was always emphasised to have efficient water fixtures in the Metro rail stations of UPMRCL. Be it Lucknow or now Kanpur and Agra, it is followed with great commitment. Water fixtures used at UPMRCL Metro stations are 30-40 % more efficient than conventional water fixtures. By this, it is expected that Metro stations of UPMRCL will save lacs of a litre of water every year.
Wastewater Treatment
UPMRCL is taking care of every drop of water by minimising its wastage. A sewage Treatment Plant has been installed at various Metro stations and Depot premises. UPMRCL is cleaning the wastewater and reusing it for horticulture in Depot and Viaduct section. Metro Train Depot is functioning as a “Zero Discharge Facility”, as no wastewater is discharged from its premises.
LED Lighting
Lucknow Metro became the first Metro in India to have 100% LED lighting in trains and stations. A similar approach has been followed for both Kanpur and Agra Metro Projects. Besides, translucent sheets have been used in the construction of the roofs of Metro stations with the aim of making full use of the natural light of the sun.
Development of Green Median
The green median has been developed with green plantation along the corridor to minimise the effects of vehicular pollution. Saplings have been planted in the middle of the elevated corridor of both Lucknow and Kanpur Metro, and UPMRC is also taking regular care of them. Saplings have been planted at every possible place in the Metro premises.
UPMRC has been lauded by Indian Green Building Council (CII-IGBC) for leading the green building movement by promoting a cleaner and greener environment while executing a huge infrastructure project of public transport in our cities. All 21 stations of the Lucknow Metro Rail Project and 09 stations of the Priority corridor (IIT-Motijheel) of the Kanpur Metro Project achieved the highest green building rating, “Platinum certification”, even before the commencement of commercial operations. Green Building Certification is given to building having provisions for minimising energy consumption, water consumption, proper waste management arrangements, having wastewater treatment facilities and many other environment-friendly features. Now, Agra Metro Rail Project is also incorporating these features to achieve Green Building Certificates of the highest standard.
Besides, UPMRCL achieved its ISO certification of ISO 14001 (Environment Management Systems) Project for its construction activities for the entire 23 km of the Lucknow Metro Project as well as for Kanpur Metro Rail. ISO certifications are awarded to organisations displaying commitment to the standard requirements. Having ISO 14001 certification showcases our commitment to safeguarding the Environment by adopting environment-friendly practices in an organised manner. Similar arrangements to achieve ISO certification for the balance section of Kanpur Metro and for the Agra Metro Rail Project are already in progress; it will be achieved in due course of time.
Any message for our readers?
This is an advent of a new era for Uttar Pradesh as it is the only state of India with a maximum number of operational and under-construction metro projects. I feel extremely happy and proud that the people of Uttar Pradesh have been gifted with a ‘Green Mobility System’ that would surely provide relief from traffic congestion and reduce carbon footprint. Along with saving time and money, this smart mobility system will ensure the safety and security of the passengers.
UPMRC, with a strong conviction to provide a one-stop mobility solution, it is committed to balanced and sustainable development, delivering world-class metro services. UPMRC delivered Lucknow and Kanpur metro projects ahead of schedule with efficient processes and customer-focused service. The construction work on the 6 KMs long priority corridor of Agra Metro, starting from Taj East Gate to Jama Masjid, commenced on 7th December 2020 and is going on in full swing. Gorakhpur Metro Lite Rail Phase 1 (15.14 KMs )- Shyam Nagar to Madan Mohan Malviya College has been approved by the GoI. Gorakhpur is the most important city in Eastern Uttar Pradesh with moderate demographics; the Govt. of India has considered Metro Rail Lite as a suitable mobility solution for commutation. With overall ownership of managing 4 Metro Rail Projects, UPMRC in future will operate 100 KMs of the metro network.
We are proud to turn these visionary projects into reality in Uttar Pradesh.
GORAKHPUR (Metro Rail News): On 07th July 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two Vande Bharat Express trains in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, marking a special day for the residents. The Gorakhpur-Lucknow Vande Bharat Express became UP’s second train, while the Jodhpur-Sabarmati Vande Bharat Express became the second train for Rajasthan.
Prominent personalities such as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan Shukla, public representatives, and special guests graced the event with their presence.
The second Vande Bharat Express in Uttar Pradesh will operate from Gorakhpur to Lucknow, making stops at Basti and Ayodhya along the way. This new train will improve connectivity between Gorakhpur, Lucknow, religious sites, and tourist destinations, contributing to the overall development of the region.
The Jodhpur-Sabarmati Vande Bharat train will link the cities of Pali, Abu Road, Palanpur, and Mehsana, connecting Jodhpur in Rajasthan to Sabarmati in Gujarat. This will be Gujarat’s second semi-high-speed train, alongside the existing Mumbai-Gandhinagar Vande Bharat Express. The introduction of this train will enable convenient and speedy travel, playing a vital role in connecting cultural, tourism, and pilgrimage sites in these areas.
