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L&T gets repayment extension for Hyderabad Metro project

15/09/2018

Hyderabad: L&T gets an extension on repayment deadline from financial lenders for Hyderabad Metro Rail project. The company is also in talks with state government relating to the escalating project cost.

Hyderabad Metro is heading towards completion by March 2019. This is almost a year and a half after the preliminary programmed schedule of July 2017. The lenders have given L&T more time for commercial operation up to July 2019, with a corresponding enhancement in loan stage.

As per the schedule revised, L&T will start repayment of the loan from 30th September 2020. With this extension corresponding cost delays is also estimated for claiming compensation, based on the L&T’s annual statement to its shareholders.

Looking at the cost of implementing the 72km rail project, the estimated cost comes to ₹16,375-crore for the elevated metro rail project. This is entire project covers over 6 million sq ft of transit-oriented development.

The project is financed via a term loan of ₹11,478 crore, Viability Gap Fund from the government of ₹1,458 crore and equity share capital of ₹3,439 crore.
Additionally, the state government has already invested over ₹2,000 crore in facilitating constructions.

Investment pattern
As of March 2018, L&T has invested ₹14,723 crore in the project including ₹2,241 crore invested during 2017-18.

One stretch of 30 Km was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2017. The two stretches are likely to be made operational by September and October-November.
The other stretch excluding the Old City segment, where there are right of way challenges, will be commissioned by March-April next year.

L&T while refereeing to Transit-Oriented Development stated that commercial, operations at two locations together with at the IT hub of Hitec city have commenced. The other two Hyderabad Metro stretches are closer to completion.

L&T is also exploring non-fare revenue generation option via the sale of products to metro commuters. This effort will be strengthened further owing to metro expansion leading to augmented ridership.

The Telangana government is also planning to implement phase II of Hyderabad Metro project. This will be covering 85Km and will also include airport link. This will improve the average ridership on the Hyderabad metro system considerably.
L&T is also exploring the opportunity of giving consultancy services for other metros projects.

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Government will encourage ‘Make in India’ with Metro Rail Projects

Priyanka Sahu

15/09/2018

New Delhi: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has decided to give the responsibility to NITI Aayog to review the progress of standardization and indigenization of metro rail system. Metro rail system is being set up all over the country. According to the Ministry, the purpose of this initiative is to speed up the government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign for the implementation of metro rail projects in the states. An official said that the standard of the engine compartment, signal system, and telecommunication system has been standardized.

An official said, “It has been decided that the members of the NITI Aayog will review the progress of standardization and indigenization of the metro rail system.
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Ministry will ensure timely progress. Significantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved the setting up of a committee under the chairmanship of ‘Metro Man’ e-Sreedharan to fix the standard of the metro rail system in the country.

The 22 projects in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chennai, Nagpur, Pune, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Noida-Greater Noida, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Gururam are being operated in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The Ministry said that the fourth phase of the Delhi Metro will be completed by December 2020 and the second phase of the Bangalore Metro will be completed by 2021.

At present there are total 160 metro rail systems which cover the total length of approximately 10,000 km, this is operating throughout the world, mostly in Europe and North America. Even though such metro rail systems are very few on the African continent which is also an indirect reflection of the development status of the region. The situation of the metro is far better in Asia. In Asia, China and India are two countries where the metro rail network is expanding very fast. In India, there are 15 major cities with a population more than 3 million have already been or are being provided with metro rail (with a total metro rail corridor length of approximately 750 km) and are under different stages of planning and/or construction. Metro rail systems are being aimed to provide an efficient public transportation system and also to improve the urban traffic conditions, air, and noise pollution situations there. Such kind of plan will really help in the metro sector.

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Swanky engineless train on Delhi-Bhopal route soon

Darshana Shukla

15/09/2018

Indian Railways/Representational Image — Representational Image

New Delhi: Travelling on Delhi-Bhopal route is going to be a wonderful experience. As per recent development, Indian Railway’s Train 18 will be the first engineless train for inter-city travel. This new train comes with an amazing technological interface and enhanced hospitality.
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The train also comes with a separate pantry for each and every coach. Passengers will be served better quality food and enjoy their travel. According to the plan the train will come with a mini pantry attached to each coach. This aims to improve food services akin to those served in high-end trains like Shatabdi.

Railway official while interacting with Financial Express online report shared that they are in process of importing equipment. These can be used to chill drinks and heat food. The design and facilities in mini trains will be like Shatabdi but with this imported equipment it would be easier to serve warm food and drinks to passengers. The idea is to offer the best customer experience to those traveling on this train.

