Metro Rail Today April 2021 by Urban Transport News

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VOLUME 01 | ISSUE 01 | NEW DELHI | COVER PRICE INR 250.00

METRO RAIL TODAY NEWS, INSIGHTS, ANALYSIS, PROJECTS AND BUSINESS INFO FOR RAIL AND METRO INDUSTRY

Technocrat to Politician Journey of Metro Man E. Sreedharan

History of Metro Rail in India Trams to Driverless Metro

Case Study Hyderabad travels safe through Hyderabad Metro Rail

Lucknow Metro Transforming lives of City

Kumar Keshav

UP’s Metro Man setting new heights by developing State-of-the-art urban rail transit system in the state

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From All The Information Sources That You Trust …

METRO RAIL TODAY | APRIL 2021 | ISSUE 01

REGULAR COLUMNS

Editorial Advisory Board

Subscription Form

Editor’s Note

Round Up

Construction Updates

Tender Watch

Urban Rail Progress

Editorial Calendar and Rate Card

26 INTERVIEW 26

Kumar Keshav

Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation

Mr. Anil Munjal

CEO, Riello Power India

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

24 EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE 21

History of Metro Rail in India: Trams to Driverless Metro

Lucknow Metro: Celebrating over three successful years of smart public transit services

32 04

By Metro Rail Today, New Delhi

Metro Rail Projects in Uttar Pradesh By Metro Rail Today, New Delhi

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

Mega Virtual Exhibition on Urban Rail and Equipment Business 2021 (June 1 – July 31, 2021) By Urban Transport News

2nd Rail Infra and Mobility Business Summit & Awards 2021 By Urban Transport News

3-day Webinar on Rail & Metro Infrastructure 2021 (June 28-30, 2021) By Urban Transport News

You can submit your article, case studies, editorial and advertorial for our next issue by April 25, 2021 WWW.METRORAILTODAY.COM

54 CASE STUDY

Hyderabad Travels Safe Through Hyderabad Metro Rail By Metro Rail Today

ARTICLES/OPINION

INNOVATION IN RAIL

Can digitalisation help make metro travel safe? By Mihir J. Shah, Partner – Government & Public Sector, Strategy & Transactions, EY India

How sustainable and successful in Delhi Metro?

By Thales SA, France

WOMEN SAFETY 52

By Anushka Ghosh, Analyst – Core Knowledge Services, Deloitte

Vietnam’s Transport Enterprises: Shining forth in a special year By Metro Rail Today

Atmanirbhar Bharat: Indigenising Metro Transit By Amruta Ponkshe, Sr.Associate, MSCI Inc.

Six innovations which are shaping the future of rail and metro

By Luke Upton, Welsh Journalist, Smart Rail World

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Urban mobility for women empowerment in the decade of action By Shruti Jain, Junior Fellow, ORF’s Centre for New Economic Diplomacy

IN SPOTLIGHT

54 47

Thales Launches A New CBTC Generation, Digitalized And Autonomy Ready

Technocrat to Politician: Journey of Metro Man E. Sreedharan By Metro Rail Today, New Delhi

EVENTS 57

Industry Event Calendar 2021

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

METRO RAIL TODAY MAGAZINE

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Our distinguished advisory board has been assembled to guide Metro Rail Today Magazine to become even more representative of rail, metro and urban transport industry. Members have been invited from the highest levels of the industry and academic/research institutions to ensure high quality content so that the magazine can continue on its path of success.

Dr. Vinay Maitri Professor & Dean School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi

Dr. Richa Chowdhary Associate Professor University of Delhi, New Delhi

Ar. Priyanka Kumar Urban Planner Regional Centre for Urban & Environmental Studies, Lucknow

Karuna Gopal Smart Cities Advisor Foundation for Futuristic Cities, Hyderabad

Dr. Vivek Vaidyanathan Sudhanshu Mani, IRSME Urban Transport Scientist Urban Rail Expert Center for Study of Science, Ex-GM/ICF, Indian Railways Technology & Policy (CSTEP), Bangalore

Dr. Surabhi Singh Associate Professor Institute of Management Studies (IMS), Ghaziabad

MC Chauhan, IRSEE Railway Expert Ex. Chairman –KMRC, Ex. GM/NCR, Indian Railways

Dr. Valavan Amudhan Keshav Mishra Rail & Transit Infra Expert, Vice Public Transport Expert Executive Director-TECHSACS President GR Infraprojects Ltd

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VOL. I / ISSUE 01

APRIL 2021

Mamta Shah Managing Editor Vinod Shah Head - Marketing Anushka Khare Associate Editor Naomi Pandya Associate Editor Surya Prakash Head of Design Pushpa Shah Production Manager Vandana Shukla Distribution Manager Metro Rail Today Magazine is being published monthly by:

Urban Transport News F-35, First Floor, Pankaj Grand Plaza, Mayur Vihar Phase-I, New Delhi-110091 Tel: 011-4248 4505, +91-9716 4545 05 E-mail: editor@urbantransportnews.com Web: www.urbantransportnews.com Subscriptions: Metro Rail News Magazine is sent without obligation to professionals and key opinion leaders working in urban transport industry in India and other countries. However, publisher reserves the right to limit the number of copies. Cover Price: Print ₹ 250.00, Digital- ₹100.00 Annual: Print ₹ 3000.00, Digital: ₹ 1000.00 All subscriptions payable in advance. Print circulation available in India only. © Urban Transport News | All rights reserved. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. For reprint, circulation in outside India, please contact: editor@urbantransportnews.com Edited and published by Mrs. Mamta Shah, Managing Editor from Digital Singrauli, 101, First Floor, Near Income Tax Office, Waidhan, District Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh 486886, India. Disclaimer: The facts and opinions expressed by the authors/contributors here do not reflect the views of editorial team or editorial board of Urban Transport News or Metro Rail Today Magazine.

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Dear Readers I am very excited to announce that we have finally launched our new magazine Metro Rail Today and it is no longer ours but it has become a public asset. Indeed it was a long desire of Urban Transport News to bring such magazine specifically for the Metro and Rail sectors. These sectors have a great future ahead and they play a very crucial role in the overall development of public transit systems of any nation. Whether it be Metro projects or RRTS, everything is going to get due coverage in this magazine in the near future. Our editorial team has worked rigorously to bring a product that you will surely find worthy I hope. A lot of developments are happening in the Metro and Rail Sectors and this magazine will be covering those aspects of these sectors with a unique approach. As you already have this first issue of the magazine in your hand, I hope that you will surely love reading it. The aims and scope of the new magazine are ambitious but at the same time very simple; to promote and spread high quality innovation in rail and metro sectors by publishing peer-reviewed original works. It is published for an international audience of scholars, industry professionals and like-minded people interested in keeping up-to-date with recent development and rail and metro sectors across the world. Our website elaborates the aims and scope somewhat further by saying that rail and metro sectors are the spine of transport infrastructure and we should keep focus on realistic development. In the very first edition, we have featured the developments about the Lucknow Metro which celebrated its anniversary recently. Our scope is very genuine and we are hopeful that this magazine will surely be able to connect different stakeholders of the Metro and Rail sectors. Although we haven't much focused on the traditional Rail networks, we continue to provide a deep insight into the developments of the new Rail technologies and the changes which make the sector fast-growing. We have covered the interviews of Kumar Keshav, Managing Director, UPMRC and Anil Munjal, CEO, Riello Power India. The two people have made huge success in their respective fields and we have brought the insights directly from the industry. The journey for Metro Rail Today has finally begun and I hope that you will love to have it on your desk. Please share your valuable feedback on the content of this edition so that we can improve and provide more useful information in our future issues. Stay Safe and Stay Happy! Mamta Shah Managing Editor editor@urbantransportnews.com

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH Gujarat. Kumar Keshav, Managing Director of Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) inaugurated the manufacturing of the Rolling Stocks (Metro Trains). Total 39 trains of 3 Metro coaches each are to be supplied for both the corridors of the Kanpur Metro Project including Corridor-I i.e. From IIT to Naubasta and the Corridor-II i.e. From Agriculture University to Barra-8. These trains have been designed with assistance from Bombardier Germany and design experts at Bombardier's Hyderabad office. As per the estimated timeline, the first Metro Train set is to be delivered in Kanpur in the month of September, 2021.

Jaipur Metro proposes to run Metro Neo system on BRTS corridor The Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (JMRCL) is now planning to run an eco-friendly, rubber-tyred light rail transit system on the scrapped Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) Corridor in Jaipur city. In this regard, JMRC has sent a proposal to Rajasthan State Government for review and consideration of the Metro Neo project on BRTS. JMRC officials are thinking that this new model of the public transport system can provide a safe, eco-friendly, comfortable, and reliable transportation alternative to the city, without disturbing the existing infrastructure. The low-cost alternative to conventional metro rail has become the new buzzword for cities across India, including Delhi and Mumbai. After a recent traffic survey in the city, there is a finding that Metro Neo service could easily replace buses in the 7.3-meter wide existing BRTS corridor.

Madhya Pradesh Govt. scraps plan of Jabalpur and Gwalior Metro projects After seven years of the announcement, Madhya Pradesh Government finally scrapped its two ambitious metro rail projects which were planned to introduce in Jabalpur and Gwalior city. Now Government thinks that the costly metro rail system is not feasible for both cities. The state government said the metro rail project is not feasible in the cities where the population is less than 20 lakh according to the new Metro Rail Policy of the Central Government and hence the government has decided to scrap the plan. The government has expended over 31 lakh rupees in preparation of feasibility reports for Jabalpur and Gwalior Metro Rail projects in 2017. The feasibility report was submitted in October 2017.

