May 2021 - InnoMetro Special

A Symbroj Media Publication

METRO RAIL NEWS

ISSN 2582-2330 / Vol. V / Issue 53 / Monthly / May 2021

With Deep Focus On Metro, Railway, RRTS , HSR & Allied Industries

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ADVISORY BOARD

Editorial Advisory Board WWW.METRORAILNEWS.IN

Vol. V | Issue 53 | May 2021 Managing Editor Narendra Shah editor@metrorailnews.in Editorial Support Staff Aria Smith Correspondent (International News division)

Rajesh Agrawal Advisor & Consultant Former Member (Rolling Stock) Railway Board

Sudhanshu Mani General Manager (Retd.)

IRSME, ICF, Chennai Team Leader – Train 18

Mahesh C. Yadav Ex.IRSSE , MIE(I) Chartered Engineer (I)

Sandip Kumar, Assistant Editor sandip.kumar@metrorailnews.in Business Development Priyanka Sahu, Director priyanka.sahu@metrorailnews.in Anurag Jha, Business Development Executive Anurag.jha@metrorailnews.in Cover Page & Graphics Joydeep kundu jk@metrorailnews.in Editorial & Business Office Metro Rail News | Symbroj Media Pvt. Ltd 32B/14, J. P. Complex, Patparganj, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, New Delhi - 110091, India Tel: +91 1140590405, 9990454505 E-mail: info@symbroj.com

Yogesh Dandekar Sr. Manager - Industrial Design TATA Elxsi Limited Pune (India)

Ved Mani Tiwari President & COO Sterlite Power Transmission Ltd New Delhi (India)

Haru Imam Project Control Engineer Persons Corporation SaudiArbia (UAE)

Manas Ranjan Panda Sr. Rolling Stock Expert AYESA India Pvt Ltd. Lucknow (India)

Sanjay Kumar Agarwal Dy. General Manaer Metro One Operations Pvt. Ltd. Mumbai (India)

Digvijay Pratap Singh Chairman Main Mast Group

Dr. Ajeet Kumar Pandey Delivery Manager L&T Technology Services Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Chinmoy Pattanyak Head of APAC Center of Delivery & SW Center India (TCMS) at BOMBARDIER

Percy Bernard Brooks Project Management Specialist Faiveley Transport Rail Technologies Bengaluru (India)

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Printed, published & Edited by Narendra Shah at Friends Digital Color Solutions, G8-57, Manjusha Building, Nehru Place, New Delhi110019 behalf of Symbroj Media Pvt. Ltd., 32B/14, Patparganj, Mayur Vihar Phase-1, New Delhi - 110091, India

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METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

Harshita Jain Director at Consulting Engineers Group Ltd

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EDITOR’S NOTE Editor's Note

FROM THE DESK OF

MANAGING EDITOR Dear Readers, While there is some hope at the end of a long corridor, we are indeed in the midst of the pandemic.

New thoughts empower us more than anything else. With this confidence in mind, Metro Rail News took the lead and organised InnoMetro, a global event forum dedicated to metro and railway innovation and technology.

Narendra Shah Managing Editor

We are pleased to inform you that more than 67+ speakers from major companies attended our three-day gathering, including Indian Railways, MoHUA, IRSDC, RDSO, RLDA, Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd., Cylus, MegaMetro, e2E Rail, GBCI India, RITES, CRIS, MMRCL, MMMOCL, Maha Metro, MMRDA, Technocrats Kohlhauer Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, Hyloc Hydrotechnic Pvt Ltd Axis bank, Mastercard, Rittal, JSPL and Green Furniture Concept etc.

More than 10+ giant conglomerates sponsored our event being the platinum, gold, silver and bronze sponsors. Last but not the least, over 1200+ industry experts from India and other countries such as Thailand, UK, US, Sweden, Bulgaria, France, Qatar, and others participated the event.

Sincerely acknowledging, I'd like to express my thankfulness to our Sponsors, Speakers, and Exhibitors for their participation in InnoMetro 2021, which took place from April 28th to April 30th, 2021; Because of your commitment, this event was successfully organized and widely appreciated and acclaimed by the participants.

Metro Rail News is dedicated to keep you informed about latest news and project developments in Urban Transportation and MRTS. I am delighted to present you with the May edition of Metro Rail News Magazine which covers a range of issues from the Metro and Railway Industries. Cover Story on Metro Operations and Maintenance Innovation and Best Practices, the Agra Metro is the project of the month, the Pune Metro is the featured project and providing an overview of Hyper loop projects in India.

We also covered exclusive interview of Mr. Sourajit Mukherjee, CEO of e2E Rail. He is an inspiration to a large number of young people.

I hope that this journal meets everyone's needs. Your submissions for coming months issue is invited and shall be solicited as expert and guest write-ups. We shall appreciate your helpful feedback too.

Happy Reading Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay strong.

Narendra Shah

Managing Editor Metro Rail News (A Symbroj Media Publication) E-mail: editor@metrorailnews.

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METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

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Innovative products for Rail Sector

Relays Timer modules Monitoring relays Relay modules with forcibly guided contacts Modular timers Modular Light dependent relay Modular contactors Surge Protection devices

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CONTENT

contents Index

10

Editor's Note

06

News Highlights

10

Cover Story

16

Exclusive Interview

28

10

Sourajit Mukherjee CEO, e2E Rail

Industry News

28

Press Release

30

12 Featured Project

31

Post Event Report

33

Article

35

Project of the Month

48

12

8

Appointment

50

Events

52

Tender Live

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METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

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M ASS

TRA

O u r Pro d u c t s PL AT FO R M S C R E E N D O O R S A FC G AT E S B O R D E R CO N T R O L G AT E S I M M I G R AT I O N CO N T R O L G AT E S

N SIT

OVER 28 YEARS OF EMPOWERMENT THROUGH AUTOMATION TASPL’s growing expertise in the field of mobility and mass transit systems from its experience in successfully completing and commissioning BRTS and Airport transit projects. With solutions such as platform screen doors, automatic fare collection machines and ticket vending machines, we provide a niche product that is fully customizable to meet the changing demands of today’s public transportation infrastructure.

2010

First-mover into the Mass Transit domain through automation at India’s first BRT station.

2016

Successful completion of 7 Mass Transit projects across India with over 800+ Platform Screen Doors in 6 cities and 120 Immigration Barriers at Delhi Airport (Terminal 3)

2018

Inauguration of the first indigenously made NCMC machine by TASPL for Metro stations by Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi.

2020

Suceessful completion of Border Control Gate at Delhi Airport (Terminal 3)

upto

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News Highlights 4 2021. The email ID for sending the application is senthil.s@cmrl.in.

General category candidates applying to these posts will have to submit an application fee of Rs 300. At the same time, SC / ST candidates will not have to pay an application fee of Rs 50 and no fee to the disabled candidates.

EIB Sanctions 2nd tranche of €150 mn for Pune Metro Rail Project

HCC-KEC JV wins Rs. 1147 cr contract for Corridor 4 of Chennai Metro Phase 2

On July 22, 2019, the Government of India and the European Investment Bank signed a finance contract for the first tranche of Euro 200 million. The project aims to create a mass rapid transit system (MRTS) that is efficient, safe, costeffective, and pollution-free.

Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), in a joint venture with KEC International (KEC), has been awarded Rs.1,147 crore contract by Chennai Metro Rail to construct a 7.95 km elevated viaduct section and nine elevated stations on Corridor 4 of phase II of the Chennai Metro. HCC share in the Joint Venture is 51% (i.e. Rs 585 crore).

Via a virtual signing ceremony, the Government of India (GoI) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed the finance contract for the second tranche of Euro 150 million for the Pune Metro Rail project. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has authorized a cumulative loan of Euro 600 million to finance the Pune Metro Rail project.

Chennai Metro Recruitment 2021: Apply for GM, AGM, DGM & 6 other posts Candidates wishing to apply for the posts can check the notification on the official website of CMRL. Explain that out of the eight posts advertised for filling, 3 positions are for GM (Construction), 1 post-AGM (Safety), 1 post-AGM (Legal), one for AGM (QA / QC) and 2 posts for DGM ( Finance and Accounts) Eligible candidates can submit their application through postal service/ courier or via & email on or before June

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Karnataka Govt sets 2025 deadline for Bengaluru Airport Metro project In a statement, BMRCL said they have completed a major part of land acquisition and utility relocation and are ready to commence work. If all goes well, people in Bengaluru can reach the Kempegowda International Airport via metro rail from June 2025. The airport line includes two phases — Central Silk Board to KR Puram (Phase 2A) and KR Puram to Kempegowda International Airport (Phase 2B).

This deadline of June 2025 has been given as Chief Minister Shri BS Yeddyurappa-led Metropolitan Planning Committee set a timeline for the Phase 2A and 2B of the metro project on May 10. These developments come after the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on April 20, finally approved the long-pending project.

However, existing ongoing metro work has been suffering years of delay, which the first COVID-19 lockdown has aggravated.

The scope of work involves civil works, architectural works, plumbing & drainage and temporary services as per the client’s drawings.

The nine elevated stations include Chennai Bypass Crossing, Rarriacharidra Hospital, lyyaparithangal Bus Depot, Katupakkam, Kumanan Chavadi, Karayan Chavadi, Mullai Thottam, Poonamallee Bus Terminus, Poonamallee Bypass. The work is to be completed in 36 months that means approximately 1.5 years.

L&T bags contract to build 3rd & 4th corridor of Chennai Metro Phase 2 project Tenders are being finalized for the third and fourth corridor of the Chennai Metro Rail Phase 2 Project. Larsen and Toubro plan to complete the 12 km underground stretch from Kellys Station to Taramani www.metrorailnews.in

News Highlights On May 7, 2021, state-run town planning authority CIDCO conducted a successful trial run on a Navi Mumbai metro rail stretch near Taloja Depot.

The corporation claimed that it was “successful in all respects”.

Road junction in approximately 52 months. Both the tenders are worth between Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000 crore, said Chennai Metro Officials.

According to an L&T release, the tender to construct 12 km twin bored tunnels from Kellys to Taramani Road Junction also involves the construction of diaphragm walls of station box and entry and exit structures of Chetpet Metro, Royapettah Govt Hospital, Thiruvanmiyur Metro Stations and part diaphragm wall of Green-ways Road Metro Station, including launching and retrieval shafts in these stations.

This underground Metro Rail tunnel package is a part of Corridor-III of CMRL Phase-II Metro Rail Project.

Similarly, L&T has bagged the order to construct approximately 8 km of the elevated viaduct with nine elevated Metro Stations starting from Power House to Porur Junction. The elevated corridor includes 4 km of double-deck construction. This elevated Metro Rail package is a part of Corridor 4 of CMRL Phase-II Metro Rail Project.

UPMRC completes work on 400 Piles in five-month for Agra Metro It has been 5 months since December 7, 2020, when Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Agra Metro construction work. During this entire period, Agra Metro has achieved fast progress and several milestones in the civil construction work of Agra Metro.

400 piles out of 686 for the 3km elevated section of priority corridor i.e from Taj East Gate to Jama Masjid in Agra Metro Project, have been completed to date.

Along with this 45 pile caps and 16 piers have also been constructed for this section from Taj east gate to Fatehabad Road.

During this corona pandemic, UP Metro handles the situation very tactfully to maintain the progress of the civil construction work. The most important factor for construction work is the labour force and under Agra Metro Project, proper measures are undertaken to ensure labour safety and convenience.

Kolkata Metro completes entire tunneling work of East-West Corridor

CIDCO has promised to launch the train services between Kharghar and Taloja stations by December this year and The metro trial run was on an 850-metre stretch with the speed of the coach kept at 65 kilometres per hour.

UPMRC Commences Track Casting on Kanpur Metro’s Priority Corridor Under the Priority Stretch of Kanpur Metro i.e. between IIT & Motijheel, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (UPMRC) has commenced the casting of the ballastless track. Metro engineers cast the first cross-over yesterday night near IIT. It is to be briefed that cross-overs are the points where Metro trains change their line and direction of movement.

Under the Priority Corridor, such crossovers are at terminal stations viz. IIT & Motijheel and at Geeta Nagar Station, where connection to the Polytechnic Metro Depot are planned.

Tunneling work for the 16.6 km-long EastWest Metro corridor, which hit several hurdles over the last two years, has finally been completed, said KMRC Officials.

The tunneling work gets completed

by Tunnel Boring Machine [TBM ] in East-West Metro Corridor with the breakthrough of “Urvi“ at Bowbazar, Kolkata on May 15 2021. With this breakthrough, the entire TBM tunneling for the Kolkata East-West Metro Project is completed. The stretch was difficult for tunneling work as it had century-old buildings.

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CIDCO conducts trial run on Navi Mumbai Metro line 1 Namma Metro Purple line’s Mysore Road-Challaghatta stretch train services to begin

by June 21 www.metrorailnews.in

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METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

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News Highlights The Purple Line of Namma Metro from Mysore Road – Challaghatta sation of 8.82 KM and 7 stations is ready for operation in June 2021. The Seven Metro Stations along the route are Nayandahalli Metro Station, Rajarajeshwar Nagara, Jnanabharathi, Pattangere, Mailasandra, Kengri, Challaghatta. Lying across NICE Road, Challaghatta station is likely to be operational by March 2022. Seth said all stations will have bus bays and crossover through the unpaid concourse area Deport to come up on challaghatta near NICE Road would take another year to complete till than Baiyappanahalli Depot will be used. Road works pending at few metres last year covered in by heavy rains works still going on, and we will try our best to complete this before rain seasonsaid BMRCL Authority.

