Kolkata Metro to get its first underground metro station after 25 years

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08/10/2020

KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): Kolkata Metro will get an underground metro station after 25 years on Sunday as the East-West line will be extended till Phoolbagan, an official said. The Phoolbagan metro station is the first underground one to be opened on the line that will connect Sector V to Howrah Maidan, he said. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal will flag off the first train from Phoolbagan through a video link, the official said on Saturday. Services of the East-West Metro began earlier this year between Sector V and Salt Lake Stadium in the first phase.

Commercial services between Phoolbagan and Sector V will commence from Monday, an official said. Owing to the COVID-19 situation, there will be no formal function at the venue. The underground MG Road metro station on the North-South line was opened in September 1995. All metro stations opened after that are either elevated or at grade-level. The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) granted authorisation for extension of services from Salt Lake Stadium to Phoolbagan station in June.

Local TMC MP Sudip Bandopadhyay and MLAs Sashi Panja and Sadhan Pande, both ministers in the state government, will not participate in the programme according to sources. According to the Kolkata Metro, Bandopadhyay and the two local MLAs have been requested to join the virtual event of the inauguration. Bandopadhyay said he was unhappy with the way the Railway Ministry had tried to “bypass” the state government.

Bandopadhyay said he was out of Kolkata and could not join the event. He also said that during Banerjee’s tenure as the railway minister, she used to invite the state transport minister despite having political differences with the then Left Front government. Panja, however, said she is yet to receive an invitation or letter from the Metro. The Kolkata Metro said that as the programme is being held online and no inauguration ceremony was being held, the local MLAs and MP were requested to join the event.”There is no proper inauguration ceremony. Everything is happening through video conference. So there is no invitation of any sort. The local MP and the MLAs have been requested to participate in the video conference,” a senior Metro official said. On February 13, the 4.88-km-long first phase of the East-West Metro got functional.
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The public representatives of the TMC gave that event a miss as well, protesting against the absence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s name from the invitation card for the programme. Senior TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Krishna Chakraborty were invited but had stayed away in protest. According to a senior Metro official, completion of the East-West corridor is likely to be delayed by up to one year due to an accident caused by an aquifer burst in the Bowbazar area during drilling operations in August 2019. The 16.6-km-long rapid transit system, connecting the twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah, may be completed by mid- 2022.

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Kolkata Metro awaits CRS nod for Dakshineswar stretch

By

M K Rai

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08/10/2020

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KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): Kolkata Metro has applied for inspection of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) for extension of the existing north-south service to Dakshineswar. CRS, under the ministry of civil aviation, gives the safety nod for any new railway project. Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), implementing the project, was eyeing pre-Puja commissioning, especially after the state government’s request.

“We have applied for CRS inspection. Hopefully, after the CRS’ inspection and clearance, the section can be unveiled by mid-November,” said an official. Engineers and labourers are working for more than 12 hours a day to give finishing touches to the stations and tracks. The two stations — Dakshineswar and Baranagar — are ready. “Decorative work of the interiors are being done. The stations are almost complete and ready for CRS inspection,” said an official.

The two new elevated stations are disabled-friendly, fitted with elevators and escalators. There are ramps leading to the ticket counters.
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As for the tracks, the laying work is over. The final alignment is being fixed. Some patchwork is left. The 4.2km track-laying on the viaduct was completed in September, following which cables for supplying electricity to the ballast-less tracks were being fitted. A crossover has been being installed to connect the Noapara carshed with the Dakshineswar-bound tracks.

The added section promises to ferry people living in north Kolkata. There’s a passenger interface with the Dakshineswar suburban railway station that runs parallel to the Metro tracks. The state government had earlier requested Metro Railway to complete the extended service by September so that the vacuum created by the demolished Tallah bridge could be filled.

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Union Finance Ministry working to raise funds for RRTS

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M K Rai

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08/10/2020

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NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Finance Ministry is in talks with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank to raise funds for the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) between Delhi and Alwar. The project is the first of three planned RRTS lines, alongside the 192km Delhi-Gurugram-Rewari-Alwar line and the 103km Delhi-Sonepat-Panipat Corridor line. The lines, upon completion, will offer 160km/hr service between New Delhi and Tier 2 cities in adjoining states, with trains operating at five to 10-minute intervals.

