Mumbai Metro: Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro Corridor to have lower fares than current one

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19/02/2015

Mumbai: Controversy rages over the fares charged on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro line. The state government wants Reliance Infrastructure to reduce its fares, which it is currently not doing. But such a conflict will not arise at all on the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ metro corridor once it is ready.

The fare will be much lower than that being charged on the first metro line.

The fare structure made public by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) is as follows: in 2019 the fare for the first three kilometres will be Rs.11, while the fare to travel along the whole route will be Rs.33.

“MMRC will fix the fare first, and thereafter the fare fixation committee will approve the subsequent revisions,” said Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director of MMRC.

The only hiccup is that there is a possibility of a fare revision even before the line is made operational for public. According to the current plans, the entire route should be ready in 2020 with trials and safety certifications. However, the possibility of project delay is not ruled out.
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If the completion schedule overshoots the deadline, this metro line might be finished in either 2021 or 2022, which means a fare revision is likely.

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Kolkata Metro: Lack of co-ordination between various Govt agencies puts metro rail projects in limbo

By

Narendra Shah

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19/02/2015

0

Kolkata: Even as another railway budget approaches, there seems to be no end to the hurdles faced by the ongoing Metro projects in Kolkata that are directly under the Union railway ministry.

An inspection by Metro Railway has revealed that even after four years, none of the city’s various Metro projects have even reached the midway stage, mainly because of lack of co-ordination between various government agencies. Politics has also played a role. These Metro links were all announced by Mamata Banerjee when she was the railway minister. After she took over as the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata put her foot down and refused to help the railways in removing encroachment from the Metro routes through which these networks will pass. In many cases, the encroached land belongs to the railways. Civic bodies such as the Kolkata Municipal Corporation have also refused to help by relocating underground utilities.
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“The projects should have been completed by now. Funds aren’t a problem but lack of will is. We can’t even ask for more funds as we aren’t sure whether we will be able to spend them. One of the most important Metro projects is the one between Joka and BBD Bag. This 18.72-km stretch was sanctioned in 2010-11. The foundation stone was laid by the President and it was accorded the status of a national project. In 2012-13, the Joka-Diamond Park stretch was added. The estimated cost of these projects is Rs 2,913.51 crore and the implementing agency is Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL). The main problem for the Joka-BBD Bag link has been non-acquisition of land. RVNL has still not got land for the car shed and is facing hurdles with other government departments over whose property the tracks are to pass.

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Kerala Monorail: Kerala Monorail Corporation board discusses financing of Light Metro

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Narendra Shah

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19/02/2015

0

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Monorail Corporation Limited (KMCL) has sought the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) remarks on the State Planning Board’s observations on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode mooted for the Rs.6,728-crore Light Metro for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.

The board of directors meet to discuss the financial mode to be chosen for the proposed Light Metro Rail project for ThiruvananthapLuram and Kozhikode saw both Planning Board and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) coming up with different options. The Planning Board suggestion is to go for the PPP model to carry out the project, pointing to the financial constraints of the state government.

Official sources told that Mr. Sreedharan pointed out the failures of the three metro projects taken up in the PPP mode in the country, problems in handing over government land, and issues such as the concessionaire getting a free hand on deciding fares. Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, K.M. Abraham informed the board that the department had not gone into the detailed project report prepared by the DMRC. It was informed that the Cabinet would take a call on the Light Metro after getting a report from the Finance Department and remarks from the DMRC. The board did not take up the consultancy agreement for the Light Metro though it was listed on the agenda. A three-member committee of IAS officials set up to finalise the agreement with the DMRC was yet to submit its report .

DMRC is for the option where both the state and central governments put in a 20 per cent investment each in the project and the rest 60 per cent to be borrowed as loan. “With the DMRC option, a 20-year repayment period would be effective which has to be met from the profit of running light metro rail. One reason DMRC put forward the suggestion was that the PPP model will be more time-consuming to realise the project. While taking the loan, interest rate might be bit higher as well,” said Sheikh Pareeth, managing director of Kerala Monorail Corporation Limited.