The Vande Bharat Express is now present in all rail-electrified states across India. It operates on 23 routes with 46 services, making it the fastest-running train in the Indian Railways. With the introduction of these two trains, the operational services of the Vande Bharat Express will reach a significant milestone of 50 services on 25 routes.
The first Vande Bharat Express was launched on February 15, 2019, between New Delhi and Varanasi. These trains, manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, embody India’s ‘Make-In-India‘ initiative and demonstrate the country’s engineering prowess.
Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd. (KRTL), a special-purpose corporation set up by the Kerala Government, has proposed to construct a light metro system in Kozhikode, Kerala, alternatively referred to as the Kozhikode Metro. Kozhikode, India’s picture-perfect Malabar Coast, is a lovely city that offers a wonderful blend of nature and development. It is the second-largest city in Kerala, with a population of over two million people. It is also considered one of the nicest places to reside in Kerala. This city is said to have everything for everyone, from new skyscrapers to peaceful parks and lakes. Furthermore, Kozhikode is home to a number of institutes and universities identified and known for providing world-class education.
In Kozhikode, there are numerous sites to visit. The amazing Lokanarkavu Temple is well-known for its one-of-a-kind celebration. Furthermore, the Pooram festival is observed in its entirety here. Visitors can also admire the pearly-white Aripara Falls as it cascades down the rock faces. Kozhikode also offers a number of beautiful beaches that are great for relaxing. People can also take a romantic stroll along the gorgeous Kozhikode Beach, where they can watch the crashing waves, or they can relax at Parappalli Beach and go surfing. There’s a lot to do with our loved ones, and then visit Beypore Beach, which also has a promenade area. The projected Kozhikode metro routes would connect various regions of the city. Furthermore, the Kozhikode Metro route would allow the traveller to see all of these tourist attractions and more in Kozhikode without breaking the bank.
Project Details
The Kozhikode Metro is a proposed LRT (Light Rail Transit) system for the city of Kozhikode (Calicut). The State government assessed the feasibility of constructing a metro rail system for Kozhikode and its surrounding areas in 2010. The plan was envisaged for the construction of a corridor through the city centre that would connect Meenchanda to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. Wilber Smith, a Bangalore-based consultant, submitted an initial report on the thorough feasibility study of implementing the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) and Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) in the city. The project, however, was cancelled and has been proposed to be replaced by the Kozhikode Monorail project. The State Cabinet then agreed to establish a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to carry out implementation works of monorail projects in Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, which received administrative approval in October 2012. On November 26, 2012, the state government approved rules handing the Thiruvananthapuram Monorail project to the KMCL. Prior to that, the government had handed and passed over the Kozhikode Monorail project to the KMCL. On June 12, 2013, the State Cabinet approved the signing of an agreement between KMCL and DMRC, making the latter the general consultant for the monorail projects in Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram. 3.25% of the Rs. 55.81 billion (Rs. 35.90 billion for Thiruvananthapuram and Rs. 19.91 billion for Kozhikode) has been proposed to be paid to DMRC as a consultation fee. On June 19, 2013, the deal was signed. However, due to cost overruns and lack of bidder interest, the project was put on hold. The project’s sole bidder was Bombardier Transportation. The proposal was later abandoned, and a Light metro system was planned in its place.
The plan is for the construction of a 14.2-kilometre light metro line with fifteen stations between Meenchantha and Medical College. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC), which has been engaged as a general consultant, shall provide the complete project report and details. The automotive depot has been constructed on 5.20 hectares (12.8 acres) of government-owned uninhabited and vacant land around 500 metres (1,600 feet) east of the Medical College Hostel station. The monorail is expected to be built in two stages. The first is between Medical College and Mananchira, and the second is between Mananchira and Meenchantha. The project would necessitate around 10.65 ha (26.3 acres) of land, 80 per cent of which would be controlled by the government.
The proposed Light Metro shall be developed as a government endeavour, with financing provided by both the state and the central governments to bridge the viability gap. The State Government shall contribute Rs 2,187 crores over a five-year period, including land expenditures. The remaining funds have been proposed to be obtained both internally and outside from competent agencies.
Timeline & History
Following the success of the Delhi Metro, the Union Urban Development Ministry decided to consider the proposal for a Metro in Kozhikode and signed an agreement with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to draw the detailed project report (DPR) of the Rs.27.71 billion Kozhikode metro transport project as a feasibility study for the introduction of suburban services in Kozhikode city. The Ministry opted to shoulder half of the expense of preparing the DPR for the city that falls inside the population cut-off range. In December 2008, the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) conducted a preliminary feasibility assessment in collaboration with the Kerala Road Fund Board. The Board commissioned Wilber Smith to perform the study in June 2009 based on this feasibility report. NATPAC had already proposed a metro rail project spanning 32.6 km from Karipur to the Calicut Medical College. The project was predicted to cost Rs. 27.71 billion and was supposed to be completed in five years. The monorail project, which replaced the metro rail project, has been expected to cost Rs 1,991 crore, but the lone bidder, Bombardier Consortium, submitted a bid that was nearly double the estimate. The proposal, therefore, was cancelled, and the Light Metro was approved.