JMRC finalised DPR of Rs 4,546 crore Jaipur Metro Phase 2 Alstom commences production of Rolling Stock coaches for Kanpur Metro French multinational firm Alstom Transport started manufacturing of Metro coaches for the Kanpur Metro Rail Project at Bombardier’s Savli plant located near Vadodara,

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

After spending too much time, Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (JMRC) has now finalized the revised detailed project report (DPR) of Phase 2 of the Jaipur Metro Rail project. Under Phase 2, a total of 23.5 km metro rail network has been planned between India Gate and Ambabari at the estimated cost of Rs 4,546 crore. The

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ROUND UP

Phase 2 corridor will have 21 elevated metro stations such as Sitapura Industrial Area, Shatabdi Nagar, Pratap Nagar, Sanganer, Sitabari, Bapu Nagar, Rambagh, C Scheme, Chandpole, Bani Park, Sirampura, Ambabari, Prominent hospitals like SMS Hospital, Apollo Spectra, Zanana and also connects Jaipur International Airport.

Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor Project. The MoU was signed between both organisation through a virtual event. Under this contract agreement, JRTC will provide the detailed design and drawing of major High Speed Rail track components like RC Track bed, Track slab arrangement and continuous welded rail (CWR) forces etc. The virtual event was attended by Achal Khare, Managing Director, Rajendra Prasad, Director Project, Vijay Kumar, Director Rolling Stock and other senior officers from NHSRCL, Miyamoto Minister from Embassy of Japan to India, Katsuo Matsumoto, Chief Representative, JICA and Horiyama, President, JRTC.

Gujarat Govt. allocates Rs 2,068 crores for Bullet Train and Metro Rail projects In its state budget 2021-22, Gujarat Government has allocated Rs 2,068 crore for India's first bullet project Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor and other Metro Rail projects being executed/planned in the state. A total of Rs 1,500 crores has been allocated for the bullet train project. While Rs 568 crore has been allocated for the under-construction Ahmedabad and Surat Metro rail project including Metro Lite and Metro Neo projects for Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar.

Maharashtra cabinet approves Rs 16,039 crore Pune-Nashik Semi High Speed Rail Corridor The Maharashtra Government cabinet approved the muchawaited double line semi-high-speed rail corridor to connect Pune with Nashik within the state. The PuneNashik Semi High-Speed Rail project is estimated to cost Rs 16,039 crore. Once started, the Pune-Nashik Semi HSR line would reduce the travel time between these cities from the present 6 hours to less than 2 hours (1 hour 45 minutes), boosting passenger and freight movements. It will also facilitate the creation of the Mumbai-Pune-Nashik golden triangle as an emerging economic hub. The PuneNashik Semi HSR project will be executed by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (MRIDC) which is a joint venture of the Government of Maharashtra and the Ministry of Railways, with an objective to boost rail infrastructure projects in the state by providing critical connectivity and capacity enhancement.

NHSRCL signs MoU with Japanese firm for designs of High Speed Rail Track works

LiDAR survey begins for preparation of DPR for Mumbai-Nagpur Bullet Train Project

The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) on March 12, 2021 signed a Memorandum of Undertaking (MoU) with Japan Railway Track Consultant Co. Limited (JRTC) for the Designs of High Speed Rail (HSR) Track works for T2 package (237 km between Vadodara - Vapi in Gujarat state) for Mumbai-Ahmedabad

The LiDAR survey for preparation of detailed project report (DPR) for Mumbai-Nagpur High Speed Rail Corridor (approx. 736 km) started on March 12, 2021, where an airplane fitted with state of art Aerial LiDAR and Imagery sensors took the first flight and captured the data related to the ground survey. NHSRCL is adopting Light

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METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

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Detection and Ranging Survey (LiDAR) technology which provides all the ground details and data in 3-4 months wherein this process normally takes 10-12 months. The survey work is assigned to SECON – Helica Joint Venture.

Corporation (DMRC) whose tenure comes to end this month on March 31, 2021. The extension was accorded by Delhi Government's Transport Department after getting approval from the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Govt. of India this week. In this regard, a separate order has been issued on Wednesday by the Transport department. This was the third extension given to Mr. Singh. The first extension of tenure came in December 2016. Mr. Singh had taken over the charge of Managing Director of the DMRC from E Sreedharan on December 31, 2011. He is associated with DMRC since its inception.

Maharashtra spends Rs 22,624.29 crores on nine on-going Metro projects in Mumbai Maharashtra government has spent Rs 22,624.29 crores on nine under-construction Metro Rail projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) till October 2020, according to the economic survey of Maharashtra tabled during the legislative session on Friday. Out of this, Rs 15,910 has been incurred on the 33.5-km Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz). According to the report, the state government has incurred a cost of Rs 2,470 crores on Mumbai Metro Line 2A (Dahisar-DN Nagar) and Rs 1,996.17 crores on Mumbai Metro Line 7 (Dahisar EAndheri E), which are expected to be operational this year. The government has also spent Rs 475 crores on Mumbai Metro Line 6 (Swami Samarth Nagar-Vikhroli). The state plans to build an integrated metro car shed for Metro-3, Metro-6, and Metro-4 (Wadala-Thane-Kasarwadavali).

Public Investment Board approves Rs 2,092 crores Nashik MetroNeo Project Public Investment Board (PIB) under Ministry of Finance approved the proposal of India’s first MetroNeo project in Nashik. The Project has 2 corridors with a network of 33 km with 30 stations. It proposes an investment of Rs 2,092 crore. Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha Metro) will execute the Nasik MetroNeo Project. The MetroNeo system will provide commuters improved connectivity & travel experience at par with conventional metros i.e. comfort, convenience, cost-effectiveness, punctuality, safe & environment friendly. In the same breath, Nashik has recently been the centre of major infrastructural developments in Maharashtra.

JICA, GoI signs Rs 12,107 crore loan agreement for Delhi and Bangalore Metro projects

Govt. extends tenure of Delhi Metro Chief Mangu Singh till September Delhi Government has given six months extension to Mangu Singh, Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

The Japanese financial institution Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on 26th March 2021 signed an official development assistance loan agreement with the Government of India to extend financial support of approximately Rs 12,107 crores for the development of the next phases of metro rail projects in Delhi and Bengaluru. For the construction of Phase 4 corridors of the Delhi Metro Rail project, JICA will provide Rs 8,390 crores to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC). This loan is utilised for three priority corridors comprising of extension of 12.5 km Line 7 (Mukundpur - Maujpur), 28.9 km Line 8

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RITES-SMEC JV signs General Consultancy contract for Haryana Orbit Rail Corridor

(Janakpuri West - RK Ashram) and a new corridor spanning 23.6 km between Aerocity and Tughalakabad. For the construction of Phase 2 corridors of the Bangalore Metro Rail project, JICA will provide Rs 3,717 crores to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRC). This loan is utilised for the construction of Reach 6 (Kalena Agaraha – Nagawara, 21.39 km), Phase 2A (Silk Board - KR Puram, 20 km) and Phase 2B (KR Puram – Kempegowda International Airport, 38 km).

A joint venture of RITES Limited and SMEC has signed a contract worth Rs 72 crores with Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC) on March 31, 2021 for providing General Consultancy Services for 121.74 km Haryana Orbit Rail Corridor (HORC) from Palwal to Sonipat. The contract was signed by Piyush Kansal, Executive Director, Urban Infrastructure at RITES Ltd (on behalf of RITES-SMEC JV) and Narinder D. Chumber, Director, Project & Planning at HRIDC in the presence of Dinesh Chandra Deshwal, IRSEE, Managing Director, HRIDC; Rajiv Mehrotra, Chairman & Managing Director, RITES Ltd; VG Suresh Kumar, Director, Projects, RITES Ltd and Andrew McKune, Executive Director, SMEC.

The project would help decongest Delhi by diverting goods and passengers trains not originated/destined for Delhi. It would also be beneficial to industrial and logistics hubs of Kharkhoda, Manesar and Sohna and would help develop additional hubs in the region.

IL&FS wins Gurgaon Rapid Metro case, Haryana Govt to pay Rs 1,925 crores The Supreme Court of India on March 26, 2021 passed an order directing Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) to deposit Rs 1,925 crores in an escrow account owed to lenders by two IL&FS companies, which were operating Gurgaon Rapid Metro in Gurgaon. IL&FS Transportation Ltd on said that the Apex Court had passed an order in its favour in the Gurgaon Rapid Metro case. “As part of the judgment, the Apex Court directed the HSVP to deposit 80% of total ‘debt due’ (more than Rs 2,400 crores), amounting to Rs 1,925 crores, within three months, into the escrow account," the company said. IL&FS was a concessioner of the Gurgaon Rapid Metro developed through its two subsidiaries viz. Rapid Metro Rail Gurgaon Ltd. (RMGL) and Rapid Metro Rail Gurgaon South Ltd. (RMGSL) in 2009 and 2013 respectively.

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

SMEC appointed Ashish Kumar to lead rail and metro business in India Major infrastructure company SMEC announced the appointment of Ashish Kumar as Head of Rail & Metro Business in India. Ashish joins SMEC with over 22 years’ extensive experience in managing large, multidisciplinary teams and delivering infrastructure projects in the UK, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Prior to his appointment at SMEC, Ashish’s previous roles and experience include Head of the Infrastructure Vertical of Systra MVA India, Technical Director AECOM, and Director Colliers International. SMEC is currently working on a broad portfolio of rail and metro projects in India, including the Chennai Metro Phase II, Detailed Design for Bangalore Metro Phases 2A & 2B, the Dedicated Freight Corridor and Mumbai Metro Line 6.

