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Prime Minister Modi Flags Off Two Vande Bharat Trains in Mumbai

13/02/2023

Vande Bharat Express — Representational image

MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi flagged off two Vande Bharat trains at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai. The two trains are Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat and Mumbai-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat.

Upon arriving at Platform no. 18 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Prime Minister inspected the Mumbai-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat. He also interacted with the train crew and the children inside the coach.

The Prime Minister reiterated the need for improving public transport for 21st-century India as it will lead to massive ease of living for the citizens. This thinking, he pointed out, is behind the launch of modern trains, the expansion of the Metro, and new airports and ports.

The Budget also strengthens this thinking as for the first time, 10 lakh crore were allocated exclusively for infrastructure development. In this railway’s share is 2.5 lakh crore, he added. The Prime Minister said that the Rail Budget for Maharashtra also witnessed an unprecedented rise and expressed the hope that with the efforts of the double-engine government, connectivity in Maharashtra will move ahead rapidly.

Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Narayan Rane, Union Ministers of State, Shri Ramdas Athawale and Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil, and Ministers from Government of Maharashtra were present on the occasion among others.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi said that it is a huge day for Railways in India, especially for advanced connectivity in Maharashtra as this is the first time that two Vande Bharat trains have been flagged off on the same day. He underlined that these Vande Bharat trains will connect economic centres such as Mumbai and Pune to centres of faith, thereby benefiting those travelling for college, office, business, pilgrimage and agricultural purposes. He said that travelling to sacred places like Shirdi, Nasik, Trimbakeshwar, and Panchvati will be made easier with the new Vande Bharat trains which will give a boost to tourism as well as pilgrimage. “The pilgrimages of Pandharpur, Solapur, Akkalkot and Tuljapur will also be made more accessible with the Solapur Vande Bharat Express”, he said.

The Prime Minister said that the Vande Bharat train is a grand picture of modern India. “It is a reflection of India’s speed and scale.” Commenting on the speed of the launch of Vande Bharat Trains, the Prime Minister informed that so far, 10 Vande Bharat trains have started operating connecting 108 districts of 17 states of the country. The Prime Minister expressed happiness that many projects were launched today that will enhance the ease of living. He said that the elevated road will connect eastern and western suburban areas and the underpass, he said, is significant.

Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat Train and Mumbai-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat Train are the two trains that were flagged off by the Prime Minister at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Mumbai. This will be an important step towards fulfilling the Prime Minister’s vision of building better, more efficient and passenger-friendly transport infrastructure for New India.

Mumbai-Solapur Vande Bharat Train will be the 9th Vande Bharat train in the country. The new world-class train will improve connectivity between Mumbai and Solapur and will also facilitate travel to important pilgrimage centres like Siddheshwar in Solapur, Akkalkot, Tuljapur, Pandharpur near Solapur and Alandi near Pune.

Mumbai-Sainagar Shirdi Vande Bharat, the 10th Vande Bharat train in the country will improve connectivity to important pilgrimage centres in Maharashtra like Nashik, Trimbakeshwar, Sainagar Shirdi, and Shani Singanapur.

To ease road traffic congestion and streamline the movement of vehicles in Mumbai, the Prime Minister dedicated the Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR) and Kurar underpass. The newly constructed elevated corridor from Kurla to Vakola and from MTNL Junction, BKC to LBS Flyover at Kurla will enhance much-needed East-West connectivity in the city.

These arms connect the Western Express Highway to the Eastern Express Highway thereby connecting eastern and western suburbs efficiently. The Kurar underpass is crucial to ease traffic on the Western Express Highway (WEH) which connects Malad and Kurar sides of WEH. It allows people to cross the road with ease and also vehicles to move without having to get into the heavy traffic on WEH.

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Delhi-Meerut RRTS project sees first tunneling breakthrough by Afcons Infrastructure

Staff Reporter

11/02/2023

Delhi-Meerut RRTS project sees first tunneling breakthrough by Afcons Infrastructure

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Sudarshan 8.2, a 7.51m diameter Terratec Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machine operated by Afcons Infrastructure, achieved the first breakthrough in the tunnelling process for the Delhi – Meerut RRTS project of 82.15 km.

