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Godrej and JCW Japan Partner to Bring Sustainable Automated Washing Systems to Indian Railways and Metro

28/03/2023

Automatic coach washing plant/Representational image only

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Godrej & Boyce, the flagship company of Godrej Group, has teamed up with JCW Japan which is a renowned Japanese manufacturer of vehicle cleaning machines, for developing an automated and sustainable washing system for Indian Railways and metro trains. The objective of this partnership is to bring advanced technology to India and promote the localization of different automated washing systems.

It is anticipated that over 50 new maintenance depots are to be constructed in the next three years, which would result in increasing demand for washing systems in the Indian market; hence, the estimated opportunity from railways and metro rail corporations for automated washing systems is around Rs. 200 crore over the next five years.

The latest technology washing systems will offer a sustainable cleaning solution that assures efficient use of resources and time. The Automatic Train Wash Plant puts the train through a set of programmed cycles, such as soaking, rinsing, foaming, washing, and drying, which differ based on the type of coach. The entire cleaning process will take only 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the train’s length. The sustainability will be enhanced as the automated washing systems will recycle a greater amount of water and consume less energy.

According to Pankaj Abhyankar, who is Senior Vice President and Business Head, Godrej Tooling, “The collaboration with JCW Japan will play a significant role in boosting the efficiency and quality of railway and metro coaches’ maintenance and servicing, ultimately resulting in increased safety. Initially, Godrej Tooling will begin with indigenization of 20-30%, aiming to enhance local capabilities to 80% within the next five years.”

These sustainable washing systems are a move towards a greener India. Indian Railways has been making several efforts, From electrification of gauge networks to hydrogen trains, in order to ensure green mobility and sustainable development. Hence, these washing systems with the latest technology will contribute to a sustainable future for the Indian Railways and Metro.

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Aarvee Associates Declared Lowest Bidder for Madurai MRTS DPR Contract

Staff Reporter

27/03/2023

MADURAI (Metro Rail News): Aarvee Associates Architects Engineers & Consultants Pvt. Ltd. has been declared the lowest bidder to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Madurai Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) project in Tamil Nadu. The decision was announced on Thursday after technical bids were opened earlier this month, revealing 4 bidders.

Balaji Railroad Systems (BARSYL) prepared the DFR (Detailed Feasibility Report) for the project and submitted it to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) in November 2022, which proposed building a 31 km transit line between Thirumangalam – Othakadai. The proposed line includes 20 stations and a train maintenance depot to be constructed on a 45-acre site at Thirumangalam. After reviewing the feasibility report, Tamil Nadu’s state government approved the preparation of a DPR in January 2023.

In February, CMRL invited bids for the DPR contract with a Rs. 3 crore estimate and a 75-day completion deadline. Aarvee Associates submitted a bid of Rs. 1,35,93,600, which was way below CMRL’s budgeted estimate (just 45% of it). On the other hand, Balaji Railroad Systems submitted a bid of Rs. 1,64,24,420; RITES Ltd. submitted a bid of Rs. 3,29,22,000, and SYSTRA MVA Consulting (India) Pvt. Ltd. submitted a bid of Rs. 3,50,46,000.

The creation of the DPR for Madurai MRTS project will help determine whether a heavy-rail metro system or a “metro-lite” light-rail transit (LRT) system should be built, as well as provide other system specifications such as the location of stations and the depot.

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Chennai Metro Rail’s Phase 2 Extension: Detailed Feasibility Report to be Ready Soon

Staff Reporter

27/03/2023

CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): The DFR (detailed feasibility report) for the extension of the Chennai Metro Rail’s Phase 2 project is expected to be ready soon. The project covers several key locations, including Kelambakkam, Kilambakkam, Avadi and Parandur, where a second airport is proposed.

The extension of the Chennai Metro Rail’s Phase 2 project comprises three segments: a 50-km corridor from Poonamallee to Parandur, an extension of corridor 4, a 17-km corridor from Koyambedu to Avadi via Thirumangalam and Mogappair, an extension of corridor 5, and a 26-km corridor from Siruseri to Kilambakkam via Kelambakkam, an extension of corridor 3.