The board also decided to give Rs.9 crore as consultancy fee due to the DMRC for the DPR of the scrapped monorail. The DMRC decided not to press for the Rs.27 crore due to it as fees as the monorail was scrapped due to prohibitive cost.

It was also decided to give Rs.35 lakh to the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre as fees for the initial feasibility study carried for the monorail project in the two cities.

Speaking at the Cabinet briefing, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said both the Planning Board and DMRC principal adviser E Sreedharan have presented their proposals regarding the project. “Now the Finance Department will go through the suggestions. The final call will be taken by the Cabinet,” he said.

Vice-chairman, KMCL, and Public Works Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju; Ministers V.S. Sivakumar, M.K. Muneer, and Manjalamkuzhi Ali; Chief Executive Officer of the Kerala Road Fund Board P.C. Harikesh; and all board members attended the meeting.

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Nagpur Metro: Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Ltd has finally got registered with the RoC

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Narendra Shah

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19/02/2015

0

Nagpur: The Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL) has finally got registered with the Registrar of Companies (RoC), Mumbai. The registration was held up for a week due to software problems in ministry of corporate affairs website.

The board of company will meet in the first week of March after which it will appoint a consultant to design the Airport-Mihan stretch of metro railway. It will also prepare a global tender for appointing the second consultant who will design the rest of the project and advise NMRCL in raising money from the market.

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Delhi Metro: Delhi Govt. may not favour hike in DMRC train fares

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Narendra Shah

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19/02/2015

0

New Delhi: With AAP coming to power in Delhi, speculation is rife that the new government may not be in favour of a hike in Metro fares. DMRC has been asking for an upward revision in fares citing increasing costs. The Metro fares have not been revised since 2009.

Earlier this month, the urban development ministry sent a proposal to the appointments committee of the cabinet to set up a fare fixation panel, which will submit its report within three months of getting approved. The panel consists of three members, including the urban development secretary from the Centre, the finance secretary from the Delhi government and a retired judge.

Said a senior government official, “Fare fixation has been pending for a long time now. However, since elections were due in Delhi, no movement had happened on the issue. With the new government in place, a decision should be taken soon.”

Insiders, however, are apprehensive that the AAP government may not be keen on revising Metro fares immediately. “Amid the talk of subsidies, speculation is rife that the government may not be in favour of an increase in Delhi Metro fares, which is seen as the commute of the common man,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity.

The fare fixation panel decides on the formula for fare revision.
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The last revision of fares took place five years ago. Delhi Metro can revise its fares only on the recommendation of a three-member committee constituted by the Centre from time to time. Added the source, “Once the government approves, the committee will be notified with their terms of reference for fare fixation.”

According to officials at the Centre, Justice (retired) A K Srivastava has been chosen as the chairman of the committee. “Fare hike is long overdue. Now when the committee will be formed and when it will give its recommendations is not in my hand,” DMRC CMD Mangu Singh had said earlier.

According to Delhi Metro officials, almost 40 percent of Delhi Metro’s overall expenses go towards paying electricity bills with the power consumption rising to around 63 crore units amounting to almost Rs 450 crore in 2014-15.

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Hyderabad Metro: Court cases stall Metro Rail work in Hyderabad

By

Narendra Shah

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19/02/2015

0

Hyderabad: In spite of the new Land Acquisition Act that came into force on January 1, 2014, which stipulates 100 per cent solacium to be paid in addition to the land value and without any income tax deduction, 40 cases have been referred to the court by the land acquisition cell.

In most cases dispute arises on the share in compensation among family members and between owners and tenants. All cases that are referred to courts pertain to a title deed. Two parties claim ownership of the land and in the case of tenants claiming a major share of the pie in compensation, the case always takes time as they have to prove the Tenancy Act.