Routes & Funding
Pursuant to the Metro proposal, the plan envisages the metro to run from Karipur Airport to Ramanattukara, Meenchanda, Mini-Bypass, Arayadathupalam, and conclude at the Medical College. By 2031, nearly 2.1 million individuals are expected to be benefitted from the upgraded transport system. The project, which is estimated to be completed in parts in three years, is both fiscally and technically feasible. However, according to the full project report published by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, the Kozhikode Monorail line shall be retained for the Light Metro project. The Union government supported implementing the project with private participation, overlooking its own financial engagements. The Ministry of Urban Development and the Planning Commission were also opposed to government participation in the project and refused to recognise it as a project similar in capacity and in line with the Delhi Metro and Chennai Metro.
The political rivalry between Kerala’s former left-front government and the UPA government at the Centre had been one of the principal reasons for such developments and the project’s slowdown. The change in government in Kerala helped in bringing a change in those conditions, making the Kozhikode Metro one of the UDF government’s top priorities. However, Kerala’s cabinet, led by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, chose to give approval only to the Kozhikode Monorail Project, which would replace the metro rail project keeping Kochi Metro Rail Project unaffected.
Proposals & Future Extensions
The project was proposed to span a distance of 14.2 kilometres with fifteen stations from Medical College Hostel to Meenchanda. The car depot was scheduled to be located around 500 metres (1,600 feet) east of the Medical College Hostel station on 5.20 hectares (12.8 acres) of government-owned unoccupied land. The monorail has been planned to be built in two stages. The first stretch from Medical College to Mananchirae and the second one from Mananchira to Meenchantha. The project required nearly twenty-seven acres of land, of which more than eighty per cent of the area required to be owned by the government. Further, the government intended to expand the monorail all the way to Civil Station and West Hill. The six-kilometre line between Malaparamba and Civil Station would have cost nearly Rs.600 crore.
Key Specifications
Operational: 0 km
Under Construction: 0 km
Approved: 13.13 km
Estimated Cost: Rs. 2,773 crore
Metro Phase 1 Route
Line 1 – Meenchanda to Kozhikode Medical College
Length: 13.3 km
Type: Elevated
Depot: Medical College
Number of Stations: 14
Stations: Meenchanda, Vattakkinar, Panniyankara, Kallayi, Pushpa, Kozhikode Railway Station, Palayam, Mananchira, KSRTC, New Bus Stand, Kottuli, Thondayad, Chevayur and Medical College
Latest Update
Kochi Metro Rail Limited is still working on the metro rail model for Kozhikode Metro. The concerned authorities had to complete the metro model by the end of March 2023. KMRL awarded the contract for CMR development to an urban transport consultant, Urban Mass Transit Company Limited, which was supposed to be completed by March 31, 2023, but the agency failed to meet the deadline. The KMRL officials have stated that the study on the plan and work on the Comprehensive Mobility Report (CMR) for Kozhikode Metro is still ongoing. They have confirmed, however, that the inception reports required for the development of CMR, such as transportation requirements and patterns reports, have been completed. Urban Mass Transit Company Limited was also assigned with the responsibility of developing a Comprehensive Mobility Report for Thiruvananthapuram Metro in collaboration with Kozhikode Metro. This report’s preparation is also underway.
As per senior government official, the Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode metro rail projects may not be completed soon enough due to the state government’s reluctance to advance them forward. The Urban Mass Transit Co (UMTC) Ltd is yet to finish and submit to Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) its study on selecting appropriate models for two cities. The original report submission deadline was March 31, 2023. The officials further added that the government feels the proposed projects would not be financially sustainable for the two cities, given Kochi Metro’s deficit. Despite a prior study, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is conducting another study to examine the feasibility of a metro train in the city.
As per a few media reports too, it is expected that the other transportation options shall also be reviewed for the two cities. The metro project’s delay has also impacted the projected flyover in Sreekaryam, Thiruvananthapuram. The tendering process and the destruction of stores for road widening have been halted. In the midst of the Kochi Metro’s lack of profitability, officials also claim that building a metro in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode would be unnecessary and expensive due to existing public transportation options.
Furthermore, the government is having financial challenges. Despite criticism, ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan, responsible for Kochi Metro, believes that metro rail projects are important for these cities. According to Sreedharan, this would be a waste of resources because no metro rail project in the world is viable. He further points out that Kochi Metro’s losses cannot be used as an excuse because the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is also incurring losses. Following the Centre’s request for a single company to manage all metro projects in the state, KMRL prepared for project implementation.