The project will be developed in three phases. Reports highlight that the funding will be for the first stage of 107km from Sarai Kale Khan to SNB Urban Complex (Shahjahanpur, Neemrana, Behror). It should be noted that the first RRTS between Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut is already under implementation. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is financing the Delhi-Meerut line in four trances between August 2020 and May 2025. It will be combined with US$1.89 billion of funding from the Indian government and US$1 billion from co-financers. Sharad Saxena, ADB’s principal transport specialist, was stated saying that efficient and integrated transport solutions are critical for managing rapid urbanization and ensuring balanced urban development in the region.
India is seeking $2 billion from JICA and another $1 billion from the World Bank to finance the project. Sources say that the total project cost for the Delhi-Alwar route could be up to Rs 36,000 crore while the project has attracted strong interest from global manufacturers. It said representatives from Siemens, Alstom, Bombardier, CAF, Mitsubishi and Hyundai-Rotem were among 40 global companies represented at a pre-bid conference organized by NCRTC.

Vinay Kumar Singh, the NCRTC managing director, recently said, “As a first of its kind project for India, global expertise will be needed from countries that operate similar systems such as Paris’ RER, London’s Crossrail, Cernanias in Madrid and regional services in Berlin, Tokyo and Beijing”.

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Delhi Metro sees 100% occupancy on 5 sections, DMRC appeals to avoid unnecessary travels

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M K Rai

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05/10/2020

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NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Delhi Metro resumed its full-fledged operations from 12th September 2020 onwards with new norms of social distancing in place owing to the Corona pandemic, which has significantly reduced the number of persons to be carried in a train (occupancy) which should be around one-fifth of the earlier capacity to ensure social distancing.
To provide better occupancy in the changed scenario, DMRC also introduced peak hour frequency of trains from 8 AM to 8 PM, doing away with the concept of off-peak hours from 11 AM to 4 PM where services were available with fewer trains/trips earlier. In addition, the public was also advised to avoid unnecessary travel as far as possible and stagger travel timings for office/home/other works to the extent possible to ‘Break the Peak’ for their own convenience and more judicious utilisation of the capacity cum occupancy being offered by the DMRC to the public as per the new norms.
“However, in recent days, it has been observed that certain sections of the Metro network as given below are showing a trend where occupancy is touching 100% mark during morning and evening peak hours. Whereas, during off-peak hours the occupancy in the same sections is in the range of 30-50% only, leaving ample scope for people to stagger their travel from peak hours to the extent possible and have hassle-free travel with social distancing in place'”, said the DMRC.
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The Sections are :
Dilshad Garden to Shastri Park
Mundka to Kirti Nagar
Kirti Nagar to Mandi House
New Bus Adda to Dilshad Garden
Escorts Mujesar to Badarpur

“Such a pattern during peak hours, if it continues and is repeated on the other sections too in the coming days may lead to long queues outside the stations due to regulated entry which is essential for ensuring social distancing inside station premises and closing of gates etc. thereby, further increasing the journey time and inconvenience during travel’, the Metro Corporation said.
Therefore, the general public is once again requested to ‘break the peak’ by staggering their travel timings to decongest the peak hours and avail the additional capacity available during off-peak hours for their own convenience and safety amidst the Corona pandemic. Ever since the resumption of services, people have broadly co-operated with the DMRC and have followed all-new travel protocols in place thereby, resulting in Line utilisation in the range of 9-10 Lakhs in recent days, which is in line with the current expectations and social distancing requirements.

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Kochi Metro’s latest feature: Ticket with QR Code

By

M K Rai

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05/10/2020

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Kochi Metro Rail Project — Photo copyrighted by KMRL

KOCHI (Metro Rail News): In its attempt to promote cashless transactions Kochi Metro Rail Limited has added one more feature for the benefit of commuters. Metro users can generate a ticket with the QR Code on their mobile phones through Kochi 1 app. One can use this QR code at the AFC gate and travel.
“This mode is completely cashless and does not require any interface with Ticket Office Operator. At present Kochi Metro has more 80,000 Kochi 1 card users. For non-card users, Metro has already taken measures such as Cash boxes and digital payment modes. With this passengers can directly enter the platform without standing in queues at ticket counters”, an official told Metro Rail News.
“We are promoting and encouraging contactless and cashless travel in Metro. The current scenario demands such modes of transactions. We are committed for providing a safe and clean metro for Kochiites.” said KMRL MD Alkesh Kumar Sharma.
On average, 9000 commuters are using the metro every day according to official data.

A person has to download the Kochi1 application from Play Store (for Android) or App Store (for iOS users) in order to make use of the above-mentioned facility.

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Britain starts trial for its first Hydrogen Train

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M K Rai

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05/10/2020

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Hydrogen Powered Train by Alstom — Image for representation.

