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Bangalore Metro|Karnataka HC notices to Railways, Govt on PIL against PPP Pact on Metro Station

Narendra Shah
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Bangalore Metro|Karnataka HC notices to Railways, Govt on PIL against PPP Pact on Metro Station

Bangalore: A division bench of acting Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice B V Nagarathna gave the order on the petition by Bengaluru Residents’ Associations’ Confederation Ensemble (BRACE) and others.

The petitioners contended that the agreement between the BMRCL and Mantri was illegal and that the 2.

5 acres of land acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) could not be handed over to a third party. They also argued that the land acquired for Swastik station was transferred to the company in the name of a PPP project and that would benefit only Mantri, not the State government. They appealed for quashing of the agreement.

Opening park to public: The Union government has sought two weeks from the High Court to file objections to a petition filed by one B R Sharan Kumar for opening the General Cariappa Memorial Park off MG Road to the public.

Kumar contended that the park, spread over 22 acres, is a public amenity and people must be allowed into it. Since the Karnataka government contributed Rs 50 lakh to the park’s development, banning people from entering it is unacceptable. A division bench of acting Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice B V Nagarathna on Wednesday gave the Centre two weeks to file objections and adjourned the hearing.

Mumbai Metro|Rs. 35,400 crore sanctioned for 118-km Metro network

Narendra Shah
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Mumbai: The Chief Minister and Chairman, MMRDA, Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, during the 138th Authority Meeting, held today, arrived at a few coherent policy decisions and sanctioned the expenditure of Rs. 35,400 crore for the development of 118-km Metro network which includes 40-km Dahisar-Charkop-BandraMankhurd Metro-2 corridor (Rs. 12,000 crore), 40-km Wadala-Ghatkopar-ThaneKasarvadavali Metro-4 corridor via Wadala GPO and R.A.Kidwai Marg (Rs. 12,000 crore), 27-km Dahisar-E-Andheri-E-Bandra-E Metro-5 corridor (Rs. 8,100 crore) and 11-km Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road Metro-6 corridor (Rs. 3,300 crore).

In this context, the Authority has accepted two Detailed Project Reports – one for the 16.5-km Andheri-E to Dahisar-E Metro corridor and the other for 18.6-km Dahisar to D.N.Nagar Metro corridor – prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and has recommended these two corridors estimated at Rs. 4,737 crore and Rs. 4,994 crore respectively for the State approval. While the Authority has recommended, to the State, raising of funds from various financial institutions such as World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and other national and international financial institutions.

The Authority further afforded administrative approval to the estimated expenditure of Rs. 743.73 crore for the construction of three elevated roads to clear traffic chaos at Bandra-Kurla Complex and Santacruz-Chembur junctions. The 1.3-km elevated road running from MTNL junction to LBS Flyover and the 3.45-km elevated road from Kurla (Kapadia Nagar) to Vakola near Western Express Highway (Rs. 480.63 crore) will help clear SCLR junction. Similarly another 1.9-km elevated road from Bharat Diamond Bourse in ‘G’ Block to Vakola junction near Western Express Highway (Rs. 263.09 crore) will help decongest BKC junction as the motorists will be able to reach Vakola straight from the ‘G’ Block in the Bandra-Kurla Complex avoiding BKC junction.

The Authority further gave boost to the Bandra-Kurla Complex by demarcating 20 Hectares of plot in ‘G Text’ Block for an International Finance Service Centre and approving Rs. 95.57 crore expenditure in order to afford smart status to the complex by making it wi-fi able and providing smart parking, integrated building monitoring system, command and control centre, energy efficient street lights, bus service etc.

The Authority has also approved the development of Kalyan Growth Centre and the estimated expenditure of Rs. 1,089 crore for the same. This growth centre will be well connected by road and rail routes and will create job opportunities outside Mumbai and contribute to balanced development of the metropolitan region what with the MMRDA taking up infrastructural development sooner than later.

The metropolitan region has also received nod from the Authority to the road development work estimated at Rs. 60.61 crore in areas such as Palghar, Kalyan, Ambarnath, Karjat and Kulgaon-Badlapur.

The Authority also approved the submission of draft regional plan to the Metropolitan Planning Committee.

The draft contains proposals related to population, employment, land use, housing, transportation and environment.

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.

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