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Delhi Metro|DMRC to increase frequency of trains during off peak hours from August 31

Narendra Shah
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Delhi Metro|DMRC to increase frequency of trains during off peak hours from August 31

New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided to increase the frequency of trains on weekdays (Monday to Friday) during off peak hours i.e. from 11:00 AM to 04:30 PM by inducting twenty more trains into service from the existing train stock from 31st August 2015 (Monday) onwards. The average frequency during off peak hours will be as follows:

  • Line-1 (Red Line) Dilshad Garden to Rithala: 4 min 06 sec
  • Line-2 (Yellow Line) HUDA City Centre to Jahangirpuri: 2 min 45 sec
  • Line-3/4 (Blue Line) Dwarka Sec-21 to NOIDA City Centre/Vaishali: 2 min 47 sec
  • Line-6 (Violet Line) ITO to Badarpur: 4 min 12 sec

The above is being done in view of increasing ridership and after conducting a detailed operational & maintenance study so as to provide additional services to the commuters.

Further, in view of the increased ridership observed by DMRC in earlier years on the day before and on Rakshabandhan itself, the Delhi Metro will also run about 210 extra train trips on 28th August 2015 and on ‘Raksha Bandhan’, i.e. 29th August 2015. In order to operate 210 additional trips, DMRC will deploy additional staff and officers. Routine maintenance of trains will be deferred.

DMRC will also deploy additional personnel at stations to cater to the extra rush of commuters expected on these two days. DMRC will deploy 106 additional shifts of Guards/Customer Facilitation Agents (CFA) at 57 major Metro stations to help and guide commuters on these two days. In addition, extra personnel will also be deployed to handle the increased load on the ticketing system and the Metro ticketing staff on 93 Metro stations will do 146 additional shifts.

The Delhi Metro normally witnesses greater rush of commuters on the eve of Raksha Bandhan Day. In 2014, over 25.5 Lakh passengers travelled on a day before Rakhi by the Metro whereas, over 21.8 lakh travelled on day of Rakhi inspite of being Sunday, whereas average Sunday’s ridership during Rakhi’s month in 2014 was 18.1 lakh.

Delhi Metro|PM Modi likely to flag off metro service in Faridabad on Sept 6.

Narendra Shah
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Delhi Metro|PM Modi likely to flag off metro service in Faridabad on Sept 6.

New Delhi: The Badarpur – Faridabad extension of the Delhi Metro is expected to be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on September 6, 2015.

“September 6 is the date we have proposed to the PMO for the inauguration of the Faridabad metro. However it is expected to be inaugurated between September 6 and September 10,” informed Union Minister and Faridabad member of Parliament Krishan Pal Gurjar.

The Metro Rail Safety Commissioner finished a three-day inspection of the corridor on August 12.

The total length of corridor is 13.

875 Km and is totally elevated section containing 9 metro stations names Sarai, NHPC Chowk, Mewala Maharajpur, Sector 28, Badkal Mor, Old Faridabad, Neelam Chowk Ajronda, Bata Chowk, Escorts Mujesar.

Delhi Metro|Not providing Bins at Metro Stations due to Security concerns

Narendra Shah
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Delhi Metro|Not providing Bins at Metro Stations due to Security concerns

New Delhi: Security concerns have come in the way of DMRC providing dustbins at “every metro station” which is provided only in inter-change stations like Rajiv Chowk, Kashmere Gate, Mandi House and Inderlok etc, the Delhi High Court was informed on tuesday.

“The respondent (DMRC) is not providing dustbins at every metro station because of security concerns but at interchange stations like Kashmere Gate, Mandi House, Rajiv Chowk, Inderlok etc transparent dustbins are installed by DMRC in first phase. DMRC is considering the feasibility to provide transparent dustbins at other stations also,” the DMRC affidavit said.

The affidavit was filed after the court on May 1 had told DMRC that not having dustbins at metro platforms due to fear of bomb blasts was a “very myopic view of security” as airports and even railway stations have garbage bins.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) also said that it has provided toilet facility for commuters at 138 metro stations but there are 11 metro stations where there are no such facilities due to lack of space.