Instead of a light metro, the Union government offered a metro-lite model, but the state government remained sceptical. This was due to metro-lite’s experimental nature, as it had not yet been implemented anywhere in the country. Loknath Behera, managing director of KMRL, also approached district collectors and mayors of the cities for assistance in completing the project, requesting their support and cooperation. Following the completion of the report, the complete project report (DPR) shall be developed and forwarded to the central and state governments for approval. Thiruvananthapuram’s concept also includes underground portions. According to a KMRL official, UMTC has submitted an interim report, and a high-level meeting has been planned to be organised soon in Thiruvananthapuram to finalise the activities. The projects for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode are expected to be completed concurrently with the start of the tender process for the Sreekaryam flyover.
GHAZIABAD (Metro Rail News): Shri Vinay Kumar Singh, Managing Director, NCRTC, inaugurated a state-of-the-art Solar Power Plant installed at the RRTS Depot in Duhai today, on Saturday, 08 July 2023. This marks an important moment in the organization’s commitment to embracing renewable energy and sustainable practices.
Shri Vinay Kumar Singh, Managing Director, NCRTC inaugurating the Solar Plant at Duhai Depot
The Solar Power Plant has an installed capacity of 585 kWp, where the solar panels have been installed at various depot buildings, including workshops. During its estimated lifespan of 25 years, this solar plant is projected to generate approximately 6,66,000 units of solar energy per year. The plant is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 615 tonnes annually, contributing to a remarkable reduction of 15,375 tonnes over its lifetime.
The solar energy produced through this Solar Plant will be monitored and optimized by a cutting-edge cloud-based application which will track the output on a regular basis. This advanced technology ensures transparency, efficiency, and seamless management of the solar energy infrastructure.
Shri Vinay Kumar Singh, MD, NCRTC at the inaugural ceremony of Solar plant at Duhai Depot
The solar power generated by this plant will not only meet the energy requirements of the Depot in its entirety but will have a surplus to use in other RRTS operations. It positions the Duhai Depot as a ‘Green Depot, ‘ solidifying NCRTC’s commitment to sustainability. This achievement of Duhai Depot translates into going beyond ‘Net Zero Carbon Emission’ for auxiliary loads.
As part of its commitment to the National Solar Mission and the promotion of clean and sustainable energy sources, NCRTC adopted a solar policy in March 2021. As per this policy, it will increase the share of renewable energy by generating about 11 MW peak in-house solar power on the rooftop of stations, depots and other buildings for non-traction purposes in the next five years. Apart from this, it will optimize the energy mix to increase the share of renewable energy for traction purposes as well. It will also strive to put in place an appropriate investment climate that would leverage the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Renewable Energy Certificate (REC).
RRTS is a long-term strategic intervention by the Government of India and four state governments, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, for decongestion of the National Capital, reduce vehicular congestion and air pollution, and enable the balanced and sustainable development of the region. Once operational, it will act as a transportation backbone for the entire NCR. The first RRTS corridor alone is expected to reduce vehicular congestion, with more than one lakh vehicles going off the roads and will help reduce air pollution with more than 2.5 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide in vehicular emissions coming down.
CMRL signs contract with L&T for provision of telecommunication system in corridor 4 of phase 2 project.
CHENNAI (Metro Rail News):Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has selected Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) for the provision of a telecommunications system for Corridor 4 of Phase-II project. The contract, valued at INR 99 Crores, was formally signed by CMRL’s Director of Systems and Operations, Thiru. Rajesh Chaturvedi, and Thiru. Raghavendran Murali, Head Communication, Smart World & Communication Business Unit, L&T.
Under this agreement, L&T will undertake the installation and implementation of the telecommunication system across 27 stations and 1 depot. The system will encompass various features, including an optical fiber network, passenger information displays, public address systems, CCTV surveillance, and access control systems. These functionalities will enable effective control and monitoring of train operations from the Operational Control Centre (OCC).
During the contract signing ceremony, notable attendees included Thiru. A. Sankaramurthi (Deputy Advisor S&T), Thiru. C. Murugamoorthy (Team Leader, GC), Thiru. S. Jayakumar (Project Manager, L&T), along with senior officials from CMRL and Larsen & Toubro Limited.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah /Image copyright respective authority
KARNATAKA (Metro Rail News): On Friday, during his budget speech in the Legislative Assembly, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced two Metro rail projects in Bengaluru with a combined value of Rs 31,328 crore. He mentioned that a Detailed Project Report for Metro Phase-3, costing Rs. 16,328 crore, has been submitted to the Center for approval. The project covers a distance of 45 km, connecting Kempapura to JP Nagar Fourth Phase and Hosahalli to Kadabagere, which includes the western Outer Ring Road line as well.
Furthermore, there is a proposal to build a new Metro line stretching 37 km from Hebbal to Sarjapura, with an approximate cost of Rs 15,000 crore. This proposal will be sent to the Government of India for approval.
