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Kochi water metro project in its advanced stage

Kanika Verma
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Kochi water metro project in its advanced stage

KOCHI (Metro Rail News): With discussions between Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), the sole bidder in the fray, entering an advanced stage. The inking of the contract to manufacture 23 modern, air-conditioned ferries as part of the ₹750-crore Water Metro project is closer to being realized.

By June 2020 the first of the 100-seater ferries have to be delivered.

Madhu S. Nair, CMD of Cochin Shipyard said that “We understand that we are the only party that submitted the bid. The technical evaluation process is underway.
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We have responded to all clarifications sought by KMRL”.

He added; the shipyard is confident of delivering the ferries in time. A plan of action is ready, for which a study had been undertaken.

Aspects like the design best suited for operating the ferries in the Greater Kochi area and the type of battery they need are being discussed by the two agencies. A decision on inking the contract will be taken once they are finalized, official sources said.

The two-roll-on roll-off (RoRo) vessels that the Kochi Corporation operates between Fort Kochi and Vypeen were built by CSL, which is mainly into manufacturing merchant and Naval vessels. Following this, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) placed an order to manufacture two RoRo and eight RoPax vessels.

Formal permission from KfW, the German funding agency, which has extended a soft loan for the Water Metro project, is awaited for inking the contract with CSL, KMRL sources said.

They added, “The deadline for supplying the first ferry will be extended from December this year to June 2020. The delay occurred because much brainstorming was necessary to zero in on and then revise the technical parameters. The rest of the vessels will have to be supplied within 18 months of inking the contract”.

Another contract to supply 50-seater air-conditioned ferries will be floated subsequently.

All the vessels will have an aluminum hull and fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) body to ensure safety and optimal life-cycle cost.

JICA Tells NHSRCL to Improve Compensation to Farmers

Kanika Verma
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JICA Tells NHSRCL to Improve Compensation to Farmers

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project was supposed to complete the acquisition of 1,380 hectares of land for the 508 km long project by December 2018. However, it couldn’t manage to acquire even a single hectare of land last year.

The deadline has been extended to December 2019 and the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the company overlooking the project in association with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has successfully managed to acquire 39 percent of the total 1,380 hectares of land.

In December 2018, a three-member team from JICA, headed by Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative of JICA India, visited the project-affected farmers in Gujarat to understand the various issues pertaining to land acquisition and compensation.

According to the letter sent by the NHSRCL to PSS, JICA had flagged two issues before the rail authority. JICA recommended that NHSRCL should not pay the project-affected farmers based on the 2011 Jantri Rates (ready-reckoner rates).

The NHSRCL added their response to JICA, stating that the Jantri Rates in Gujarat have been raised by 52.17 percent by adopting the method of indexation as per the Income Tax Department.

So far, 537 hectares of land have been acquired, which include 471 of 940 hectares in Gujarat and 66 of 431 hectares in Maharashtra. However, NHSRCL failed to acquire the nine hectares required in Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

NHSRCL Spokesperson Sushma Gaur told IANS that the land will be taken over once the tenders for the project are finalized.

“Major chunk of the land acquisition is likely to be completed by December 2019. Two or three months back the total land acquired was 33 percent. And within 90 days we were able to acquire over 6 percent more land,” she said.

However, according to Krishnakant, most of the land which has been acquired belongs to the government.

“The farmers had filed litigation before the Gujarat High Court last year, challenging the whole land acquisition process. If the court favors the farmers, then the acquisition process will be restarted again. The land that has been already acquired won’t be affected though if the court rules in our favor,” he added.

Delhi Metro Phase-IV preliminary work begins

Parnika krishna
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Delhi Metro Phase-IV preliminary work begins

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has stated doing preliminary work as its Phase-IV project is still undetermined, to save time when the actual construction begins.  

Delhi government gave its approval to the six proposed corridors of the Phase-IV project in December last year. The project was approved by the Centre in March this year, but only three out of the six proposed corridors were approved.