The highlight of Train 18 is that these would be ‘Make in India’ coaches. This concept train will an initiative by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai. The trail of the train is expected to start in October.

As per Indian Railways, Train 18 will be a self-propelled engine-less chair car rake. In long run, the railway wishes to replace them with age-old Shatabdi Express trains.
Train 18 first prototypes will be put on trial by Research Design and Standards Organisation before it is made operational. The train will operate on Delhi-Bhopal route around January 2019 and will run on 160kmph.

Salient features of Train 18
• Made in India train
• Manufactured at half the cost over imported ones
• AC train comprising of non-executive and executive coaches
• Similar to coaches used in metro
• Will have automatic doors
• Disabled-friendly modular bio-vacuum toilet
• Big luggage racks
• Passengers’ infotainment system
• Continuous windows
• Wi-Fi facilities to passengers

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Delhi Metro | DMRC, introducing QR code based on ticketing facility

Priyanka Sahu

15/09/2018

Delhi Metro Airport Express Line/Representational image

New Delhi: On 16^th September the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will be introducing QR code based on ticketing facility for travel on Airport Express Line. With the introduction of this facility, commuter’s using Delhi Metro’s Airport Express Line will be able to use the QR Code generated on their smartphones instead of smart cards or tokens to travel.

This system of QR code based ticketing through smartphones will enable passengers to purchase tickets using ‘Ridlr App’ without physically coming to the Metro station. The process to generate QR Code is as given below: –

Download the Ridlr application from play store (available on both Android & IOS platforms) and register into the App with your valid credentials including mobile no. and email- id.
Proceed to buy a QR ticket by selecting the origin station and destination station.
Select no. of passengers (Maximum 6 at a time). The app will display the fare for the selected journey.
Pay the fare using internet banking/credit/debit card. The user will receive a notification.
The app will display the QR code for the journey. The user can tap the QR enabled AFC entry gates of the Metro stations on Airport Line. The AFC gate will open and the user can commence the journey
At the exit, the user needs to tap the QR Code again at the exit AFC gate. The gates will open and the journey will conclude. All six Metro stations of Airport Express Line have been provided with a set of two AFC gates each for entry and exit through QR enabled system (Refer Pic).

QR based ticketing system

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Additional Information:

A new QR code/ ticket can be purchased only after the last purchased ticket have been exited with or the same (unused or partially used) have expired after the end of the business- day.
Sale of QR code/ tickets via the App will be permitted from 04:00 am till 10 minutes prior to last advertised train timing
The QR shall be valid for use on the business day of purchase only and up to the availability of the last train. This is subjected to the following conditions:

New QR codes can be purchased between 04:00 Hrs – 10 minutes prior to last advertised train timing.

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Mumbai Metro | Two metro projects get Maharashtra cabinet nod

Darshana Shukla

14/09/2018

Mumbai: On September 11, Maharashtra cabinet gave its approval for implementing two Mumbai metro projects. The nod has come for the Andheri – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (CSIM) airport and Dahisar- Mira Bhayander projects. The estimated cost of both the projects is around Rs 6,607 crores.

As per the official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) Metro 7A will be Andheri-CSIM airport route. On the other hand Metro 9 line will Dahisar-Mira Bhayander route. Both the Mumbai Metro routes together will be 13.5 Km.

Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) has been authorized to raise funds for both the routes.

As per the plan, Dahisar-Mira Bhayander route will be 10.41 km long. This stretch will have 11 stations and built on the elevated corridor. The extension of Metro 7 Andheri-CSMI airport (Metro 7 A) will 3.
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17 km long in which 2.11 km will be constructed underground.

Correspondingly, 25 percent of funds will be parked for creating additional infrastructure facilities with the government. Additionally, 52 percent will be allocated for developing educational and medical facilities in the institution concerned.

Cabinet has also given its approval to set up food Technology College. This will come up in Yavatmal and Walwa taluka in Sangli district. It is estimated that the college will be constructed at around Rs 102 crore. The CMO office also informed that this college will create 130 new posts. The college will enroll 40 students per year to start with.

With cabinet approving major development projects in and around Mumbai, the common public will have access to good facilities.

The approval for two Mumbai Metro projects will help in easing traffic situations. It will also aid in bringing down vehicular air pollution. Commuters will have access to better public transport via metro.

Now that the approval has come, work should begin soon without much delay.