UKMRC reinvites tender for the development of Haridwar PRT Project The Uttarakhand Metro Rail Corporation (UKMRC) reinvites open e-tender (EOI cum RFQ) for the development of Personalized Rapid Transit (PRT) System in Haridwar city of Uttarakhand called “Haridwar Darshan” on PPP mode.

Name of Work – Development of Personalized Rapid Transit (PRT) System in Haridwar city of Uttarakhand called “Haridwar Darshan” under Design Built Finance Operate and Transfer (DBFOT basis) – (PPP MODEL).

Important Details Tender reference No: UM-140/EOI cum RFQ PRT Haridwar/2021-22/01 Contract Value: INR 1000 Crores Period of Completion: 1095 Days

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Document Download Start Date: 20-Apr2021 from 06:00 PM Document Download End Date: 04-Jun2021 till 03:00 PM Bid Submission Start Date: 20-Apr-2021 from 06:00 PM Bid Submission End Date: 04-Jun-2021 till 03:00 PM Bid Opening Date: 04-Jun-2021 at 03:30 PM Pre Bid Meeting Date: 20-May-2021 at 04:00 PM

East Metals AG bags Rs. 93 Cr HH Rail contract for Kanpur and Agra Metro The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (UPMRC) awarded a contract of INR 93 crores to East Metals AG of Switzerland for the supply of 17,700 MT Head Hardened Rails (60 El, IRS-T-12-2009,1080 grade HH) for the Kanpur and Agra Metro Rail projects under Contract Package KNAPGT-l.

MMRDA to begin trial run on Mumbai Metro Line 2A & 7 by May end The much-awaited trial run on 20 km of stretch between Charkop Kamraj and Aarey station on Metro Line 2A (Dahisar East to Andheri East) and Line 7 (Dahisar to DN Nagar) will begin by May end.

According to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority officials, Kamraj- Aarey section (20 Km) of line 2A & 7 being spruced up for mainline metro train trials planned from the last week of May 2021.

“Due to covid-19 or the pandemic induced lockdown has resulted in a shortage of raw material also the workers count on the ground has been reduced, despite all these major challenges MMRDA is trying its best to meet the deadlines of the infra projects. As part of this, we aim to begin a 20 km trial run on Metro lines 2A and 7 by May end. It will be a significant milestone for all of us.

The dream of Mumbai people of Metro connectivity will be a reality soon.

•••

Tender for 80 per cent of net procurable quantity has been awarded to M/s East Metals AG on 20.04.2021 at a total cost of INR 15,00,96,000/- and USD 1,06,20,000/- inclusive of all taxes, duties, levies, cess, roya lties etc. and all other incidental charges based on technical and financial appraisal of offers received on 11.O1.2021 and as per terms and conditions of the Tender KNPAGT.

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METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

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COVER STORY

Innovation and Best Practices in Metro Operations & Maintenance

Image Credit: DMRC Background Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002. An Act to provide for the operation and maintenance and regulate the working of the metro railway in the National Capital Region, metropolitan city and metropolitan area, and matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.

When it was first enacted in 2002, the Act applied only to the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It was amended in 2009 to permit the Central Government to extend the Act to any metropolitan city or area, after consultation with the concerned State Government. However, the amendment specifically prohibits the Centre from extending the Act to the metropolitan city of Kolkata.

The Act grants the Metro Railway Administrator (MRA) four main powers: • To acquire, hold and dispose of all kinds of properties owned by it, both movable and immovable

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• To improve, develop or alter any property or asset held by it • To develop any Metro railway land for commercial use • To execute any lease or grant any license in respect of the property held by it.

• To know various innovation and practices in Metro Operation and maintenance • To know the future prospect in metro business opportunity Let’s have a look on innovation in Metro Operational & Maintenance till 2021

After that, Urban rail transit operations have changed from a single line to a multiline network. The network operations have undergone quantitative and qualitative changes, and operations management is facing rapid internal and external changes. In response to the increasing demand for quick transportation between and across cities and nations, rail transportation is experiencing major changes. Drones and smart sensors for inspecting railway lines, remote contact systems, and automated train control are among the key rail industry developments (ATC).

• Overnight Maintenance: Innovations that Make It Easier

Aims & Objective

Many metros have processes in place

Metros all over the world face the difficulty of having short overnight repair periods. Overnight maintenance hours have decreased in 39 percent of COMET metros in the last five years, with more than half expecting to face increased demand to expand service hours in the next five years. Metros usually spend less than 70% of their time on active activities (time-on-tools) during nighttime maintenance hours, typically between 2 and 3.5 hours per night.

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COVER STORY

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METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

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COVER STORY

Image Credit: DMRC for finding prospects for creativity to overcome obstacles. Metros have used a variety of technologies to optimize different phases of the overnight period, including better advanced planning, shifting maintenance philosophy, digitizing work orders, optimizing personnel travel and equipment deliveries, and so on.

• Internet of things The Internet of Things has a significant effect on railway infrastructure stability and safety. Condition-based monitoring eliminates disruptions caused by track and train component faults, improving maintenance quality and costs while also increasing customer comfort. Railway operators will also use IoT-enabled advanced analytics to identify datadriven ways to boost fleet management and rail operations efficiency • Artificial Intelligence The railway industry has various AI

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technologies, including inventory tracking, predictive maintenance, and emergency warning. Deep learning algorithms and neural networks aid in train timing optimization and delay reduction. In addition, integrated passenger management systems optimize transit services and boost customer loyalty.

• Decarbonization Despite the fact that trains are the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation, policymakers are looking to further decarbonize the rail sector in order to meet aggressive net-zero emission targets. Replacement of diesel trains with battery technology, hydrogen fuel cells, or hybrid trains are the most popular decarbonization options. Train companies are using electric locomotives that use electricity from green sources such as solar or wind to help reduce CO2 emissions.

• Rail Connectivity Low-latency communications and high speed, as well as the stability of railway networks, are enabled by modern railway mobile communications services, which are improved by 5G technology.

Additionally, communications-based train control (CBTC) allows for effective rail traffic management and asset tracking.

The applications for train connectivity include train positioning, monitoring, servicing, customer interactions, and data collection.

• Passenger Experience Train carriers use electronic ticketing and video monitoring, as well as train delivery systems and train hotel experiences, to enhance passenger comfort. Theft is detected by video monitoring, which aids in passenger load optimization.

Furthermore, for travellers and train operators, smartphone and tablet applications automate ticketing and

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COVER STORY

Image Credit: DMRC pricing reviews.

Onboarding systems boost last-minute bookings, identity management, and seat allocations, while infotainment systems keep passengers entertained while travelling. Companies use biometric ticketing solutions to make the ticketing process and passenger authentication much easier.

• High-Speed Rail The construction of high-speed rail networks aims to improve the efficiency and frequency of people and goods transportation. HSR refers to the planning and development of high-speed trains and lines. Companies are concentrating their efforts on both adapting modern networks and developing new highspeed projects like the hyper loop, which can travel at speeds of 1000 kilometers per hour.

• Rail Automation The railway industry’s automation extends beyond self-driving trains (ATO). Robotic devices for infrastructure cleaning and repair, as well as drone technologies for remote inspection, are being developed by startups and scaleups. Additionally, traction control

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automation reduces rail infrastructure delays and increases safety. The rail industry’s automation helps railway companies boost asset quality, tracking, and servicing, resulting in a better customer experience and rail reliability.

• Big Data & Analytics Train connectivity, predictive modelling, infrastructure tracking, passenger information systems, and data management platforms are all made possible by the use of big data in the railway industry. Millions of data points are collected and analyzed using smart railway sensors to enhance rail infrastructure safety, security, and reliability.

• Augmented & Virtual Reality Personnel planning, concept visualization, and consumer experience are also examples of virtual reality technologies in the rail industry.

Passengers can participate in rail system design through augmented reality (AR) smartphone applications, which offer infotainment and route information.

Virtual reality (VR) headsets, on the other hand, make simulation more immersive and insightful. AR and VR technologies

allow railway companies to minimize staff recruitment costs while increasing customer comfort and loyalty, resulting in increased revenue.

Rail transportation is undergoing significant changes in response to the growing demand for fast transportation between and inside cities and countries.

The major rail industry trends involve drones and smart sensors for inspecting railway tracks, digital communication platforms, and automatic train control (ATC). IoT-based networking systems, AI, and high-speed rail developments, among other things, will change the industry as we know it today. Early identification of new markets and innovative technology to incorporate into your market will help you achieve a competitive edge. Newer rail industry developments such as rolling stock hybridization and high-speed rail, in addition to condition-based tracking, contribute to the increasing pool of future-looking railway technology.

•••

METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

19

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

We are aiming for growth, and we strive towards constructive and sustainable development: Sourajit Mukherjee, CEO, e2E Rail Sourajit Mukherjee is a source of inspiration to an innumerable number of youth who want to succeed in their career and find an identity in the professional world after their education and learning.

An engineering graduate and a postgraduate in business administration, Sourajit today is leading one of the fastest-growing railway infrastructure companies in India, e2E rail, as its Chief Executive Officer.

Sourajit, while talking to our Managing Editor Mr. Narendra Shah explicitly shared his views on various issues related to Urban Transport system in India, MRTS, Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan with an unambiguous and insightful view on the policies and plans of the present government towards growth and development of transport system in the country and strengthening the infrastructure.

The young technocrat has also been one of the key speakers in virtual tech forum InnoMetro – 2021 for a global discussion on MRTS, Urban Transport and tech Industry held by Symbroj Media Pvt. Ltd. Below are the excerpts of the interview : Q.1 (NS): At a young age, you have been on a number of important positions in different organizations of repute. How does it feel to be the CEO of e2E Rail?

Ans (SM): We are going through extremely unprecedented times. The world has turned upside down right now. Still, we are carrying on, each one of us are trying our best to keep the ball rolling, the industry is helping, the entire government machinery, and all of us are also trying to support.

However even during this challenging times, I appreciate the endeavour and the hard work done by your team in delivering positive and industrious news about the railway fraternity, assembling the stakeholders in such a wonderful forum like Inno Metro , and carrying out the railway journalism which can work as great perception building for railway industry across the masses.

Mr. Sourajit Mukherjee CEO, e2E Rail

So, coming back to your question about being the CEO of e2E Rail, I shall be frank

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Photo courtesy : Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW to mention that designations or titles hardly matters to me. Since the day I started working till now, I always tried to believe that wherever I am working, I actually own that company. I always try to feel that whatever I am part of, I own that thing, I am part of that system, everything belongs to me as a person. Whatever happens, profit or loss, reputation or bad name, if I don’t feel that it is my own. I cannot succeed in that assignment.

So be it an engineer, be a sales guy, marketing guy, a guy who is working at the back office or a designer or a CEO, the key thing is to be completely involved with the entity you are working for.

As far as e2E rail is concerned, we are a great team. I am just a team member. But on a candid note, it is not only a team; it’s a family for me. We have more than almost four hundred employees right now and another four hundred will be on a subcontractor basis. It’s a pretty large e2E Rail family, and it’s a huge privilege and honour that I have been given the opportunity to lead this fantastic team.

Q.2. (NS): What are your immediate plans and goals for your current organization towards its growth and development in a lead role?

Ans. (SM) e2E Rail is one of the fastestgrowing railway infrastructure companies in India. We have grown through almost more than fifty percent CAGR over the last four years, and the same did not reduce even during first wave of pandemic. We have registered a growth rate of more than forty percent on revenue and the profitability have doubled with EBITDA figures touching at 15%.

It has been a continuous and sustainable growth rate on the backdrop of an impeccable execution record and strong order book. Our vision is to be the preferred end to end engineering and construction service provider for the railway infra projects in India. We look at a horizon of 2025 to take the company to a 800 to1000 crore level. In this journey we are contemplating expansion on horizontal as well as vertical scales of operation. This can contribute to the generation of an enormous number of opportunities for young professionals and generate significant employment opportunities. In this process we contribute towards nation-building and the concept of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

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METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

Railways being the backbone of this nation it is imperative that a company like us when we are aiming for growth we aim towards a long term and sustainable growth and just not be myopic in our strategies. That’s why we have been continuously focussing on skill development and training to generate quality workforce.

Q.3. (NS): As we all know, e2E is one of the reputed certified organization providing rail engineering expertise to rail infrastructure projects for mainline and mass transit systems in India and abroad. Which key projects undertaken by e2E would you like to highlight as major accomplishments bringing about significant change in the public transportation system in India and abroad?

Ans. (SM): In one of our Marketing banners we use a tagline which says that e2E Rail is everywhere. In Indian rail industry, if you go to any metros, any zonal railways across India, or even in the south-east asian countries in few places, there are hardly any say railway system where e2E rail have not contributed in some capacity.

Over the last eleven years of its existence, we have always been associated with most of the railway systems right now working in India either through focused engineering & design services, operations & maintenance vertical or through the direct tuenkey and EPC contracts which we take up on our own or as a partner of the OEMs. And when I talk about, I talk about mass transit as well as the mainline, plus we have always been extremely focused company towards infra development of the private railway yards and contribute towards the last mile connectivity.