The CMRL officials said that the consultant for the project has already started work, with the report expected to be ready within 3 months. The report will include a suitable system suggestion, travel demand forecast and financial models. The officials will then take suggestions from stakeholders and organize a few meetings. After the final report is ready, it will be submitted to the government. The report will help determine whether the extension will use a metro or metrolite system.

The extension of Chennai Metro Rail’s Phase 2 project is expected to provide much-needed connectivity to key locations in the city, improving transportation options for commuters.

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Indian Railways Set to Launch Vande Bharat Express on Jammu-Srinagar Route

Staff Reporter

27/03/2023

Vande Bharat Express/Representational image only

JAMMU (Metro Rail News): The completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL) and the operation of a Vande Bharat train between Jammu and Srinagar is excellent news for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. The announcement by Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw that the project will be completed by December 2023 or January 2024 has been met with excitement as it promises to make the journey between the two cities faster and more comfortable. Once the project is fully operational, the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar is expected to be reduced to just 3.5 hours.

The Vande Bharat metro train, which will operate once the project is fully operational, will run at specific frequencies, making it easier for passengers to plan their journeys. Furthermore, the railway service will simplify the conveyance of apples and other agricultural commodities from Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in a substantial economic upliftment for the region.

The National Transporter will be introducing three Vande Bharat Trains on different routes- Chennai to Coimbatore, New Jalpaiguri to Guwahati and Ajmer-New Delhi via Jaipur in the next month. So far, there is a total of 10 Vande Bharat Trains, which are operational on different routes across India. This Semi-high-speed train with modern amenities is gaining attraction by the commuters as it will reduce the time travel by 25 to 45 percent. It has a top speed of 180 Kmph while its operational speed is 130kmph making it the fastest train in the country.

Overall, the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL) promises to bring significant improvements to the region’s infrastructure, economy, and tourism potential, which will benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir for years to come.

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Minister of Railways Conducts Successful Trial Run on World’s Highest Railway Bridge Over Chenab River

Staff Reporter

26/03/2023

World's highest rail bridge over Chenab River/Image from Twitter

SRINAGAR( Metro Rail News): Minister of Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, conducted the first trial run on a track-mounted vehicle on Chenab railway bridge which is the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River in J&K’s Reasi district.

The bridge is a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project and is anticipated as one of the most impressive train journeys in the future. At a towering height of 359 m (1,178 ft) above the Chenab River, the arch bridge surpasses the height of Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower by 35 meters.

Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw conducting trial run on Chenab Railway Bridge/Image from Northern Railways

Marking a significant milestone in the completion of the Udhampur-Katra-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, the smooth trial run of the track-mounted vehicle clears the path for the Valley to be linked with the rest of the country.

Railway Minister, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw inspecting Chenab Rail bridge/Image from Twitter

The successful completion of the project will not only enhance tourism in the region but also offer a reliable and secure mode of transportation for people commuting to and from the Kashmir Valley, along with creating new prospects for economic growth in the area.

During his official inspection visit to the Chenab Bridge, Mr. Vaishnaw was accompanied by Ashutosh Gangal, General Manager of Northern Railway, and other senior officials from the USBRL Project and Northern Railway.

“Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi has put a laser-sharp focus on the development of the country, the Chenab Bridge and tunnels are a few examples that will become the lifeline of Jammu and Kashmir”, stated the Minister.

Building the highest railway bridge was the most significant civil-engineering obstacle encountered by any railway project in India in recent history. Over the last 3 years, engineers have been building the arch with the help of 2 mammoth cable cranes installed on both banks of the Chenab — the Kauri end and the Bakkal end. The Chenab Bridge is expected to become one of the most iconic landmarks of the Indian Railways.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates the Most Awaited Namma Metro’s Whitefield-Krishnarajapura stretch

Staff Reporter

25/03/2023

Hon'ble PM, Narendra Modi, interacting with people from various walks of life during his ride on the Newly inaugurated Metro. — Hon'ble PM, Narendra Modi, interacting with people from various walks of life during his ride on the Newly inaugurated Metro/Photo via Twitter

BENGALURU (Metro Rail News): In an exciting development for Bengaluru’s transportation system, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the long-awaited Namma Metro stretch between Whitefield and Krishnarajapura on Saturday.