By the end of 2024, new Metro lines will be added, including Baiyyappanahalli to Krishnarajapura, Kengeri to Challaghatta, Nagasandra to Madawara, and RV Road to Bommasandra, totaling 27 km. Over the next three years, the Metro network will expand from 70 km to 176 km, which is 2.5 times its current coverage. The airport Metro line’s progress will be expedited, with plans to make it operational by 2026.
Mr. Siddaramaiah criticized the previous BJP government for failing to implement the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project, which aimed to alleviate traffic congestion. He stated that the project remained a budget announcement for years. The total allocation for this project is Rs. 15,767 crore, with the Central government contributing Rs. 3,242 crore, the state government providing Rs. 5,087 crore, and external sources providing a loan component of Rs. 7,438 crore.
To date, the Central government has released Rs. 500 crore, and the state government has provided Rs. 660 crore for the suburban rail project. For the current year, the state government has allocated Rs. 1,000 crore towards its development.
Shri Arun Kumar Jain, General Manager, SCR reviewing 3D model of Railway Manufacturing Unit at Kazipet.
TELANGANA (Metro Rail News): Telangana is set to have India’s second railway manufacturing unit in Kazipet. The foundation stone for the unit will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. The South Central Railway (SCR) general manager, Arun Kumar Jain, announced that the unit will initially produce 1,200 wagons in the first year and increase to 2,400 wagons from the second year onwards.
Braithwaite & Co, a public-sector undertaking based in Kolkata, currently runs India’s first railway manufacturing unit, while the facility in Kazipet will mark the railways’ inaugural establishment of such a unit.
Shri Arun Kumar Jain, GM, SCR reviewing 3D model of Railway Manufacturing Unit at Kazipet.
According to Mr. Jain, a Kazipet wagon repair facility with a monthly capacity of overhauling 200 waggons was initially authorised. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) was given responsibility for it. Later, a decision was made to turn it into a waggon manufacturing facility in consideration of the rising need for waggons and pressure to establish a manufacturing facility to support local industry.
Mr. Jain expressed that the establishment of the unit would stimulate new industrial development in the Hanumakonda region.The 160-acre facility will have the capacity to increase its production capacity for both wagons and rolling stock. This facility will be essential to achieve the goal of increasing freight transit to 3,000 million tonnes since the nation has long struggled with a waggon shortage. Additionally, the unit’s strategic location with excellent rail connectivity in all directions will facilitate efficient order delivery, further enhancing its significance.
The unit will be built with an eco-friendly design, featuring a solar power plant, sewage treatment plant, rainwater harvesting structure, and natural daylighting. It will embrace cutting-edge technology, such as robotic painting of wagons, computerized machinery for precise cutting, and advanced material storage and handling units. The project is anticipated to generate approximately 1,200 job opportunities in the initial phase. Aiming to complete it by February 22, 2025, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited will oversee the construction of the unit.
After the Delhi Metro and the Hyderabad Metro, the Chennai Metro is India’s third-largest metro system. After partially finalising and opening the first phase of the project, the rapid transport system was opened to more than seven million people of Chennai in 2015. The Chennai Metro, which serves India’s sixth most populated city, provides an urgently needed high-capacity mass transit option to increase connectivity and minimise growing traffic concerns. The project’s goal is to provide public transportation that is well-integrated with other modes of public and private transportation, such as buses and sub-urban trains in densely populated areas.
The Tamil Nadu government established a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called ‘Chennai Metro Rail Limited’ (CMRL) to carry out the Chennai Metro Rail Project. The Tamil Nadu government sanctioned Rs 50 crore to commence the Chennai mass transit network project in 2007, and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was given the responsibility to prepare a detailed project study. The Chennai Metro Rail Corporation (CMRC) was established as a special-purpose vehicle to carry out the project. Accordingly, after the Central Government’s approval of the CMRL project on January 28, 2009, construction work on Phase-1 of the project began in June 2009.
Project Details
The Chennai Metro’s Phase I was opened in stages. On June 29, 2015, the first segment of the route between Alandur and Koyambedu was commissioned, and on May 14, 2017, the first underground line between Thirumangalam and Nehru Park was inaugurated. The two segments, which run from Nehru Park to Chennai Central and from Saidapet to AG-DMS, opened a year later on May 25, 2018. On February 10, 2019, the Blue Line’s underground extension from AG-DMS to Washermenpet became operational, completing a 45-kilometre network under Phase I of the metro rail project.