We always felt that development on the freight transportation and the connectivity to the private yards are equally important as developing the passenger transportation routes. . It gives the right impetus towards the overall rail infrastructure growth and it provides the right impetus to increase the share of rail in the overall freight transport in India. Railway provides the cleanest, fastest and cheapest way of transporting freight compared to the other medium of transport but have still only 27% share currently. So, there is a huge scope of development in this area.

For example, we now all can realise the importance for commencement of the RORO services. If this service were not in place, we could not have got the oxygen express moving at such ease and emergency basis. Also, the medical equipment and essential commodities which are being now moved through the new dfcc corridor are helping the entire process at the time of pandemic. e2E rail has always been present across the railway value chain and one of the most prominent works. I should say achievements for us were on the Signalling technology vertical where we have been the partner for implementing the first CBTC signalling system India for Hyderabad Metro.

We have been the partner with Thales from design to testing, commissioning, installation for the entire six phases of Hyderabad metro. We had a huge team just focused on this project. It has been a huge learning experience for our team and has been one of the most interesting projects we have ever taken up. This was a flagship project which led the way to adopt this technology for other metros in India. Right now, if you see, most of the Metros have adopted this technology and are being successfully running in all major metros. We are also working with the Nagpur metro, using the same CBTC signalling system for Siemens. e2E rail is ready to contribute in all the upcoming railway systems, from highspeed rail to the NCRTC. You can say that we are a complete endto-end rail infra solution provider across verticals with high-quality engineering services for the rail industry.

Q.4. (NS: How do you see the future of urban transportation and MRTS in India, and what, according to you, should be immediate changes required in the public transport system in India?

Ans. (SM): That’s a huge policy question, and that’s a very important and pertinent question at this point of time, where we are talking about reducing carbon footprint, we’re talking about reducing the number of cars, we are talking about people moving much more seamlessly, much more in a faster pace and in a much safer way. So, that is the objective.

We go by rail; we go by car, go by bus, and go by anything. The result is that we www.metrorailnews.in

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW should reach safely to our destination at the fastest time and the least amount of pollution without harming nature.

We need to live without hurting nature, without destroying the environment; we involve the least possible resources that could harm our ecosystem. Today, the situations we have come in today are the aftereffect of all the wrong things we have done, and we can understand how nature is hitting back to us ruthless way.

So, saying about the urban transportation where more than half the 138 Cr population of the country rushes every day to cities and wants a fast and reliable mode of transport, the need of the hour is obviously developing a seamless and integrated transport system.

As more and more of the places getting urbanized, with industrial clusters coming up across geographies, it is absolutely pertinent right now to increase the connectivity without inflicting any further damage to the environment.

For me, the answer to this is developing a seamless multimodal urban transport connectivity. For example, today I stay in a place called Yelahanka of North Bangalore and if I want to go to a place near Indira Nagar, the nearest metro to me is at Jalahalli. That’s around seveneight kilometres from where I am staying.

So, to reach over there, either have to take my own vehicle or use a cab or auto.

Then after parking the vehicle, I have to board the metro, get down at Indira Nagar metro station and again take a cab or an auto and go over to my actual destination.

However, if I don’t want take that headache of switching four modes of transport along with the waiting time for each and also the hassle of getting tickets for each, I can also take my own vehicle and drive directly to my destination, however due to the traffic congestion it might take me more time, but as a common man the pain of going through availing 4 modes of service and their associated process is just too much hazard for me. However, if there was a complete seamless multimodal transport system with a single pass and last-mile connectivity, the chances of availing those public transport services increases significantly. This kind of developing a seamless connectivity requires inclusive planning which cannot happen by silo

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basis working by individual department of railways, metro or Bus MRTS systems.

Every developed country and now also most of the developing countries already adopted this multimodal transportation model, and that is how we have to aim.

That’s the future of urban transportation.

If the policymakers can sit down together and reframe the policies to achieve this as a single objective, it can pave the way towards a revolution in urban transport in India. The NITI Aayog and the urban development ministry need to think more on these terms to give a seamless experience to the passenger; otherwise, it’s difficult to divert people to move away from the private and use public transport as their preferred medium. And obviously if people won’t go, the ridership won’t increase, and the commercial viability shall fade.

Classic example is Mumbai Monorail which had extremely limited connectivity and access modes were also inadequate, hence the public also refrained from using the service. But the local trains at the same time were overflooded.

Why because the planning towards the monorail system has been not so great which includes the entire phase of the communication or the transportation medium and not exclusive to that mode.

Q.5. (NS): Are you satisfied with the plans and policies of the government presently in terms of its commitment to develop public transport system?

Ans. (SM): I must say that the existing policies are a huge leap forward towards high quantum growth. Yes, the results can’t be achieved immediately but the intention and the objective are positive and based on long term vision. But said that we also need to consider that policies may be attractive however if there are gaps in practical plan for implementation, the overall objective shall get delayed or not achieved in its eniriety.

I have no complaints with the government as I believe they are immensely positive towards developing transportation systems and giving significant impetus to railways which is still the safest and least polluted mode of transport.

However, I believe the pace and the planning for implementation need to improve. It’s completely a personal

opinion.

Q.6. (NS) What, according to you, had been the failure and drawbacks in Indian Transportation System in last many years? If according to you, there has been any negligence or lacuna in part?

Ans. (SM) : See India is an enormous country; the infrastructure growth we have seen over the last few years has been extraordinary. Last year, more than seven thousand kilometres were electrified on the mainline itself, which is a huge achievement compared to our progress over the last few years. It is not easy. There are many hardships, there are wins but at the same time there shall be occasional failures. Being a part of this rail industry for the last ten years or more than a decade, I completely understand the challenges and are more than in sync with the effort to cross the hurdles. During my involvement with the rail industry, I have come across many events which might have been avoided or done differently but the practicality is too tough. Its easy to point out delays or failures but providing solution to those is the real challenge. For example, one can say that DFCC could have been finished much faster. But there were practical limitations, practical challenges.

Lands were not getting acquired, there were challenges in the procurement of materials, there were so many odds the entire fraternity were working day and night to solve. It is extremely a tough task that the DFCC has achieved. When the DFCC started, I was part of it in some capacity. First time we adopted fully mechanized track laying process where a two-kilometre track was being laid in eight hours of time which was unheard earlier, but that also happened in real.

There are hundreds of events like this that have been happening over the last seven to eight years, which has changed how we had been working and changed the conventions. Still, there is a huge scope of improvement, and I am a part of the system, part of that endeavour towards improving that system where things can go much faster and much in a smoother way rather than earlier.

For example, I can say that the last mile connectivity towards the ports, the development of the freight yards, private freight terminals, needs much more focus. The National Rail Plan, if you METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW go through it, gives a huge impetus to this subject. It’s completely in the right direction we are going. The only area of improvement that I feel is that the planning to execution conversion needs to be a little faster and that the people who are the implementing agencies need to look at a holistic approach rather than only going by the conventional employer contractor kind of a relationship while implementing the projects.

We need to start building a partnership kind of an environment to boost up the stakeholders. When I was working in the US we had a partnership with union pacific railways where all the contractors used to sit with the implementing agency and form a common project team to execute the work. However what I have seen over the years in India is the gap and discrimination between the employer, implementing agency, and the execution guys and all work in silos and busy in safeguarding their scope of work which results in conflicts and delays eventually.

I really feel that if we want to increase our pace, we need to have much more the transparency on the tendering and contract management process right from the top; the way the contracts are made in India needs refinement. It needs to give independence to the contractor to implement better technologies and better work methodologies rather than compelling them to work as per book.

Results should matter rather than our conventions which may be outdated.

But in this area also, there has been considerable progress by the Railway authorities and govt implementing agencies. We have recently seen that the tenders are changing from a silobased model towards an EPC platform.

This marks a huge leap forward towards how the tenders are being done and the contracts are being executed. However, we also need to consider that this should not lead to a monopolistic situation where only few large enterprises are eligible, and the smaller players shall just perish.

The small and medium enterprises are fighting every day and day out and has been significantly contributing to the GDP. We must frame policies that can provide a level playing field for all the stakeholders and foster an environment of healthy and quality competition. This shall result in better productivity and being about quality development.

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Q.7. (NS): What is your opinion about the ‘Make in India’ initiative and the ‘Atmnirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’? Do you see these initiatives bringing about any significant change?

Ans. (SM): As per me this is the single most important step which this govt have brought in. Even if there are a lot of people who questions the effecicacy of the policy due to a sluggish start, however as a railway professional, as an engineer, as a part of the industry, I feel that’s the best thing which have been done in the recent years where we have the opportunity to become a manufacturing giant in the same line with China., There is no way that with so much skill, so many resources present in India, why we cannot do that? We can match anybody at any point in the world. I’m telling you the Make in India policy is going to change how the world looks at India. It’s how we shall be sitting at alongside the best manufacturing nations in the world.

Have you seen how fast India adapted to developing the PPE Kits when the COVID stuck?

There are companies that have changed overnight and started manufacturing.

There is no dearth of talent over here, there are no dearth of resources over here, just the policy push and a little bit of support from the government, we are going to fly, and we are going to show the world how best quality things can be achieved with the most optimum level of price.

I am all in with the Make in India campaign.

From our organisation perspective, we have serious plans going forward towards contributing to the Make in India model by supporting or partnering innovations and developing state of the art products for the rail industry.

Q8. (NS): e2E has a very strong team of board of directors. As the CEO of the organization what help and support you get from other senior members of the organization in decision making and other day to day activities?

Ans. (SM): It’s a very interesting question.

Somebody after a long time asked me about my board of directors which feels great. I am really proud to be part of e2E Rail team and representing the board for day-to-day activities. We are a corporate

entity with a professional board of directors who have guided this company over the last 10 years towards exemplary growth and sustainability.

I thank each one of them for showing us the path and steering this company to this level from where it can scale up exponentially in the coming years.

I believe they will keep supporting us. I am extremely honoured that they have given me this opportunity to lead this team.

I would obviously like to mention the name of Mr. Abhijeet Kudva, who has been my mentor and has been the representative of the board who believed in our abilities all through and played a significant role in bringing the company to this juncture where it can move from hundred crores to eight hundred crores in the coming five years. Also, I must mention the man behind the financial stability of our company, our CFO and my best buddy Mr Suresh Maddali who held the fort together in the toughest of the times and sailed us through with his impeccable and meticulous planning and financial control.

This is a wonderful company with a blend of experience and youth. Our average age of this company is thirty-one, which is like you can understand that is very young company. A lot of energy, a lot of exuberance comes with a blend of highly experienced professionals who guide the young team, encourage them, train them, and prepare them to handle all sorts of challenges. This is what makes us unique and make us the fastest growing rail infra company in India.

Q.9. (NS): You have an engineering background with expertise in Marketing-Sales and Business Law. In what ways a diverse academic knowledge has helped you in your professional career? What challenges have you faced in your journey so far, and how did you overcome it?

Ans. (SM): Pretty fascinating question; this takes me back to my college days.

So, in India, the education system is very interesting. You never know where you will land up to and what you will do in the final years.

So, anyway, when I gave my entrance examination in engineering, I really www.metrorailnews.in

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW didn’t know which stream I should go to. My acquaintances always told me that electronics and communications were supposed to be the best stream for getting a job easily. So, I took it, and hence the journey started.

I was always a little business-oriented guy rather than academic. I was not a good student anyways and kind of average types. I was never a brilliant, first-grade student. My marks have never been more than seventy-five percent ever in my entire career.

So, once I scored eighty-five, and I was surprised, I thought people would take back my paper and see again that no, its not eighty-five its seventy-five.

Anyways, so that’s how the journey went.

The interesting part is, say once you start working, you start to realize how to implement those learning that you have actually done in your academics, how aptly or how skilfully you can utilize those shall decide the extent of your success. It is extremely important to keep practising and learning. For me, it is all about learning continuously, and that’s how it has been till date.

I still feel this is the only way one can remain successful and relevant. In this continuous changing world, rather than being successful it is more important to be relevant and that can happen only by evolving yourself and learning.

Continuous, knowledge is the keyword, and if we are going through the knowledge base there are no stopping. I am an Electronics engineer, but I started my work in a mechanical company. I have worked for civil companies, worked for civil components, worked for mechanical components, worked for electrical components, and handled electronic components.

But this has not been very easy or smooth sail always. Whenever you are taking up something new, you need to know that in entirety, you need to get a hold of that subject, you need to learn it the hard way, no shortcuts and that’s how it basically goes. Yes, the various diverse backgrounds helped me to understand business process better. Even when I am leading an organization, I am still a student. I am doing my master’s in business law. I took this challenge only because I want to learn the subject rather than just getting a certificate. Because to lead an engineering and construction www.metrorailnews.in

organization there are several legal aspects to the business which I felt can better help by getting the know hows from this course which can help to tackle the everyday challenges more accurate way. So, that is how you need to be relevant in this ever-changing world by constantly learning and evolving, and whatever you do how much diverse you are; you always need to start from scratch when you’re studying that, so you need to learn to keep learning.