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CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

Kolkata Metro: Afcons team commences construction work on Corridor-6 at City Centre 2 The project team of Afcons Infrastructure has started ground work at City Centre 2 to construct 3.519 km mostly elevated extension from Sub CBD-2 Station to Kolkata Airport (Biman Bandar) under Package ANVS of Corridor6 (Kavi Subhash/New Garia – Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport) of Kolkata Metro Rail project on March 1, 2021.

Mumbai Metro: CRRC completes installation of PSD at first platform of Line-7 The project team from CRRC Zhuzhou Times Electric completed installing the first half-height Platform Screen Door (PSD) at Akurli Station of Line 7 (Dahisar East – Andheri East ) of Mumbai Metro Rail Project on March 2, 2021.

Ahmedabad Metro: Afcons team conducts Pile Load Tests for Phase 2 work The project team from Afcons Infrastructure and Cimec Technologies conducted initial vertical pile load tests at at six sites between Motera Stadium and GNLU for the construction of Phase 2 corridor of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project. The tests were performed to find the ultimate load the pile foundation can support or bear when loaded. The test results will be used to validate the safe pile capacity considered for supporting the viaduct’s superstructure.

CRRC commences construction of Metro Coach Plant at Sri City CRRC India, a subsidiary of CRRC Corporation, held ground breaking ceremony on March 3, 2021 to launch construction on its new metro coach manufacturing plant in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh to supply metro cars in India, West Asia and Africa. The new plant will be developed in a 45.3 acres land parcel in the Domestic Tariff Zone (DTZ)

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with an initial investment of Rs 350 crore. CRRC had awarded a civil contract worth Rs 136.54 crore to Ocean Lifespaces India in July 2020.

Pune Metro: TBM S81 commenced Tunneling work at Swargate The project team from Gulermak and Tata Projects Ltd. commissioned tunnel boring machine (TBM S81 at Swargate Station of 16.589 km Purple Line of Phase 1 of Pune Metro Rail Project on March 2, 2021. The Terratec made Ø6.61m earth pressure balance (EPB) machine passed factory acceptance tests (FAT) in January 2020 and arrived in Pune in February 2020 for building the 2.74 km tunnels under Package UGC-02.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR: L&T commences Piling work for Package C6 The project team of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) started piling works at Rayka Village near Vadodara on March 5, 2021, construction of the 87.569 km section under Package C6 of the Mumbai – Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project. This is the third longest package of the entire line, and connects Vadodara with Ahmedabad through one station and a minor depot at Anand-Nadiad.

Mumbai Metro: Afcons Infrastructure launches first U-Girder for Line 5 The project team of Afcons Infrastructure and Tara Chand Logistics erected the first two 28m U-girders for Line 5 of Mumbai near Balkum Naka Metro Station’s site in Thane on March 7, 2021. The team had started casting U-girders at their Dapode yard in December 2020 and planned to launch approximately 800 U-girders by the end of 2022.

Delhi-Meerut RRTS: L&T launches first segment of Package 3 The project team from Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T)

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launched first 10.5m wide precast segments at two different locations for the construction of 33-km section of DelhiMeerut RRTS corridor under Package – 3 (Lot 1 & Lot 2) on March 7, 2021. NCRTC had awarded both lots for Rs 784 crore and Rs 1,014 crores under contract package-3 on March 19, 2020 to complete each work with a deadline of 2.5 years.

alignment on a scale of 1:2500 will be available for designing of the vertical & horizontal alignment, structures, location of the stations and depots, Land requirement for the corridor, identification of project affected plots/structures, Right of Way etc. This high speed rail line will connect Mumbai to Nagpur through 12 stations within Maharashtra.

Surat Metro: Test piling works begins for Phase 1 corridors

Bangalore Metro: Third Line Testing started on Mysore Road – Kengeri Extension Line

The project team from Sadbhav Engineering Ltd. and SP Singla Constructions Pvt. Ltd started test piling work at Dream City to construct the first 11.6 km elevated section of Surat Metro Rail project (Phase 1) on March 11, 2021. Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation had awarded the contract worth Rs 779.73 crores to Sadbhav Engg – SP Singla Construction JV for constrcution of 11.6 km stretch between Kadarsha Ni Nal – Dream City under Package CS1 in January 2021.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) started testing the 750 V DC Third Rail system on 7.5 km strech (Mysore Road – Kengeri Bus Terminal ) of Purple Line of Bangalore Metro Rail project on March 16, 2021. The trial run this section is scheduled for April 7, 2021.

Bangalore Metro: TBM S-1264 commences tunneling at Rashtriya Military School Station The project team from Afcons Infrastructure Ltd commissioned tunnel boring machine S-1264 at Rashtriya Military School Station (near Vellara Junction) for construction of 3.655 km underground stretch (Rashtriya Military School Station – Dairy Circle Ramp) under Package RT-01 of Phase 2 of Bangalore Metro Rail project on March 12, 2021. This stretch is part of 21.386 km Pink Line of Bangalore Metro that will connect Nagawara to Kalena Agrahara through 18 stations.

Mumbai Metro: J Kumar Infraprojects launches first U-Girder for Line 4A The project team of J Kumar Infraprojects launched the first of 296 U-girders for Line 4A of Mumbai Metro Rail project at Ghodbunder Road in Owale, Thane West on March 11, 2021. MMRDA has awarded a contract worth Rs 342 crore to J Kumar Infraprojects under Package CA54 in September 2019. The 2.88 km Line 4A will connect Kasarvadavali to Gaimukh through new 2 stations at Gowniwada and Gaimukh.

Mumbai - Nagpur HSR: Aerial survey works commences for high speed rail corridor The project team from SECON – Helica JV started light detection and ranging (LiDAR) survey work for the 741 km Mumbai – Nagpur High Speed Rail Corridor project. During the Aerial LiDAR survey, 150 mtrs of area around the proposed alignment is being captured for the survey purpose. After the collection of data, Three Dimensional (3D) Topographical map of corridor of the proposed

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

Mumbai Metro: First U-Girder launched for Line 6 under Package 2 The project team of MBZ and Eagle Infra India erected the first two 25m U-girders for 15.18 km Line-6 under Contract Package BC-02 of Mumbai Metro Rail project on March 17, 2021. The Line 6 will connect Swami Samarth Nagar in Lokhandwala with Vikhroli through 13 elevated stations.

Bangalore Metro: Track work started on Electronic City Line Texmaco Rail and Engineering started flash butt welding work to install tracks on Electronic City Line of Bangalore Metro Rail Project. The 19.143 km Yellow Line will connect RV Road – Electronic City – Bommasandra through elevated 16 stations.

Bangalore Metro: Afcons Infrastructure lowers TBM S-1259 at Dairy Circle The project team of Afcons Infrastructure Ltd started lowering of parts of Herrenknecht make tunnel boring machine S-1259 at Dairy Circle Ramp for building 3.655 km underground stretch of Reach 6 under Package RT-01 Rashtriya Military School Station – Dairy Circle Ramp) on March 21, 2021. This section is part of 21.386 km Pink Line of Banaglore Metro rail Project that will connect Nagawara – Kalena Agrahara through 18 stations.

Pune Metro: TBM S78 & S79 started tunneling towards Budhwar Peth station The project team of Gulermak and Tata Projects Ltd. Started tunneling work towards Budhwar Peth station of Purple Line of Pune Metro Rail project on March 23, 2021. For this two TBMs Mutha (S78) and Mula (S79) have been deployed at Civil Court Station for building twin tunnels.

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METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

TENDER WATCH

FRESH TENDERS Project

Scope of Work

Issue Date

Closing Date

Authority

Mumbai Metro

Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Testing, and Commissioning of Telecommunication system for Main Lines and Depot of Line 4 and extension corridor (Wadala – Kasarvadavali – Gaimukh) of Mumbai Metro Rail Project

09.03.2021

18.05.2021

MMRDA

Indore Metro

Design and Construction of Elevated Viaduct between Ch.14+488 & Ch.25+415, viaduct connecting Depot leading upto interface location, Nine (9) elevated Metro Rail Stations (Gandhi Nagar, Super Corridor 6, Super Corridor 5, Super Corridor 4, Super Corridor 3, Super Corridor 2, Super Corridor 1, Bhawarsala Square and MR 10 Road) including all Civil, Structural, Roof structure, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) works, Architectural finishes, Façade, Entry/Exits, FOB, Viaduct within the stations including Transition spans for Indore Metro Rail Project Yellow Line.

10.03.2021

30.04.2021

MPMRCL

Delhi Metro

Design, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of 25 kV Overhead Equipment (OHE), 33 kV Auxiliary Power Supply for elevated section of Line-7 Ext. (Maujpur to Majlispark) and Augmentation works of Mukundpur depot of Delhi Metro MRTS Phase-IV.

17.03.2021

26.04.2021

DMRCL

Bangalore Metro

Construction of 7.5 km elevated viaduct & stations of from Gottigere to Swagath Road Cross (Chainage 00.00m to 7501.818m) including Kothanur Depot entry line, road widening & allied works and 5 numbers of metro stations viz. Gottigere, Hulimavi, IIMB, JP Nagar 4th Phase, Swagath Road Cross in Reach-6 of Bangalore Metro Rail Project, Phase-2 (Balance Works).

22.03.2021

06.05.2021

BMRCL

High Speed Rail

Preparation of General Arrangement Drawings (GADs) of Crossing Bridges over Rivers/Canals/Railways and Roads (Expressway, NH , SH and Major District Roads) and GADs of proposed Stations and Maintenance Depots for Detailed Project Report (DPR) of various HSR Corridors (About 2365 kms long)

22.03.2021

15.04.2021

NHSRCL

Nashik Metro

Design, Manufacture, Supply, Testing, Commissioning of Tyre Based Electric Bus Running on OHE for Nashik Metro Neo Project

22.03.2021

05.05.2021

Maha Metro

Bangalore Metro

General Consultants for Rolling Stock, Signaling and PSD works of Reach-6, Phase-2A and Phase 2B of Bangalore Metro Rail Project

27.03.2021

21.05.2021

BMRCL

Bangalore Metro

Consultancy Services for Inspection of Manufacturing Activities Witnessing of Factory Tests First Article inspections and factory Acceptance Tests of Rolling Stock and its SubSystems for the Rolling Stock being procured for BMRCL Phase-2 Network.