However, the Phase-IV project once again became a flashpoint with Delhi government writing to the Centre that it wouldn’t bear the operational losses for the Phase-IV project. The government also refused to accept any liability for the loan to be taken from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Delhi government wants the Centre to equally share operational losses, but the Centre claims that it is contrary to the condition of sanction of the Phase-III of Delhi Metro wherein operational losses are to be borne by the government.

Due to this the project is stuck at the moment with no clarity on the next course of action, and DMRC is utilising the time by carrying out some preliminary work. DMRC is expected to start geo-technical surveys and detailed drawings of civil structures in the near future. The process is expected to take about six months, after which actual construction will begin.

DMRC has started the process of roping in an outside agency to carry out the design and construction of a large section of the proposed Janakpuri West to RK Ashram Marg corridor of Phase-IV. At nearly 29km of length, this corridor is the longest and one of the most important ones of the Phase-IV project.

Delhi Metro will rope in a private agency to design and construct a section of elevated viaduct, elevated ramp, siding line and ten elevated stations of the corridor. The stations are Keshopur, Paschim Vihar, Peeragarhi, Mangolpuri, West Enclave, Pushpanjali, Deepali Chowk, Madhuban Chowk, Prashant Vihar and North Pitampura.

DMRC will also start utility investigation work soon for the construction of a section of the proposed Tughlaqabad-Delhi Aerocity corridor. The section on which the investigation work will be carried out is between Indira Gandhi Domestic Airport Terminal-1 and Saket.

Jammu and Srinagar to get first Metro Rail

Sona Sagar
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Jammu and Srinagar to get first Metro Rail

Srinagar (Metro Rail News): In a first, Srinagar and Jammu, the two capital cities of Jammu and Kashmir state, will get metro trains within next four years. Jammu and Kashmir government headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday announced the work for the light rail system metro, the first of its kind in the country, will begin soon.
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The estimated cost of the first phase of the metro for two cities has been approved at Rs 8500 crore, to be funded through debt, state’s equity and central assistance.

The Governor’s administration has approved the elevated corridor option for two light rail transit systems. M/s RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Services) is finalizing the DPRs for the project, Rohit Kansal, principal secretary planning department of Jammu and Kashmir said at a press conference here. Kansal, who is also the state government’s spokesperson, said that HMT, Indra Nagar and Osmanabad in Bemina to Hazuri Bagh will be connected with the metro rail in the first phase. This will cover the distance of 25 kms with 24 stations, he added.

Similar metro train in phase II, will be connected with corridors of Indra Nagar to Pampore Bus stand and HazuriBagh to Srinagar airport covering a distance of 17.5 Kms having 14 stations.

In Jammu city, the metro in the first phase will be from Bantalab to Greater Kailash and Udheywala to exhibition ground covering 23 kms with 23 stations.

In second phase metro train will run from Greater Kailash to Bari Brahamana railway station and Exhibition Ground to Satwari Chowk to Jammu airport covering distance of 20.5 k ms with 17 stations, Kansal revealed. He said the light railway system, the first in India, will have low footprint, low noise, greater comfort, aesthetic appeal and blend with the surrounding landscape.

The state government has also proposed two Mass Rapid Transit Corporations to undertake the preliminary steps for operationalizing city buses, within the city jurisdiction. These will be application based, air-conditioned, smart E-buses with automatic fare collection system, he added. Both the capital cities will also get metropolitan regional development authorities to coordinate on and supervise all the projects.

Vande Bharat Express successfully completed its Second trial

Kanika Verma
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Vande Bharat Express successfully completed its Second trial

KANPUR (Metro Rail News): On Thursday, Vande Bharat Express India’s fastest train successfully completed its second trial in Kanpur Central Railway station.

The trial was conducted between New Delhi Railway Station and Kanpur Central. Himanshu, director, Kanpur Central Railway Station said that  “Currently, the train is undergoing operational trials in which we look at its operational feasibility. We are conducting many tests and when it meets all our standards, it will go into service. It will be running between New Delhi Railway Station and Kanpur Central”.