Q. 10. (NS) : Would you like to speak of any important project or assignment which you had been very closely associated with? What had been the outcome and a reason for a personal affinity?

Ans. (SM) : I’ll share you one project which is straight from my heart. That’s one thing which is the focus for us right now. Skill development in railway engineering is something which I have always felt that there’s a huge scope and can bring about manifold opportunities both for the students and the industry. I strongly feel this is requirement of the hour.

As a railway professional, I have moved across various projects; the maximum challenge what I have seen, our projects are delayed because there is a scarcity of skilled labour or due to faulty engineers who do not have the required skill sets to give quality work. If you closely observe that while completion of any tasks, we come across that there are several snags which needs to be rectified. Why this snag list comes because there is inefficiency being built in the system, there are not enough skilled persons who can finish the work at one go with high precision.

So, skill development is a mission we have taken from e2E will train railway professionals, engineers, technicians, and students who aspires to make a career in rail industry.

I strongly feel that this skill development mission is one of the most key things right now required by the industry and from this interview forum I urge all my fellow, peers and colleagues from the large OEMS and my fellow contractors to invest on this, to invest on learning and development and bring more skilled people in this industry.

Because, when we look at right now, if we have to get skilled people now for

any project either we have to poach each others manpower or we have to only look at Indian Railways for retired officers or employees. But, there is a huge-huge quantum of work which the private firms are doing. Where do we get people from then?? There has been an explosion of infrastructure development across the railway verticals, electrification, signalling, track, high speed railway, metros, urban transit…etc etc..name it and its being announced. But are we really giving a thought about who is going to implement that?

You cannot rotate the same people everywhere. One guy goes from here - a to b, b to c, c to d. He is obviously increasing his salary package but ultimately, there is a gap which is being created in the other works. How do you overcome that?

The only process overcoming that is by creating and investing into learning and development. Create more engineers, create more technicians, create more railway professionals who can deliver projects for you, who can deliver the required goods for you, for the industry.

We at e2E Rail have been running an institute called e2E rail village for the last 10 years, which has both online and classroom training and what we do over there in two part. One is obviously we train the fresher engineers and tehcnicans, who want to come into railway profession and the other is for upskilling of existing rail professionals.

We provide training on specific subjects like signalling, electrification or track or rolling stock. We have a small, simulated setup where there is a physical rail yard with a four hundred meter track with all the required equipments where they can have a practical hands on exposure to the real work.

But it is not in the scale of the big large railway institutes which are being run by Indian Railways but it’s an initiative to bridge the gap between the employers and the aspirants. I have appealed the government many times to help us building that on a PPP model to develop this on a much larger scale. However, we are still trying without much success on the Govt front. But, trust me this helps, say a technician, who are required in signalling projects, one normal ITI engineer cannot immediately be a wireman and start doing the wiring for

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW a signalling relay rack. It’s impossible.

They need to understand the basics. The railway is a very niche subject. We need to invest on learning and development.

Hence this project which we have taken up is just not being run for profitability but rather on developing the talent pool for this industry.

I appeal to everybody, whoever have a requirement, even if, they do not want to invest themselves time and resources, please outsource. There are other institutes also. Please go to them, come to us. But, please invest in getting new professionals in this industry, rather than just focusing on poaching. That’s not how this industry can evolve, if we have to deliver faster. We have to look at that seriously.

We also have started first-time in India a complete self-learning online portal called Swadhyaya, where people can choose the subjects they want to up skill and finish it at their own pace..

Along side our regular work it is imperative that we to upskill ourselves with the latest technologies and also if we want to diversify in our career. Hence this serves as a great platform for all existing professionals looking at career growth.

Please come forward and look at learning and development; otherwise, the plans, the policies, whatever is being made cannot be implemented in the stipulated amount of time. We are at the highest pace right now. We want to deliver fast and deliver best quality. Hence I ask all the people to please again shift their focus not only from just winning a contract rather than developing people, developing the greatest asset which is the people’s mind, nurture new talents and motivate them to get into this industry.

Q.11. (NS) : Which major position, task or organization would you reckon as the most significant in your career?

Ans (SM): My career is not much long.

It’s like only 13-14 years now; I have been working. So, the most significant one, if I close my eyes, will always be the first company I worked with, which basically made steel from raw iron. The company’s name is Atlas Copco, where I learnt how business is done, what are the challenges of businesses and how to become a true

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professional, honest professional with integrity, and even with integrity and honesty how one can be successful.

So, that’s the first organisation where I was selected from the campus remains the closest from the heart. However, the biggest learning is obviously the e2E’s rail journey, where I joined as a head of business development and in four years, we all collectively have taken this company to a sustainable and successful position. So, that journey from business development to lead the team now as the CEO has been a massive learning. I am proud to say that I feel much more enriched today rather than four years back.

Q. 12. (NS) : Would you like to say anything about the job scenario and educational system in our country?

Ans. (SM): I already I think explain a little bit on the earlier question that the demand and supply does not match specifically for our industry if I am talking about as a say, if you can tell me as ambassador of the industry. I can tell you that there’s a huge demand-supply gap right now. With the kind of projects which we are investing and planning to develop as per the National Rail Plan and then compare how many engineers actually get inducted into the rail industry every year, you can notice that there is absolutely no parity. How shall this enormous requirement be met? No one have any idea.

So, if the government or my fellow peers in the private sector do not focus on this, we will not reach our targets or goals in the kind of timelines we have planned for.

We do not want to to go back to an era where there is a huge gap in the targeted and achieved timelines for completing the projects. Ideally, it should be like that if the project is targeted to be within three years, it has to be done in two and a half years. That’s how we are right now. We are the new generation. We are the new India where delays are not acceptable.

We need to do fast and for that investing in human capital and training them is the most important subject right now.

There is no dearth of jobs. I was actually shocked to hear that 7.5 million people have lost jobs in the last month only, in India. It’s a huge-huge impact of the pandemic which is going on. But, I’m a

pretty optimistic guy; I think that this is a storm, this is a tsunami which will pass.

It has created a lot of ruckus, created a lot of bad effects in our lives. But, I still believe that the learning which we are getting from this is immense, which we could be reversed if we realise that what are the wrongs we have committed. We will be prepared much better to face the coming days. The job scenario in India is not going anywhere; specifically, in our rail industry, there are huge job opportunities.

I urge the new age guys, the fresh engineers, the fresh professionals who want to make a career. Please come and join the rail industry. It will give you a fantastic career. It has huge opportunities to grow and be the best of yourself.

Q. 13 (NS): What would be your suggestions to youngsters aiming to build a successful career like you?

Ans. (SM): Its not about success in career, its always should be about contribution to the industry we are working and the society we are living. I am happy that I belong to the industry, and I am still relevant in the industry, that is the only success part of .it.

However, to make a decent career, to contribute to the industry and to be what I should say relevant in this industry, we must focus, we must learn, we must invest our time constructively. We should be focused on keep up-skilling ourselves, know the facts and go in depth to what we are pursuing.

There is no short cut to success. We need to learn. We need to fail; otherwise, we will never be able to succeed. But, when I fail, I have to make sure I learn from those mistakes. If we just forget those mistakes.

If we are not learning from the failures, it is a problem. Then we cannot succeed ever.

One of my trainers once told me that “when you commit one mistake at a time: it’s a mistake. You commit the same mistake, the next time it becomes a decision”. Because it becomes a choice for you. When you repeat same mistake, you are basically doing a crime; you are not making a mistake. So, be focused.

Work hard, there is no shortcut available and keep up-skilling yourself. You will be relevant in this industry. You will be

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW successful, there are opportunities. There is no scarcity of openings. This country is growing at the highest pace compared to the entire world. We have the youngest population in the world. We are going to dominate this era. So, no worries about it, just keep learning. Opportunities will come.

Q.14 (NS): You have recently participated in InnoMetro 2021 as a speaker; how was your experience?

Ans. (SM): It was a very interesting panel discussion on Workforce diversity & technical skills gaps. I thank you for getting us on that panel discussion.

We had several eminent personalities, including Chris from Rail personnel and Sunil Srivastava from Barsyl. I was privileged to be part of the panel discussion.

It was an enriching experience of sharing

and exchanging our ideas and areas of concerns and also find some solution to the concerns. In fact, I requested Chris to send across the presentation which he shared in the forum. It was a delightful experience, and I really liked how you guys obviously conducted the entire show and also arranged the simulated exhibition set-up.

I was feeling actually part of the exhibition sitting from the safety and comfort of home.

The panel discussion was extremely enriching, and the platform was awesome.

Q.15 (NS) Thank you, thank you so much and the last question of the interview, what is your opinion of Metro Rail News Magazine.

Ans . (SM): I have been a subscriber of this magazine for a pretty long now. My office is a subscriber and we have been using

the reports as one of the most trusted medium of information which comes across. It covers most of the verticals and industry on a very thorough note.

The number of topics that are being covered, the people you guys are interviewing, and the notes you guys are putting in are all extremely informative and useful. It does not show anybody in a bad light, but despite that, there is constructive criticism also in lot of editorials I recommend everybody to use this Metro Rail News Magazine because it is informative and provides correct news about the industry and also helps in the perception building for the rail industry.

(NS): Thank you so much for your precious time and interview (SM): Thank you

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Alstom delivers the 100th electric locomotive of 12,000 HP to Indian Railways

A

lstom, India’s biggest multinational sustainable mobility provider with a comprehensive portfolio of offerings, has successfully manufactured and delivered the 100th electric locomotive to Indian Railways. As part of the contract worth €3.5 billion won in 2015, the company will be supplying 800 fully electric high-powered doublesection locomotives of 12,000 HP (9 MW) for freight service, capable of hauling ~6,000 tonnes at a top speed of 120 km/hr. This is the largest Foreign Direct Investment project in the Indian Railway sector.

In the financial year 2020-2021, Indian Railways recorded a freight loading of 1,232 million tonnes, which was 2% higher than the previous fiscal. Introduction of faster trains has helped increase the average speed of transportation by 83% leading to a shorter turnaround time and has supported the movement of essential goods during COVID-19 times.

With the first Prima T8TM WAG-12B inducted for commercial service in May 2020, these locomotives are transforming the heavy freight transportation landscape of India. Deployed for operations on major freight routes, including Dedicated Freight Corridors, the Prima T8TM WAG-12B e-Locos have already clocked over close to 5 million kilometres hauling a wide range of commodities. These locomotives also made the inaugural run on the first fully operational sections of the Dedicated Freight Corridors, in December 2020.

Some of the key commodities moved by these e-Locos include - coal, cement, food grains, fertilisers, petrochemical products, minerals, and posts/ parcels, across 17 States & 2 Union Territories.

Speaking on this milestone, Alain SPOHR, Managing Director - Alstom India said, “I’m pleased to mention that despite challenges posed by COVID-19, we have been able to successfully manufacture and deliver 100 e-Locos to the Indian Railways in less than a year. Due to the intricacy of the project, it is really an honour to work on a first-of-its-kind ‘Make in India’ project that resulted in a technology breakthrough for the nation.

Our successful collaboration with Indian

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Built in one of India’s largest integrated greenfield manufacturing facilities, these are the nation’s most powerful Made-in-India Electric Locomotives.

Railways is paving the way for bringing advanced innovation and technology to the Country. Alstom is committed to delivering safe, reliable, and efficient solutions for IR’s revolutionary journey towards becoming the world’s first 100% green railways”.

The Prima T8TM WAG-12B e-Locos are built at one of India’s largest integrated greenfield manufacturing facilities at Madhepura (Bihar). Spread across 250 acres, this industrial site is built to international standards of safety and quality. The site has installed production capacity of 120 locomotives per annum and Alstom has progressively achieved over 85% indigenization. With these powerful e-Locos being manufactured within the country, India has become the 6th in the world to join the club of countries producing high horsepower locomotives indigenously.

The project also includes setting up of two ultramodern maintenance depots in Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Nagpur (Maharashtra). These depots are equipped with the latest technologies and features to anticipate breakdowns thereby enabling proactive maintenance of India’s most advanced freight locomotives at significantly lower costs. The depot in Saharanpur is currently operational and houses a ‘Training Centre’ equipped with a loco simulator and smart classrooms for skill development of railway employees and loco pilots. Till date, more than 500 loco pilots from Indian Railways have been trained and going forward, an additional 500 will be trained annually. The Nagpur depot will be functional next year.

This locomotive is capable of maximum tractive effort of 706 kN, which is capable of starting and running a 6000 T train in

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INDUSTRY NEWS the gradient of 1 in 150. The locomotive with twin Bo-Bo design having 22.5 T (Tonnes) axle load is upgradable to 25 Tonnes with a design speed of 120 kmph.

These superior electric locomotives built under the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative, are playing a key role in revolutionizing the freight movement in the country. It will help to decongest the saturated tracks by allowing faster, safer and heavier freight trains to move across the country, as well as improve the loading capacity. So far, these e-Locos have traversed across all Railway divisions and are performing well.

These locomotive are proving to be a game changer for further movement of coal trains for Dedicated Freight Corridor. The locomotives can be tracked through GPS for its strategic use through embedded software and Antennae being lifted through the servers on ground through microwave link.

These WAG 12B e-Locos have already clocked over 4.8 million kilometres hauling a wide range of commodities across 17 States & 2 Union Territories.