26.03.2021

13.05.2021

BMRCL

Bhopal Metro

Design and Construction of Eight (8) elevated Metro Rail Stations including Viaduct portion within the stations and Transition spans on either side of the stations (AIIMS, Alkapuri, Habibganj Naka, Habibganj, M.P Nagar Zone-1, DB City Mall, Kendriya Vidyalaya and Subhash Nagar) for Bhopal Metro Rail Project

31.03.2021

10.06.2021

MPMRCL

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

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TENDER WATCH

TENDER RESULTS Linxon awarded Power Bangalore Metro Phase 2

Supply

Contract

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRC) a contract worth Rs 530 crores to Linxon Pvt. Ltd for Engineering, Supply, Erection, Testing and Commissioning of 33KV Distribution, 750V DC Third Rail Traction Electrification including Traction Substations, Auxiliary Substations and SCADA System for Reach-5 and Reach-6 of Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-2.

HFCL bags Telecommunication contract of Kanpur & Agra Metro The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (UPMRC) a contract to HFCL Ltd for Design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of Fiber Optic Transmission System, Telephone System, Train Radio TETRA System, Public Address System, Passenger Information Display System, Master Clock System, CCTV System, Access Control System and Uninterrupted Power Supply System (for Signalling, Telecommunication, AFC and E&M equipment), supply of spares, DLP Maintenance and the training of operation and maintenance personnel for these systems for Kanpur Metro (Corridor-I and Corridor-II) and Agra Metro (Corridor-I) Projects on March 8, 2021.

Systra awarded UTO Consultancy contract of Reach 5 of Bangalore Metro The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRC) a contract to the consortium of SYSTRA – SYSTRA MVA Consulting (India) Pvt. Ltd for providing Consultancy services for UTO interface validation between various systems during Design as well as commissioning phases with regard to implementation of UTO operation in Reach5 of Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-2 network.

Tata Consulting-led JV wins Project Management Consultancy of Mumbai – Ahmedabad HSR The consortium comprising Tata Consulting Engineers – Consulting Engineers Group – Aarvee Associates – PADECO Co. emerged as the lowest bidder to provide Project Management Consultancy services for the construction of the 508.17 km Mumbai – Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project on March 22, 2021. The consortium had quoted Rs 1,014.94 crore to win the contract.

The Jindal Steel & Power Limited (JSPL) is the only bidder for Manufacturing and Supply of 1200 MT 90 UTS, UIC 60, 13 m, Class A 880 Grade Rails, IRS-T-12-2009 for New ISBT Patna Depot of Patna Metro Rail Project.

Yuksel-led JV wins General Consultancy Contract of Kolkata Metro’s Line 3 The consortium consisting of Yuksel Proje Ltd and Tumas emerged as lowest bidder for providing General Consultancy cum Project Management Consultancy works for Construction of Elevated and Underground Metro Railway Works from Majerhat (Ex.) to Esplanade, Approx. 6 km in connection with Joka-BBD Bag Metro Corridor on March 23, 2021. The consortium had quoted Rs 88.96 crore to won the contract.

KEC International-led JV wins Electrification Contract of Kolkata Metro’s Line 3 The consortium consisting of KEC International Ltd and Siemens Ltd emerged as lowest bidder for Engineering, Supply, Erection, Testing and Commissioning of 33 KV Power Distribution, Traction Substation, Auxiliary Substations and 750 V DC Third Rail Traction system for Joka-Majerhat Corridor (Mominpur) and Airport-New Garia Corridor (Hemendra Mukherjee (Excl.) to Bidhannagar of Metro Railway Kolkata on March 26, 2021. The consortium had quoted Rs 241 crore to win this contract (Package 3) of Kolkata Metro Rail Project.

KEC International-led JV wins Electrification Contract of Kolkata Metro’s Line 6 The consortium consisting of KEC International Ltd and Siemens Ltd emerged as lowest bidder for Engineering, Supply, Erection, Testing and Commissioning of 33 KV Power Distribution, Traction Substation, Auxiliary Substations and 750 V DC Third Rail Traction system for Airport-New Garia Corridor Bidhannagar (Excl.)Bimanbandar including New Town Depot of Metro Railway Kolkata on March 26, 2021. The consortium had quoted Rs 295 crore to win this contract (Package 4) of Kolkata Metro Rail Project.

JSPL is only bidder to supply 1200MT Rail for New ISBT Depot for Patna Metro

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METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

URBAN RAIL PROGRESS

Business Opportunities in Urban Rail Projects Investment Approved (in Rs/Crores)

Status of Urban Rail Projects in India

Agra Metro

12900

Ahmedabad Metro

System

Network Length (km)

OPERATIONAL

Metro Rail

697.5 19.5

Tram

38.0

Delhi Metrolite

Regional Rail (RRTS)

High Speed Rail

Total Network:

3345.5

6941

Chennai Metro

Monorail

2593.5

58193

Bhopal Metro Coimbatore Metro

Suburban Rail

16157

Bangalore Metro

85613 6683

Delhi Metro

117278 5587

Dholera Metro

7000

Gorakhpur Metro

4672

Gurgaon Metro

8736

Hyderabad Metro

18800

Indore Metro

7500

Jaipur Metro

7695

Jammu Metro

4825

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Kanpur Metro

System

Network Length (km)

Metro Rail

896.06

Metrolite

Suburban Rail

Regional Rail (RRTS)

85.15

High Speed Rail

508.18

Total Network:

1489.39

11076

Kochi Metro

8086

Kolkata Metro

47524

Kozhikode Metro

2773

Lucknow Metro

12374

Meerut Metro

11544

Mumbai Metro

140814

Mumbai Monorail

3000

Nagpur BG Metro

334

Nagpur Metro

19896

Navi Mumbai Metro

7633

Noida Metro

11185

Patna Metro

NEW APPROVED

System

Network Length (km)

Metro Rail Metrolite/MetroNeo Suburban Rail Regional Rail (RRTS) High Speed Rail Total Network:

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

626.67 69.85 252.96 224.7 4097.0 5271.18

13479

Pune Metro

24773

Srinagar Metro

5734

Surat Metro

12020

Thane Metro

7165

Trivandrum Metro

4219

Varanasi Metro

7000

Vijayawada Metro

15000

Visakhapatnam Metro

15933

Warangal Metro

1341

50000

100000

150000

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URBAN RAIL PROGRESS

METRO RAIL UNDER CONSTRUCTION METRO PROJECT

OPERATIONAL METRO RAIL NETWORK Project

Network (km)

Project

Network (km)

Ahmedabad Metro (Gujarat)

6.5

Meerut Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

20.0

Bangalore Metro (Karnataka)

42.3

Nagpur Metro (Maharashtra)

76.5

Chennai Metro (Tamil Nadu)

54.1

Navi Mumbai Metro (Maharashtra)

11.1

Delhi Metro (Delhi)

347.6

Patna Metro (Bihar)

31.39

Pune Metro (Maharashtra)

39.92

Surat Metro (Gujarat)

40.35

Gurgaon Rapid Metro (Haryana)

12.1

Hyderabad Metro (Telangana)

69.2

Jaipur Metro (Rajasthan)

12.0

Kochi Metro (Kerala)

25.0

Kolkata Metro (West Bengal)

39.2

Project

Lucknow Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

22.9

Dholera Metro (Gujarat)

100.0

Mumbai Metro (Maharashtra)

11.4

Delhi Metrolite (Delhi)

40.85

Mumbai Monorail (Maharashtra)

19.5

Mumbai Metro (Maharashtra)

Nagpur Metro (Maharashtra)

24.5

Nagpur BG Metro (Maharashtra)

268.63

Noida Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

29.7

Nashik Metro Neo (Maharashtra)

32.0

Kolkata Tram (West Bengal)

38.0

Thane Metro (Maharashtra)

29.0

Gorakhpur Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

27.5

Gurugram Metro (Haryana)

30.0

Kozhikode Light Metro (Kerala)

13.3

Trivandrum Light Metro (Kerala)

21.8

Total Network:

754.0

UNDER CONSTRUCTION METRO PROJECTS Project

Network (km)

Agra Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

29.4

Ahmedabad Metro (Gujarat)

33.5

Bangalore Metro (Karnataka)

80.0

Bhopal Metro (Madhya Pradesh)

28.0

Chennai Metro (Tamil Nadu)

118.9

Delhi Metro (Delhi)

103.9

Total Network:

896.06

NEW APPROVED METRO PROJECTS Network (km)

87.6

Total Network:

650.68

UNDER CONSIDERATION METRO PROJECTS Project

Network (km)

Coimbatore Metro (Tamil Nadu)

147.0

Ghaziabad Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

11.0

Noida Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

3.8

Hyderabad Metro (Telangana)

3.1

Indore Metro (Madhya Pradesh)

31.5

Kanpur Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

23.8

Varanasi Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

19.35

Kolkata Metro (West Bengal)

55.7

Visakhapatnam Metro (Andhra Pradesh)

140.2

Mumbai Metro (Maharashtra)

169.0

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Jammu Metro (J&K)

23.0

Srinagar Metro (J&K)

25.0

Vijayawada Metro (Andhra Pradesh) METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

66.2

URBAN RAIL PROGRESS

HSR/RRTS HIGH SPEED RAIL NETWORK Project

Network (km)