This tunnelling drive began at Bhaisali RRTS Station in April 2022 and extended 1824 meters, the longest of Package 8. After a pit stop at a mid-shaft located 695.85 meters south of Bhaisali, it proceeded to Meerut Central Station.

Afcons was given the civil construction contract for Package 8, worth Rs. 1529.10 crores, in November 2020, with a 1310-day (3.6 years) time limit.

The project’s scope encompasses the construction of six pairs of tunnels from the Brahampuri DN Ramp to the Begumpul UP Ramp, along with three underground stations at Meerut Central, Bhaisali, and Begumpul, utilizing the cut and cover method.

This marks the first breakthrough for S89 and the third of six planned breakthroughs for Afcons Infrastructure as part of Package 8. Previous breakthroughs were achieved by TBM S90 at the Begumpul Station in October 2022 and by TBM S88 at the Meerut Central Station in December 2022.

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Larsen & Toubro Records Significant Milestones in Chennai Metro Line-3 Construction

Staff Reporter

11/02/2023

CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): Larsen & Toubro has recently achieved two noteworthy accomplishments in constructing the first 10 km elevated portion of Chennai Metro Line-3 between Nehru Nagar and Sholinganallur.

This section of the 118.9 km Chennai Metro Phase 2 project, known as Package CP08 EV-01, includes nine elevated stations at the southern end of Line-3, which will run for 45.8 km, connecting Madhavaram to SIPCOT 2 and have a total of 49 stations.

The milestones are the casting of the first set of 27.90m long U-girders for the line’s superstructure and the casting of the first pile cap at Sri Sowdeswari Nagar on Old Mahabalipuram Road for the substructure. Larsen & Toubro’s casting yard features a 146m long casting bay, which can cast five 165-ton U-girders simultaneously.

The company is also working on adding another U-girder casting bay. However, the commercial operations for this elevated section depend on completing the 21 km twin tunnels (by Tata Projects and L&T) and track work between Madhavaram and Nehru Nagar, so it is likely to open by 2027.

An elevated stabling yard will be built at SIPCOT, similar to the one in Wimco Nagar, but I believe it will need more support for commercial operations.

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Odisha Government Plans Mega Metro Rail Project to Connect Puri and Bhubaneswar

Staff Reporter

11/02/2023

Odisha (Metro Rail News): The State government of Odisha is reportedly planning to introduce a Mega Metro Rail project between Puri and Bhubaneswar, with Konark in between, to make travelling easier for daily commuters and tourists.

It is said that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has already consulted the Railway Ministry and finalized the rail route. To raise anticipation, the Secretary to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik (5T) V.K. Pandian has posted on Instagram, “A fantastic news coming soon…. Very soon for Odisha. Jai Jagannatha”.

Apart from this, the State government has been working on making Puri a World Heritage City, and various developments have been going on for the Ekamra Kshetra (temple city of Bhubaneswar) and Arka Kshetra (Konark Sun Temple). In addition, the Mega Metro Rail project is believed to reduce the time to cover the 64 kilometres between Puri and Bhubaneswar to less than half an hour.

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GODREJ and RENMAKCH sign MoU for collaboration in Railways, Metros & High Speed Rail

Staff Reporter

10/02/2023

MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): GODREJ & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd. and RENMAKCH India Pvt. Ltd. have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the railway, metro, and high-speed rail sectors by leveraging their respective capabilities.

GODREJ, a multi-segment manufacturer, provides customized solutions to various industry domains, including the Indian Railways. RENMAKCH is a comprehensive solution provider in the field of Railways, Metros, and High-Speed Rail, offering depot equipment manufacturing, rolling stock component manufacturing, installation and maintenance services, and turnkey projects. RENMAKCH also has manufacturing joint ventures with various renowned European manufacturers of state-of-the-art depot equipment for Railways, Metros, and High-Speed Rail. The two companies have signed an MoU to work together in this sector, leveraging their respective capabilities.