In addition to inaugurating the Whitefield-Krishnarajapura Metro Line, the Prime Minister also interacted with people from various walks of life during his ride on the Metro. He took the opportunity to speak with the workers and staff of Bangalore Metro. Upon reaching the Whitefield (Kadugodi) Metro station, the Prime Minister made his way to the ticket counter to purchase a ticket and also viewed the exhibition that was set up for the occasion.

Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi taking ride at Namma Metro purple line/Image from Twitter — Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi taking ride at Namma Metro purple line/Image from Twitter

As a part of phase II of Namma Metro, the 13.71 km stretch between Whitefield (Kadugodi) and Krishnarajapura is a part of the extended purple line that connects Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield (15.50 km). The commercial operations of the new line are set to start on Sunday, with five trains operating on the route, each with six coaches bought from BEML Limited. Two additional trains will be kept as backup, according to the Bangalore Metro

Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). The maximum fare on this newly inaugurated stretch is expected to be 35 rupees, and the train frequency will be 12 minutes.

The Whitefield-KR Puram stretch will be covered in just 22 minutes by the Metro. This new line has 12 stations, including Krishnarajapura, Singayyanapalya,Garudacharpalya, Hoodi, Seetharam Palya, Kundalahalli, Nallur Halli, Sri SathyaSai Hospital, Pattandur Agrahara, Kadugodi Tree Park, Hopefarm Channasandra, and Whitefield (Kadugodi).

This stretch is the first phase of the Whitefield-Baiyappanahalli corridor, with the final 2-3 km stretch between KR Puram and Byapannahalli expected to be in operation by June this year. The Bangalore Metro currently serves more than 5 lakh commuters daily, with the two fully-operational metro lines, Purple and Green. The Namma Metro network is anticipated to experience a substantial increase in ridership with the newly added Purple Line extension.

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MD Patna Metro Inspects the Ongoing Constructions Work at Moin Ul Haq

Staff Reporter

25/03/2023

Inspection of the ongoing work of underground Patna Metro Project being commissioned by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), at Moinul Haq Stadium

PATNA (Metro Rail News): Managing Director of Patna Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. and Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development and Housing Department, Shri Aruneesh Chawla, IAS, inspected the ongoing work of the underground Patna Metro Project being commissioned by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) at Moinul Haq Stadium on Saturday. He assessed the progress of work of Tunnel Boring Machine at Moinul Haq Stadium.

It may be noted that the first of the four Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM), “Mahaveer”, was lowered at Moin Ul Haq in the tunnel shaft from where the tunnel work will start for the underground metro station.

The Project Director, DMRC Shri Ajay Kumar, updated and briefed Shri Chawla on the progress of the Patna Metro Construction work.

In addition to the ongoing construction and progress of the underground Metro Station at Moinul Haq Stadium, he also enquired about the future work execution plan and the progress of work on other sites. He also directed the officials to expedite the construction work of the metro.

Managing Director of BUIDCO, IAS Shri Dharmendra Singh and Addition Secretary of Urban Development and Housing Department, Shri Sunil Kumar Yadav, IAS and Senior Officials of DMRC were also present during the inspection.

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SYSTRA JV Wins Kochi Metro Phase 2 GC Contract but Tendering Process Cancelled

Staff Reporter

25/03/2023

KOCHI (Metro Rail News): On Thursday, SYSTRA S.A. -SYSTRA MVA Consulting (India) Pvt. Ltd. J.V. was declared as the lowest bidder for the General Consultant (G.C.) contract of Kochi Metro Phase -2.

However, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) cancelled the tendering process on Friday evening due to SYSTRA’s bid exceeding their original estimate by 59%.
The Joint Venture of SYSTRA won the contract with the lowest bid value and highest technical score beating the other bidders. It bagged the contract based on Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS).

The below table can be referred to know the financial positions of bidders involved in the contract:

Bidder	Bid Value
SYSTRA JV	49.57 crore
Louis Berger JV	52.98 crore
DB – BARSYL JV	59.99 crore
TYPSA – STUP – PEMS JV	68.95 crore
AYESA – Aarvee JV	86.11 crore

Way back in November 2022, KMRL had invited tender for this project with an estimated cost of 31 crore, and the deadline for work completion was 1095 days.

This Pink line corridor which is 11.2 Km long, connecting Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Infopark (Smart City) will feature 11 elevated stations at Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium, Palarivattom Junction, Palarivattom Bypass, Vazhakkala, Chembumukku, Padamughal (previously known as Kunnumpuram), Kakkanad Junction, Chittethukara, Cochin SEZ (Special Economic Zone), KINFRA (formerly Rajagiri), and InfoPark/Smart City.

Now, as the tendering process stands cancelled, the bids need to be re-invited for the third time with a revised estimate.
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UPMRC Invites E-Tenders for Agra Metro’s Corridor-2 Elevated Viaduct and Stations

Staff Reporter

25/03/2023

AGRA (Metro Rail News): The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) Ltd. has announced an open e-tender for the construction of elevated viaduct and seven Nos. elevated stations for Corridor-2 of Agra Metro in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

The tender, with a reference number of AGCC-06, invites bids for civil, architectural finishes, water supply, sanitary installation, drainage, external development, firefighting, fire detection, E&M works, and PEB structures.

The seven stations included in the project are Agra Cantt, Sadar Bazar, Pratap Pura,
Collectorate, Agra College, Hariparvat chauraha, and Sanjay Place metro stations. The approximate cost of the work is INR 696.53 Crores, with an EMD of INR 13.93 Crores.

The pre-bid meeting was held on March 21, 2023, with bid submission starting on March 31 and ending on April 12. The bid opening date is scheduled for April 13, 2023. The project has a license period of 30 months.

The work to be performed under this contract include, but not limited to, providing all necessary labor, materials, equipment, tools, plants, and machinery required to fully execute the project. The project site is located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, and the contractor is required to plan their works keeping in view restriction of approach and availability of space and time.

Once completed, the Agra Metro will offer an efficient and sustainable mode of public transportation to the citizens of Agra, improving their mobility and connectivity.

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Government Approves ₹183 crore Budget for Three New Railway Overbridges in Lucknow

Staff Reporter

25/03/2023

LUCKNOW (Metro Rail News): The government’s finance committee has approved a budget of ₹183 crore for the construction of three overbridges (ROBs) in the state capital, according to recent reports.

The ROBs will be constructed jointly by the Railways and the state government, and they will be built at Harauni, Bharwara, and Kesarikheda railway crossings. Approximately 10 lakh people are expected to benefit from the ROBs as they will help to alleviate traffic jams in the area.

The Bharwara crossing is particularly problematic, closing approximately 45 times a day, leading to a jam-like situation, according to railway officials. The project will cost around ₹65 crore and will help to address the problem of land availability on the Gomti Nagar extension side.

At Krishnanagar-Kesarikheda crossing, a two-lane ROB costing ₹75 crore, will be constructed to provide better connectivity from Kanpur Road to Hardoi Road. More than 100 trains pass through this crossing every day, and the construction of the bridge will benefit approximately four lakh people in the area.

A two-lane bridge will also be constructed at the Harauni-Jaitipur rail crossing on the Bani Mohan Road , at a cost of ₹43 crore in Lucknow. The bridge will help to improve connectivity in the area with Mohan and will benefit residents who currently face a lot of problems due to the crossing.

Ultimately, constructing these ROBs is a significant infrastructure project, requiring significant investment and planning. However, it is expected to provide long-term benefits for the railway industry and the wider community by reducing traffic congestion and improving connectivity.

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