Executing Agency

Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR corridor

508.0

NHSRCL

Under construction

Mumbai-Nagpur HSR corridor

741.0

NHSRCL

DPR under progress

Mumbai-Hyderabad HSR corridor

711.0

NHSRCL

DPR under progress

Delhi-Varanasi HSR corridor

865.0

NHSRCL

DPR under progress

Delhi-Ahmedabad HSR corridor

886.0

NHSRCL

DPR under progress

Chennai-Mysore HSR corridor

435.0

NHSRCL

DPR under progress

Delhi-Amritsar HSR corridor

459.0

NHSRCL

DPR under progress

Varanasi-Hawrah HSR corridor

760.0

NHSRCL

DPR under progress

Delhi-Mumbai HSR corridor

1384.0

HSRCIL

Feasibility study completed

Mumbai-Chennai HSR corridor

1334.0

HSRCIL

Feasibility study under progress

Chennai-Kolkata HSR corridor

1670.0

HSRCIL

Pre-feasibility study under progress

Delhi-Kolkata HSR corridor

1447.0

HSRCIL

Feasibility study under progress

Mumbai-Kolkata HSR corridor

1961.0

HSRCIL

Pre-feasibility study under progress

Delhi-Chennai HSR corridor

2184.0

HSRCIL

Feasibility study under progress

Total Network:

Status

15345.0

SEMI HIGH SPEED RAIL NETWORK Project

Network (km)

Executing Agency

Status

Ahmedabad-Rajkot Semi HSR corridor

227.0

G-RIDE

Pune-Nashik Semi HSR corridor

235.0

MAHARAIL

Approved by State Govt.

Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod Semi HSR corridor

530.6

K-RAIL

Approved by State Govt.

Total Network:

992.6

Feasibility study completed

REGIONAL RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM NETWORK Project

Network (km)

Executing Agency

Delhi-Meerut RRTS Smart Line

82.15

NCRTC

Under construction

Delhi-Panipat RRTS Smart Line

103.0

NCRTC

DPR approved

Delhi-Alwar RRTS Smart Line

106.0

NCRTC

Under construction

Haryana Orbital Rail

121.7

HRIDC

DPR Approved

Total Network:

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

Status

412.85

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CASE STUDY

FEATURED

History of Metro Rail in India: Trams to Driverless Metro

he modern world has transformed itself faster than ever in each and every aspect of lives. Whether it be technology or anything else, science has proved itself worthy. Although science has also caused greater devastation during the first half of the twentieth century as two world wars, it has been the major force behind the present scenario of a peaceful world. To understand the role of science and technology in the modern world, we can have a look into the preindependence era of Indian Subcontinent. That was the world of bullock carts and Charkha. Things have changed rapidly during the period of the last 100 years and since we are talking about the history of the Urban Transit System, let's have a look into the circumstances which led to rapid growth of the mass transit system in India. The British rule in India was for nothing but to drain the wealth of this beautiful nation. They developed a huge rail network to transport the resources of Indian Subcontinent to the ports and then subsequently to their own country, England. The motto behind development of the rail network in India was solely for the movements of goods and later, for the transport of labour.

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Until the year 1905, Kolkata used to be the capital of the subcontinent being governed by the English people. As it was the capital city, the Britishers used to develop the city to show their might, wealth and power. It was for the same purpose that the first horse-drawn trams came into existence in India. These trams ran between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street of Kolkata on 24 February 1873 for the first time. Although the services were discontinued very soon the same year, it was the first of its kind in imperial India and it is regarded as the first attempt to run a public transit system in any of the Indian cities. Remember, Kolkata used to be the capital of India at that time and that's why these major developments were taking place there. Afterwards, The Calcutta Tramway Company was formed and Meter-gauge horse-drawn tram tracks were laid from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat via Bowbazar Street, Dalhousie Square, and Strand Road. This was such an ambitious project that it was inaugurated by the then Viceroy of India. You may think about the intensity of joy and happiness at the time. This was the start and ever since, the public transit system of the Indian cities have remained developing at a faster pace.

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FEATURED

The tram networks were very popular at the time but with advancements in technology, Kolkata decided to go for s better mode of transport and it was going to be the first metro network of the country.

In the September 1919 session of the Imperial Legislative Council at Shimla, a committee was set up by W. E. Crum that recommended a metro line for Kolkata. This line was supposed to connect Bagmari in the east to Benaras Road, Salkia, in Howrah in the west via a tunnel beneath Hooghly River. The estimated construction costs were £3,526,154, about Rs 4.28 crore (US$600,000) based on current exchange rates, and the proposed deadline was 1925–1926. The proposed line was 10.4 km long, about 4 km shorter than the current East-West Corridor, which would connect East Bengal Railway in Bagmari and East Indian Railway in Benaras Road, according to different historical sources. The state government proposed the idea of having a metro network in the year 1949–1950. A survey was then by a team of French experts. However, the efforts went in vain. The proposal couldn't be brought into immediate effect and Kolkata had to further wait for the country's first metro network. However, the move was initiated through this event.

First metro train began operation in Kolkata on October 24, 1984 (Photo: Telegraph)

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It is obvious that such networks are developed to get rid of the notorious traffic jams and such related problems but at the same time, metro projects can also be seen as an asset to the city. The pace at which metro projects are being developed in our age couldn't be done at the time when Kolkata metro was being developed. Indeed it took around 23 years to develop the network. Although it was a very indigenous project, the time taken in its construction was far greater than expected. Today, a metro network gets operational in less than five years but those were the days of greater struggles and a lot of bureaucratic hurdles. The typical government agencies were working for its development which made the process a little bit late. The foundation stone of the project was laid by Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, on 29 December 1972, and construction work started in 1973–74. Initially, cut and cover along with slurry wall construction to handle soft ground, was recommended by the Soviet Union Consultants. Later, in 1977, it was decided to adopt both shield tunneling and cut and cover methods for construction under populated areas, sewer lines, water mains, electrical cables, telephone cables, tram lines, canals etc. The services began for the first time on the first stretch of Kolkata Metro on 24 October 1984 with an operational line of 3.40 km with five stations served between Esplanade and Bhowanipur. The commuter service was extended to Tollygunge on 29 April 1986, covering a further distance of 4.24 km, making the service available over a distance of 9.79 km with 11 stations on the network. Since 1905, the capital of India was shifted to Delhi and this can be one reason of the delayed development of Metro services in Kolkata. When Delhi planned to have its metro network, it took less than 5 years to make its first stretch operational. The concept of a mass rapid transit for New Delhi first emerged from a traffic and travel characteristics study which was carried out in the city in 1969. It was because of the terrain and geographical structure of Delhi where road traffic was the main mode of transportation. As the population of the city increased and different cities developed in its surroundings, it became urgent for the government to find a solution for the increasing traffic of Delhi and as a result, different plans were laid down and construction began for the Delhi Metro Rail Project on October 1, 1998, many stakeholders were participation in the venture. Unlike Kolkata Metro, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) called Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was set up for the work and it was given all the independence to carry out the works smoothly. As a result, the first line of Delhi Metro, Red Line got operational on December 24, 2002 with the

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FEATURED

then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurating the same. Delhi metro from then onwards has been developing very fast and it has an operational network of 348 km today while there are under construction projects as well. Afterwards, the construction of Metro projects has become a quite easier task and India has a wide network of operational metro networks from north to south. There are many more metro networks being developed in different cities and DMRC is playing a crucial role in this process for which it is often regarded as the mother organization of Metro projects in India. A new technology has now come in the Metro operations and DMRC recently included driverless trains on its fleet. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) launched its first-ever driverless train operations on its 38-kilometer long Magenta Line, which connects Janakpuri West and Botanical Garden. The maiden driverless train is being seen as a major technological feat. The importance of matter can be understood from the very fact that the prime minister himself inaugurated the driverless train. At the virtual inauguration of the train, PM Narendra Modi had said that his government has taken growing urbanisation as an opportunity and asserted that metro train services will be extended to 25 cities by 2025 from the current 18 cities. Apart from these all, a lot more different projects are coming in different parts of the country. There are three RRTS projects coming up in NCR. The first amongst these three is the Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System which is an 82.15 km long, under-construction, semi-high speed rail corridor connecting Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut. The others are Metrolite and Metro Neo which are going to change the scenario of urban mobility sector in India.

OPERATIONAL METRO RAIL PROJECTS IN INDIA Kolkata Metro Kolkata Metro is oldest Mass Rapid Transit System of India. It began operation on October 24, 1984 and presently covering a distance of 39.2 km with two corridors. Delhi Metro Delhi Metro is first modern and largest Mass Rapid Transit System of India. It began operation on December 24, 2002 and presently covering the distance of 347 km network comprising 10 multicolor lines. Bangalore Metro Also known as Namma Metro, Bangalore Metro began its first operation on October 20, 2011 and presently covering a distance of 48.1 km in Bengaluru city. Gurgaon Rapid Metro Gurgaon Metro is first privately financed Mass Rapid Transit System in India. It began operation on November 14, 2013 and currently covering a total distance of 12.1 km within Gurugram city. Mumbai Metro Mumbai Metro is first Mass Rapid Transit Project developed under PPP mode in India. It began operation on June 8, 2014 and presently covering a total network of 11.4 km with a single line. Jaipur Metro Jaipur Metro started its first operation on June 3, 2015 and currently serving a total of 12 km network in Pink city. Chennai Metro Chennai Metro began its operation on June 29, 2015 and currently serving a total of 54.1 km network in Chennai. Kochi Metro Kochi Metro started it operation on June 19, 2017 and currently serving a total of 25 km network in Kochi city. Lucknow Metro Lucknow Metro began its operation on September 6, 2017 and presently serving a total network of 22.9 km. Hyderabad Metro Hyderabad Metro is World’s largest MRTS developed under PPP mode. It began operation on November 29, 2017 and presently serving a total network of 67 km. Noida Metro: Since January 25, 2019 (29.7 km) Ahmedabad Metro: Since March 6, 2019 (6.5 km)

First driverless metro train began operation in Delhi on December 28, 2020.