The partnership between GODREJ and RENMAKCH has created new opportunities for collaboration and shared business interests in their respective fields, both now and in the future. This collaboration is a significant step towards the Indian government’s “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” initiatives.

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Maharashtra Govt and NHSRCL get Nod for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

Staff Reporter

10/02/2023

MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): Bombay High Court gave the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project a go-ahead, dismissing a plea brought by Godrej & Boyce company concerning the land acquisition by the Maharashtra government and the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) in Mumbai’s Vikhroli area.

The court said the project was of “national importance and in the public interest”. However, a division bench of Justice RD Dhanuka and Justice MM Sathaye concluded that collective interest was more important than private interests and thus refused to stay with the project.

The Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited brought a petition to question a September 15, 2022, order from the Maharashtra government that gave them a compensation amount for their land acquisition for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project.

Out of the total 508.17 km of the rail track, 21 km is planned to be underground, with an entry point at the Vikhroli area. The division bench affirmed that the compensation and proceedings started by the government authorities were legal.

The Maharashtra government deposited Rs 264 crore as compensation for the land owned by Godrej for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project in October 2022.

Despite this, the state government and the NHSRCL had repeatedly accused the company of delaying the entire project. In response, the company authorities argued that the land acquisition was “unlawful” and included “multiple and patent illegalities”.

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EIB Grants €150 Million Loan to Support Metro Rail Development in Pune

Staff Reporter

10/02/2023

PUNE (Metro Rail News): The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced a €150 million loan for the next 20 years to support the development of Pune’s metro rail on 9th February. This project, which Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation handles, is estimated to benefit 159 million passengers annually with 31.25 km of metro construction and 30 stations.

Furthermore, it will make travelling easier for more than three million people living in the city, reducing their commuting time and providing them with a safe and accessible mode of transportation. Additionally, improved transport will improve the quality of life and business and reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. Special measures have been planned to ensure the safety of women travellers.

Once finished in 2023, the Pune metro will generate about 900 new job opportunities. This project is co-funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD) as part of the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative. It seeks to improve global and regional connectivity in the digital, climate, transport, health, energy, and education sectors.

Kris Peeters, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, stated, “The EIB-funded Pune metro rail will, upon completion, provide transportation to over 3 million inhabitants of the city of Pune.

This EUR 500 million loan for sustainable transport investment will make commuting to workplaces, healthcare, education and markets more accessible and cheaper while safeguarding the environment and improving air quality in the city.”

Ugo Astuto, EU Ambassador to India, underlined that sustainable mobility and green transition constitute a fundamental pillar of the EU-India strategic partnership and that the European Investment Bank (EIB) investment in the Indian Metro system expresses our dedication towards modern, clean and eco-friendly public transport.

He added that the Pune Metro Rail project would bring about secure, efficient and sustainable public transport for its inhabitants, in line with the aims established for Team Europe by the EU Global Gateway initiative. Moreover, this project will fulfil numerous Sustainable Development Goals, including climate action, urban sustainability, and gender equality.

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Surat Railway Station to Become the ‘New Railway Station of New India’

Staff Reporter

09/02/2023

SURAT (Metro Rail News): Surat is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. It is an epicentre of trade & commerce with bustling economic activity, which has boosted employment opportunities. Western Railway runs many trains in various directions of the country, catering to the demands of the people of Surat.

Indian Railways is accelerating the work of transforming significant stations across the country into modern & world-class stations. One thousand two hundred seventy-five railway stations across the country have been identified for upgradation & modernization under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, out of which 87 stations are in Gujarat. Surat station is also one of them, which will be given a major facelift and is set to become the “New Railway Station of New India“.

According to a press release by Shri Sumit Thakur – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway- Surat station’s redevelopment work has commenced and is progressing in full swing. The work is being undertaken by Surat Integrated Transport Corporation (SITCO), which is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed between the Indian Railways & Government of Gujarat.