In addition to automatic doors, onboard hotspot Wi-Fi for entertainment purposes, pantry, and bio-vacuum toilets GPS based audio-visual passenger information system the train has also been equipped with improved seating, a facility for the freezer, hot case and other technical improvements based on passenger feedback.

Vande Bharat express, also known as ‘Train 18‘,  has travel classes like Shatabdi Train but with better facilities in a bid to provide a totally new travel experience to passengers and it can run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph.

PM Narendra Modi had flagged off the train’s maiden run from New Delhi to Varanasi In February this year.

A Chennai-based Railways Production unit has designed and developed the train.

In just 18 months it made Integral Coach Factory which also includes the in-house design and manufacture, computer modeling and working, etc. Adding up the green footprints, this fully ‘Make in India’ train has regenerative braking system in the coaches which can save up to 30% of electrical energy.

 

CMRS to inspect Kolkata East-West Metro

Sona Sagar
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CMRS to inspect Kolkata East-West Metro

KOLKATA (Metro Rail News): The Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) is set to inspect the 5km Sector V-Salt Lake Stadium stretch of East-West Metro from July 18 amid speculations that it may not allow trains to stop at the two stations that are yet to get fire-safety nod from the state government.

The CMRS’s public safety audit will give green signal to the much-awaited truncated commercial operations of East-West Metro.

It will conduct a series of tests, starting with the three-day inspection from July 18, before compiling its safety audit

A meeting was convened at Metro Bhavan on Thursday where engineers of Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC), implementing agency of the 16km East-West Metro corridor, expressed their anxiety regarding the standoff with the state government over fire clearances for two of the six stations that fall on the Sector V-Stadium stretch.

KMRC has the fire services department’s nod for four stations — Sector V, Karunamoyee, Central Park and City Centre. Approvals for Bengal Chemical and Salt Lake Stadium stations were refused on June 14 on grounds that they lacked the third exit. These staircases were reportedly shown in the original plan.
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KMRC has been preparing for a July commissioning, but the refusal by the state came as a bolt. While conducting its ‘safety audit CMRS will ask for fire-safety nod for all six stations. KMRC hopes the clearances will come within the next fortnight a railways official said that If the fire department gives its nod for the two stations, CMRS shouldn’t have issues.

Else, it may give partial clearance, allowing trains to stop only at the other four stations he added that in that case, the already truncated run will be cut short further and the services will run from Sector V to City Centre, which is barely 3.5km.

The two exits couldn’t be built because of encroachment at Duttabad slums. People from the slums had blocked 365m of EastWest Metro’s viaduct construction on EM Bypass for five years and CM Mamata Banerjee and Union minister Babul Supriyo had to intervene to end the impasse.

The slums run along the east of EM Bypass, where the two evacuation ways for Bengal Chemical and Salt Lake Stadium stations were supposed to come up. Weary of facing resistance for slum-dwellers again, the staircases were done away with and the plan was revised. During an inspection last Saturday, fire department officials found a Trinamool party office and other shacks on the spot.

KMRC has told the fire department that it would set up exits as and when land would be available. During a meeting last Saturday, the agency pleaded with fire minister Sujit Bose that without the clearances, CMRS, which is an independent body under ministry of civil aviation, can’t give the green signal.

During this week, as per the fire minister’s instructions, KMRC has again submitted documents to urban development department claiming “possession” of the land. On getting it, a formal request will be made to the state for help in removing the settlers. The railway official said that unless the land is freed, staircases can’t be constructed. That could take a year or more. KMRC will present its case before CMRS and seek clearance for the first phase of East-West Metro.

Korea EXIM bank backs off from Vizag Metro rail project

Parnika krishna
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Korea EXIM bank backs off from Vizag Metro rail project

VIJAYAWADA (Metro Rail News): The Korea EXIM Bank earlier came forward and offered to assist in establishment of Vizag Metro Rail by funding the infrastructure when the state government was facing a setback in their grand plans, the Korea EXIM Bank that had come forward to offer financial assistance to establish Vizag Metro rail has now backed off due to unknown reasons.