It also said that it has been providing drinking water facility at all metro stations by way of AVM machine at 135 places and through kiosks at 166 places, through which metro commuters can buy water.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Kush Kalra, a commuter, complaining that Delhi Metro does not provide toilets, drinking water and dustbin facilities at all the stations.

Vizag Metro|Vijayawada Metro project to cost Rs.6,823 crore

Narendra Shah
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Vizag Metro|Vijayawada Metro project to cost Rs.6,823 crore

Vijayawada: The first phase of Vijayawada Metro Rail project is estimated to cost Rs. 6,823 crore and the total length covered by the two corridors will be 26.03 km and the cost per km works out to Rs.209 crore, according to the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

While Corridor 1 between Pandit Nehru Bus Terminal and Penamaluru covers a distance of 12.76 km, Corridor 2 (Pandit Nehru Bus Terminal-Nidamanuru) covers 13.27 km. The Corridor 1 is planned to be linked to the capital city of Amaravathi and Corridor 2 would be connected to Gannavaram airport.

The Detailed Project Report mentioned the cost of the ticket to be Rs. 10 between 0-5 km, Rs.20 between 5-10 km and Rs.30 for 10 km above.

As much as 31.039 hectares of land would be required for the project – 29.444 hectares of private land and 1.595 hectares of government land.

It stated that 11.34 hectares would be required for construction of Metro Rail Depot.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) team predicted that the traffic demand could be 2.91 lakh trips in 2019-2020 and was expected to increase to 9.99 lakh trips by 2051-52.

Chennai Metro|Trial run for second stretch of Chennai Metro Rail to start soon

Narendra Shah
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Chennai: A few months after the first stretch of Chennai Metro Rail from Koyambedu to Alandur was commissioned, the trial run for the next stretch is all set to start soon.

According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), work is in progress to start trial run from Officers’ Training Academy to Little Mount Metro Rail stations by the end of September or early October. “The track work from Alandur station to St. Thomas Mount station and from Little Mount station to Officers’ Training Academy station is complete. The electrification for this stretch will also be done in the coming weeks,” an official said.

The officials have also started track work from Chennai Airport to Meenambakkam Metro Rail stations. The trial run will go on for at least 6-8 months before launching services on this stretch. Simultaneously, construction of stations along the stretches has been in progress.

The State government had announced sometime back that the stretch between Chennai airport and Little Mount would be launched in March 2016.

The first stretch of Chennai Metro Rail between Koyambedu and Alandur (10 km) was thrown open to public in the last week of June.

Lucknow Metro|LMRC plans to include 3 more phases in the Lucknow city

Narendra Shah
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Lucknow Metro|LMRC plans to include 3 more phases in the Lucknow city

Lucknow: The Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation is planning to include East-West (E-W) corridor in phase I of the project, some more phases of metro rail are likely to come up in the city over the next 15 years. Phase I comprises a 35km metro-track from Amausi Airport to Munshipulia under North-South corridor (about 23 km) and from Vasantkunj (on way to Malihabad) to Charbagh railway station (about 12 km) under E-W line.

Metroman E Sreedharan said, considering rapid development and population growth in state capital, it would be imperative to have at least 150km total metro-route in city to fulfill most of the commuting needs in the next 15-20 years.

“We believe Lucknow metro would need more link routes in future to cover most localities. Hence, we need to launch more phases of metro over time to cater to maximum people” Sreedharan said. “At least three phases of metro need to be launched in city to cover the population” LMRC Managing Director Kumar Keshav added.

Earlier too there were talks about constructing some link routes to the two main corridors. A link route was planned up to Shaheed Path along which many housing projects are mushrooming and the area is considered highly pristine. The same route was to cover localities of Gomtinagar and its extension. Another plan was to run metro from Awadh Hospital Chouraha on Kanpur Road up to Sitapur bypass near IIM, Lucknow.

Exclusive Media Interview with DMRC Ex-Chief Dr. E. Sreedharan

Narendra Shah
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Exclusive Media Interview with DMRC Ex-Chief Dr. E. Sreedharan

New Delhi: Metro Man’ E Sreedharan shows no signs of slowing down at 83 and thinks that railway minister Suresh Prabhu could do well to increase his pace of work and take some unpopular measures. While the Indian railways has been working on a high speed train for quite some time now, Sreedharan may just beat them to have the first train to run at 350 kmph in his home state Kerala by 2020.

