Mumbai Metro III | Bombay High Court allows night-time construction

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25/08/2018

Lowering of TBM Cutter Head at Vidya Nagari site of Mumbai Metro 3

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has said the construction work of Mumbai Metro III can be done at night. Mumbai Metro III project’s construction that was stayed by the court for almost a year is finally set to resume. The year-long stay had cost the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) an estimate of Rs 6,100 crore.

After hearing the petition, Chief Justice Naresh Patil said, “We allow the MMRCL to carry out work even during the night hours, i.e. from 10 pm to 6 am.”

After hearing the petition, Chief Justice Naresh Patil said, “We allow the MMRCL to carry out work even during the night hours, i.e. from 10 pm to 6 am.”

The stay on metro construction at South Mumbai during the night was implemented because residents had complained of high noise pollution. Metro authorities can work easy now as the stay has been lifted and they are now allowed to work at midnight. The authorities will have to implement the National Environmental Engineering Institute (NEERI) recommendations to curtail noise levels. The state will also have to initiate a facility that the residents can approach to complain about grievances regarding noise levels.

noise pollution at construction site of mumbai metro 3 — noise pollution at the construction site of Mumbai Metro III

While preparing its report NEERI founds out that the MMRCL had not taken some measures to keep the noise levels under control. Some of the measures that were flouted by the authorities included putting noise barriers around sites, using sound mufflers, erecting acoustic enclosures around noise-making equipment and machines.

Mumbai Metro Line 3 map — Mumbai Metro III map

Once completed, the 33-km underground Colaba-Bandra SEEPZ Mumbai Metro III project will connect Cuffe Parade in South Mumbai to the SEEPZ economic zone and the international airport in Andheri. The metro line is likely to benefit many commuters once the project is completed.

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Surat Metro | Metro rail work in Diamond city to be launched in 2019

By

Darshana Shukla

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25/08/2018

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surat metro trains — (Representative Image)

Surat: The diamond city of Gujarat will soon add another diamond to its crown. As per recent development, metro rail project in Surat is likely to be launched in 2019. There is news that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Surat Metro Rail will be approved by the state government. In couple of days the nod is likely to be given and this will set the ball rolling for the ambitious metro project in the city.

Surat will then become the second city in Gujarat to launch metro rail network after Ahmedabad. The estimated project value of metro project is around Rs 21,600 crores. The project will be launched in the first quarter of 2019 and work for the same might be wrapped up in four years. As per the tentative plan four elevated stations will be constructed under public-private partnership (PPP) model.

M Thennarasan, municipal commissioner of Surat while interacting with media said that amendments were made to include private player in the project.

He informed that the DPR is with Government of Gujarat’s finance department. Post approval, a decision will be taken whether the project should be undertaken by MEGA (Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad) or a new company to be formed to implement the Surat Metro project, added M Thennarasan.

As per the revised DPR there will be a total of 38 stations constructed on 40km long two metro corridors. There will be four elevated ones and built at a cost of Rs111.88 crore on PPP system.

The elevated Surat Metro stations will come up at Rupali canal and Althan tenement on metro corridor number 1. On metro corridor 2, aquarium and Athwa Chowpaty stations will be constructed. Corridor one will start from Sarthana up to Dream City. While corridor number 2 will begin from Saroli up and extend up to Bhesan.

Surat Municipal Corporation also plans give close by commercial plots to developers.

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Hyderabad Metro | CEIG inspect the Hyderabad Metro Station

By

Priyanka Sahu

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25/08/2018

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HYDERABAD: The inspection of 33 kV and 415V indoor substations in four Hyderabad Metro Rail stations from Madhura Nagar, Yousufguda, and Jubilee Hills Road: No 5 and Jubilee Check Post, has been done by Chief Electrical Inspector, Government of India (CEIG) for Hyderabad Metro Rail project, DVS Raju.