Highly placed sources in the government said that Amaravati Metro Rail Corporation has now decided to approach other global financial institutions like Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and New Development Bank, formerly BRICS bank, seeking funds for the project.

As per the timelines fixed, AMRC was to award the contract to the successful bidder by March this year and the work was expected to begin immediately afterwards.

Already, five firms have been shortlisted and RFP has been issued to them.

These five firms will be submitting their technical and financial bids soon. The shortlisted firms are Adani Group, Tatas, Shapoorji Pallonji Group, Essel Group and IL & FS.

However, due to the polls and KEXIM Bank backing off, the project timelines have been disturbed. “KEXIM (Export-Import Bank of Korea) conveyed their inability to extend financial assistance for the project. The state government was therefore advised to propose the project for funding to other bilateral/multilateral agencies if so desired”, said a top source in the Union finance ministry.

Korea EXIM Bank earlier came forward to fund the infrastructure cost of Rs 4,200 crore which is the state government component of 51 per cent of the innovative PPP mode.

KEXIM Bank had offered to lend the money at an interest rate between 6.5 per cent to 7 per cent for a repayment tenure of 20 years with 5 years moratorium. AMRC had also appointed a financial advisor or loan arranger for the purpose.

South Wales Metro to have first contracts from Transport for Wales

Sona Sagar
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South Wales Metro to have first contracts from Transport for Wales

South Wales (Metro Rail News): Balfour Beatty, Alun Griffiths and Siemens Mobility have recently been awarded contracts.

This is a part of the procurement process for the first projects of the South Wales Metro, which includes control systems, track work, stations, along with the new fleet maintenance depot in Taff’s Well.

ECI contracts are awarded for preparatory work in order to allow the development of plans and design work ahead of the major stages of the procurement process for all engineering projects.

All three of the companies are to now be working with Transport for Wales (TfW) on these projects.

It will include working to establish a high-quality supply chain with local Welsh businesses.

Transport for Wales are transforming the transport sector across the Wales and Borders network with a £5 billion investment programme.

The programme is focused on improving the customer experience, as well as improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales.

What did the officials have to say?

James Price, Chief Executive of Transport for Wales, said that the South Wales Metro is one of our most important and exciting projects, and I’m delighted that Transport for Wales will be working with three renowned companies on the first crucial stages of our plans to transform public transport, both in the South Wales region and throughout the Wales and Borders network as a whole. The development of the Metro will be a major boost to the local economy of South Wales, creating jobs directly and in the local supply chain. We will work closely with Balfour Beatty, Alun Griffiths and Siemens as they help us develop our vision of a high quality, safe, integrated, affordable and accessible transport network of which the people of South Wales are proud.

Shaun Thompson, Rail Director at Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd said that we are delighted to be working collaboratively with TfW on this exciting development. As a Welsh company who self-delivers, it enables us to recruit and train new local employees, enhancing the economy in Wales. Being involved right from the start on these ECI contracts, allows our people to add value by innovating, promoting health and safety and reducing risk.

Rob Morris, Managing Director of Rail Automation in the UK for Siemens Mobility, said that We are delighted to have been awarded this ECI contract and to build further on the success of the projects we have already delivered in South Wales. Our experienced and rapidly-growing team is now looking forward to working closely with TfW and the local supply chain on this exciting programme of work.

Mick Rayner, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty Rail business, said that Today marks a significant milestone in the delivery of Transport for Wales’ investment programme and the South Wales Metro project, which on completion will significantly improve transport links in South Wales. Utilising our unrivalled expertise in electrification and our deep experience in the installation of new tracks, we are perfectly positioned to work with Transport for Wales during the early contractor involvement phase to develop the design of this highly anticipated scheme.

Union Budget 2019: Railway requires Rs 50 lakh crore investment

Kanika Verma
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Union Budget 2019: Railway requires Rs 50 lakh crore investment

NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while announcing the Budget 2019, said from 2018-30 railway will require Rs 50 lakh crore investment.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) will be used to unleash faster development and delivery of passenger freight services. Rail and metro projects for 300 km have also been approved.
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There was speculation that the government was exploring ways to involve private players in railways inviting criticism from the Opposition.