Mr. Alain SPOHR,

Managing Director - Alstom India

•••

www.metrorailnews.in

METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

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PRESS RELEASE

Wabtec Supports Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transport System with Major Components

W

abtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) announced today it will support the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transport Systems (RRTS) with critical component orders valued at about $15 million for new rolling stock.

The company will supply advanced technology brake systems, pantographs, roof disconnector switches and fully integrated passenger information systems to Alstom, which is building the coaches for the project.

" This order and partnership with Alstom will open up multiple opportunities and provide Wabtec with a significant first mover advantage in India on this rapidly evolving regional train platform as more corridors are implemented across National Capital Region and other parts of the country in the coming years SAID PREETAM GANGULY, SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR, WABTEC TRANSIT, INDIA. " All products in the order have substantial ‘Make in India’ content. The order covers 30 regional commuter trains each with 6 cars and 10 metro trains each with 4 cars, which will be built at Alstom’s Savli plant in India. The high-performance brake system provides critical safety features, high reliability and reduced maintenance intervals. The high-speed pantographs are aerodynamically designed to perform under different overhead electric conditions. The pantograph is equipped with state-of-the-art safety features such as an auto drop device and a maximum extension device including novel features like condition-based monitoring and smart-carbon strips. The passenger information systems provide state-ofthe-art displays, audio, CCTV, dynamic route map and infotainment with autodiagnostic features and high reliability.

Alstom and Wabtec have a strong working relationship with experience collaborating on multiple projects across the globe. The entire fleet of 816 Alstom cars running in Delhi Metro is equipped with Wabtec’s brakes system, pantographs, passenger access doors,

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as well as heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

The RRTS is a new, dedicated, highspeed, high-capacity, comfortable commuter service connecting regional nodes in the National Capital Region.

The 82-km Delhi-Meerut Corridor RRTS will pass through one of the most densely populated sections of the NCR connecting New Delhi to Uttar Pradesh.

The corridor will be beneficial for the development of the region and help connect the large number of townships and centers of economic activity that are already planned along this corridor.

About Wabtec

Train Control (PTC). The transit portfolio provides highly-engineered systems and services to virtually every major rail transit system around the world, supplying an integrated series of components for buses and all train-related market segments that deliver safety, efficiency and passenger comfort. Along with its industry-leading portfolio of products and solutions for the rail and transit industries, Wabtec is a leader in mining, marine and industrial solutions. Wabtec has approximately 27,000 employees in facilities throughout the world. Visit the company’s new website at: www.

WabtecCorp.com.

•••

Wabtec Corporation is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for freight and transit rail.

Drawing on nearly four centuries of collective experience across Wabtec, GE Transportation and Faiveley Transport, the company has unmatched digital expertise, technological innovation, and world-class manufacturing and services, enabling the digital-rail-andtransit ecosystems. Wabtec is focused on performance that drives progress, creating transportation solutions that move and improve the world. The freight portfolio features a comprehensive line of locomotives, software applications and a broad selection of mission-critical controls systems, including Positive www.metrorailnews.in

FEATURED PROJECT

Shaping the smartest metro system in India: Pune Metro Abstract Pune, the cultural and historical capital of the state of Maharashtra, known as the ‘Queen of Deccan’ due to its scenic beauty and rich natural resources.

The city relates to some of very prominent personalities of Indian society. Pune is the birth place of holy saint Tukaram, it was the capital city of the greatest maratha warrior king of all time Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who established “Hindavi Swarajya”, social reformers like Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, Maharshi Karve have had an association with Pune.

Some of the great freedom fighters like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Agarkar and Gopal Krishna Gokhale also belonged to this city.

The city therefore, holds a place of importance and well known on world map because of its educational, research and development institutions, IT Parks and automobiles industry in western Maharashtra.

In last decades, the city has witnessed a substantial rise in population and people migrating from a different part of the country for job opportunities. The sustainable infrastructure to facilitate easy commute to the citizens however had been missing. Average travel time for citizens using public transport in Pune is over 100 mins a day. This makes more and more citizens use their personal vehicle, which causes traffic chaos and congestion issues.

Hence, metro services in Pune had been long discussed and a required initiative to be taken to tackle all these issues, provide comfortable and convenient commute in the city by significantly reducing the travel time by 75%. It is supposed that the metro system in the city shall facilitate many youths, students, professionals, etc. travelling to their destination.

The Metro rail services in the metropolitan city shall also act as a back bone to the public transport system of the Smart City Project and strengthen on various parameters: Introduction Pune Metro is a metro rail based transit system under construction in the city of Pune, Maharashtra. The project costs about US$ 1.6 Billion. The project is being implemented in three phases.

The system comprises of 3 lines with www.metrorailnews.in

a total length of 54.58 k.m. The lines are proposed to be a mix of elevated, underground sections. The first two lines are expected to be operational by 2022.

In the first phase (Line 1&2) 104 coaches (26 train sets x 4) will be supplied by Titagarh Wagons. Each four coach unit will carry 1034 passengers.

Pune Metro will be special in number of ways. It would be for the first time that aluminium coaches would be manufactured and supplied to any Indian Metro. 75% of the coaches will be manufactured in India and rest in Italy by a leading MNC. The coaches will have modern spacious interiors and are being designed considering the highest level of passenger safety. CCTV monitoring, infrared fire detection units, anti-drug features are also included.

Four 6.61 m diameter Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machines are being used in this project. The TBM’s will be passing through basalt rock formations. The system will attach 400-mm wide by 275mm thick precast concrete lining which consists of five segments plus a key. The segments will be manufactured at the casting yard.

EPBMs have robust mixed-face dome style cutterheads designed to work effectively in the compact Basalt that is expected on these contracts at pressures of up to 4 bar. They are designed to excavate at the rate of 8 to 10 metres per day.

The underground stations in Pune Metro shall be built by NATM, cut and cover with

top- down method. The diaphragm walls for such station constructions would be 80 to 100 cm thick and will function as a permanent side wall of the station.

The line will be of Standard Gauge – 1435 mm and will have traction power supply of 25 kV, 50 Hz AC ONE (Overhead Equipment). The project will help in easing traffic congestion and provide the community with a faster, efficient and safer mode of travel and help in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Work Status The 3 lines of urban Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) – Pune Metro is under construction in the metropolitan city of Maharashtra by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).

31.254 km Pune Metro Phase 1 project’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) with 2 metro lines and 29 stations was prepared & submitted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in July 2009, revised in January 2013, August 2014, and finally once again in November 2015 to reflect the prevailing prices in the year.

Although the State Government approved the project in 2012, it had run into red tape, politics and opposition from local NGOs & activists over its mostly elevated nature. The project received a final approval from the Union Government’s Cabinet on December 7, 2016.

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FEATURED PROJECT The 3rd line, mostly elevated, connecting Hinjewadi – Civil Court on the public– private partnership (PPP) model is also being developed by PMRDA. In September 2019, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) signed a 35-year concession agreement to develop the line with a consortium of TRIL Urban Transport Private Limited (a Tata Group Company), and Siemens Project Ventures GmbH (subsidiary of Siemens Financial Services).

Pune Metro Phase 2 project’s detailed project report (DPR) has not been prepared yet, but is expected to comprise of new corridors and extensions of existing metro lines to Katraj, Chandni Chowk, Kharadi, Hadapsar, Loni Kalbhor, Katraj, Khadakwasla, Warje.

System Specifications • Top Speed : 80 kmph • Average Speed : 34 kmph • Track Gauge : Standard Gauge – 1435 mm • Electrification : 25 kV, 50 Hz AC OHE • Signalling : Communications-based Train Control (CBTC) Key Figures • Operational : 0 km • Under Construction : 54.584 km • Approved : 4.41 km • Proposed : 26.464 km • Estimated Daily Ridership : 6 lakh (Phase 1) & 2.6 lakh (Line-3) in 2027 • Rolling Stock : 104 coaches (26 train-sets x 4) to be supplied by Titagarh-Firema for Phase 1 Pune Metro Under Construction Lines (Phase 1 + Line-3) Line-1 (Purple Line): Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) – Swargate • Length: 16.589 km • Type: Elevated & Underground • Elevated: PCMC – Range Hills Ramp: 11.570 km, 9 stations • Underground: Range Hills Ramp – Swargate: 5.019 km, 6 stations • Depot: Range Hills (13.27 hectares) • Number of Stations: 14 • Station Names: PCMC, Tukaram Nagar, Bhosari, Kasarwadi, Fugewadi, Dapodi, Bopodi, Khadki, Range Hill,

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Shivaji Nagar, Civil Court, Budhwar Peth, Mandai, Swargate

Pune Metro Proposed Lines

Line-2 (Aqua Line): Vanaz – Ramwadi • Length: 14.665 km • Type: Elevated • Depot: Hill View Depot at Kothrud (12 hectares) • Number of Stations: 16 • Station Names: Vanaz, Anand Nagar, Ideal Colony, Nal Stop, Garware College, Deccan Gymkhana, Sambhaji Park, PMC, Civil Court, Mangalwar Peth, Pune Railway Station, Ruby Clinic, Bund Garden, Yerawada, Kalyani Nagar, Ramwadi

Line-1 Extension (Purple Line): Swargate – Katraj ⦁ Length: 5.464 km The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for PCMC – Swargate Line-1’s extension to Katraj suggests a 5.464 km underground route to be built with an estimated cost of Rs 4283.72 cr. Three new stations are proposed at Pushmangal Chowk, Shankar Maharaj Mutt and Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park. These could alternately be built at Gultekadi, Saibaba Nagar and Katraj.

Line-3: Hinjawadi – Civil Court • Length: 23.33 km • Type: Elevated • Depot: Maan Village (20 hectares) • Number of Stations: 23 • Station Names: Megapolis Circle, Embassy Quadron Business Park, Dohler, Infosys Phase II, Wipro Phase II, Pall India, Shivaji Chowk, Hinjewadi, Wakad Chowk, Balewadi Stadium, NICMAR, Ram Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Balewadi Phata, Baner Gaon, Baner, Krushi Anusadhan, Sakal Nagar, University, R.B.I., Agriculture College, Shivaji Nagar and Civil Court.

Line-3 Extension: Shivaji Nagar – Kadam Wakwasti • Length: 18 km Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is currently preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for extending the Hinjawadi – Shivaji Nagar Line-3 by 18 km to Loni Railway Station (Kadam Wasti Grampanchayat) in eastern Pune.

Line-4: Swargate – Pul Gate • Length: 3 km Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is currently preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for this short new line.

Fare - Ticketing Pune Metro’s fare structure, prices and rules have not been announced yet.

That will be done closer to the start of operations. Maha-Metro plans to use the latest technologies for its automatic fare collection (AFC) system to allow QR codes and Near Field Communication (NFC) phones to utilize the system.

Pune Metro Approved Lines Line-1 (Purple Line): Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) – Nigdi • Length: 4.41 km • Type: Elevated • Number of Stations: 3 • Station Names: Chinchwad, Akurdi, Nigdi

••• www.metrorailnews.in

POST EVENT REPORT

InnoMetro 2021 – A Global Event Platform to showcase innovation and Technology for Metro & Railway

I

nnovations & Technology, these two words in the modern era, are unarguably a source of inspiration and encouragement for many activities. These two words have significantly changed human life today and paved the ways for new dimension and explorations.

A developing country like India needs innovations and technology in a more excellent ratio to help people get more opportunities and make efforts for their livelihood in the broader set of options available to explore one’s skill.

It’s worth adding that technology and innovation have helped to add new dimensions to human life. Both technology and innovations are the essences of life today.

Nothing inspires us more than fresh ideas. With this belief, Metro Rail News takes the initiative to conduct Innometro, a Global Event platform, to explore innovation in the Metro & Railway.

It’s a rendezvous for an open discussion, a podium available to the key contributors of this sector to enrich our knowledge as to how technology can be upgraded in Metro, Railways, RRTS, HSR and allied sectors.

InnoMetro won’t just be an event; it would be a global platform that would showcase the information and knowledge sharing about the latest technology and innovations being undertaken, at a single platform, under one roof.

InnoMetro as an event and effort had been planned to be accomplished on a physical platform last year. But, the unprecedented Covid-19 scenario set the limitations, and it could not be executed. However, despite the pandemic conditions continue to set limitations, we organized the event on a virtual platform from 28th April 2021 to 30th April 2021.

www.metrorailnews.in

Today, we take pride in announcing the extensive chain of InnoMetro supporter’s worldwide to support this event as delegates, speakers, sponsors & exhibitors.

“On behalf of Metro Rail News, We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Sponsors, Speakers, Exhibitors to participate in InnoMetro 2021 from 28th April 2021 to 30th April 2021; because of your commitment, this event becomes successful.”

We take pride in announcing the extensive chain of InnoMetro supporter’s worldwide to support this event as delegates, speakers, sponsors & exhibitors. We happily inform you that more than 67+ speakers participate in our three-day event from big companies such as Indian Railway, MoHUA, IRSDC, RDSO, RLDA, Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd., Cylus, MegaMetro, E2E Rail, GBCI India, RITES, CRIS, MMRCL, MMMOCL, Maha Metro, MMRDA, Technocrats Kohlhauer Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, Hyloc Hydrotechnic pvt. Ltd, axis bank, Mastercard, Rittal, JSPL and Green Furniture Concept.