K Shankara Chary, Special Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition), said, “Two groups are claiming right of the property at St Thomas’ (SPG) Tamil Cathedral in Secunderabad. The case is referred to the court.” Hyderabad Metro Rail has already acquired 2007 square yards. A senior official of the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) said that the longer the court cases take, the greater the delay. In the case of SPG Church, however, HMR is going ahead with the work.

“Two associations are claiming the right to property and it is only to share the compensation package,” said Solomon, a resident of Rezimental Bazaar. In a similar case, 14 persons filed petitions claiming their share in the Rs 5.49 crore allotted as compensation for 915 square yards of land that was acquired at Maqbara Nawab Fakhr-ul-mulk at SR Nagar.

“Several mulgies were built next to the maqbara so that the rent could be used to maintain the over 100-year-old structure. But the tenants now have gone to court and want a major share in the compensation,” said Mir Sarfaraz Hussain, who claims to be the great grandson of Nawab Fakhr-ul-mulk.

“In corridor I, out of the 80 properties acquired, 29 have been referred to the city civil court. But not all acquired properties are referred,” said Shankara Chary. To substantiate his case he said, “In corridor III, the 39 properties that were acquired were not referred to the court.” A senior official at the land acquisition cell said, “Many a time we counsel the parties to come to an understanding or the case would be referred to the court and it may take a long time.”

Only a few agree. Even in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) in Secunderabad, the management agreed to land acquisition only when HMR officials convinced the representatives of Iskcon that the assets of the temple would not be affected. Initially, HMR wanted 1,333 square yards but later agreed to 612.77 square yards.

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Chennai Metro: Tamil Nadu seeks Centre’s nod to extend Chennai Metro line till Thiruvottiyur

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Narendra Shah

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18/02/2015

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Chennai: Amid the growing demand for extending the metro rail network to north Chennai, the state government on Tuesday sought clearance from the Centre to extend the line from Washermenpet to Thiruvottiyur.

“I am happy to note that substantial progress has been achieved in the implementation of Chennai Metro Rail project and a part of the elevated section from Koyambedu to Alandur is to be commissioned soon,” governor K Rosaiah said in his address to the assembly.

Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) had completed trials and requested the state government for a date for inaugurating the 11km Alandur-Koyambedu stretch.

The state has taken up preparation of detailed project reports for phase II corridors and the governor expressed the hope that the Centre would support the state in completing work on the additional corridors expeditiously.

CMRL has completed survey of the line between Washermenpet and Thiruvottiyur and is ready to float tenders after the Centre gives its sanction and finalises the funding pattern.

With the ongoing work expected to be completed in a year, CMRL is going ahead with its plan to expand the network. It has called for a tender to identify a consultant to prepare detailed project report for three new lines — Madhavaram to Light House (17 Km), Koyambedu to Injambakkam (27 Km) and Madhavaram to Perumbakkam (32 km).
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“The city should have had around 200km of metro rail by now based on the population. We are taking up new lines. The aim is to ensure there is a metro rail station within walking distance anywhere in the city. Share of public transport should increase so that roads will get decongested and quality of life will be better,” said a senior CMRL official.

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Mumbai Metro: MMRC has set its sights on a deadline of mid-2020

By

Narendra Shah

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18/02/2015

0

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has set its sights on a deadline of mid-2020 to throw open the underground metro rail line.

This deadline is achievable only if everything goes as planned and if there aren’t any delays or hurdles faced throughout the construction phase of six years.

But the fact is that the awarding of the contract for construction of civil works, that is tunnels and stations, is already behind schedule.

A look at MMRC’s drawing board shows that the civil works should have taken off in early 2015, but the reality is that the bidders – 9 consortia – are yet to submit their technical and financial bids.

The MMRC will take up most of this year to assess the technical bids, and if the bids are acceptable, only then would the sealed financial quotations be opened.
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Therefore, it is only during the end of this calendar year that the project would be parcelled out in 7 different installments.