Phase 1 also included a 9.5-kilometre expansion from Washermenpet Metro Station to Wimco Nagar. The line’s construction began in July 2016, and after successful testing runs in December 2020, it became operational in February 2021. Phase 2 works of the Chennai Metro have begun, under which the Southern Railway is building track in one of the most difficult sites, St Thomas Mount and Adambakkam. This phase is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
Estimated Cost
The estimated cost of Chennai Metro Phase 1 is Rs 14,600 crore, including escalation, central taxes, and interest, but excluding State taxes and unoccupied State government land. The Centre and state governments paid around 41% of the total cost, with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) covering the remainder. On November 21, 2008, India and Japan signed a financing and loan agreement in Tokyo. The projected Phase 2 expansion would extend around 119 kilometres and shall have 128 stations, including 48 below-ground stations, and is expected to be completed by 2026.
Phase 1
The first phase of the Chennai Metro includes the construction of two corridors: Line-1 (Blue Line) from Chennai Airport to Washermenpet, which was later extended to Wimco Nagar, totalling approximately 30.10 km, and Line-2 (Green Line) from Chennai Central to St Thomas Mount, totalling approximately 22 km. The total combined length of the rail network is 54 kilometres, with 24 kilometres underground and 21 km elevated. All important intersections and major transport hubs in Chennai have been connected under Phase 1 of the CMRL project, including Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, the Central Mofussil Bus Terminal (CMBT), the Chennai Airport, St Thomas Mount, Guindy, Government Estate and the High Court.
These two corridors of Chennai Metro Phase-1 travel along three prominent arterial roads in Chennai: Anna Salai, EVR Periyar Salai, and Jawaharlal Nehru Salai. The Phase 1 extension was supposed to be nine km long, from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar. There are nine stations in total, as well as an elevated depot. Seven of the nine stations are raised, with the remaining two being underground. The line opened on February 14, 2021, with the exception of Thiruvottiyur Theradi Metro Station and Wimco Nagar Depot Station, which opened on March 13, 2022.
Chennai Metro: Phase 1
Blue Line
Green Line
Phase 1 Extension
Washermenpet Metro
Central Metro
Sir Thiyagaraya College
Mannadi
Egmore Metro
Tondiarpet
High Court
Nehru Park
New Washermenpet
Central Metro
Kilpauk
Tollgate Metro
Government Estate
Pachaiyappa’s college
Kaladipet Metro
LIC
Shenoy Nagar
Thiruvottiyur Theradi
Thousand Lights
Anna Nagar East
Thiruvottiyur
AG-DMS
Anna Nagar Tower
Wimco Nagar
Teynampet
Thirumangalam
Nandanam
Koyambedu
Saidapet Metro
CMBT
Little Mount
Arumbakkam
Guindy Metro
Vadapalani
Alandur
Ashok Nagar
Nanganallur Road
Ekkattuthangal
Meenambakkam Metro
Alandur
Chennai Airport
St Thomas Mount
Phase 2
Phase II expansion is planned for a network length of 118.9 km and 128 stations. There are three Corridors: Corridor-3, Corridor-4, and Corridor-5. OCG is an important member of the consortium providing General Consultancy (GC) services for the Chennai Metro Rail Phase 2 Project – Corridor 4 and a portion of Corridors 3&5. The Phase II construction work has already begun and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
Services Provided
Oriental Consultants provides the following services as the General Consultant:
Prepare tender documents, solicit bids, and award contracts for Elevated, Underground Civil, and Systems works.
Review, examine and approve all design work.
Supervise and oversee all contractors, design consultants, suppliers, and manufacturers.
Maintain safety at all workplaces.
Civil and system package construction supervision, including construction safety, installation, testing, and commissioning.
Planning, supervision, and integration of BIM
Coordination activities of all contractors.
Verifying system testing, trials, and commissioning.
Operation and maintenance planning
Phase-II : Actual Project Works
Phase-II under GC-II
Corridors
Elevated (km)
UG(km)
Total Length (km)
Corridor-3 : Sholinganallur to Sipcot-2
10.13
0
10.13
Corridor-4: Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass
16.0
10.1
26.10
Corridor-5: Sholinganallur to CMBT
24.04
0
24.04
Total Length
60.27
Phase-II Stations under GC-II
Corridors
Elevated (km)
UG(km)
Total Stations
Corridor-3: Sholinganallur to Sipcot-2
9
0
9
Corridor-4: Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass
18
12
30
Corridor-5: Sholinganallur to CMBT
23
0
23
Total Stations
62
Phase-II Tender Packages
Sr. No.
Description
No. of Packages
1
Civil Package
19
2
Track Package
5
3
System Package
36
Phase 2 Information
The Tamil Nadu government approved the Chennai Metro Phase II project, which includes three new lines totalling 118.9 km, in 2019 at a cost of Rs. 69,180 crore. The cost has since been reduced to Rs 61,843 crore by dropping and lowering the station sizes. The approval by the Central Government is currently awaited. RITES completed the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Phase 2 in December 2018. Out of the total length of 118.9 km, 52.01 km of Line-3’s section between Madhavaram and Sholinganallur and 52.01 km of Line-5’s section between Madhavaram and CMBT have been planned to be built in the initial phase and shall be partially funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through an ODA loan. Bidding for this largely underground phase commenced in January 2020. Chennai Metro Phase 2 is projected to be constructed and inaugurated in stages beginning in 2025. After phase 2 is completed in 2026 (estimated), Chennai’s metro network will be approximately 173 km long.