The station is being redeveloped at an estimated cost of Rs. 1475 crore, including the share of Gujarat Govt. of Rs. 462 crores. In Phase I, the work of Rs 980 crore will be undertaken, out of which the Railway’s share is Rs. 683 crore, while that of the Gujarat Govt. is Rs. 297 crore. It is targeted to be completed by May 2027.

Giving further details, Shri Thakur stated that Surat station is being developed as a Multi–Modal Transport Hub (MMTH), which will integrate Railways, GSRTC City Bus Terminal station, Metro, etc., to provide seamless connectivity. In addition, Surat station has been designed with an architectural ambience which will ensure that the entire station premises have an overall look and feel of a business centre of international standards.

The unified theme through appropriate facades, finishes, colours, materials, and textures will add to its splendour. The work under Phase I of this project has already commenced. Shifting the utilities, such as electrical cables & pipelines, is in progress at the east side Railway station building. A 164-meter-long and 87-meter-wide building will be built at this site, targeted to be completed in one and a half years.

The excavation work is also in progress at the GSRTC site for building the foundation and drainage diversion. The station building on the western side will be demolished once the east side building is ready, and necessary offices and installations on the West side will be shifted to the new Eastside station building.

Additionally, the station is well-equipped with adequate areas for various amenities & facilities. For example, the plan includes segregated Arrival / Departure Passenger Plazas, Congestion free & conflict-free Entry / Exits in Station Premises, underground parking arrangements, etc.

The concourse of more than 10900 sqm with adequate seating, a waiting area & vast circulation space will have lounges & retail spaces and will be connected by skywalks across the MMTH for a better user experience. The concourse/waiting spaces will also consist of passenger amenities & facilities above the platforms to avoid overcrowding on platforms.

The railway station will be 100% Divyang Friendly. Forty-one lifts and 70 escalators will be installed in the entire station complex. The station building will be a Green Building of Platinum rating with features for efficient use of energy, water and other resources, renewable energy, etc. The station will also be equipped with state-of-the-art safety & security technology consisting of intelligently designed features for better station management, including SCADA and BMS.

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UPMRC invites E-Tenders for Construction of TBM Tunnels, Stations for Kanpur Metro Corridor-2

Staff Reporter

09/02/2023

KANPUR (Metro Rail News): UPMRC Ltd. is calling for electronic tenders to create designs and construct the TBM tunnel, cut & cover tunnel, ramps after Double Pullia, ramps in the agricultural depot, and three underground metro stations (Rawatpur, Kakadeo, and Double Pullia) with architectural finishes and other related elements for Corridor-2 of the Kanpur Mass Rapid Transit System in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Tender Reference Number: KNPCC-11
Name of Work: Design and construction of TBM tunnel, cut & cover tunnel, ramp after double pulled, ramps in agriculture depot for mainline and depot connections and three underground metro stations (viz. Rawatpur, Kakadeo and Double Pullia) including architectural finishes etc., on corridor-2 of Kanpur MRTS project at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Approximate cost of work: INR 1025.00 Crores
EMD: INR 20.50 Crores
Completion Period: 30 Months
Document Download / Sale Start Date: 07th February 2023
Document Download / Sale End Date: 05th April 2023
Pre-Bid Meeting Date: 13th March 2023
Bid Submission Start Date: 23rd March 2023
Bid Submission End Date: 05th April 2023
Bid Opening Date: 06th April 2023

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Voltas wins CMRL construction contract for Corridor 4

Staff Reporter

09/02/2023

CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): CMRL has granted the contract to Voltas Limited to carry out electrical, maintenance, and air conditioning works for Corridor 4 construction at Rs 134.9 crore.

According to the press release of CMRL, this contract consists of supplying, installing, testing, commissioning and training in electrical fire protection, ventilation and air-conditioning works.

The work will include constructing 18 elevated stations from Kodambakkam powerhouse station to the Poonamallee bypass metro station, plus a viaduct between the stations, an approach ramp, and a depot in Poonamallee.

Rajesh Chaturvedi, the director of systems and operations of CMRL, and Jayant Deshpande, the business development head for Voltas Limited, signed off the agreement.

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