This means groundwork should commence either by November-December 2015 or some time in January-March 2016.

Once the system is ready, it will take another 6 months for rigorous rounds of testing, trials and certifications followed by determination of the initial fare.

By the time all this happens the year 2021 will have set in.

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Kochi Metro: KMRL released Rs.2 Crore for Pachalam Railway Over-bridge

By

Narendra Shah

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18/02/2015

0

Kochi: The long-delayed Pachalam railway overbridge (ROB) project, which was facing a severe fund crunch, has received an unexpected push from the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL).

The agency, which had once disowned the project, has decided to pump in Rs 2 crore for completing the land acquisition for the ROB.

According to officials with the revenue department, around 15 landowners from a total of 28 had given consent to surrender their land for the project.

But the revenue department was not able to take over the land due to lack of funds. “With KMRL releasing Rs 2 crore, we will soon be able to take over the land. We will start disbursing the compensation amount from Wednesday,” said deputy collector Shobhana.

A total of 62 cents have to be taken over from 28 landowners. The land value fixed by the district level purchase committee (DLPC) in the area is Rs 15 lakh a cent. The total amount required to compensate landowners and rehabilitate shop owners and house owners, who will lose their residences, for the project is pegged at Rs 15 crore. The revenue department has already given Rs 3.5 crore as compensation to some landowners. For compensating the remaining landowners, it will require Rs 4 crore.

It will also need at least Rs 6 crore to rehabilitate those who have to shift their shops or demolish their houses.

Given the fact that the exact number of those deserving rehabilitation can be decided only after demolishing the buildings, authorities will have time on their hands to provide rehabilitation. So, the department now urgently needs only Rs 4 crore. “We expect KMRL to provide the remaining amount required for land acquisition,” a revenue official said.

According to KMRL, it is not their responsibility to implement the ROB. “It is a project which figures in the list of preparatory works for the Kochi Metro rail. The state government had earmarked separate funds for those works. Now, we have released the funds as a temporary arrangement to help the revenue department complete the land acquisition,” KMRL sources said.
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Originally, when the state government had issued the order to construct the ROB at Pachalam, it had fixed KMRL as the implementing agency. But when KMRL found the ROB would escalate the cost of Metro project, the agency requested the government to include it in the preparatory works.

The government then issued an order entrusting PWD with the construction of ROB. But the work failed to gather momentum due to the unavailability of funds. Objections from some local residents against the alignment also caused some delay. “But we didn’t have to stop work even for a single day due to their protests. The work on the project is progressing quickly now,” an official associated with the project claimed.

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Chennai Metro: CMRL tunnel work going to be completed soon

By

Narendra Shah

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18/02/2015

0

Chennai: Tunnelling between Egmore and Shenoy Nagar is also at an advanced stage with one tunnel completed and the other about 400 metres between Thirumangalam and Egmore nearing completion.

The tunnel boring machine is about 400 metres away from Nehru Park station, said a CMRL official. Work on laying the track from Egmore to Shenoy Nagar has started, he added.
Train delivered

Meanwhile, the 18th train set manufactured at Alstom factory in Sri City reached CMRL depot recently. This is the ninth train out of 33 to be delivered from Sri City in neighbouring Tada.

After preliminary checks, the train will be subjected to non-regression test and then it will be moved to test track for further testing and dynamic trails.

Chennai Metro, an equal joint venture between the Centre and the State government, is implementing the rail-based transport project with funding from Japan International Cooperation Agency.
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The project, which is expected to ease road congestion in the city, will have two stretches totalling 45 km, linking important locations in the city, including North Chennai, Central Railway Station, Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminal at Koyambedu to the airport in the southern suburb of Chennai.

At present, various train trials are being conducted on the elevated structure between Koyambedu and Alandur. This stretch is likely to be opened for traffic soon.

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