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Chennai Metro | 4 metro officials arrested for safety lapses at site

Narendra Shah
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Chennai Metro | 4 metro officials arrested for safety lapses at site

Chennai: Four people, including safety engineer and site supervisor, were arrested a day after a worker fell to death at a metro rail work site near Alandur on Saturday. The worker was involved in installing signalling panels and electrification at the Little Mount-Airport elevated line when he slipped and fell into a well where reinforcements for concrete were kept.

A police official said, the staff were arrested because they were responsible for safety lapses at the worksite. Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) has ordered an enquiry.

The accident shows that neither CMRL nor its contractors have learnt their lessons from past experiences. The project has seen more than four fatal accidents since the construction began in 2009.

A senior official of metro rail said it was challenging to ensure safety at worksite where labourers from a variety of background work.

“The periodic audits done by safety wing suggests ways to improve protection and avoid accidents. Workers are counselled while supervisors are advised to be stern. This has helped in cutting down on accidents. Our track record is good when compared to other metro rail projects,” he added.

Delhi Budget: Delhi Govt. allocated Rs 763 crore for Delhi Metro

Narendra Shah
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Delhi Budget: Delhi Govt. allocated Rs 763 crore for Delhi Metro

New Delhi: Delhi government, which holds a stake in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), on Monday allocated Rs 763 crore in its budget for the mass rapid transit system, the daily ridership of which is expected to rise to 41 lakh by this year end.

At present, about 27 lakh people commute daily across the national capital using the metro. The ridership which is expected to increase to 41 lakh after the completion of its phase-III will bring more areas into its fold, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said while presenting the annual budget.

One section of the under-construction phase-III network, stretching from Jahangirpuri to Badli, was operationalised in November last year.

Last month, the Union government had announced Rs 5,579 crore for DMRC in the Union Budget, a jump of about 31% over the previous year.

Besides, about 248 new mini-buses will be inducted in the metro feeder bus fleet, taking their count to 517 across 93 routes during 2016-17.

Delhi Metro | ITO-Kashmere Gate line may open soon

Narendra Shah
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Delhi Metro | ITO-Kashmere Gate line may open soon

New Delhi: The Delhi Metro, which is facing a delay in the launch of its two new corridors paralleling the Ring Road, is hoping to get at least the Heritage line off the mark. Delhi Metro spokesman Anuj Dayal said, “We are hoping to open the line from ITO to Kashmere Gate before August 15, provided we get all the clearances. This is an internal deadline though, and we have asked engineers to expedite the work.”

The Heritage line, which is an extension of the Violet corridor from Central Secretariat, goes via heart of the city, including the congested Daryaganj area. It has stations at Janpath, Mandi House, ITO, Delhi Gate, Jama Masjid, Red Fort and Kashmere Gate. The corridor was originally supposed to be completed by December 2015, but got delayed by several months due to a number of reasons, including a change in alignment at Jama Masjid. Work in fact, has been slow on the corridor, with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) facing some major engineering challenges from Delhi Gate to Jama Masjid area.

The station at ITO had been thrown open to the public last year. The new August-15 deadline comes after Delhi Metro chief Mangu Singh recently admitted that work on the rest of the new network — including the upcoming corridors from Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar and Janakpuri (west) to Botanical Garden— was running behind schedule.

According to Singh, only one of the new corridors, line 8 (Janakpuri west to Botaical Garden), is likely to meet the December 2016 deadline. The other corridor has been delayed “seriously”, Singh had said at the time.

The ITO to Kashmere Gate section was supposed to be commissioned by October this year, but sources said that the DMRC was hoping to throw it open much before that. The major clearance required would be from the commissioner of metro rail safety.

A number of problems have been plaguing Delhi Metro on the construction of the extension of the Violet line.

Delhi Metro | Train services to start at 2.30pm on Holi and Feeder bus services will be closed for whole day

Narendra Shah
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New Delhi: On the day of the ‘Holi’ festival, i.

e., 24th March, 2016 (Thursday), Metro services will NOT be available till 1430 Hrs (2:30 PM) on all lines of Delhi Metro including Airport Express Line.

Metro train services will thus start at 1430 Hrs (2:30 PM) on all lines on 24th March and will continue normally thereafter.

In addition, Metro feeder bus services will NOT be available for the whole day on Holi i.e, on 24th March 2016.

Metrino Project | Global bids for Gurgaon pod taxis in April 2016

Narendra Shah
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Metrino Project | Global bids for Gurgaon pod taxis in April 2016

New Delhi: Pod taxis, an idea with which Indian states have flirted for years, will finally debut in Gurgaon.

The National Highways Authority of India has laid the groundwork to roll out India’s first personal rapid transit (PRT) network and will invite global bids for the project within the next fortnight. The pilot project will span a 13km stretch from the Gurgaon-Delhi border to Badshapur Mod on Sohna Road and is estimated to cost Rs 850 crore.