He tells media that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the 550 km line between Thiruvananthpuram and Kannur will be ready by March 2016. 

What do you think of the railways’ performance under the NDA regime?
There were high expectations from the new government. Railways do not seem to be taking off. The steps that were needed have not been taken.

Can you name some?
Railways cannot survive on borrowings. That is the tendency right now. Borrow from LIC. Borrow from World Bank. They have to return this money. The railways should mobilise resources and generate income. Passenger fares have to be increased and operating expenses reduced. Expenses can be brought down by as much as 35%.

How can it reduce operation costs?
Why should the railways be running an engineering institute like the one in Jamalpur? There are IITs and other institutes doing that job.

Similarly, they should not be running schools either. Most importantly, the work culture in railways must change to improve productivity.

What do you think is preventing railways from doing unpopular things like increasing fares?
The political will to change is required. Nothing big has been done in railways since Madhavrao Scindia’s computerisation of reservations. That was the last big thing in railways, the last big idea.

What do you think of Suresh Prabhu’s efforts at garnering resources and funds?
He has started well but the pace has to increase. Borrowings are okay for the short term but there has to be a proper strategy to pay them back. The system cannot survive on that. Unpopular measures have to be taken. Fares need to be increased. Staff strength needs to be reduced. Railways are over-staffed. These are unpopular measures but it is a question of survival of the system. They cannot depend upon World Bank all the time for money. Passenger service has to be profitable. They cannot subsidise anymore.

Do you think enough safety measures are in place?
Money is definitely needed to make railways safer. But there are reports of various committees, the last one being the Kakodkar committee of which I was a member. We gave concrete suggestions about improving safety measures and also doing away with all railway crossings where accidents happen frequently. It again comes down to work culture. Overbridges have to be made to eliminate railway crossings and permissions and approvals are needed from the railways, and they take months and years to come.

What is the status of the high-speed train project in Kerala?
It is being executed by DMRC and a feasibility report is ready. A DPR is being prepared with the help of Korean and Japanese experts. It will be ready in March 2016. The distance of 550 km, between Thiruvananthpuram and Kannur, will be covered in two-and-half hours.

How do you think the Delhi Metro is doing now?
Expanding the metro network is good but the government has to take steps to stop proliferation of private vehicles. I don’t understand why the government is not taking any initiative. It should improve public transport and allow private operators to run bus services. There should be low floor, narrow, fuel efficient buses running on Indian roads, especially in the NCR. The government should allow private parties to ply buses, give them incentives and make it profitable for them. As incentives, the government can do away with registration tax and road tax which together account for 25% of the cost. Public transport scenario can change in one year in the Capital.

Kochi Metro|KMRL holds 22nd BoD meeting at New Delhi

Narendra Shah
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Kochi Metro|KMRL holds 22nd BoD meeting at New Delhi

New Delhi: The 22nd meeting of the Board of Directors of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. was held in Delhi on 18th August, under the chairmanship of Shri. Madhusoodan Prasad, Secretary, Urban Development and Chairman, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd.. The Board has approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the integrated watertransport system for Kochi and took note of the status of the Project.

KMRL has engaged a consultant for enhancing customer experience in the metro rail system, and in line with this endeavour, it is felt that it would beappropriate to theme at least some stations around certain basic concepts that would strike a chord in the people of the city and enhance Kochi’s valueas an international tourism destination. Based on this, it was decided to theme the entire system based on western Ghats, for also to make awareness of the rich natural blessing we have got and to remind the importance of keeping it protected. The Board took note of ‘thematic design concept of stations’ for Kochi Metro. The themes decided for Kochi Metro stations are Western Ghat (Overall theme and special focus on Aluva), Maritime history of Kochi ( CUSAT), Spice route (Edappilly), Art, culture and literature of Kerala ( Changampuzha Park), Sports heritage of Kerala ( JLN Stadium) and Special focus on history of Ernakulam/ Kochi (M G Road).