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Nagpur Metro: Since March 8, 2019 (24.5 km)

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COVER STORY

LUCKNOW METRO Celebrating over three successful years of smart public transit services

ucknow Metro has been successfully running train operations on its Priority corridor since September, 2017 and just recently on March 8, 2021 Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) celebrated 2 years of Lucknow Metro train operations on the entire section of North-South corridor. To mark this glorious occasion, UPMRC also offered free metro ride for ‘GoSmart’ users. Lucknow Metro: Journey so far Lucknow Metro has in the truest sense become an inseparable part of Lucknow’s identity. Recently, on March 8, 2021 it successfully completed 2 years of commencement of commercial operations on the entire North-South corridor from ‘CCS Airport to Munshipulia’. Moreover, another landmark accomplishment is round the corner when it completes 4 years of flagging off of Lucknow Metro train operations in September 2021. Lucknow Metro has been performing quite well since its inception & commencement of revenue operations on September 5, 2017 for the 8.5 km ‘Priority Section’ from ‘Transport Nagar to Charbagh’ with 8 Elevated Metro stations. Lucknow Metro achieved the milestone of 10 lakhs cumulative ridership within 70 days of operations initially, the success of which was carried forward to the 22.878 km long North-South corridor (phase 1A).

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Metro services were gradually extended from ‘Priority Section’ to the entire North - South corridor on March 8, 2019 in less than 2 years. On 27th February, 2021, Lucknow Metro accomplished yet another commendable feat when it touched the glorious ridership figure of 3 crore commuters since commencing revenue operations. On an average Lucknow Metro ferries 42,000 passengers daily post-Covid which is 65-70% ridership recovery while other Metros are still lagging behind. The Metro is the safest & most secure mode of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) and convenient than other modes of public transportation. It is a moment of celebration for Lucknow Metro that more than 3 crore passengers have availed their services till date. Even after the Metro operations got significantly affected due to the outbreak of corona pandemic, it did not deter the organizations commitment to meet the expectations of the people of Lucknow & they have been serving the public relentlessly since the resumption of Metro operations. Various measures have been undertaken to contain the spread of the virus while offering world class services to the commuters during these challenging times. The trains are being regularly sanitized using Ultraviolet Rays which is one of the safest and most technologically advanced methods of sanitization. Wearing of face masks and stringent thermal screening is mandatory for every passenger entering the station premises.

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COVER STORY

The UPMRC got excellent responses from the public in delivering services with aspects like customer satisfaction, amenities, upkeeps, maintenance & reliability. On the environmental front too, they have contributed by reducing the carbon emissions to a great extent for which they have been bestowed with many International & national accolades. It is worth mentioning that the Lost and Found cell of Lucknow Metro is one of the innovative initiatives of the organization, which has timely returned all the lost belongings of metro commuters with utmost honesty and integrity. Till date, Lucknow Metro has returned more than Rs 8 lakhs of cash, 355 cell phones, 52 laptops and other valuable items including 1756 bags / personal belongings like jewellery and bank drafts to their rightful owners.

Lucknow Metro Route Map

Lucknow Metro is continuously striving hard to keep customer satisfaction and commuter experience at the very top pedestal and has set a benchmark in work standards & ethics through a 99.5 % punctuality record of its Metro services while maintaining high integrity and ensuring all round well-being and satisfaction of Metro commuters.

the 2 metro corridors. The project is yet to be approved by the government.

Role of Lucknow Metro in improving mobility

The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) has received various national and International accolades for the Lucknow Metro project. Some of those are listed below:-

Lucknow Metro project has considerably improved mobility within Lucknow by connecting prominent residential areas, commercial centers & marketplaces like Alambagh, Hazratganj, Singar Nagar, Bhootnath Market, etc. Lucknow Metro also connects Charbagh Railway Station, Alambagh Bus Stand & Chaudhary Charan Singh (CCS) Airport and has set a benchmark of excellence in the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) sector. It continues to serve as a role model for other contemporary Metro services across the country with its world class infrastructure, state of the art modern technology & availability of modern amenities/facilities. Lucknow Metro is sure to become the lifeline of the city in the long run with its safe, secure, convenient, hassle-free & eco-friendly mode of public transport experience. At present they have connected all the 3 modes of mass transit with the integration of road, rail & air which will boost the mobility aspect in Lucknow. Moreover, the East-West corridor of Lucknow Metro’s phase 1B is also on the table which will connect ‘Charbagh to Vasant Kunj’ & adjoining areas in between. It will cover all the major densely populated places of old Lucknow. Charbagh will act as an inter-junction by interconnecting

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Lucknow Metro has achieved the distinction of being the fastest-ever executed metro project in the country.

Awards and Achievements

• International Royal Society for the prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) Gold Award, 2019. • International Safety Award 2019 from British Safety Council in the Project/Infrastructure category. • The Lucknow Metro project adjudged as ‘Green Mobility Project of the Year’ at the Rail Infra and Mobility Business Awards, 2020. • UPMRC, MD Kumar Keshav won ‘Infra Man of the Year Award’ at the Rail Infra and Mobility Business Awards, 2020. • ‘Best Mass Transit System’ at the 12th Urban Mobility India Conference, 2019. • ‘National Energy Conservation Award 2019’ by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). • ICI Ultratech Award for outstanding concrete structure, 2019. • Technology Sabha Award, 2019. • India Green Building Council (IGBC) Green MRTS Platinum Rating for all the 21 Metro stations of North – South corridor. • ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, OHSAS 18001:2007 certified organisation.

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COVER STORY

510-km heavy-haul rail project from Alpha and Kevin’s Corner mines to Abbot Point Port in Queensland. I played a pivotal role in acquiring resources and coordinating the efforts for engagement of contractors to ensure speedy delivery within estimated budget, stipulated timeline to meet the desired standards & quality. How do you see success of Lucknow Metro project?

Interview with Mr. Kumar Keshav, Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) An Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer and a Gold medallist engineer from IIT-Kanpur (M.Tech) and IIT-Roorkee (B.E.), Kumar Keshav took over the charge of Managing Director of Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (then Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation) on August 18, 2014 and has not taken even a single leave since then. He is known as Metro Man of the Uttar Pradesh. In recent interaction with Urban Transport News, Keshav has frankly talked about his strategy on developing metro rail projects in fastest way in Kanpur and Agra in line with Lucknow Metro Rail project. Tell our readers about your professional journey in Rail & Metro sectors? I am an Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer and a gold medallist engineer from IIT-Kanpur (M. Tech.) and IIT-Roorkee (B.E.), took over as UPMRC's Managing Director on August 18, 2014, formerly known as Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation. The whole project work of Lucknow Metro Rail Project so far has been completed under the astute hard-work of the whole team in just four and half years. Previously I served as Director (Projects & Planning) at Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), and successfully completed and commissioned various projects in Delhi Metro during my tenure. Earlier, I had worked as Project Director Rail in Hancock Coal Pty Ltd. in Brisbane, Australia for around two and half years from 2012-2014. There I oversaw all facets of the

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

Lucknow Metro has achieved the distinction of being the fastest ever executed metro project in the country. Even contemporary Metro projects in the country have not been able to match up with the speed & quality of deliverance as compared to Lucknow Metro’s strength in project execution. Lucknow Metro is indeed the pride of the city and will gradually evolve to become the lifeline of the city in the long run. The expansion of the metro network within the city will improve mobility, reduce pollution & will aid in decongestion of traffic to a wide extent. How did Covid-19 pandemic affect the ongoing work of various metro rail project being executed under your leadership? The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented time which has created a global humanitarian & economic crisis. Nevertheless, the crisis has not shaken our morale and Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (UPMRC) steadfastly resumed the on-going civil construction work of the ‘Priority Section’ of the Kanpur Metro project, albeit with necessary precautions and mandatory safety measures in line with the guidelines issued by the governments and the local administration. The initial crisis of labour shortage was overcome by setting up labour accommodation and adequate medical care facility at casting yard. This proved to be decisive in winning the confidence of labour workforce which crossed the mark of 1000 in just 50 days of resumption of civil works i.e. from 29th April, 2020, which was after getting the relaxation by the government and consequently the local administration of resuming civil works within the closed premises. We have been in strict compliance with the advisories issued by the Government health departments to serve the people during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Adequate training was imparted to the front line operational staff to mitigate the challenges arising due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. Likewise, expert training was arranged for all the staff to serve the commuters post Covid-19 lockdown. Whole team of UPMRC was acquainted with new skills to render utmost care in new scenario. We had drawn out a detailed ‘Business Continuity Plan’ and relevant ‘Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) especially for this purpose. What proactive measures is being taken to curb the effect of Covid 19 pandemic? Lucknow Metro added another feather to its cap by becoming the first Metro in India to start sanitisation of Metro train coaches with Ultra Violet rays. Taking inspiration from New York Metro’s experiment to sanitise trains with UV lamp rays, Lucknow Metro has become the pioneer of Metro Train Sanitisation in India through UV technology. Giving boost to the Make in India mission, UPMRC in consultation with an Indian firm that deals in tube lights used in the sanitisation apparatus has developed a UV Sanitisation apparatus which works on Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) disinfection method. The apparatus which has been certified by DRDO in October, 2020, sanitizes the entire coach in 7 minutes and as added care, we are sanitizing each coach for 15 minutes. It is imperative to state that this is the same apparatus that is being used by medical industry to sanitize Operation Theatres and medical equipments. The best part of this initiative is that it is very economical, i.e. approximately a cost reduction to 1/100th of the total cost of sanitization through manual mode for all the train sets. Another unique, proactive measure taken by UPMRC to ensure complete safety of its passengers during the corona dread was inducing 100 per cent fresh air in all the air conditioning units as opposed to regular method of recirculation of 50 per cent of air and inducing only remaining 50 per cent of fresh air. According to the guidelines issued by the government, air conditioning

