UPMRC Adopts Mechanized Cleaning in view of COVID-19 Pandemic

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05/10/2020

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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Indian Railways unveils the ‘made in India’ Tejas Express locomotives

By

Narendra Shah

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02/10/2020

0

Kolkata (Metro Rail News): Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), the electric locomotive manufacturing unit of Indian Railways, unveils the indigenously manufactured Tejas Express locomotives for push-pull operations on Friday.

Shri Praveen Kumar Mishra, General Manager flagged off the TEJAS EXPRESS locos from Asansol Railway station in presence of of CLW senior officers and staff

Flag Off Ceremony of Tejas locomotive — Shri Praveen Kumar Mishra, General Manager flagged off the TEJAS EXPRESS

First batch of Tejas Express locos for PUSH-PULL operations is aerodynamically designed to reduce air drags at higher speed for more energy efficiency and dynamically stable during high-speed operation.

These two WAP-5 (35012-35013) type electric locomotives are of 6000 HP capacity each and both are equipped with the latest IGBT-based propulsion system capable to run at 160kmph each.

These two electric locomotives will work in Push-Pull mode for operations in premium passenger trains.
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The driver desks have been ergonomically re-modified for improving the maneuvering skill of loco pilots

Composite converters are also provided in these locos to directly supply power to the coaches and pantry cars thus eliminating the need of separate diesel power generator cars.

CLW claimed the new electric locomotives are more energy-efficient and require less maintenance.

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Hyderabad: SCR keeps MMTS rakes ready, awaits Centre’s nod

By

M K Rai

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01/10/2020

0

HYDERABAD (Metro Rail News): It’s been six months since MMTS, which is the suburban rail system in the city, stopped its services due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown. Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) and TSRTC resumed operations recently but MMTS remains the only public transportation that is still unavailable for commuters in the city. SCR conducted a trial run on the Secunderabad-Malkajgiri and Medchal-Moula-Ali routes as part of the phase-II project recently.

SCR, which is waiting for an official order from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Railways, is making sure they are ready to resume operations as soon they get a go-ahead by ensuring all the MMTS rakes are fit and well-maintained. “By regularly checking the rakes and conducting other maintenance activities, we are taking all necessary steps to start operations at any moment. The batteries, brakes, wheel alignment and functioning of the engine and other motors are being checked regularly at the Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) car shed at Moula Ali,” said a senior official.

SCR operates 12 rakes on Secunderabad-Lingampally, Hyderabad-Lingampally and Secunderabad-Faluknuma sections. After lockdown restrictions were lifted partially, SCR operated Shramik special trains to transport migrant workers and is currently operating special passenger trains.
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With 25 local stations, apart from three major divisions of Secunderabad Kacheguda and Hyderabad, the MMTS runs 40 kms and handles 1.60 lakh passengers every day, while generating a revenue of nearly Rs 10 lakh per day.

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UPMRC to conduct a series of events to celebrate 151st Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi

By

M K Rai

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01/10/2020

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LUCKNOW (Metro Rail News): Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) will be organizing a host of events to celebrate the 151st birth anniversary of Gandhi Ji. Beginning with 1st October 2020, a Swatchhta Pledge (oath for cleanliness) will be taken by UPMRC officials in the esteemed presence of Shri Kumar Keshav, MD, UPMRC at Administrative Office, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. An elocution competition will be conducted at Hussainganj Metro station portraying the teachings & philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi.

In the evening of the same day, MD will felicitate the participants of the elocution event. Shri Kumar Keshav will also address the Directors, senior officials & other staff of UPMRC at the Hussainganj Metro station after the prize distribution ceremony. On the following day, ie 2nd October 2020, a cleanliness drive will be conducted beginning with Badshah Nagar Metro station where Shri. Kumar Keshav himself will start the Swatchhta Abhiyaan (cleanliness drive) and then at all other Metro stations.

On Gandhi Jayanti, a special fashion show will be organized at Hazratganj Metro station for children dressed in the attire of freedom fighters & other nationalist leaders of India. A train ride has also been planned for children from Hazratganj to Sachivalaya Metro station. In the evening Managing Director, UPMRC will give away awards to winners of the fashion show and other housekeeping staff for participating in various events specially organized for them.