A project called the Metrino (in pic) -a PRT system in which pods are suspended from an overhead rail -has been under consideration for a while. Every pod can take up to five passengers. For the pilot project route, 16 stations have been planned, starting near Ambience Mall. A personal rapid transit (PRT) network is made up of small automated vehicles running at close intervals on a guideway with docking stations for passengers to get on and get off.While a pod can accommodate up to five people, there is also an option to hire an entire pod that will take a passenger straight to the destination, skipping the scheduled stops. The average speed of the pods is 60kmph.

A senior NHAI official said the network would be built within a year of the contract being awarded. “Pod taxi systems are best suited for this. We are keeping our options open, though, so that private players can come up with best system, including skyrail,” the official said. A skyrail is also a PRT system, but is more similar to a ropeway .

The NHAI official said land required for the project is already available with it and Haryana government agencies. The project does not need forest and environmental clearance. As for financing, the entire investment will be made by the private company that sets up the PRT. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will recover its investment in 25 years through tickets.

Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari had announced last year that Metrinos will run between Dhaula Kuan in Delhi and Manesar. The overhead network for Metrinos has been planned along the expressway . Prime Minister Narendra Modi had travelled in a pod in Masdar City during his last visit to the United Arab Emirates.

The Punjab and Haryana governments had, in the past, announced a rollout of pod taxis in Amritsar and Gurgaon, but these never came to fruition.
According to estimates prepared by the NHAI, while building a kilometre of Metro costs at least Rs 250 crore and of monorail Rs 200 crore, the Metrino system can be built with just Rs 70 crore. It’s lighter as well.

“The NHAI will roll out the project soon. We have set a target of a year. Subsequently , we could extend this to Dhaula Kuan and Manesar on each side,” said the NHAI official.

Alstom wins the ‘Excellence in ‘Make-in-India’ award

Narendra Shah
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New Delhi: Alstom won the award for ‘Excellence in ‘Make-in-India’ category at the recently concluded ‘Metro Rail India Summit 2016’ re-affirming Alstom’s strong localisation in India as a result of its customer’s proximity strategy. The summit held on March 11, 2016 in New Delhi is India’s premier forum to address the issues related to the further development of metro rail in India.

Alstom is continuously pushing the edge of technology with fully equipped 100% localised, competitive, innovative and high value products to serve the ever growing urban and mainline transportation Indian market with employee strength of close to 1,700 people. In India, Alstom has two manufacturing facilities, Sri City (for manufacturing of metro trainsets) and Coimbatore (for traction equipment production) and an engineering innovation hub in Bangalore. Striving for excellence for the technology advancement, the facilities are the spearhead of Alstom group’s focus on innovation & quality in both urban and mainline transport market. Alstom has strong presence in India where the company has been awarded important metro projects for cities including Chennai, Delhi and Kochi.

“Alstom has been in India for over 100 years. In line with Government of India’s “Make in India” programme, Alstom has been investing heavily in the country. This award reaffirms and showcases our readiness and commitment to the Indian transport sector” – states Bharat Salhotra, Managing Director, Alstom India.

The Summit saw participation of more than 200 government officials, decision makers, planners, technology experts as well as project leaders to address specific challenges across key aspects like finance, planning, technology, mobility, signaling and control, as well as operations, safety and maintenance in urban transport sector.

Lucknow Metro | LMRC adjudged the best Metro project for ‘Excellence in Innovative Designs’

Narendra Shah
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Lucknow Metro | LMRC adjudged the best Metro project for ‘Excellence in Innovative Designs’

New Delhi: In a significant development, Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) has been adjudged the best Metro project for ‘Excellence in Innovative Designs’ at the recently concluded 5th Annual Metro Rail India Summit, 2016.

Shri Kumar Keshav, Managing Director/LMRC, received the trophy in presence of Shri Daljeet Singh, Director (Works & Infrastructure)/LMRC and other distinguished personalities.

The summit which was organised on 11th March, 2016 at New Delhi was attended by various Metro rail companies such as Jaipur Metro, Mumbai Metro, L&T Metro Rail, RVNL, Lucknow Metro and other companies, consultants and manufacturers associated with Metro rail projects.

Merto Rail India Summit is India’s premier forum to address the issues related to the further development of Metro Rail in India. The event features active participation of government officials, decision makers, planners, technology experts as well as project leaders to address specific challenges across key aspects like finance, planning, technology, mobility, signalling and control as well as operations, safety and maintenance.

Metro Rail News was a proud Media Partner of 5th Annual Metro Rail India Summit, 2016.

Delhi Metro | Exhibition to promote Heritage inaugurated at Green Park Metro Station

Narendra Shah
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Delhi Metro | Exhibition to promote Heritage inaugurated at Green Park Metro Station

New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in association with Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) inaugurated an exhibition today at the Green Park Metro station. The exhibition displays photographs and information of the heritage sites around Green Park Metro station with an objective to promote heritage by taking these subjects to the common man / commuters.