Kanpur Metro: Work in progress (Photo: UPMRC)

plants could not be used during corona outbreak because it re-circulates the same air which might be a carrier of virus and germs. But Lucknow Metro meticulously devised a plan to deal with this situation and decided to induce 100 per cent fresh air to ensure no recirculation of air takes place and the health and safety of passengers is not compromised. We give topmost priority to the safety & security of our commuters which was crucial to our successful performance in the current difficult time. UPMRC is fully geared up to face any challenge which undermines personal health & hygiene in our premises. Please tell our readers about recent development in Kanpur Metro project? Two corridors are proposed in Kanpur, first one is from IIT to Naubasta and the second one is from Agriculture University to Barra-8. The estimated time for completion of both the corridors is 5 years, while the estimated cost is Rs 11,076.48 crores for both these 32.5 kms long corridors. On November 15, 2019, Yogi Adityanath, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, inaugurated the civil construction for the Kanpur Metro’s Priority Section which has been marked between IIT-Kanpur and Motijheel for a length of about 9km with 9 elevated stations. Kanpur Metro Project's Priority Corridor is poised to become the fastest built Metro corridor in the country. While following the aim of completing the construction of Priority Corridor within the stipulated timeframe, UPMRC engineers have accomplished several milestones till now and the count is still on.

Sanitizing Stations and Trains for passenger safety

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UPMRC made it possible to erect the very first Pier Cap of the first corridor on 2nd March, 2020, which was almost one and half months before as compared to the Lucknow Metro project.

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COVER STORY

How did you continue the work even in the uncertainty due to the Covid-19 satiations? After a few months since the commencement of construction works, COVID-19 pandemic put a hold on all the activities in March, which got stagnant till April. After getting relaxations from the government and the local administration to resume the construction works in the closed premises and with limited workforce, UPMRC had resumed the activities from 29th April, 2020 in the Casting Yard and the Polytechnic Metro Depot. To win the trust of the workforce under those uncertainties, UPMRC set up labour accommodation and medical care facilities at casting yard. Besides these initiatives, UPMRC had also started to fetch labourers from the border areas of the state through private buses and in just 50 days counting from 29th April, labour count crossed the mark of 1000. On 15th May, 2020, UPMRC got the permission to start the work on the corridor too and the team again achieved the momentum, which is still on an increase. What new strategy and innovative approach paid off? For the Priority Corridor, for the first time in India & across other Metro projects, Double T-girders have been used for preparing the base of the concourse levels of the elevated Metro Stations. It helps in considerably reducing construction time and enhances the aesthetic beauty of the civil structure, which is evident from the fact that UPMRC had commenced the erection of double T-girders on July 25, 2020 and within a span of just seven and half months, UPMRC completed the erection of these girders at all the 9 Metro stations, which is a remarkable achievement in itself. Tell some milestone achieved in Kanpur Metro project? Under the Kanpur Metro Project, UPMRC always assures that at a particular time no contractor or sub-contractor has to sit idle and every unit gets the scope and space to work.

Kanpur Metro: Work in progress under the leadership of Kumar Keshav, Managing Director, UPMRC

This is the core reason that UPMRC has always been able to achieve all its construction targets on or before the tentative deadline. Have a glimpse: • Piling for the whole Priority Corridor completed in just 424 days. • Till now, under the 9 km long elevated stretch, Piers (Pillars) have been constructed over 8 km. • Base for the Metro track has been prepared up to almost 5 km by erecting 366 U-girders out of 622 till date. • Civil structure of the terminal station IIT has been completed and the consecutive stations viz. Kalyanpur & SPM are about to be completed soon. • Finishing works are also under progress. Please highlight on Agra Metro project? Talking about the Agra Metro project, it has 2 corridors connecting all the prime points and important tourist places in Agra. First corridor is between ‘Sikandara and Taj East Gate’ having total length of 14 km (approx.) and 13 stations (6 elevated and 7 underground). Second Corridor is between ‘Agra Cantt and KalindiVihar’ comprising a total length of 15.4 Km (approx.) & 14 elevated stations. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 8,379.62. In Corridor-1, the 6 km long ‘Priority Corridor’ has been marked between ‘Taj East Gate & Jama Masjid’ comprising 3 elevated and 3 underground stations. In less than 3 months, the civil construction work of Agra Metro Project is being carried out at a fast pace and around 230 piles have been placed till now along with erection of 5 piers (pillars). After getting the final nod from the Supreme Court, on December 7, 2020 the construction work of Agra Metro project was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji via video conferencing in the esteemed presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Ji. Currently, the civil work is being executed along 3 km long

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

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elevated stretch of the Priority Corridor comprising 3 stations namely Taj East Gate, Basai and Fatehabad. The construction work is under progress at the corridor, Casting Yard and the Metro Depot at the 15th Battalion PAC ground. The construction work of Metro Depot has also been planned elaborately and we have targeted to make a world class metro depot for our Agra Metro project. We are taking all efforts so that the construction work is carried out smoothly and within allocated time frame, with accuracy, thoughtfulness and expertise.

Alstom commenced production of metro train coaches for Kanpur Metro in Savli

dedicated space for wheel chairs and have priority seating for senior citizens, differently able and women. Trains are equipped with LED lights to reduce energy consumption with USB charging ports for charging of mobile phones. Energy efficient HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Airconditioning) units are installed for passenger comfort apart from Digital Route Maps for route and station identification. Separate LCD screens are installed in order to display advertisements and special/emergency messages. Agra Metro: 300 piles, 21 pile caps and 8 piers erected so far…

Tell our readers about some salient features of Rolling Stock to be used for Kanpur &Agra Metro project? UPMRC has awarded the combined tender for Rolling Stock and Signalling System in order to build and deliver Metro cars and an advanced signalling solution for the Agra and Kanpur Metro projects to Bombardier. A total of 67 train sets of 3 cars each will be procured for the Agra & Kanpur Metro projects (39 trains for Kanpur and 28 trains for Agra). Rolling Stocks (Metro Coaches) are being manufactured in Savli, Gujarat in line with the initiatives of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ of the Government of India. Delivery of the first Metro train set in Kanpur is expected by September, 2021. The Rolling Stock of Kanpur and Agra Metro is of modern design, lightweight, made of stainless steel, having 750V DC drive with V.V.V.F control and regenerative braking, equipped with advanced micro-processor-based Train Control Management System (TCMS), operating with latest signalling solution of Communication Based Train Control (CBTC), etc. The Rolling Stock for Kanpur and Agra Metro projects has a maximum design speed of 90 km/h & operational speed of 80 km/h. Each train consists of 3 cars with passenger carrying capacity of around 970 passengers. Trains have a

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All the cars will be under CCTV surveillance &passenger can also talk directly to train operator in case of any emergency. Each car will be equipped with fire extinguishers for passenger safety. Further, each train will have emergency detrainment door at both the ends for safe evacuation of passengers. What is the current status of the proposed metro rail project in Gorakhpur? The Metrolite project of Govt. of Uttar Pradesh has been proposed in Gorakhpur, the DPR of which has been approved by UP Government and has been sent to the GoI for approval. Two Metro corridors covering a distance of 28.93 km are proposed under the project. The 15 km long first corridor comprising 14 stations is proposed from Shyam Nagar to Madan Mohan Malviya Engineering College while the second corridor from BRD Medical College to Naushad Chauraha is 13.23 km long and has 12 stations. Both of these corridors will be elevated. The estimated cost of this project is Rs 4,672 crore and the estimated time for completion is 4 years. Any suggestions for our new Magazine? I congratulate the entire team of Urban Transport News for working tirelessly to disseminate the useful information and updates to Rail & Metro sectors. I wish for grand success of your upcoming “Metro Rail Today” Magazine.

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

URBAN RAIL AND EQUIPMENT BUSINESS SHOW 2021 1 JUNE, 2021 – 31 JULY, 2021 | ONLINE A Mega Virtual Show for Railway Industry

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METRO RAIL PROJECTS IN UTTAR PRADESH In addition to below projects, the Government is planning to launch light metro projects in Allahabad and Varanasi.