CMRL’s Phase 2 Deadline: December 2025
Completion Estimate: December 2026
Phase 2 Routes
This phase features the construction of three new lines on standard gauge tracks, with stations that are shorter and smaller compared to those completed in Phase 1. The official alignment and line colours for these three additional lines are yet to be announced.
Line-3 (Purple Line): Madhavaram – SIPCOT 2
Length: 45.813 km (19.09 km elevated & 26.72 km underground)
Depot: Madhavaram & SIPCOT
Number of Stations: Forty-Nine (20 elevated & 29 underground)
Line-4 (Orange Line): Light House – Poonamallee Bus Depot
Length: 26.09 km (16.02 km elevated & 10.07 km underground)
Depot: Poonamallee
Number of Stations: Twenty-Eight (18 elevated & 10 underground)
Stations: Light House, Kutchery Road, Thirumayilai Metro, Alwarpet, Bharathidasan Road, Adyar Gate Junction, Nandanam, Panagal Park, Kodambakkam Sub Urban, Meenakshi College, Power House, Vadapalani, Saligramam, Avichi School, Alwarthirunagar, Valasaravakkam, Karambakkam, Alapakkam, Porur Junction, Chennai Bypass Crossing, Ramachandra Hospital, Iyyapanthangal Bus Depot, Kattupakkam, Kumananchavadi, Karayanchavadi, Mullai Thottam, Poonamalle bus terminus, Poonamallee Bypass, Poonamallee Bus Depot
This line’s alignment was approved to be modified in mid-2017 and will now connect up to Poonamallee via Vadapalani and Porur. Stations planned at Foreshore Road and Natesan Park have been dropped.
Estimated Project Cost: $2174.53 million
Financing Plan: AIIB: $356.65 million (16%), Unassigned Co-Financer: $1,165.52 million (53.6%), Govt. of TN: $652.36 million (30.4%)
Line-5 (Red Line): Madhavaram – Sholinganallur
Length: 47.0 km (41.17 km elevated & 5.83 km underground)
Depot: Madhavaram
Number of Stations: Forty-Eight (41 elevated, 1 at-grade & 6 underground)
Stations: Madhavaram Milk Colony (interchange with Line-3), Venugopal Nagar, Assisi Nagar, Manjambakkam, Velmurugan Nagar, MMBT, Shastri Nagar, Reteeri Junction, Kolathur Junction, Srinivasa Nagar, Villivakkam Metro, Villivakka, Bus Terminus, Nadhamuni, Anna Nagar Depot, Thirumangalam, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Grain Market, Sai Nagar Bus Stop, Elango Nagar Bus Stop, Alwartiru Nagar, Valasaravakkam, Karabakkam, Alapakkam, Porur Junction, Mugalivakkam, DLF IT SEZ, Sathya Nagar, CTC, Butt Road, Alandur (interchange with Line-1 and Line-2), St Thomas Mount (interchange with Line-2), Adambakkam, Vanuvampet, Puzhuthivakkam, Madipakkam, Kilkattalai, Echangadu, Kovilabakkam, Vellakkal, Medavakkam Koot Road, Kamraj Garden Street, Medavakkam Junction, Perumbakkam, Global Hospital, Elcot, Sholinganallur
Estimated Project Cost: $708.64 million
Financing Plan: AIIB: USD 438.75 million (62%), ADB: USD 114.1 million (16%), Govt. of TN: USD 155.88 million (22%)
Latest Update
The Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (Cumta) has advised Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to expand metro connectivity until Kuthambakkam, where a high-tech bus terminal shall become functional and operational soon. Further, construction on Phase 2 of the project is well underway, with metro rail tracks being built in the most difficult and challenging locations.
Cumta has proposed that CMRL extend metro services to Kuthabakkam, where a transit hub is slated to be opened. The terminal has been proposed to serve all buses travelling to western areas such as Krishnagiri and Bangalore. The extension of metro services would provide proper connectivity to key areas of the city. The Old Mahabalipuram Road (ORR) is also planned to become a metro rail hub, as numerous lines run via the main road at significant intersections such as Sholinganallur and Thoraipakkam. These interchanges allow passengers to change trains and travel to different regions of the city. The Chennai metro route is also expected to improve after connectivity to ECR, and Velachery is completed as part of Phase 2.