More than 10+ giant conglomerates sponsor our event being the platinum, gold, silver and bronze sponsor. Last but not least, more than 1200+ industry experts from India and various other nations like Thailand, UK, US, Sweden, Bulgaria, France, Qatar, etc.

In InnoMetro 2021, people understand different types of innovations & technology which develop in the Metro, Railway, RRTS, HSR & Allied Sector. Important topics such as Realization of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Cybersecurity, AFC & PSD, Modernization & Repair of Rolling Stock, Improving Passenger Experience, Advanced Signaling & Telecom Technologies, Ticketing & Payments Innovation, Data Tools for metro & Railway, AI, ML, Blockchain & Robotics, Transport Infra Sustainability, Mobilityas-a-Service etc., connect with attendees and because of them METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

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POST EVENT REPORT or their questions gives an interactive form of this event.

What we think is another thing but what people think about our event is more important for all of us. Our Sponsors, Our Speakers, our audience gives tremendous feedback for our event, which we never expect. People provide a place of InnoMetro 2021 in their heart.

One of our speakers said that this is the finest or best event which they see in their entire life. Sidwal company Vice President Shri Amit Agarwal said that he is waiting for the next year to participate in InnoMetro 2021. Your appreciation & support gives us a way to fly in the sky without fear.

We once again thank you all for your kindest co-operation and look forward to your continued engagement in the event. With all these, we look forward to your participation in InnoMetro 2022 which will be held from 28th April 2022 to 30th April 2022.

Glimpses of InnoMetro 2021

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•••

www.metrorailnews.in

PROJECT OF THE MONTH

Speed beyond Imagination: Hyperloop

Introduction Hyperloop is a new form of transport currently in development by many countries. This technology can carry passengers at over 1000 km per hour in floating pods inside giant low-pressure tubes. The idea of using low-pressure or vacuum tubes as part of a transport system has a long heritage. The crystal palace pneumatic railway used air pressure to push a wagon uphill and a vacuum to drag it back down, way back in Victorian south London in 1864.

Similar systems using a pneumatic tube to send mail and packages between buildings have been in use since the late nineteenth century. They can still be seen in supermarkets and banks to move money around today.

However, entrepreneur Elon Musk really reignited interest in the concept with his ‘Hyperloop Alpha’ paper in August 2013, which set out how a modern system would work – and how much it would cost.

In his Hyperloop Alpha paper, Mush set out the case for a service running between Los Angeles and San Francisco, cheaper and faster than a proposed high-speed rail link. He argued that his Hyperloop could be safer, faster, www.metrorailnews.in

affordable, weatherproof, self-powering and less disruptive to people living along the route.

Hyperloop service could be the answer to travel between cities less than 1500 km; beyond that, supersonic air travel would be more efficient. Firstly, in hyperloop, the pods that carry passengers travel through near-vacuum tunnels to reduce the friction caused by air. This reduction in friction will allow the pods to travel up to 1000 km per hour. This speed is 10 to 15 times more than the conventional rail and three times more than the high-speed bullet rails. Secondly, the hyperloop uses magnetic levitation to reduce friction to float on the rail lines, which further reduces the friction during movement.

This is a lot better than the traditional rail, which runs on wheels.

Since it uses magnetic levitation, it is less polluting than the traditional methods of travel. It can travel faster than a car, train or even aeroplane. The researchers claim that it is quicker and cheaper to build than traditional high-speed rail.

Hyperloop could help take the traffic off the busiest roads, making travel between cities easier and potentially unlocking major economic benefits as a result.

Hyperloop

technology

is

still

in

development even though the basic concept has been around for many years. At the moment, the earliest any hyperloop is likely to be up and running around 2022. But, most of the trails are still in their early stages. The passenger pods or capsules travel through a tube, either above or below ground.

Overcoming air resistance is one of the biggest uses of energy in high-speed travel. Airliners climb to high altitudes to travel through the less dense air. In order to create a similar effect at ground level, most of the air is removed from the tubes by pumps, effectively allowing the trains to travel at aeroplane speeds while still on the ground. The air pressure inside the hyperloop tube is about one-sixth of the pressure of the atmosphere on Mars.

That means we won’t even need the tubes if we run hyperloop pods on mars.

Operating pressure of 100 pascals, which reduces the drag force of the air by 1000 times relative to sea level conditions, would be equivalent to flying at the altitude of 2 lakh feet above sea level.

The hyperloop capsules float above the tube’s surface, similar to how the puck floats just above the table on an air hockey game.

Hyperloop uses magnetic levitation and electric propulsion to drive the pods. This METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

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ARTICLE kind of levitation and propulsion doesn’t need any moving components. Pod’s acceleration and speed can be changed by varying the frequency and voltage supplied to the electric motor. Gradual acceleration and deceleration provided by the electric propulsion ensure that one can sip his coffee while travelling without spilling a single drop. AS hyperloop reduces major energy losses due to air resistance and track friction, it consumes less energy than conventional transportation systems. It can reach airline speeds with 5-10 times less energy, depending upon the route length.

Recent studies show that hyperloop uses 60-70% of the investment cost of the existing high-speed rail projects.

In tropical regions, we can completely power the system using power produced by the solar panels placed above the tube.

Hyperloop Technology In India Virgin Hyperloop, the category leader in hyperloop technology, Given holistic and long-term investment commitment to India, They have several hyperloop plans in the pipeline.

• Hyperloop corridor from Bangalore International Airport Virgin Hyperloop and Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), operator of the award-winning Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB/ BLR Airport), signed a first-of-its-kind Memorandum of Understanding to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed Hyperloop corridor from BLR Airport. Through the

feasibility study undertaken with the Bangalore International Airport Ltd., Virgin Hyperloop will evaluate potential hyperloop routes connecting to and from Kempegowda International Airport based on their technical and economic viability. If deemed feasible, they request a go-ahead from the Government of Karnataka to comply with relevant procurement policies. A detailed project report will be undertaken after that.

• Pune-Mumbai hyperloop project The proposed Pune-Mumbai hyperloop project will connect the two cities in under 30 minutes instead of threeplus hours via road. This project will be the largest privately funded transport infrastructure project in the country.

The constant dialogue with the state government since the onset of the pandemic has been constructive. Virgin Hyperloop is forward to working with the administration to progress this project as the COVID situation improves.

The Mumbai-Pune hyperloop project would be the most significant private infrastructure investment in Maharashtra, creating 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs and USD 36 billion in socio-economic benefits. We see India as an innovation hub, and I am confident there will be several partnership opportunities in the country.

• Amritsar - Chandigarh hyperloop project In addition, Virgin Hyperloop One hope to expand their relationship with the state of Punjab based on MoU with the Punjab Transport Department signed in December 2019 and continue exploring opportunities in the northern parts of the country.

They look forward to getting the chance to harness the tremendous potential to connect the entire subcontinent and have discussions with other states as well.

Globally, we are looking to be safety certified by 2025 and have a commercial route operational somewhere in the world by 2030.

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ARTICLE

Reliable train detection solutions for Indian railways and metro systems Train detection plays a key role in ensuring safety in railway operations by detecting vacancy and occupation of track sections. This knowledge of track vacancy is used by signalling systems to control the movement of trains. Clearly, a wrong information by train detection can directly lead to a hazardous situation.

Hence, train detection systems must guarantee highest safety levels and maximum availability. All over the globe, innovative axle counters from Frauscher have proven their capability of meeting these requirements under manifold circumstances.

Counting axles on a reliable base An axle counter is simply a system used in the railway signalling to detect the clear or occupied status of a section of track between two points. Axle counter systems operate on the basis of wheel sensors. Inductive sensor technology forms the basis for Frauscher wheel sensors and axle counters. These robust wheel sensors work highly reliably on the principle of electromagnetic induction.

They keep up their functionality even under harsh influences, such as extreme temperatures, when covered with industrial dust or mud and even under water during heavy rains. Due to its innovative design and IP68 ratings, a lot of issues like change of sensor current parameters are prevented. Since Frauscher axle counters do not use any electronics on trackside, their functionality is also not affected by electromagnetic interferences. Mounting of wheel sensors is simplified by the usage of rail claws, which make drilling the rail obsolete.

This mounting method ensures that the structural integrity of steel rails is kept intact, while also reducing the installation time on trackside significantly. Within the sensor, transmitter and receiver coils are electromagnetically coupled. This continuously induces a certain voltage/ current in the receiver coil. A passing wheel of a train modifies the coupling, whereby the receiver signal is changed and train wheels can be detected. This detection is done in a fail safe manner.

The Frauscher Wheel Sensor RSR180 combines tried and tested technology with decades-long experience.

Thanks to their high flexibility in terms of usage and integration, axle counters are deployed in various segments from main lines, freight lines and industrial lines to heavy haul and metros - all over the world. In India, Frauscher axle counters are in use in most of the Indian railways network and a majority of the metro systems. Also, both Eastern and Western corridors of the upcoming Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) will be served by the Frauscher Axle Counter [FAdC] as their primary train detection technology.

Amongst other, these projects reveal a range of benefits that this technology provides – for example in terms of use of serial interfacing, inbuilt supervisory, vital data transmission & state of the art

diagnostics capabilities. For instance, the intelligent Supervisor Track procedure corrects the impact of unavoidable interferences in a fully automated manner.

Modern axle counters are able to flexibly meet these requirements with new functionalities to increase their availability as well as interfaces and software options to enable individual configurations. All Frauscher products and solutions are ideally suited for wheel detection and axle counting tasks. Many years of experience with the use of these components even in the most extreme environments have proven the reliability and robustness of these systems.

Proven solution with benefits Frauscher Advanced Counter FAdC www.metrorailnews.in

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ARTICLE In addition, the Frauscher axle counter portfolio offers maximum flexibility for individual solutions. Functional modularity, scalability and various interfaces allow a wide range of configurations. For example, Frauscher Axle Counter offers the option of an ethernet-based software interface that enables a wide range of individual configuration options.

Counting Head Control and Supervisor Track Section The Counting Head Control CHC function prevents false activations due to disturbances such as road traffic, metal objects or debris on track surfaces.

If adjacent track sections are clear, a configurable number of disturbances or false presence detections can be suppressed by the system. No reset is necessary since the track section is still clear.

Once an approaching vehicle enters either of the adjacent track sections the suppression is immediately deactivated, resulting in normal fail-safe train detection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h01C5gMHiU&t=1s

•

Increased reliability

•

High availability

• A lot of additional information (including direction, number of axles and diagnostic data) Applications of Axle Counters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiV09BLh3b8

Axle counting systems have become an indispensable part of mainline and regional railways in many countries of the world.

A significant increase can also be seen in metros, tramways and industrial railways. The system advantages and additional functionalities of axle counting technology over traditional principle of track circuits are increasingly gaining acceptance internationally.

Free lines and stations

The intelligent Supervisor Track Section STS process tolerates unavoidable operational interference completely automatically. Of course, the general conditions for reset are taken into account here. This means that availability can be further optimized without any negative impact on safety.

Two supervisor sections are assigned to each track section.

One supervisor section evaluates two track sections. A track section is automatically reset if it has an error and one of the two assigned supervisor sections is clear at the same time.

The supervisor section is treated like a regular track section.

If the two assigned track sections are clear, the supervisor is also reset. Using STS, faults within fault-prone sections or detection points can be corrected automatically. In addition, the resistance to faults can be increased further on busy lines.

The main application of axle counting is continuous track detection in conjunction with interlocking systems of line and station sections. In addition to the monitoring of operationally short sections in stations (a few metres up to several hundred metres), sections between two stations (up to several kilometres) are also monitored here.

The advantages of the FAdC at a glance:

Switch protection

• State of the art interface (fail-safe SIL4 Ethernet protocol)

In many cases, axle counting is used as a high-availability switch protection system. The free and occupied signal is evaluated as release or locking of the switch drive. A further application is the realisation of EOW’s (electrically locally-operated points). In contrast to track circuit technology, axle counting technology also allows multiple branched points to be mapped easily and without restrictions.

•

No trackside electronics

•

No relays required

•

Easy integration

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Backup systems Modern train control and train protection systems (e.g. CBTC, ATP, etc.) enable a high train density and optimised train traffic.

These highly complex systems usually fall back on the proven locally-operated and automatic track detection systems as a backup or fallback level.

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ARTICLE Level crossings

(closed networks, according to EN 50159-1).

There are numerous possibilities to monitor level crossings with signalling technology - including axle counting. Often, a wheel detection component is used as a power-up and a track section located in the area of the level crossing (train has completely passed the level crossing) as a resolving element.

Freight and industry Due to its robust characteristics, its economic efficiency and especially the higher range of functions (number of axles/ wagons, wheel diameter, speed, etc.), axle counting technology is spreading particularly quickly in the area of industrial lines, depot areas or shunting yards and train formation facilities.

Metros and trams A not yet widespread but rapidly growing application area of axle counting is the metro and tram sector. In addition to a high level of safety, aspects such as low maintenance and repair measure costs as well as compatibility with all rail vehicles are in the foreground here. Particularly high demands are placed on wheel detection.