These stations which are part of Corridor-III (Ameerpet to Hitech City stretch) of the Hyderabad Metro Rail Project. The main motive of this inspection is a process of the sanction for Energisation of stations which will facilitate the testing and commissioning activities of Railway Systems viz. Signaling, Telecommunications and Automatic Fare Collection etc. in this section.

All the Metro Rail Stations receive power at 33 kV voltage from 132/33/25 kV Receiving Substation (RSS) located at Yousufguda and Uppal.

After the inspection,” the commissioning of these Auxiliary Substations in Metro stations will further boost the progress and hasten up the completion of Metro Rail section between Ameerpet and Jubilee Check Post of Corridor-III,” DVS Raju said.

Managing Director, K V B Reddy said that this is an important development for Corridor-III. The commissioning of these Four Stations (Madhura Nagar to Jubilee Check Post) auxiliary power supply is made available from Ameerpet to Jubilee Check Post.” L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited

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Monorail | MMRDA and LTSE trip rate tussle soon going to resolve

By

Priyanka Sahu

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25/08/2018

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Mumbai: Good news for all the employees of Larsen & Toubro-Scomi Engineering (LTSE). Since long-lasting deadlock between the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and its monorail contractor {a consortium of Larsen & Toubro-Scomi Engineering (LTSE)} for trip rates is likely to be resolved soon as per official information.

In last week MMRDA’s one-member committee submitted its report.

Mr. Rajeev Metropolitan Commissioner said that the report has been submitted and now we hope that LTSE will accept its recommendations. It has suggested increasing the trip rate. We will disclose the figure only after they agree to it.

This committee report which has been prepared by former Central Railway General Manager Subodh Jain. In his committee report, he recommended that rising of trip rates from Rs 4,600 per trip. This was the rate in place until services were disrupted in November due to a fire. However, it has also rejected the contractor’s demand for Rs 18,000 per trip on the Chembur-Wadala line.

He further added that the earlier trip rate was a part of their three-year contract with MMRDA. Now that the contract is over they can demand a higher trip rate but it still has to be reasonable and they cannot make undue profits from public money. They need to get something but they should make profits with their efficiency.

He also added that we have suggested trip rates and if the LTSE accepts the recommendation we will disclose the rates. We have suggested an economic and sustainable trip rate. After going through all the parameters it will cost approximately Rs. 2.50 per passenger per kilometer.

Further, the report has also given some other recommendation:

No hiking of fares till the monorail runs at full capacity.
The staff at all stations will be limited to only 50 people, including security.

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Ahmedabad Metro | MEGA Authority scrap all rumors about closing relief road

By

Priyanka Sahu

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24/08/2018

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Ahmedabad: On Wednesday the Metro Rail Authority scrapped all rumors about closing relief road for two years to facilitate Metro work. The Chief Minister Vijay Rupani stated this during an event of Metro rail tunnel work inspection.

From few past days, this fake message has been viral on social media that due to the ongoing Metro work, relief road will be closed for traffic movement for two years.

IP Gautam, MD of Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) said that the Metro work is not going to affect any vehicular movement on any road in the walled part of the city. Around 6.5 km of Metro in this portion will run underground. We are working 20 meters below the surface. Therefore, the message is baseless.

A big leap for transportation

After the visit of a part of the tunnel near Kalupur, “The city has taken a big leap forward vis-a-vis transportation.”

Mr. Rupani said that there will be an amalgamation of three modes of railway connectivity at Kalupur. The metro rail is a big leap for transportation which will give last mile connectivity to people.

While visiting Kalupur Metro Station outside platform no 12 of Ahmedabad Railway Station. He further added that we have instructed the authorities to complete the project within the given time frame and to start operations on a priority basis on the stretch between Apparel Park and Vastral by January 2019.

He has also assured that vehicular movement will remain smooth. And said that we have instructed the Metro authority to take all necessary measures to cause the least inconvenience to the citizens during the construction as well as operational stages.

The Phase I of Metro rail project is 39.25 km out of which 6.5 km is underground and the rest is elevated. This project will connect four corners of the city with 2 corridors and 32 stations.