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Chennai Metro | CMRL to begin phase II, will not wait for Centre’s nod

Darshana Shukla

14/09/2018

Chennai: Sources with Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) suggests that the metro body will not wait for center’s approval for Phase II work. They are likely to kick-start the project as soon as the first tranche of a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is disbursed.
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CRML is confident about starting construction work for Phase II. The first tranche loan from JICA will meet the requirement. In case of shortage of fund, the state government will pitch in.
As per the procedure, there are two levels of approvals required to begin one. The first level is needed before approaching JICA that permission has already been given by the center. Then there is the second level of approval needed to begin work. The CMRL will not have to wait for this approval once JICA releases the funds. The Metro officials are hopeful that JICA will send in final sanction within a month or two.

Once CMRL receives funds from CMRL, they will start the construction work.
CMRL will proceed with Phase II work as it had to wait for years to get center’s approval to start Phase I extension work. This includes 9 Km of North Chennai alone from Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar. Though the state government gave its approval in 2010, the center’s nod came only in 2016.

CMRL’s Phase II project is to be constructed on an estimated cost of ₹80,000 crore. A major part of it will be funded by JICA and the rest of it will be funded from State and Central government.

Chennai Metro official feels that by the time JICA’s fund will exhaust, they will have state support to carry on. It, therefore, projects that there will not be many hiccups during the construction phase.

The Phase II will run for about 108 km and will have 116 Chennai Metro stations. There are three corridors planned as part of the second phase. These include:

• Madhavaram to Siruseri
• CMBT to Light House
• Madhavaram to Shollinganallur

This is a mammoth project and will connect almost every part of the city. CMRL has already started soil testing in various parts of the city. They will also start planning and designing for all the three corridors.

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Pune Metro | Defense Ministry delays metro rail work in the City

Kanika Verma

13/09/2018

Pune: While the central government is yet to transfer land for Pune Metro, delaying part of the project for months, the state government, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) have been prompt in ensuring that the required land is made available without much hassle. Officials of Maha Metro, the implementing agency for the project, said the crucial support from the three bodies has helped them push the project, but it has run into a hurdle because of the delay by the Defence Ministry.

Initially, Pune Metro officials were looking for 41 hectares of land for implementing the project. Since the project started 20 months ago, the state government and the two municipal corporations have collectively handed over 33 hectares of land. A senior official of MahaMetro said that “The total land required from the state government, the two local civic bodies and private parties stood at 37 hectares. Of which, 33 hectares or 88 percent of the land has been acquired. And the remaining 12 percent will be acquired soon”.

Around 4 hectares of private land is also needed for the Metro project. The official said “The process is underway. We are hopeful about acquiring the land in the near future”. The Pune Metro project also needs approval from the Defence Ministry for around 4 hectares of land in the Khadki Cantonment area. As reported by The Indian Express, the proposal for acquiring 4 hectares or 10 acres of land has been pending with the Defence Ministry for 10 months. Both Union Minister Prakash Javadekar and Pune MP Anil Shirole are pursuing the issue with the Defence Ministry.

The Army on Tuesday said the delay was because the state government had not suggested an alternative land in lieu of the land to be acquired. Metro officials, however, expressed surprise at the Army’s contention. “At a meeting with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had promised that if the Army needed land in Ahmednagar, the government will provide it to them without any delay. Metro official said that the CM’s response came after the Army requested an alternative land in Ahmednagar area”.

Officials of Maha Metro said they have been able to push the Metro work forward because of support from the state government and local civic bodies. Maha Metro Executive Director Ramnath Subramaniam said that“The state government and local civic bodies have offered us excellent support for the Metro project. Had they not transferred the land in time, we would not have been able to take the project forward”. He said

“We are looking for similar support from the Defence Ministry. We hope our proposal will be approved by the Ministry as soon as possible”. Metro officials said if the project was delayed further, it would not be able to meet its 2021 deadline.

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Delhi Metro | Snag on Magenta Line slows, commuters stuck for over 30 minutes

Richa Bhateja

13/09/2018

New Delhi: Commuters in Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line, which connects Janakpuri West with Botanical Garden, were stuck for over 30 minutes on Wednesday evening after a technical snag halted a train at the Shankar Vihar Metro station.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said the train halted due to a signaling issue at Shankar Vihar at 4.35pm. Officials said the train was later pulled out of service and sent for maintenance by 4.55pm.