The government envisions using rivers for cargo transport as it will help decongest roads and railways Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Railway Budget 2019 Highlights

  • Indian Railways requires Rs 50 lakh crore between 2018 to 2030 to complete the sanctioned projects.
  • 657 kilometres of metro rail network have become operational.
  • PPP to be encouraged
  • All manned level crossings to be eliminated
  • Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Howrah travel time to come down by 5 hours.
  • Corporization of production units
  • Jerk-free rides on Indian Railways
  • Private sector to run some trains
  • Beautiful railway stations
  • Delhi-Lucknow, Mumbai-Shirdi trains revamp
  • The wait for bullet train over by 2023
  • Indian Railways to be an enabler for $5 trillion dream
  • Dedicated Freight Corridors
  • Focus on safe railway travel
  • Waterways to decongest Indian Railways
  • PPP in Indian Railways
  • India is looking to adopt the European signalling infrastructure for safer yet faster movement of passenger trains
  • Indian Railways is focusing on green energy
  • PPP in Metro rail initiatives
  • SPVs for suburban projects
  • Indian Railways ties up with France
  • World-class stations
  • Indian Railways to be a big growth driver

Railways will also be encouraged to invest more in suburban railways through SPV structures such as Rapid Regional Transport System (RRTS). A massive program of railway station modernization will also be launched this year.

It was expected that the Narendra Modi government would maintain its focus on aggressive development of transportation infrastructure by infusing in major programs it introduced last year — that includes railway station redevelopment programme, inland waterways development, the Namami Gange project, the Swachh Bharat Mission, UDAN (Airports), metro rail and Smart Cities (Urban Infra). In the previous budget, the government promised to introduce bullet trains, revamp of signalling systems, CCTV, Wi-Fi, escalators and other such services at stations, in the massive budget boost wherein they allocated Rs 1.48 lakh crore for the Indian railways.

The total allocated capital expenditure for 2018-19 is Rs 1,48,528 crore which is a 24% increase from the 2017-18 revised estimates Rs 1,20,000 crore.

Chennai Metro Phase II in Trouble

Parnika krishna
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Chennai Metro Phase II in Trouble

CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): In a judgment with wide-ranging implications for development and infrastructure projects in Tamil Nadu, a division bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday declared acquisition of all land since September 2013 under three state laws as illegal. The court, however, has exempted lands “which have already been put to use and the purpose for which the land was acquired has been accomplished”.

Senior government officials told that the order could stall several projects, including phase two of Chennai Metro Rail for which land was acquired under one of the impugned Acts. 

It is therefore likely that the government would either go in for a review or appeal against the order. There is also a chance that land acquisition could be put in abeyance and an amendment passed, one senior official said.

The bench of Justices S Manikumar and Subramonium Prasad has held that three state laws — the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Harijan Welfare Scheme Act, 1978, TN Highways Act, 2001, and the TN Industrial Purposes Act, 1997 — became null and void once the President assented to the Centre’s Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act on September 27, 2013.

“Consequently, all the acquisitions made under the three impugned enactments made on or after September 2013, are to be held illegal and quashed, save those lands which had already been put to use and the purpose for which the land was acquired has been accomplished,” judges said.

The State had attempted to “save” these laws by enacting Section 105 (a) of the New Act, however, the court held that the laws had already fallen null and void by then and could only be “revived” as fresh laws. 

The bench was passing orders on a batch of over 100 writ petitions challenging the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement (TN Amendment Act) 2014 (TN Act 1 of 2015) and demanding the show cause notices issued under sub-section (2) of Sec. (3) of the TN Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purpose Act 1997 (Tamil Nadu Act 10 of 1999), be declared as null and void.

While the bench rejected the petitioners’ contention that the President had failed to apply his mind while granting assent, it said that the writ petitioners ultimately succeed because Article 254(1), by its operation, rendered the impugned State legislation repugnant and null and void as on the date on which the Centre’s Land Act was made, i.e. September 27, 2013.

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