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From next month the Indian Railways will start trials for semi-high speeds trains

By

Kanika Verma

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24/08/2018

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Talgo High Speed Rail — Talgo High Speed Trains

New Delhi: The Indian Railways will start trials for indigenously-built and much-awaited semi-high speed ‘Train 18’ from next month, a senior official of the ministry said, three months after its scheduled unveiling.

Once, successfully tested, it shall be inducted in the railways fleet.

The Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), which is a technical adviser to the Indian Railways, will conduct testing and give its validation to the train.

Rather than being pulled by a locomotive, ‘Train 18’ sets are powered by traction motors fitted underneath each coach to render them self-propelled, just like metro trains. The made-in-India fleet was earlier scheduled for roll-out in June.

The Train 18, which is built by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, would promote Make in India, and is capable of running at a speed of 160 km per hour, the official said.

The Train 18, which is built by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, would promote Make in India, and is capable of running at a speed of 160 km per hour, the official said.

Train 18 series will replace existing fleet of the Shatabdi Express trains. The ICF will make six such train sets, out of which two will have sleeper coaches, the official said

Laced with state-of-the-art features, all of its coaches will be inter-connected by fully sealed gangways, automatic doors with retractable footsteps, onboard Wi-Fi and infotainment, GPS-based passenger information system, modular toilets with bio-vacuum systems, rotational seats which can be aligned in the direction of travel (available only in the executive class), roller blinds and diffused LED lighting and accessible toilet for people with disability.

Upon successful implementation of Train 18, the IFC will start working on ‘Train 20’ which will have an all aluminum body. Aluminum will make the train more aesthetic, lightweight, energy efficient, and durable.

On 7 March 2018 proposal for the Delhi to Jaipur semi-high speed train just in 90 minutes has been disclosed.

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Mumbai Metro| Metro 2B line to be used as poll issue by residents

By

Darshana Shukla

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24/08/2018

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Mumbai: Mumbai residents have decided to on the poll issue they will target the government ahead of 2019 elections. Over 10 lakh residents, a sizable vote bank have come together and have made it clear that they will use Metro 2B line as a poll issue.

A meeting was organized on Sunday in which residents from Juhu, Bandra, Santacruz, and Khar assembled at Jamnabai Narsee School in JVPD. They met to work out a plan involving auto rickshaw and taxi unions as well as Advanced Locality Management (ALMs) and residents’ groups in their movement.

The bone of contention is the long-standing demand for an underground Metro 2B line. This will start from DN Nagar in Andheri to Mandela in Mankhurd via Bandra.

Residents have made it clear that they will take it up as a key issue during the upcoming 2019 elections. The residents have threatened that they are pledging to exercise NOTA (none of the above) option if their demand is not accepted by the government.

The residents of the western suburbs from Bandra, Khar, Santacruz, and Juhu gathered at the Jamnabai Narsee School in JVPD on Sunday to chalk out a strategy to involve taxi, autorickshaw unions, all the Advanced Locality Management (ALMs) and residents’ groups in their movement.

Even well-known names like Former Rajya Sabha MP Javed Akhtar, eminent urban planners PK Das and Nitin Killawala and architect along with Sena MP Gajanan Kirtikar were there in the resident meeting.

Kirtikar has assured that he would take the responsibility of taking the citizens’ delegation to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The detailed project report was presented by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) by Killawala. It was subsequently approved in August 2014 in which decision relating to underground was taken for Metro 2B line.

The following three alignment options were studied:

Dahisar to Juhu section partially elevated or underground with a depot at Charkop, Eksar or Oshiwara
Elevated up till Juhu with ramping within Juhu aerodrome
The third option was a separate corridor with Dahisar to DN Nagar elevated and DN Nagar to Mankhurd underground.

As reported in Mumbai Mirror, to keep away from land acquisition for ramping down and other construction-related and social issues, the section was proposed as completely underground with a depot at Oshiwara.