The exhibition is a collection of unique photographs, line drawings and small installations depicting crafts produced in the Huaz-khas and Shahpurjat village. The exhibition brings to life the monuments and the bustling spaces within the Hauz-Khas and Shahpurjat precincts that surround the Green Park Metro station. The exhibition also showcases unique photographs chronicling the richness and splendour of the monuments from the medieval city of Siri, one of the seven cities of the 14th Century Delhi along with the photographs of the royal tank of Hauz-Khas, the madrasa founded by sultan Firoz Shah Tughluk in the 14th century, several exquisite mosques and splendid tombs.

The exhibition was jointly inaugurated by Mr. Sharat Sharma, Director (Operations)/DMRC and Maj. Gen. L.K. Gupta (Retd.), Chairman and Dr. C.T.Misra, INTACH in the presence of other senior officials from DMRC and INTACH. The Green Park Exhibition which is displayed in the concourse area of the station is Curated and Designed by Ms. Bindu Manchanda, Co-Curators, Mr..Anil Browne & Mr.Anshu Ahuja, INTACH.

INTACH, a non-profit NGO, is recognized as one of the world’s largest heritage organizations, with over 180 Chapters across the country. This exhibition is in continuation with the Delhi Metro’s endeavours to utilize its premises for the promotion of Indian heritage, art and culture.

DMRC in recent times have collaborated with many other institutes/organisations to showcase Indian art, culture, heritage (Indian and World)  literature etc. through its stations. This includes tie ups with the Ministry of Textile, Delhi Tourism, India Habitat Centre, Indian Council of Historical Research, the Crafts Museum, National Museum, National Book Trust, Sahitya Akademy as well as independent artists for setting up display panels, art works etc. at the Metro stations across the network.

Chennai Metro | Chennai Metro Rail phase 1 extension likely by 2019

Narendra Shah
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Chennai: Chennai Metro Rail’s phase I extension from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar may get its final approval soon after elections, and it is likely to be completed by 2019.

According to sources at Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), the project has received clearance from the Finance Ministry and has been sent to the Union Cabinet for final approval.

“We have already called for tenders for the underground section of the project sometime ago. Once the final approval comes in, full-fledged work may begin. Once the work commences, we plan to finish it in three years,” an official said.

While CMRL officials have called for tenders for the underground stretch, they are also in the process of acquiring land for the project. After the final clearance comes from the Union Cabinet, they plan to call for tenders for the elevated stretch too.

Chennai Metro Rail’s phase I extension is estimated to cost Rs. 3,700 crore and cover 9 km of North Chennai from Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar. The first portion of the corridor from Washermenpet to Korukkupet will be underground and the alignment continues beyond this junction as an elevated stretch up to Wimco Nagar.

This project has had a long wait for approval. Though the State government gave its approval in 2010 after the soil tests were completed, the Centre’s permission is yet to come. Sometime ago, Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu had announced that his Ministry had given clearance and sent the project to the Finance Ministry for approval. Now, the project waits for the final nod of the Union Cabinet.

The first service of Chennai Metro Rail phase I from Koyambedu to Alandur was thrown open to the public in July last. The next stretch from Little Mount to Chennai Airport is likely to be completed in the next few months.

Pune Metro | Metro rail project sidelined yet again in Maharashtra Budget

Narendra Shah
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Pune Metro | Metro rail project sidelined yet again in Maharashtra Budget

The BJP-led state government has followed the Centre footsteps by earmarking a limited budgetary provision for Pune Metro rail project, sidelining the city again.

“The allocation of Rs 180 crore for Metro rail of Pune and Nagpur has been made for 2016-17,” said state finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar in his Budget speech in the state assembly on Friday. It has been learnt that Rs 45 crore has been allotted by the state government to Pune Metro rail while Rs 135 crore for Nagpur Metro rail. Earlier, the Centre in its Budget for 2016-17 made a provision of Rs 10 crore for Pune Metro rail while allocating Rs 605 crore for Nagpur Metro rail.

“It was expected that the state would make less provision to Pune Metro rail. The Nagpur Metro rail got a good allocation from the Centre and the state made contribution accordingly towards it,” said a PMC officer.

The ruling NCP in PMC had already expressed displeasure over the Centre making less budgetary provision for Pune. Mayor Prashant Jagtap had said that he would protest against the government for the poor allocation for Pune Metro rail.

“The PMC would take up the issue with the state government as all administrative process for Pune Metro rail was completed but the Centre was not giving approval for it,” he said, adding, this is despite the BJP leaders representing eight assembly seats from the city and Lok Sabha seat of Pune.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had submitted the proposal for Pune Metro rail in 2009 estimating the project cost to be Rs 7,984 crore which was revised in 2015 with new estimate to Rs 11,522 crore. The cost is for the two routes from Swargate to Pimpri-Chinchwad and Vanaz to Ramwadi.

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