LONDON (Metro Rail News): Britain on Wednesday began the trial of the country’s first hydrogen-powered train that does not emit harmful gases and uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water and heat.
The trial of HydroFLEX in Warwickshire in the Midlands follows almost two years of development and more than £1 million of investment by both rolling stock company Porterbrook and the University of Birmingham, officials said.
The technology will also be available by 2023 to retrofit current in-service trains to hydrogen, helping decarbonise the rail network and make rail journeys greener and more efficient according to officials.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps hopes the Tees Valley in north-east England will become a hydrogen transport hub.
Shapps said: “As we continue on our road to a green recovery, we know that to really harness the power of transport to improve our country – and to set a global gold standard – we must truly embed change”.
“That’s why I’m delighted that, through our plans to build back better, we’re embracing the power of hydrogen and the more sustainable, greener forms of transport”, he added. Stephen Jarvis, head of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Birmingham, added: “The HydroFLEX project is a great example of how world-class R&D, together with the right industry partnerships, can deliver decarbonisation technologies that are both innovative and practical”.
Successful mainline testing is a major milestone for HydroFLEX and is a clear demonstration of the important role hydrogen has to play in the UK’s rail industry. The country is second in the race with Germany for the technology. The world’s first hydrogen-powered train entered service in Germany in September 2018.

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UPMRC conducts a series of programs on the 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi

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M K Rai

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05/10/2020

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LUCKNOW (Metro Rail News): “On the 151st Birth Commemoration of Mahatma Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) gave a special tribute to him by conducting a series of activities in his memory under supervision of Shri. Kumar Keshav, Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited“, it said in a statement.

The officials and staff of UPMRC were divided into different groups and reached the Metro stations at 10:00 AM to start this mission. They started the cleanliness drive for keeping Lucknow Metro a clean and green mode of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for the Lucknowites. On this occasion Shri. Kumar Keshav, Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation started the drive at the surrounding premises of Badshah Nagar Metro Station and appealed the costermongers to support Lucknow Metro in this drive and asked them to keep a dustbin along their cart to avoid the garbage thrown by their customers on the street.

“We must inculcate this habit of cleanliness in our daily affairs to ensure and retain world-class cleanliness standards at our Metro premises and surroundings. In this pandemic situation, we need to give more attention to the cleanliness, which is next to godliness”, Mr Keshav said.

“Lucknow Metro also conducted a series of activities like games for the housekeeping personnel and activities related to children which include reciting poems, dance, fancy dress, and views on the vision of Mahatma Gandhi. The winners of these activities were awarded by the Managing Director/UPMRC at Sachivalaya Metro Station. These activities form a part of Lucknow Metro’s clean & green initiative for the city wherein UPMRC has planned to provide an environmentally friendly mass rapid transport for the public from the first day of its inception”, a statement read.

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UPMRC Adopts Mechanized Cleaning in view of COVID-19 Pandemic

By

M K Rai

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05/10/2020

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UPMRC MD Shri Kumar Keshav Speaking with Cleaning Staff in view of COVID 19 Pandemic

LUCKNOW (Metro Rail News): The COVID-19 pandemic has evoked concerns of hygiene, health and wellness that has prompted organizations worldwide to adopt stringent measures to reduce the transmission risks. As India enters Unlock 5.0, the resuming of public transportation services, including the metro, will set the pace for accelerating economic activity.

“In line with the vision to make commuting a safe, reliable, convenient and eco-friendly experience, UPMRC has undertaken various measures for the benefit of the common populace. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, UPMRC has revised the operational framework to adhere to the highest standards of hygiene and thereby regain the faith of its customers. The highlight of these measures is the mechanized cleaning of metro station premises”, the UPMRC said in a statement.

“This operation has assumed significance during COVID-19 owing to its transmission risk through contact. All stations are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, including the high-frequency touchpoints such as hand-rails, Ticket Vending Machines, Entry-Exit-AFC gates, lift buttons, among others. The Lucknow Metro is being sanitized daily at an interval of 4-5 hours and metro trains twice a day. Mechanized Cleaning scores over manual cleaning due to the former’s contactless mode of operations”, it added.

According to an official, This factor does not only ensure the well-being of customers but also of employees. It is also an efficient mode of cleaning as compared to manual cleaning wherein a shortage of labour, or its absenteeism disrupts operations. Moreover, the extent of hygiene through mechanized cleaning is several notches higher than that of conventional cleaning due to automated operations. The mechanized operations also lead to savings of time and workforce due to its efficiency.

“Although it requires extensive training of workers, it is the cost-effective mode when implemented over the long-run. Mechanized cleaning not only increases asset life; it is also sustainable in the long-run. By using suitable equipment, being thoroughly abreast of the maintenance process and its implementation; it has the potential to minimize chemical and water consumption as well as carbon emissions”, the official added.

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NDB approves 500M loan for Delhi-Meerut RRTS, 241M for Mumbai Metro

By

Narendra Shah

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03/10/2020

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NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The New Development Bank (NDB) has approved USD 500 million for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Project and USD 241 million loans for Mumbai Metro. The two loans were approved by the NDB Board on Friday.