Killawala shared that MMRDA had fully prepared DPR by RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) and approved for underground metro on August 2014. He said that they would like that report to be put into practice. The planner gave misleading information on the cost and time factor which is now being challenged in court added Killawala.

Hansel D’Souza, member of Juhu Citizens Welfare Group in an interview with Mumbai Mirror said, “If a party changes, does it mean the logic and engineering has changed? Residents had even spent Rs 12 lakh in 2012 and submitted an IIT report which proposed underground metro. MMRDA too approved it in August 2014. How can the present government reverse this plan?’’ asked D’Souza.

The trio – Ashoke Pandit, Gautam Rao and Anandini Thakoor spearheading this movement informed that the Western suburb pays Rs 3,500 crore in property taxes. They also said that population is heading northwards by five percent and traffic density by 15 percent as compared to South Mumbai, but they are getting an underground Metro.

The trio shared that the authorities have increased stamp duty by 1 percent on property sales here which will be invested in building the Metro. “This is just an elitist discrimination. We have submitted in court how the elevated Metro has failed in the Middle East,’’ said Rao to Mumbai Mirror.

If the proposed elevated metro 2B comes there are several institutions that will get affected. These include:

Mithibai College
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
Sacred Heart Boys School
Sacred Heart Church burial ground
Bohri cemetery
St Theresa School in Santacruz and
MM Pupil’s Own School belonging to Khar Education Society,
Khar police station
BMC health center

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Integrated Ticketing System within Mumbai in next six months

By

Richa Bhateja

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24/08/2018

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Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) idea for Mumbai

Mumbai: The Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) for all modes of public transport in Mumbai and its satellite towns is likely to become reality in the next six months as chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and railway minister Piyush Goyal, on Thursday, overcame the final hurdle, which was the mode of payment. They also decided to fast-track major suburban railway projects stuck because of land acquisition and rehabilitation issues.

At a cost of Rs 130 crore, the Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) is the first of its kind project in the country, which allows all the commuters to use a single ticket for multiple modes of public transport such as rail, taxis BEST buses, and Metro.

Although the state had planned to launch the system by the end of this year, the authorities disputed on payment mode. While the state has finalized a payment mode called account based system (ABS) in which a user’s account balance is maintained on a server, the Railways wanted ABS and a store value card-based system (SVC). Under SVC, the balance is stored in cards. ABS is a more advanced system, which allows commuters to travel without the card, and they can simply use their phones to pass through ticketing gates.

“Issues to implement ITS in Mumbai have been resolved in the meeting held today,” Fadnavis tweeted later.

Issues to implement Integrated Ticketing System in Mumbai also was resolved in this meeting held in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/zEWB83EEcU
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) August 23, 2018

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and railway minister Piyush Goyal discussing about Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) is the first of its kind project in the country — Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and railway minister Piyush Goyal discussing Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) is the first of its kind project in the country

“Railway was insisting upon SVC which is being adopted in cities such as Delhi and Kochi. But they have agreed upon ABS,” said a senior official from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the implementing authority.

“The state has promised that the store value can be maintained on the cards issued under ABS system,” said an officer from Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MVRC). The railways were insisting for SVC system following the guidelines issued by the union government for National Mobility Card, he added.

The system will benefit more than one crore commuters.

Meanwhile, the state government has given an in-principle approval to build more floors in the influence zone under MUTP-3A, which costs Rs55,000 crore. It has set a floor space index of 5 for construction. “The financial structure of the demand will be examined first,” said UPS Madan, additional chief secretary, state finance department.

Fadnavis and Goyal also discussed land acquisition issued for the 6th line between Mumbai Central and Borivli, Belapur-Seawood-Uran new line project, Panvel-Kalamboli coaching terminus and doubling of the Roha-Veer line.

Railway officials vowed to complete the 12.5-km Seawood-Kharkopar line will be ready in the next two months. The line is the first phase of much delayed 26-km Belapur-Seawood project.