Six metro stations have recently been eliminated from Phase 2 of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited project, saving around Rs. 1,200 crores. Thapal Petti, Doveton, and St. Joseph’s College on the Madhavaram Milk Colony-Siruseri Sipcot Corridor-3, and Foreshore Estate, Natesan Park, and Meenakshi College on the Lighthouse-Poonamallee Bypass Corridor-4 are among the six omitted stations in Phase 2. According to the CMRL Spokesperson, one of the reasons for the elimination of these stations had been their close proximity to each other. The second reason was that the projected Thapal Petti station was required to be developed, having a steep and sharp curve, which might have made the maintenance problematic.
By making improvements such as swapping stabling lines for train parking for the maintenance depot originally intended for Siruseri SIPCOT, the project cost reduced from Rs 89,000 crore to Rs 61,843 crore. In addition, several stations have been transformed from underground to elevated, and the size of the stations has been lowered by nearly twenty-five per cent compared to Phase 1 stations.
The Madhavaram-Taramani stretch of the Chennai Metro has been delayed by about a year and a half. The length will not be completed until 2028. Metro Phase II is projected to have a network length of 118.9 kilometres and 128 stations. Corridor-3 connects Madhavaram to SIPCOT (45.8 km), Corridor-4 connects Lighthouse to Poonamalle Bypass (26.1 km), and Corridor-5 connects Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (47 km).
Madhavaram to Taramani is a significant part of the Madhavaram-SIPCOT corridor, which runs through numerous prominent areas such as Perambur, Chetpet, Nungambakkam, Gemini, Thousand Lights, Royapettah, Mandaiveli, Adyar, and Taramani. The Phase II project is expected to cost Rs 63,246 crore. A substantial portion of the project’s finance came from an international bank loan, but the loan terms had been stringent, necessitating the alteration of some benchmarks in order to invite more organisations to join and participate. It has been a protracted process, and the Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) just recently acquired final approval from the bank.
The Madhavaram-Taramani segment would be built underground, according to CMRL authorities. However, the construction of stations has been hampered by tunnelling work, resulting in a setback. To promote faster execution by contractors, the CMRL has split and divided the work to build stations between Madhavaram and Taramani into six tenders. The six aforementioned packages are Madhavaram to Perambur, Ayanavaram to Kellys, KMC to Royapettah, Radhakrishnan Salai to Adyar, Adyar to Taramani, and Kolathur to Nathamuni. According to CMRL authorities, tunnelling between Madhavaram and Taramani is moving along nicely. Six tenders were issued in December 2021 to construct stations along this section. Unfortunately, bidders provided expensive bids, forcing the tender to be cancelled.
To address this issue, CMRL had to issue fresh tenders and change the loan terms in order to entice more enterprises to bid and deliver affordable prices. According to CMRL officials, these procedures will help to shorten the bidding process and guarantee the project is completed on schedule. The bidding procedure for selecting contractors for the construction of stations around the defined region is almost complete, and officials expect to announce the chosen individuals and party soon.
MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has made significant progress in constructing the metro rail lines in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Over 73% of the pillars, totalling 3603, have been erected out of the total 4,929 pillars for all six metro lines.
The construction of these pillars provides the foundation for supporting the extensive network of six metro lines, which span nearly 113 km in length. However, their installation has caused inconvenience to pedestrians and motorists due to road excavations.
The MMRDA acknowledges the challenges and uncertainties that come with such construction projects. To minimize traffic disruption and ensure safety, most of the work is carried out during the night.
Following is an update on the ongoing metro projects, categorized by metro lines, showcasing the progress achieved:
1. Metro Corridor 2B (DN Nagar to Mandale):
• Completion progress: Around 50.7 per cent
• Number of completed piers: 614 out of 1,109
2. Metro Line 4 & 4A (Wadala to Kasar Vadavali):
• Overall progress: 55 per cent
• Number of Completed piers for Line 4: 973 out of 1,476
• Number of Completed piers for Line 4A: 143 out of 221
3. Metro Line 5 Phase I (Thane to Bhiwandi):
• Overall completion: 78.4 per cent
• Number of completed piers: 440 out of 464
4. Metro Line 6 (Swami Samartha Nagar to Vikhroli):
• Physical progress: 70.75 per cent
• Number of Completed piers: 657 out of 769
5. Metro Line 9 (Dahisar to Mira Bhayandar):
• Overall completion: 61.28 per cent
• Number of completed piers: 776 out of 900
According to sources, around 50% of the pillars for the majority of metro rail projects have been completed. The completion of the entire metro network is anticipated to bring a significant transformation to Mumbai’s travel patterns, benefiting both daily commuters and tourists.
Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA, stated, “We are in the process of appointing a consultant to get permissions for Metro Line 10, which will connect Gaimukh and Shivaji Chowk (Mira Road). We have also appointed a general consultant and initiated the tendering process for civil works on Metro Line 12 (Kalyan-Taloja). Our top priority is the timely completion of the metro rail lines.”
As per the statement, the metro projects led by MMRDA are making steady progress and are expected to greatly improve transportation choices while alleviating traffic congestion in Mumbai.