The problem was reported with one train but it led to bunching and delays on the entire Magenta line

“The problem was reported with one train but it led to bunching and delays on the entire Magenta line,” said a DMRC spokesperson. He said normal services resumed after 4.55pm.

magenta line snag for around 30 Min — magenta line snag for around 30 minutes

Commuters who were traveling on the line at the time said trains from Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden were operating at a snail’s pace. “Completed my trip from Dashrath Puri to Hauz Khas and it took me 30 minutes… I cover the distance in half the time…,” Supriya Sareen, a commuter, tweeted.

angry commuters on 30min delay — angry commuters on 30 minutes delay

Wednesday was the second consecutive day that a technical snag hit the Magenta Line.

This inconvenience made commuters very angry and they have every right to be angry as Majenta Line trains that will run unattended soon as it is the first time in India. However, there would be roving attendants. The metro would keep this mechanism for a year or two and will get passengers to feedback on this for improvement purpose. Eventually, DMRC plans to remove those attendants, to make the train fully driverless. When DMRC has such a plan they can’t be so careless regarding their normal service with drivers.

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Chennai Metro | CMRL to upgrade its App with interesting features

Darshana Shukla

12/09/2018

Metro Train Standing at Chennai Central Metro Station — Representational Image only. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Chennai: The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) plans to upgrade its app and add interesting features. Commuters who feel suffocated inside a coach due to poor air conditioning will soon be able to inform the metro official via the app. The upgraded app will help commuters to register their likes and dislikes while commuting in Chennai Metro.

CMRL is coming up with a feature in the app where riders will be star their experience. The app will help rate amenities offered by the metro and this will give real-time feedback to metro authorities.

The existing app will soon be upgraded by CMRL with new features and interfaces.

As per CMRL officials, the app will have a set of ten questions. These will be around various facilities offered within the metro and at the station. Commuters can rate them between 1 to 5 – as poor, good and best.

There are various services commuters will be able to rate. These include:

The timely arrival of the train
Functioning of AC in train and on the station
Display of arrival and departure of trains
Metro staff members conduct
Cleanliness of metro station
Commuter overall experience

The information added in the app will directly go to the CMRL head office in Koyambedu. If a problem is pointed out by riders then it will be escalated to the department immediately for prompt action.

CMRL current app does allow customers to register a complaint. But the issue is that the information is either incomplete or the issue has not been communicated properly.

In order to come out with a workable solution, CMRL will be setting up a grievance registering system at all stations. The issues can be registered with the station controller and sent to the concerned department. The benefit of this is that Metro officials will have correct information along with the details of the commuters. This will help in resolving the issue at the earliest.

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To bring Solutions for a better world Kshitish Nadgauda, Louis Berger

Priyanka Sahu

12/09/2018

Mr. Kshitish Nadgauda is a Managing Director of Louis Berger. Before Joining to Louis Berger, he was based in Oman and New York and held leadership positions at Parsons, a leading engineering, construction, and technical services provider. He has also served at Tams Consultants Inc. an engineering consulting firm in New York, and at Larsen & Toubro, an Indian multinational conglomerate.

1. At the outset, please accept our heartiest congratulation on being awarded the project of Mumbai Metro Line 4. When is this project likely to start? And what different strategy you are going to adopt?

Thank you very much! Our services on the project commenced in the first quarter of 2018 and are now well underway. Our intent is to deliver high-quality services to our client and to the project closely working with the client and our partners. Our goal is to work towards ensuring the completion of the project on schedule and within the allocated cost. We will also be working towards fostering a strong culture of safety during construction, both of construction workers as well as of the traveling public.

Before starting to know about your professional profile. I would like to know first about vision, mission and working culture of Louis Berger.

At Louis Berger, we believe in a working culture founded on integrity, with open and transparent communication internally and externally. We pride ourselves on our business as well as professional ethics, and always endeavor to exceed client expectations on projects. Our mission is to bring Solutions for a better world, and we achieve our objectives on projects by adhering to our core values: Safety, Quality, Integrity, Financial Success and Customer Satisfaction. We encourage our employees to be passionate about their work and to contribute to society through our work.

What are the challenges you faced while completing the Mumbai Metro Line 1 project? And what is your assessment of reason behind the bottlenecks in some projects?

Mumbai Metro Line 1 faced challenges that most urban projects experience. These included delays as a result of previously unidentified live utilities that were encountered during construction. The process of addressing these utilities was time-consuming and adversely impacted the overall schedule of the project, as well as the cost. In addition, obstructions within the right-of-way in the nature of properties to be acquired also resulted in delays. In addition, the metro line crossed existing railway lines. The approval process by Indian Railways for the resultant bridges required over the railway lines further delayed the project. The problems encountered on the Line 1 project are the typical reasons why most urban projects, including metro rail projects, experience delays.

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