Every year UPMRC conducts several special events & activities before Gandhi Jayanti to pay tribute to the ‘Father of the Nation’ & to propagate his message of ‘Swachta Hi Sewa’ among the public. Shri Kumar Keshav, MD, UPMRC while addressing the senior officials & other Metro staff remarked,” On this special day of Gandhi Jayanti all of us should take a pledge to keep our surrounding clean & to maintain cleanliness both at our homes & workplace. We should follow the ideals of Bapu- ‘Father of the Nation’ & imbibe his values in us for the betterment of society. ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’ should motivate us to practice & adopt his teachings & philosophies in our daily life. Keeping the surroundings clean & tidy is the best service an individual can for his country & society.”

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Kolkata police nod to shut Sealdah flyover for East-West Metro tunnelling

By

M K Rai

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01/10/2020

0

KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): Kolkata City police on Tuesday issued a letter to the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC), implementing agency of the East-West Metro, giving its nod to keep the Sealdah flyover closed for 72 hours to facilitate construction of underground tunnelling for the corridor. The flyover will remain closed from 6 am on Friday till 6 am on Monday. Tunnel boring machine (TBM) Urvi, digging the east-bound tunnel, will reach the flyover sometime on Friday morning and cross the structure on Sunday night to reach its destination, Sealdah station.

A detailed guideline was issued for the traffic rejig that will come into effect for the flyover’s closure. This is the last-leg of 2.45km of the East-West Metro tunnelling, between Esplanade and Sealdah station. Till the TBM covers the 25m distance below the flyover to reach Sealdah station, around 40 engineers and workers of construction agency ITD ITD-Cementation will be camping below and above the flyover round-the-clock. The TBM is currently 50m away from the 40-year-old Sealdah flyover, which is in a fairly good condition, engineers of KMDA.

The elaborate exercise will be repeated three months later when the flyover is closed again as Urvi takes a U-turn to build the unfinished west-bound tunnel till Bowbazar’s Durga Pituri Lane.Kolkata Police is cordinating with various stakeholders, the traders below the flyover, the bus owners and workers.

“We have met a few bus owners and another meeting is being planned in the next 48 hours. We also held a meeting with the concerned traffic guards. Three roads — MG Road, CR Avenue and SN Banerjee Road — will require augmented force besides the Moulali Crossing,” said an officer.“A configuration will be sent to KMRCL and Kolkata Police by Thursday as to the precautionary and safety measures to look after to see that no damage occurs on the base of the flyover structure while the tunnel is made,” said a KMDA official.

Kolkata traffic police has decided to use CR Avenue, Surya Sen Street, SN Banerjee Road and the Canal Road East to try and keep central Kolkata moving. “No parking will be allowed on SN Banerjee Road and Vivekananda Road. We are also removing all encroachments along BB Ganguly Street that might impede free movement of vehicles,” said an officer.

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Delhi-Meerut rapid rail: All you need to know about Bombardier’s semi-high speed rail

By

M K Rai

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01/10/2020

0

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor construction is in full swing that will reduce and give a world-class travel facility for people commuting between the two cities. Being the first semi-high speed Rapid Rail system, the Centre has unveiled the first look of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) train whose design is inspired by Delhi’s iconic Lotus Temple and can attain a top speed of 180 kilometres per hour on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said with a radiating stainless steel outer body, the aerodynamic RRTS trains will be lightweight and fully air-conditioned. They have been designed in such a way that natural sources of light and energy will flow into the trains, the ministry said. Each car will have 6 automatic plug-in type wide doors, three on each side for ease of access and exit. The business class will have four such doors, two on each side.

An official of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) claimed that the RRTS trains will travel at a speed three times faster than the Delhi Metro. RRTS trains will also have business class (1 coach per train) with spacious, comfortable and reclining seats which will be accessible through a special lounge at the platform-level, an official said.

The official claimed that people travelling on RRTS trains can have an ‘airplane-like’ experience as the coaches will have all modern facilities which are available inside a passenger aircraft.The 82-km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor is the first RRTS corridor being implemented in India.The commute time from Delhi to Meerut will be reduced to less than an hour from the current 3-4 hours by road, the official said.

The prototype is scheduled to roll off the production line in 2022 and will be put into public use after extensive trials.The 17-km priority corridor of Delhi-Merrut RRTS from Sahibabad to Duhai will be operational in 2023 and the entire corridor will be operational in 2025, the official said.”Delhi’s iconic Lotus Temple is an epitome of sustainability as its design allows flow of natural sources of light and air circulation.

On similar lines, RRTS rolling stock will have lighting and temperature control systems to enhance passenger experience with less energy consumption,” a statement stated.The NCRTC, which is executing India’s first RRTS, will procure 30 train sets of 6 cars each for operating regional rail services on the entire corridor and ten train sets of three cars each for operating local transit services in Meerut.The entire rolling stock for Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor will be manufactured at Bombardier’s Savli plant in Gujarat, it said.