After his meeting with the CM, Goyal reviewed three zonal railways — central, western and Konkan. Goyal directed officials to improve punctuality of trains without affecting the routine maintenance works.

In another meeting between civic officials and Goyal, it was decided that the Railways and BMC will build Delisle or Lower Parel bridge, which has been shut for vehicles since July 24 owing to safety reasons.

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Hyderabad Metro | RTC eyes seamless integration with Metro rail

By

Darshana Shukla

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24/08/2018

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Hyderabad: Public transport in Hyderabad will become all the more efficient with Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) planning to integrate its service with metro rail.

This decision came soon after Telangana’s Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao promising to roll out two more phases of Hyderabad Metro Rail in coming three months.

TSRTC is now looking to firm up plans to offer enhanced connectivity to commuters.

Suni Sharma, Roads and buildings principal secretary shared that RTC will soon integrate its services with the metro rail network. This will ensure a smooth and hassle-free commute for those taking public transport.

Sharma made this announcement during an expert committee meeting at Bus Bhavan early this week. The meeting was chaired by Transport minister P Mahender Reddy who shared reforms will be rolled out in RTC.

Present in the meeting were Somarapu Satyanarayana (Chairman of RTC) along with TSRTC executive director Purushottam Naik and Telangana Mazdoor Union general secretary E Ashwathama Reddy

Reddy also informed that an expert committee would be formed for deliberation once in a week. They will also study subsidies presented by RTC in other states. The committee based on study and research offer list of suggestions for proficient utilization of resources to usher in efficiency.

After the directives from the chief minister, a high-level committee will be constituted to conduct in detail study of RTC.

The committee formed with prepare following plan to implement the following changes:

Measures for efficient functioning,
Ways for holistic transformation
Improving internal efficiency
Bringing down expenditure
Maximum utilization of resources
Comprehensive design study
Integrating the latest technology

The comprehensive report will be submitted to Sharma with detailed plans and suggestion.

Reddy also added that a report on the expert committee meetings would be handed over to the RTC joint action committee.

Once both public transport buses and metro rail services will be integrated, commuting will become a cakewalk in the city.

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Chennai Metro | CMRL offers free dental check-up at metro on Saturday

By

Darshana Shukla

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23/08/2018

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Chennai: With the view to keep commuters hooked to metro transport, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has kept a free dental check-up camp. Those travelling via Chennai Metro train can avail this free check-up on Saturday.

CMRL in partnership with Dr Smilez Dental Centre will be conducting oral health awareness camps on August 25. These camps will be held at 10 selected metro stations in the city.

The stations earmarked for free dental check-up camps are – Alandur, AG-DMS, Saidapet, Thirumangalam, Ashok Nagar, Vadapalani, Ekkattuthangal, Nehru Park, Shenoy Nagar and Central Park.

The camp is open for metro commuters as well as general public. A team of dentists will be present at the camp.

Following checks will be done during the camp:

Bleeding of gums
Oral soft tissues
Tooth decay
Bad breathe
Smile evaluation
Brushing techniques
Diet counselling

There will other check-ups too and people will be able to ask questions to doctors. There will be live demonstrations too during the free camps.

Besides this, CMRL had conducted an Oral Hygiene screening and awareness camp at CMRL Admin Building and at Metro Trains. This was done on the occasion of Oral Hygiene Day on Aug 1. The camp was conducted in association with Meenakshi Ammal Dental College.

Oral Hygiene Day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of the doyen of Indian society of Periodontics and the founder of the Indian society of Periodontology, Dr. GB Shankwalkar.

In the one day camp, over 250 employees and staff and contract workers were benefitted. A team of 25 doctors headed by Dr. Jaideep Mahendra, Director of PG Studies, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College, Maduravoyal, Chennai conducted the screening and awareness camp.

A team of doctors also travelled on the Metro Trains to educate passengers about the importance of Oral hygiene. Free samples were distributed for all staffs attending the screening camp and for commuters on the train.

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