NDB is a Shanghai-based bank and set up by the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). These two projects are doing an extensive infrastructure boost for India’s capital and its financial capital Mumbai.

The Mumbai Metro Loan of USD 241 million will be used for implementing a 14.47 km long metro rail Line 6 (Lokhandwala-Jogeshwari-Vikhroli-Kanjurmarg) in Mumbai.

The Mumbai Metro line 6 will improve the transport and traffic conditions in Mumbai by providing a modern metro system, featuring high-capacity, safe and comfortable mode of transport. Alos provide much-needed rail-based connectivity between the western and eastern suburbs, and will contribute towards an integrated seamless public transport network in Mumbai.

The Project will be implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

The NDB is supporting the implementation of metro lines in Mumbai with length totalling to about 58 km (Line 2 and Line 7) by the financing of the Mumbai Metro Rail Project approved by the NDB in November 2018, it said.

The NDB Board also approved a loan of USD 500 million for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Project Which will give a boost for Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Project.

The loan would be used by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC) for construction of a rapid rail corridor connecting the National Capital Territory of Delhi with the cities of Ghaziabad and Meerut located in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

The RRTS will have a total length of 82.15 km (68.03 km elevated and 14.12 km underground) with 25 stations. It will have a design speed of 180 km per hour, maximum operating speed of 160 km per hour and high-frequency operations, which will reduce the journey time from Delhi to Meerut to 60 minutes.

The project will develop an efficient and sustainable regional transport system and reduce congestion in Delhi, by offering people the alternative of settling in surrounding cities and being able to commute to Delhi through a fast, reliable, safe and comfortable public transport system, it said.

The NDB was set up with an initial authorised capital of USD 100 billion by BRICS countries in 2014. It was officially opened in Shanghai in 2015. Since then it has been funding green infrastructure projects in all the five countries.

The NDB also approved a loan of EUR 100 million to the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) for the Development of Russian Water Transport Sector and a two-step loan of USD 100 million to the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) for the Toll Roads Programme in Russia and USD 100 million to the Eurasian Development Bank for the Water Supply and Sanitation Program in Russia.

The first look of RRTS (Regional Rapid Transit System) train was unveiled by the government on Friday. The train would connect Delhi-Meerut, via Ghaziabad. The RRTS train will cover 82 km long distance in an hour approximately. It will be first of its kind in India with a design speed of 180 kmph. However, the prototype is scheduled to roll off the production line in 2022.

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Rs 1,168 cr irregularities found in the construction of Ahmedabad Metro Phase 1

By

Narendra Shah

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02/10/2020

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Ahmedabad (Metro Rail News): Ahmedabad metro phase 1 construction has been questioned by The apex committee of the Gujarat assembly for monitoring public sector enterprises (PSEs). The committee recently submitted its report before the state assembly, has noted irregularities worth Rs 1,168 crore in the execution of Ahmedabad Metro Rail project.

The committee is headed by BJP MLA and former minister Babu Bokhiriya has recommended recovery of Rs. 1,168 crores from the accused and initiate strict action against those involved in futile expenditure and irregularities in the metro rail project.

“The CAG (Comptroller & auditor general) of India, in its 2014-15 report examined MEGA’s financial and actual performance. The Gujarat government, in 2005 envisioned to begin a metro rail service between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. In 2010, MEGA company was formed to implement the metro rail service. The first DPR (draft project report) was approved in December 2012 and revised estimate of Rs 15,789 crore was made” Said in the report submitted by PSE Committee.

“However, before the high-powered committee approved the DPR, the MEGA company started making major purchases and issuing work orders without any due process at very exaggerated rates. Rs 584 crore worth 1,868 work orders (June 2011 to September 2013), moreover, a total of 672 work orders worth Rs 201 crore were also issued without prior permission at higher rates. Even before the central and state government sanctioned the projects in addition to these, 1,196 work orders worth Rs 383 crore were made for landfilling, casting and other work,” the report stated.

The PSE committee noted that set government processes were not followed in issuing work orders. “When the government realised in various inquiries that the chairman at that time and 43 other contractual workers were involved in the major financial and other irregularities, the government terminated all persons and initiated action against them,” the report said, adding that two complaints had been filed with the CID crime of misappropriation of government funds worth Rs 115 crore.

“There are many allegations of giving non-required work at too high rates. A total of 22 other cases in arbitration is ongoing. Since the new management took over, no irregularities have been reported,’’ the committee report said.

In its final observation, the committee noted, “There were major financial and other irregularities in the MEGA company under the urban development and urban housing department. However, inquiries are pending at various levels.”

The phase 1 of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project was implemented under the supervision of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The PSE Committee noted that the the govt guidelines were not followed in the issuing of work orders.

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