The trains have been designed while keeping in mind the high-acceleration and deceleration that they will need to undergo given the maximum operational speed of 160 kmph and stations at every 5-10 km. The RRTS trains will have transverse 2×2 seating with adequate legroom, optimised aisle width with grab handles and grab poles for a comfortable journey for standing passengers, overhead luggage rack, mobile and laptop charging sockets and onboard WiFi among other computer-centric features. Unveiling the train’s first look, HUA Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra said that infrastructure is one of the 5 pillars of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mishra said that it is a matter of great pride that these high-speed, high-frequency commuter trains for RRTS are entirely being manufactured under the government’s ‘Make in India’ policy.

“The environment friendly, energy efficient trains will improve the quality of life in and around NCR by accelerating economic growth, creating economic opportunities and at the same time reducing air pollution, carbon footprint, congestion, and accidents,” he said.

NCRTC’s managing director Vinay Kumar said that the rolling stock of India’s first RRTS has been designed with a vision to fulfil the aspirations of New India. The rolling stock will be energy-efficient with about 30 per cent regeneration during braking, Kumar said. The other two Phase-I RRTS corridors are Delhi-Gurugram-SNB and Delhi-Panipat. According to the NCRTC, pre-construction activities are in full swing for Delhi-Gurugram-SNB corridor and its detailed project report (DPR) is under active consideration of the government of India for sanction. The DPR of the Delhi to Panipat RRTS corridor is also under active consideration of the respective state governments for approval, it added.

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Kolkata Metro services disrupted due to technical snag

By

M K Rai

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30/09/2020

0

KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): Kolkata Metro Railway services were disrupted for over an hour on Tuesday after a Dum Dum-bound A/C train experienced technical snag at Netaji station. According to sources, the incident took place at 2 pm when the AC rake going in the UP direction was stopped at Netaji UP platform after a cable hanging from the coach touched the third rail resulting in the emission of a burning smell. “Metro engineers and staff went to the spot and passengers were immediately evacuated,” said an official.

Truncated services were run from Mahanayak Uttam Kumar station to Noapara station (both in the UP and DN direction).
On September 28, Kolkata Metro Railway started running three pairs of additional trains (110 to 116 trains) and extended operation hours (the last service extended from 8 pm to 8.30 pm). However, the footfall in the North- South Metro line was 55,228 and in the East-West Metro line passenger was 163.

On the first day of opening, the footfall in the North-South Metro line was 27,000. The East-West Metro line passenger was 99. Since then the number of commuters are increasing. On average, there is an increase of at least 2,000 passengers on a daily basis.

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NMRC to build 5 Metro stations on Aqua Line extension

By

M K Rai

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30/09/2020

0

NOIDA (Metro Rail News): The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) has issued a tender to develop five Metro stations on the extension line of the Aqua Line to Greater Noida West in the first phase. The proposed route will connect Noida’s Sector 51 station with Greater Noida’s Sector 2, and help make commuting easier of scores of residents living in high-rises and villages en route. On December 3, 2019, the Uttar Pradesh cabinet had approved the 14.95km Aqua-Line extension corridor comprising nine stations from Noida’s Sector 51 to Knowledge Park 5 in Greater Noida.

Praveen Mishra, an executive director, NMRC, confirmed that the tender has been issued. The 9.15km route in the first phase will have five Metro stations — Sector 122 and Sector 123 in Noida; and Sector 4, Ecotech 12 and Sector 2 in Greater Noida. In the second phase of 5.8km, there will be four Metro stations; in Greater Noida’s Sector 3, Sector 10, Greater Sector 12 and Knowledge Park 5.

Sandhya Sharma, deputy general manager, NMRC, said the Greater Noida West extension line is significant given the number of residential colonies in that area. “The NMRC has issued a tender on September 29 and the last date for submission of bids is October 31. The project will be completed in 24 months from the award of contract.
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Soil testing and geotechnical survey of the route have been completed,” she said.

The NMRC commenced operations of the Aqua Line, comprising 21 stations from Sector 51 in Noida to Depot station in Greater Noida, on January 25, 2019. This existing corridor has 15 stations in Noida and six in Greater Noida. This 29.71km Aqua Line was developed at a cost of ₹5,503 crores. The average daily ridership in February 2020, stood at 25,907. After the lockdown, it resumed services on September 7 and has an average daily ridership of 4,200.

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