Indian specific applications Railway Yards: Issues and solution Railway yards are a complex system which have many railway tracks in parallel. They consist of switches and crossings for the purpose of storing, sorting, loading and unloading rail vehicles as well as assembling new trains, etc. Yards usually consist of multiple tracks on which the movement of trains, passengers and goods must be controlled. Axle counter provides the information needed for controlling such movements in the yard in a safe and efficient manner. In addition to the points already mentioned, such as availability and reliability, the following challenges should be mentioned:

Centralised Architecture

Decentralised Architecture Due to modern transmission technologies, decentralised arrangements are gaining importance, which are more economical with regard to the cable infrastructure, among other things. In contrast to the centralised architecture, the axle counting logic is distributed to several, freely selectable locations - decentralised. Individual interlocking clusters (field controllers; area controllers; object controllers) are arranged along the route, e.g. in control cabinets. These clusters communicate with each other via existing or new network infrastructures (open networks according to EN 50159-2). To establish a decentralised architecture, clusters of detection points spread out along the rail line which can also be connected via ethernet. There is no additional requirement for relays, IO boxes and complex wiring.

They are operated and maintained de-centrally from a higherlevel location.

• Complexity of large yards with switch points and crossings • Less time available for reset and restart at busy stations • Shunting movements • Single component failure could bring a whole station to a standstill • Limited space between tracks for equipment, personnel, etc.

• Drilling holes into the tracks requires a lot of time when installing sensors in complex track layouts.

Since the Frauscher Advanced Counter [FAdC] is highly flexible and network-enabled, different types of architectures can be designed depending on a yard’s size and layout.

Centralised Architecture Centralised architecture means the entire arrangement of axle counting components are located in one place (e.g. relay room or interlocking room). The complete axle counting logic is bundled and positioned at this location. Communication with other systems such as interlocking as well as configuration, diagnostics, etc. is carried out centrally. The implementation of route blocks can be realised via copper lines or fibre optic lines

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Decentralised Architecture

Fully redundant and highly available architecture The FAdC also enables the system to be kept at a very high level of availability since almost all the components of the axle counter system are redundant. This architecture ensures that the failure of a single component does not affect train operations at any point in time. This solution can be provided for critical locations where fault avoidance takes priority. The fully redundant, highly available system can be employed in both centralised and decentralised architectures.

METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

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ARTICLE

Combined architecture

All benefits at a glance: • Fast implementation and installation • Supervisor track sections for the auto-reset of tracks • Counting Head Control [CHC] functionality makes the system immune to temporary influences (e.g. maintenance crews) • Maintenance friendly: decreased need for personnel to be on the tracks, as there is less trackside equipment • Compact sensors that fit in tight spaces between rails in case of complex track layouts • No trackside electronics • All electronic adjustments are carried out indoors requiring less access to the tracks for such activities.

• Better immunity to traction interference and ease of maintenance • No drilling of holes into the rail required Automatic Block Signalling: Issues and solution Automatic block signalling ABS is a railroad signalling system that devides a railway line into a series of track sections or blocks. Axle counters are installed at the ends of these sections to enable continuous train detection along the rail line. The purpose of the axle counter is to control the stop signals, governing train entry into an automatic block section.

ABS makes it possible for trains travelling in the same direction to safely follow each other without the risk of rear-end collisions.

This makes the use of an ABS system very cost-effective and leads to an increase in capacity. Here are some challenges operators have to deal with: • Shunting movements • Less time available for reset and restart at busy stations • Communication between stations depends on available media (dark/ fibre/ quad/ E1 channel).

• Quick installation and removal during track maintenance work required • Failures of the electronics on the track caused by external influences (lightning, traction current, etc.)

• Maintenance crews on the track can cause temporary influences that affect the axle counters.

• Limited space between tracks for equipment, personnel, etc.

• Conventional axle counters generally have very complex hardware that takes up a lot of space.

• Drilling holes into the tracks is a time-consuming process when installing sensors in complex track layouts.

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Automatic Block Signalling

The FAdC can be configured for ABS train detection: At the beginning and at the end of each track section, a wheel sensor is installed which, together with other components, forms the counting head.

Wheel sensors are connected to axle counting equipment installed at the nearest station and auto location hut (ALH) if available. The information can then be transmitted between stations and ALH locations via an ethernet network, and the track status can be output on one or all of them. Reset options are available with significantly reduced hardware.

All benefits at a glance: • Modular and scalable structure • The FAdC system is very flexible, as it can transmit the track status to any location within the network.

• Maintenance friendly and requires less personnel on the track • Virtual SIL4-compliant supervisor track section available without the need for additional hardware • Compact wheel sensors fit in tight spaces between rails in case of complex track layouts • No active trackside electronics: no need for earthing, power cables and additional protective housings.

• All electronic adjustments are carried out indoors requiring less access to the tracks for such activities.

• No drilling of holes into the rail required • Communication media can be connected either via quad, fibre, or both without requiring a media switchover • Optimised hardware makes the system fail-safe and reliable

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ARTICLE

Reference: Track vacancy detection for Dedicated Freight Corridor (a new freight line between New Bhaupur to New Khurja)

The entire project was based on a combination of Frauscher wheel sensor RSR180, Advanced evaluation board AEB as well as Communication board COM-FSFB.

Dedicated Freight Corridors [DFC] separates freight and passenger traffic to increase the speed of freight movement.

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) is an Indian state-owned company tasked with creating modern railway infrastructure for efficient freight transportation on important routes (Delhi- Kolkata & DelhiMumbai). Eastern dedicated freight corridor (EDFC) between New Khurja to New Bhaupur (351 km of new electrified double track railway) has been commissioned with Frauscher axle counting system FAdC.

The use of Frauscher Axle Counting System FAdC provides maximum reliability, availability and maintainability for the important dedicated freight networks.

•••

This is the very first project in India that uses a software interface between interlocking and axle counting system, completely eliminating the relay interface that has been used for interfacing with interlocking systems in Indian Railway and Metro projects in India so far. The use of software interface also eliminated multiple I/O boards on both sides (Interlocking & axle counter) and thus bringing down the need for space and power for the components. The reset interface is through VDU (for the interlocking) and separate reset boxes in operators’ room has been eliminated. www.metrorailnews.in

METRO RAIL NEWS | MAY 2021

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ARTICLE

The Application of BIM Technology in Metro Rail Transit Network

T

he new age Millenium is all about designing better while keeping up the speed. Our cities are turning into multi-tier systems where ‘simultaneous functioning’ is going to be the new normal. In cities like Delhi and other cosmopolitan where horizontal spaces are experiencing an exhaustive amount of infill, the urban planners and design thinkers are moving towards exploring the verticality of a city.

From ideating a triple-tier design system where cycling tracks, metro rails as well as bridges run in a synchronized manner to developing suburban cities for segregating the business centres evenly, our cities are facing a giant revamp. Although this change involves design brainstorming, it always includes expertise in adapting newer and smarter technology to achieve finesse in the produced outcome. One such advanced technology is Building Information Modeling (BIM).

With the fast advancement of metropolitan cities from its infrastructure to commute, BIM is turning out to be one of the most relevant tools to have in this millennium. It is a powerful method that can help mitigate gridlocks in a metropolitan region by forming a complex prerequisite that provides ample solutions to all the necessary issues in the initial design stage itself. A redo in drawings can be a go-to solution but redoing an entire site due to technical errors can not only make you lose time and also the necessary financial backing.

And not to forget, there is also a crunch in available site space, a tight schedule for completion and several other technical issues.

Benefits for Opting BIM Technology BIM innovation is an advantage in terms of producing a multi-dimensional representation, definition, and virtual redesigning of various specialized issues in a minimum amount of time. BIM innovation creatively investigates design flaws and provides a one-stop-shop solution for all things construction.

The model data documents for a project can be drawn via using tools such as Navisworks. It can be used for multidimensional movement creation to decide on how the project would possibly take shape.

Utilizing numerous benefits of BIM innovation, one can improve the designing efficiency and development effectiveness. It can even finish the activities and tasks with minimal upkeep.

Here are a few of the Transit based projects that have successfully incorporated the cutting edge technology of BIM and have produced exemplary end results that have ignited a positive change in how we look at our future cities.

Nagpur Metro Project, India Recently the ongoing Nagpur Metro Project is one such fine example of BIM Technology’s design abilities. The project covers a hefty span of 38 km with two corridors with 36 stations spread across all the city’s key locations. The most challenging part of designing a master project of this scale is the delay faced due to technical glitches, software incompetency and lack of pre-planning to envision the end result. Furthermore, these factors lead to a shrinkage of the operation due to reduced efficiency.

The Nagpur Metro Project, however, proved to be an exception and managed to set a standard by implementing a 5D BIM digital project management platform for its smooth execution. The platform integrates ERP Software that includes construction design software

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www.metrorailnews.in

ARTICLE

and project management tools from several tech giants that design process itself. allows having a 5-Dimensional detailed view of the project.

• It curtailed construction-related expenditures by providing precise know-how of the minute of details.

• The entire ecosystem of Contractors, GC and DDC’s were using this palfirm, which allowed them to have a smooth collaborative experience. This allows the clientele to work in a synchronized manner enabling all the key stakeholders to estimate a viable end profuct for the project.

• Stringent deadlines were met at ease due to a comprehensive material ready beforehand.

KVLRT3 – Metro Station, Malaysia

\ Key Advantages of Adopting 5D BIM Digital Platform for Nagpur Metro Project The 5D BIM Digital Platform had several benefits that accounted for a speedy and detailed procession while executing this ambitious master project.

Here are a few:• The digital platform capacitated the Nagpur Metro to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the entire project before it is even built.

Virtual Building Studio • Enhanced construction quality was achieved due to The KVLRT3 Metro Station in Malaysia is one such example of BIM’s advantages of exploring various material types during the an eased out end-product that is achieved by a comprehensive www.metrorailnews.in

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ARTICLE backhand of BIM Technology. Spanning across an area of 37 Kms of Railing, 35 km of a Viaduct with 2 Kms of the underground tunnel with 26 stations that connect Bandar Utama and Johan Setia in Klang, the project was anything but ambitious.

What Challenges A Metro Rail Project Can Face In Absence Of BIM? A metro rail development project is generally separated into two sections - principal design of the station and inter-route between stations.

An area of that span was easily ideated and designed with precision by collaborating with advanced BIM Technology.

Virtual Building Studio was involved in the Structural and Architectural Facade Modelling of this astounding infrastructure project. The amalgamation of BIM technology within this context helped in reducing the constructability issue and eased out the onsite coordination to ensure a speedy and efficient construction outcome. Other deliverables like Constrcutinability reviews, Quantity Stimulation, Clash Detection, WIP Models and reports were a vital part in ensuring a smooth construction process, all eased out by blending BIM to develop this transitbased project.

Why Implement BIM In A Transit-Oriented Project?

With the consistent improvement of urban design, metropolitan gridlock is deteriorating. To take care of this issue, all territories and regions have ceaselessly expanded their interest in metropolitan rail development to upgrade the metropolitan infrastructure as well.

As of now, underground transit development seems like a task, due to the restricted underground space, a tight development span, overcrowded areas, and complex asset designation.

Moreover, frequent planning and development can lead to foundational layout and engineering changes, unclear development methodology, delays, cost control and several other issues. These can in turn hamper the city life rather than accentuating it.

The specialized challenges while designing a Metro Rail Project can be as follows: 1) Managing the Construction site of the metro station and distance between various stations especially in an overcrowded region. Handling a mass population and ensuring their safety can itself be a task. Holding this for a loner run can turn into a bigger task. Therefore, precision in the design stage itself becomes a must.

2) Time lost, is money lost. This becomes even more crucial when we are dealing with a transit-oriented project where various stakeholders are involved. Bim can help in mitigating these needs by providing a smart solution in a concise time frame.

3) Transit-oriented projet also need to have a strong emphasis on their underground pipelines. In the absence of BIM, the weaving of this design framework of complex pipelines, water supply, fibre optics, waste as well as gas supply can be an integral issue.

This is one of the main reason why issues in services are seen where a traditional planning system is used.

Hence, considering multi-dimension permeability, reproduction, coordination and integrity of information with BIM innovation can prove helpful during the life span of metro rail construction phases.

How BIM Implementation gives a boost to a Metro Rail Project?

The Capital Post

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a model dependent on an assortment of data identified with building designing, which in this case is transit-oriented design ideation. Moreover, while designing a multi-dimensional model of this scale, the development of the entire stage needs to be precise to manage the smooth functioning of design execution in the later stage.

BIM, therefore, becomes an asset for projects especially in a transit domain where time is money!

1) BIM drawings are analyzed. To begin with, the BIM group makes multi-dimensional models dependent on various expert drawings. At this point, the model built by every expert is gathered in one place to produce a multi-dimensional model containing all the aspects from the formwork to the layout.

Herein, clash detection happens, and then modifications are brought about within BIM until the conflict issues are sorted.

2) Sketching cooperative energies to improve plan proficiency.

•••

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ARTICLE For development endeavours and configuration foundations, the use of teams to work cooperatively is vital. At any point, when one or more of the associated framework are altered, the entire model will be naturally changed improving the process of role allocation and amendments.

3) Determine the pipeline coordination. BIM adjusts the crash issue in the beginning phase of configuration so that the architects can naturally identify the fitting level of the pipeline format.

4) Identify a viable construction plan. A conventional construction approach depends on the state of the building site, asset distribution and construction resources. In any case, as the venture progresses, designing changes, plan changes.