The Board approved the Annual Accounts for the year ending 31st March 2015.The total expenditure up to 31st July of the current financial year is Rs. 352.95 crore. The major expenses incurred in the financial year 2015-16 are DMRC project payment of Rs.310.00 crore and DMRC remuneration of Rs.15.32 crore. The board took on record the resignation of Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, Director, Systems, KMRL and constituted the committee for the selection of Director,Systems in KMRL. The board also reviewed the project progress and the schedule of progress for the next few months.

Delhi Metro|DMRC to conduct Customer Satisfaction Survey at metro stations

Narendra Shah
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Delhi Metro|DMRC to conduct Customer Satisfaction Survey at metro stations

New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will be conducting the “Customer Satisfaction Survey” from 24th August, 2015 (Excluding Sat/Sun i.e, 29/30 Aug) till 01st September, 2015. The third edition of the survey, which was also conducted in the year 2013 and 2014, will cover over one lakh passengers spread over 50 Metro stations and inside the trains.

During the Survey week, feedback will be received from the commuters on all the important aspects of Metro functioning such as availability, accessibility, information availability, quality of service, customer care, outside metro area and, safety & security of commuters etc.

Apart from collecting feedback about the above mentioned aspects, awareness drives will be conducted on issues such as not littering in the Metro, sitting on the floor, obstructing the train doors, use of lifts/ escalators, drive to check misuse of women’s coach, drive against return journey etc.

The ‘Customer Satisfaction Survey’ conducted last year had covered 22 stations, while the exercise this year will cover 50 stations as well as the passengers inside the trains during the non-peak hours. The 50 stations have been selected on the basis of the ridership as well as inclusion of all the operational lines of DMRC (Excluding Airport Express Line).

Pamphlets and banners sensitizing the people about the exercise will be put up and dedicated staff will be deployed to conduct the survey. On the basis of the survey conducted last year, the following measures have been taken by DMRC in the past one year for the benefit of commuters:-

  • Renovation of 50 Metro stations.
  • Renovation of 30 toilets at various stations.
  • Halt and go facility created outside at 44 stations.
  • Introduction of 63 numbers of additional coaches in peak hours.
  • Introducing various new methods for recharging Smart Card (Point of Sale, WEB/online, Add Value Machine, Ticket Vending Machine, Auto Top up)
  • Installation of 55 new AFC gates at various stations.

Nagpur Metro|NMRC to begin metro rail construction on Wardha Road by December.

Narendra Shah
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Nagpur Metro|NMRC to begin metro rail construction on Wardha Road by December.

Nagpur: If things continue at the existing pace, work on elevated section of metro rail on Wardha Road will begin in December this year. At present construction of boundary wall is going on along the ground section in Mihan.

Addressing a ‘Meet the Press’ organized by Nagpur Union of Working Journalists (NUWJ) on Saturday, Brijesh Dixit, managing director of Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL), said the tender for Airport to Munje Square (Sitabuldi) section of the metro had been floated and the pre-bid conference had been held.

The construction work will not be a pleasant experience for Nagpurians as NMRCL will block the middle portion. “We will barricade a nine-metre portion in the centre. Two out of six lanes will be blocked. This will cause inconvenience to motorists but it can’t be avoided. We will take help of traffic police for traffic management. If required we will deploy our people. We will use close circuit television cameras (CCTVs) for maximizing safety,” he said.

NMRCL has got Rs60 crore funds so far out of the allocation of Rs500 crore.

Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is yet to pay a single penny to NMRCL. On the other hand Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) has paid Rs15 crore.

Municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar however, said NMC would pay its share this year in form of land. “Six metro stations will solely come up on our land. The inspection of these lands is going on. We have held three meetings with NMRCL in this regard,” the commissioner said. NMC’s 5% share in the Rs8,680 crore project comes to Rs434 crore. Of this Rs350 crore is in the form of land and only Rs84 crore has to be actually paid. NIT will give land worth Rs300 crore to NMRCL.

Another source of funding for NMRCL is the premium for using extra floor to space index (FSI). Dixit said the notification for increasing FSI to 4 along the metro rail corridor will be issued soon. NMRCL requires 84 hectares land, of which 40 hectares is in its possession. The district collector has passed an order for another 30 hectares.

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