This makes it quite evident to have a tough time deciding what an ideal game plan would be when proceeding with the construction process.

By setting up a multi-dimensional model, one can have a fair overview of how to go step by step sequentially.

5) Upkeep post project completion. BIM innovation can give enough data so that the post-occupancy maintenance of metro rail is no big deal, This becomes an important aspect especially in a commute-based design.

BIM Technology is here to stay & why….

Leveraging the suggestions that a BIM technology can give to a project team, one can easily make informed and impactful decisions. This can ensure that all the project expectations are met with feasibility. Another advantage is that it gives unparalleled transparency, which ensures higher efficiency and better client coordination.

It can also help all the stakeholders to develop a methodical project scope where a decision can be easily taken by considering all the parameters of the project. Moreover, the entire team gathers a detailed understanding of their contributions within the projects as all the impacting factors are right in front, wellanalyzed.

With this millennium widening their design domains and creating path-breaking designs for a futurist city, BIM Technology is proving to be an asset of a tool. From NASA launching its 3D Printed Habitat Challenge, to the multi-national architectural studio and companies like Norman Foster, BIG, ICON prepping up their futurist’s structures both on Earth and Beyond, we can finally say that BIM Technology is here to stay and stay relevant in the long run!

Authored by Ar. Ankitkumar Kansara Founder and CEO of Virtual Building Studio, Gold Medalist Architect and BIM Pundit. He has extensively worked in India, Singapore, and the UK, where he was exposed to BIM (Building Information Modeling). He believes in helping general contractors, architects and engineers by implementing BIM technology to achieve design finesse.

He understands how rewarding the design and construction process can be when technology and culture embrace a new era of innovation.

•••

www.metrorailnews.in

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45

Digital Transformation in The Railway Industry

L

ike most industries over the last few years, rail transport is experiencing a tidal wave of digital transformation whose impact is difficult to imagine. By embracing digitalization in all spheres of its operations — such as asset management, signaling, manufacturing and passenger information system — the Railways is on track to improving its revenues and passenger experience.

when did this digital transformation started?

It started with providing free WiFi service in railway stations

The Railway Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, recently said that technology is the only one that can have a direct effect on the railways. Furthermore, with metro rails resuming service in stages, digital technologies aid demand management, social distancing and provide authorities and passengers with realtime information.

The fourth industrial revolution — Railway 4.0 — has marked the gradual digitalization of railways. It improves the operating performance of properties by upgrading railway networks, facilities, processes, signaling, and rolling stock. They’re being re-imagined, planned, delivered, and run with technology that brings stakeholders together in strategic collaborations, transforming the railways.

The Railways recently started using ‘Make in India’ 3D printer to design and print coach components in-house as per requirement. The Railway Minister also recently announced the plan to redesign passenger coaches as per international standards to make them safer, comfortable and faster.

Of course, sudden transformation was impossible for Indian rail sector which count third largest in the world. So where and

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The free WiFi service was launched at Mumbai Central railway station in January 2016. Google India and Indian Railways’ telecom arm RailTel has launched free Rail Wire Public Wi-Fi service for railway passengers at the Mumbai Central Station.

With this, Mumbai Central has become the first railway station in India to have free high-speed Wi-Fi Internet facility In April 2016, the service was expanded to 9 more railway stations. Government has proposed to provide internet facility in moving trains. Indian Railways is planning to build a high speed mobile Broadband Corridor along its track to provide internet facility to passengers. Now passengers can enjoy uninterrupted www.metrorailnews.in

ARTICLE internet service at railway stations, as Indian Railways has now equipped as many as 5,628 railway stations on the network with free WiFi facility.

Improving the signaling system

signaling permissible speed, thus improving protection and punctuality. The government is using the Building Information Modelling (BIM) method to develop and construct trainsignaling systems as part of its efforts to modernize 8,000 railway stations. The use of 3D technology aids in the visualization of equipment life-cycles and the resolution of problems created by data communication errors. The infrastructure 3D model technology also recognizes the oncoming train and its speed, records data image and helps with 3D visualization of railway track with all assets, train driver simulations and digital track capturing.

Via emerging platforms, the Indian rail network is constantly improving the passenger experience. Face recognition, emergency talk-back, WiFi infotainment, electronic plug-door, and phase access are only a few of the new features that have totally transformed the passenger travel experience.

By switching to electrified routes with improved signaling, technical advances are increasing the capability of railway networks. This modernization of the signaling system entails the introduction of the European Train Control System (ETCS), which ensures that the train’s speed limit is consistent with the

Technology and innovation have changed the face of the railways in recent years, as it has welcomed digitalization in all aspects of its activities, including equipment control, train signaling, manufacturing, passenger information systems, and coach factory automation. The railway sector would drive modern railway intelligence as a result of its digital transition, allowing for improved industry-wide awareness and business model innovation. The move to connect trains and stations with Wi-Fi is a revolutionary one and it’s bound to have a positive impact on many other aspects of life in the country.

•••

www.metrorailnews.in

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47

PROJECT OF THE MONTH

The Metro for the city of Taj Mahal: Agra Metro

Information Agra Metro is a 29.40 km urban Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) with 2 lines and 28 stations under construction in the city of Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

Agra Metro Phase 1 project’s DPR (Detailed Project Report) was prepared

by RITES and submitted to the UP state government for approval on June 30, 2016. In 2017, the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRCL) was assigned as the ‘coordinator’ to bring all stakeholders together and get the project started.

The project received the Central Government’s Cabinet approval in February 2019, and was cleared for construction by the Supreme Court in July 2020 with a list of 11 conditions that UPMRCL must adhere to.

Construction work on Phase 1’s first 4 km section (Taj East Gate – Taj Mahal

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Ramp) started on December 7, 2020 with the Prime Minister inaugurating works remotely. Its Priority Corridor comprises of a 7 km section with 6 stations (3 underground and 3 elevated) between Jama Masjid and Taj East Gate.

The project is proposed to be financed partly from the Government of India and Govt. of Uttar Pradesh on equal equity basis, and partly as soft loan from Bilateral/Multilateral international funding agency/agencies.

1435 mm • OHE

Electrification: 25 kV, 50 Hz AC

• Signalling: Communicationsbased train control (CBTC) Key Figures •

Operational: 0 km

•

Under Construction: 4 km

Phase 1’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared in December 2017 and Supplementary DPR was prepared in January 2019.

•

Approved: 25.40 km

Agra Metro’s Deadline: March 2024 (Priority Corridor) and 2026 (Phase 1) System Specifications

• Estimated Ridership: 7.36 lakh/ day (2031)

• • •

Top Speed: 80 kmph Average Speed: 34 kmph Track Gauge: Standard Gauge –

• Estimated (Line-1)

Cost:

8,379.62

cr

• Estimated Coaches: 87 Agra Metro Phase 1 Route

www.metrorailnews.in

PROJECT OF THE MONTH

Line-1: Sikandra – Taj East Gate

Agra Metro Fares (Ticket Prices)

• Length: 14.25 km • Type: Elevated (6.569 km) and underground (7.681 km) • Depot: PAC Depot (16.3 hectares) • Number of Stations: 14 • Station Names: Sikandra, Guru Ka Taal, ISBT, Shastri Nagar (future), RBS College, Raja Ki Mandi, St. John’s (Agra University), Medical College, Jama Masjid, Agra Fort, Taj Mahal (Purani Mandi), Fatehabad Road, Basai & Taj East Gate

Agra Metro’s fare structure, prices and rules have not been announced yet.

That will be finalized closer to the start of commercial operations. UPMRCL

plans to use the latest technologies for its automatic fare collection (AFC) system to allow QR codes and Near Field Communication (NFC) phones to utilize the system.

Agra Metro Major Contractors

Line-2: Agra Cantt. – Kalindi Vihar • Length: 15.40 km • Type: Elevated • Depot: Kalindi Vihar Depot (11.9 hectares) • Number of Stations: 15 • Station Names: Agra Cantt., Sultanpura, Sadar Bazaar, Pratap Pura (future), Collectorate, Subhash Park, St. John’s (Agra University), Hariparvat Chauraha, Sanjay Place, MG Road, Sultanganj Crossing, Kamla Nagar, Rambagh, Foundary Nagar, Mandi Samiti (Agra Mandi) & Kalindi Vihar Agra Metro Phase 1 Route Map Official line colors have not announced.

www.metrorailnews.in

been

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49

Appointment

Sanjay K Mohanty appointed as new (Operations & Business Development) Railway Board

S

anjay Kumar Mohanty, a 1984 batch of Indian Railways Traffic Service (IRTS), has been appointed as a new Member (Operations & Business Development) Railway Board (Ministry of Railways) and Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government of India by the Ministry of Railways.

Today, Shri Mohanty took over from Shri P. S. Mishra, IRTS, as new Member (Operations & Business Development) Railway Board and Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government of India. Prior to being appointed to the Railway Board, Shri Mohanty was the General Manager of the South Eastern Railway Shri Sanjay Kumar Mohanty is a Delhi

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School of Economics alumnus and a member of the Indian Railways Traffic Service’s 1984 batch (IRTS). He held a number of important positions in the Indian Railways, including Principal Executive Director (Traffic Transportation)/Railway Board, Senior Deputy General Manager & Chief Vigilance Officer in the East Coast Railway, Divisional Railway Manager in the Khurda Road Division, and so on.

Shri Mohanty also served in senior positions at Mumbai, Nagpur, Jhansi, and the Konkan Railway, where he was regarded as the System Builder for numerous administrative and train-operational developments. His contribution to Indian Railways’ rail transportation is notable, extensive, and varied.

The post of Member (Operations & Business Development) was established last year as part of the Ministry of Railways Railway Board re-structure strategy to run the board like a corporation. AM/Traffic Transportation is classified under Railway Board Member (Operations and Business Development), led by PEDmM, PED/ Chg, AM/T&C, AM/C, and AM/Marketing and Business Development.

•••

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Appoinment

Metro and Railway Industry Events Calender

Dates

Event Name

Venue

April 28-30, 2021

InnoMetro 2021

Virtual

May 12-14, 2021

ElectroTrans

Moscow, Russia

May 20-21, 2021

6th Smart Ticketing & Digital Services Forum

Virtual

May 26-27, 2021

The Rise of IoT & Big Data in Rail

Virtual

31st May-02nd June 2022

28th International Exhibition for Track Technology (iaf)

Virtual

June 16-17, 2021

Rail Live 2021

Quinton Rail Technology Centre, Warwickshire, UK

June 21-23, 2021

Conference on Railway Excellence (CORE) 2021

Virtual

July 12 - 17, 2021

Rail DIGI Expo

Virtual

Aug 25-27, 2021

RailwayTech Indonesia 2021

Jakarta, Indonesia

Sept 07-09, 2021

Railtex / Infrarail 2021

NEC, Birmingham

Sept 15-16, 2021

Asia Pacific Rail 2021

BITEC, Bangkok, Thailand.

Sep 07-08, 2021

7th Railway Forum

Berlin, Germany

Sep 30, 2021

ROLLING STOCK NETWORKING

Derby Velodrome

07 - 09 Sep 2021

Infra Rail

NEC, Birmingham

Sep 29 - Oct 01 2021

HTS-2021

Mumbai, India

Oct. 26-28, 2021

Intermodal Europe 2021

RAI AMSTERDAM

Oct 12 - 13, 2021

Middle East Rail

Dubai, UAE

20 - 22 Oct, 2021

RAIL EXPO

Kyiv

Oct. 21-23, 2021

International Railway Equipment Exhibition 2021 (IREE)

New Delhi, India

Oct 27-29, 2021

PowerGen India

IECC, PRAGATI MAIDAN, NEW DELHI, INDIA

Oct 29-31, 2021

Urban Mobility Conference & Expo 2021

Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, Kerala, India

Nov 1 - 3, 2021

Smart Transit USA

Denver, US

Nov 9-10, 2021

Move

London, ExCeL

18-20 Oct 2021

Smart Metro

Vienna, Austria

Nov 25-27, 2021

EURASIA RAIL

TÜYAP, Istanbul.

30 Nov- 2 Dec 2021

Rail Live! 2021

IFEMA, Madrid

Dec 14-17, 2021

UITP Global Public Transport Summit

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Mar 03-05, 2022

Construct Maharashtra

Hall No 6, Bombay exhibition center, Mumbai, India

Mar. 09-11, 2022

6th Smart Cities India 2021 Expo

Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India

Mar. 23-24, 2022

Geo Connect Asia 2020

Singapore

Mar 08-10 2022

RailTech Europe 2021

Digital event

Sep. 20-23, 2022

InnoTrans 2020

Berlin, Germany

20 - 23 Sep, 2022

INNO TRANS

BERLIN

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END OF TRAIN TELEMETRYLIVE TENDER Server Station

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Tracking Of SBU Via GSM Network Logging In SBU and CDU Emergency Brakes From Last Wagon Service Brakes From Last Wagon Air Generator Last Wagon Brake Pressure Display Train Integrity Is Insured Speed Of Locomotive And Last Wagon Length And Change In Length Of Train Master Unit CAB 1

Slave Unit CAB 2

Demonstrating In front of Honourable “PM Sri Narendra Modi Ji” At Rail Vikas Shivir in Surajkund Hariyana

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