AGRA METRO Project: Agra Metro Rail Project Executing Body: UPMRC Project Cost: Rs 12, 900 Crores Total Network Length (Planned): 29.65 km No. of Phase/Lines: 2/2 Line 1: Sikanadra – Taj East Gate Route Length: 14.25 km Stations: 14 Status: Under construction since December 7, 2020 Line 2: Agra Cantt. – Kalinidi Vihar Route Length: 15.4 km Stations: 15 Status: Under review

LUCKNOW METRO

MEERUT METRO

Project: Lucknow Metro Rail Project Executing Body: UPMRC Project Cost: Rs 12,374 Crores (Line 1) Total Network Length (Planned): 33.976 km No. of Phases/Lines: 2/2

Project: Meerut Metro Rail Project Executing Body: NCRTC Project Cost: Rs 11,544 Crores Total Network Length (Planned): 35 km No. of Phase/Lines: 2/2

Line 1 (North-South): CCS Airport – Munshi Pulia Route Length: 22.878 km Stations: 23 Status: Operational since September 5, 2017

Line 1: Partappur - Modipuram Route Length: 20 km Stations: 11 Status: Approved

Line 2 (East-West): Lucknow Rly Station – Vasant Kunj Route Length: 11.098 km Stations: 12 Status: DPR under review

Line 2: Shradhapuri Phase 2 – Jagriti Vihar Route Length: 15 km Stations: 13 Status: Proposed

KANPUR METRO

GORAKHPUR METRO

Project: Kanpur Metro Rail Project Executing Body: UPMRC Project Cost: Rs 11, 076 Crores (Line 1) Total Network Length (Planned): 32.385 km No. of Phases/Lines: 2/2

Project: Gorakhpur Metro Rail Project Executing Body: UPMRC Project Cost: Rs 4,672 Crores Total Network Length (Planned): 27.41 km No. of Phase/Lines: 2/2

Line 1: IIT Kanpur - Naubasta Route Length: 23.785 km Stations: 22 Status: Under construction since November 15, 2019

Line 1: Shyam Nagar – Sooba Bazar Route Length: 16.95 km Stations: 16 Status: Approved by State Cabinet

Line 2: Agricultural University – Jarauli Route Length: 8.6 km Stations: 9 Status: DPR under review

Line 2: Gulariha – Kachehri Chauraha Route Length: 10.46 km Stations: 11 Status: Proposed

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

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CASE STUDY

the covid safety protocol in line with the central and state government’s guidelines, the next big challenge was to communicate.

Hyderabad Travels Safe through Hyderabad Metro Rail

he world is still battling Covid- 19. This pandemic has been unprecedented, a once in a century calamity. The worst hit sector in this pandemic has been transport and tourism. Like all public transport system, down south in India, L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited (LTMRHL), which is the operator of the World’s biggest Metro Rail under PPP model and 2nd biggest metro rail network in India, also faced the heat, when it was shut down for 169 days. After Unlock 4.0, when Hyderabad Metro Rail resumed its services on 7th September 2020, the immediate challenge was ridership, which had hit the rock bottom.

To propagate the preparedness of metro rail services to offer safe travel options to passengers during the ongoing covid pandemic, LTMRHL utilized multiple platforms including its Social Media handles, radio spots, along with its proprietary TSavaari mobile app, WhatsApp and SMS notifications. It also engaged with the local media houses for more awareness on safety protocols at metro rail. This communication mix played a vital role to drive this awareness.

This sustained confidence building campaign has played a big role in the improvement of ridership, which rose by more than 4 times from around 47000 daily ridership in September 2020 to around 2 lakh in March 2021. While the full restoration may take some more time, but so far Hyderabad Metro Rail has gained back 50% of its precovid daily ridership - thanks to its sustained safety measures on the ground and on-going focused confidence building campaigns. Currently, 55 metro trains are carrying passengers through 3 corridors criss-crossing Hyderabad city across 57 metro stations with all safety protocols in place.

LTMRHL took this challenge head on. Ridership could only increase once the passengers have confidence over public transport system. Hence, the primary step for LTMRHL was to ensure health safety of the commuters and raise their confidence in traveling by metro rail once again. Even before metro rail resumed its services, entire metro premises got ready to welcome the passengers with fully equipped new normal in place, this included heightened level of sanitization, thermal screening, markings for social distancing, wearing of face mask, elaborate communication collaterals across the metro stations with Do’s and Don’ts and rigorous monitoring for any violations to these safety guidelines. Once, the metro service was fully ready as per

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Contactless ticketing and payment system

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CASE STUDY

The story does not end here, world is again mired with the second wave of Covid-19, and to meet this new challenge, Hyderabad Metro Rail is ramping up its safety protocol and communications campaign to reach out to every passenger to ensure their cooperation to keep the metro travel safe and hygienic.

We are committed towards safety and welfare of our valuable passengers. The recent surge in covid cases across the country has put us all on a high alert. I would like to appeal to the citizens to adhere to all safety protocols while traveling through metro train. These guidelines are for their safety and wellbeing also for their co passengers and metro staff. Wearing of masks, social distancing, hand sanitization and thermal screening are mandatory at metro rail. It is humbly requested to everyone to cooperate with security and metro officials in keeping your metro a safe and convenient mode of journey for everyone in Hyderabad. KVB Reddy, MD & CEO L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited has stepped up its drive even further to ensure a safe metro journey, which includes regular communications to sensitize passengers about safety norms, daily, frequent santisation of metro premises and metro trains and more focus on contactless mode of ticket purchase to avoid queues.

Some of the initiatives include the below Messaging • For benefit of passengers, Hyderabad Metro Rail has maintained the prominent displays of covid related safety guidelines across it premises. • The metro rail has also initiated a campaign to sensitise passengers regarding importance of adhering to safety protocol while travelling through metro train using its social media handles. • Regular announcements inside metro train are being continued to generate awareness about safe travels. Safety protocols for passengers • Mandatory thermal scanning of every passenger is done at each entry security points by the metro security personnel. • Hand sanitizers are available at each entry security points for passengers to sanitise their hands before entering the metro station. These sanitisers are regularly replenished all through the day. • No passenger is allowed without wearing a mask. • Apart from the regular covid related safety announcements, each metro train carries stickers on alternate seats and on the floor for passengers to follow social distancing. • The deployment of trained marshals and security guards is being ramped up with a view to reinforce awareness among passengers about importance of social distancing and mask. • Violation of any safety guidelines at metro rail attracts appropriate fine as a deterrent. Sanitisation • Sanitisation is among the top priorities of Hyderabad Metro Rail. • Each metro train gets sanitized before the start of every ride. • Designated station staff members sanitise passenger touch points including escalators, lifts, among others, at every station with a frequency of 2-3 hrs. • All metro staff working at the stations are regularly trained and sensitised towards Covid related safety guidelines to ensure that they are also vigilant of any violations of safety protocol and take adequate remedial actions. Going Contactless in Ticket Transactions

Sanitizing Hyderabad Metro Trains to ensure passenger safety

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

Hyderabad Metro Rail encourages passengers to buy Mobile QR Tickets, prior to their journey, using apps viz. Phonepe, MakeMyTrip, Paytm and T-Savaari to save time, stay safe, remain contactless and avoid queues at the counters.

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RAIL INFRA AND MOBILITY BUSINESS SUMMIT & AWARDS 2021 AUG 05

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OPINION

Can digitalisation help make metro travel safe?

Mihir J. Shah Partner - Government & Public Sector, Strategy and Transactions at EY India

etro services have resumed across the country as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs that prescribes how metros should operate during these difficult times. All lines of Delhi Metros have been resumed in a gradual manner with staggered daily hours of operations initially. Among a few of these guidelines includes mandatory wearing of face mask, installation of Aarogya Setu app, suitable markings inside the trains and stations for passengers and thermal screening with access to travel only to asymptomatic persons. It also includes sanitisation provisions at entry and regular sanitisation of all areas having human interface, no service in containment zones, increase in dwell time at certain metro stations, and making sure there is an increase in the intake of fresh air through the air-conditioning system. In addition to the SOP issued by the Centre, individual metro corporations are coming up with their own SOPs. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will discontinue the use of tokens, alternate seats will have to be left vacant and no more than three people will be allowed in a lift at

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

once. As per the protocol issued by Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL), passengers are advised to stand on alternate steps of escalator to maintain social distancing. Hyderabad Metrorail Limited is undertaking mock drills keeping in view various COVID scenarios. Similarly, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) will only allow 50 passengers at one time at the platforms, and therefore, the access to the stations will be controlled accordingly. As metro operations resume in a graded manner, demand management will become a priority. Metro authorities will need to monitor the evolution of demand and the number of passengers in real time so that the planned supply can be increased if necessary. There will be times and locations where social distancing will become very difficult and particularly more challenging as more and more people slowly return to work. Metro authorities could prepare an operational plan for reducing congestion at stations. To help improve and continue to maintain social distancing, the train services may need to be increased specifically to create extra capacity on the network (not to attract more customers). Covid-19 has changed the transport paradigm, moving focus from supply to demand, from transport infrastructure to service, from ready-made to tailored solutions. Technology will continue to drive this change in our transit ecosystem with greater intensity going forward. Transit Agencies world over, including India, have been working tirelessly to find better digital solutions to make journeys safe, convenient and accessible. Covid-19 will fast forward these changes, especially around contactless ticketing, journey planning, crowd control and security.

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OPINION

For example, only Smart Card holders (QR code users on the Airport Express Line) will be allowed in the Delhi Metro. Mumbai and Hyderabad metro already has ticket booking facility through PayTM. Metro authorities are also using technology for demand management and avoiding congestion. For example, through their travel app called “TfL Go”, Transport for London (TfL) is providing commuters information that they need on when the quieter times are for their journeys. Similarly, a new feature has been launched in the official app of Metro de Madrid provides real time information regarding level of occupancy in stations vis-à-vis its maximum capacity. They have also introduced a new automated system which limits admission to passengers when the expected capacity is surpassed at the stations, and this is validated through the entry gates. All these measures obviously have deep financial implications as well. To ensure business continuity in a sustainable manner, metro corporations must revisit and recalibrate their overall financial sustainability as resumption of services begins in a graded manner. Government support is equally imperative in this respect. To ensure financial stability, an alternate source of funding would need to be identified on the lines of an Urban Transport Fund.

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Since each metro corporations will have their own set of standard procedures, the Centre could review the operations and procedures of each metro, sometime after the start of operations and try to form a standard set of guidelines by learning from the results of each metro operations. Moreover, both the Metro Corporations and State Governments will need to do undertake significant IEC (Information, Education and Communication) campaigns to sensitise users regarding the SOP’s. The public transport outside the metro stations will also require SOP’s to ensure overall safety of the transit system and commuters. Benefit of the efforts put in by Metro Corporations will be totally lost if the public transport systems outside the station is in a business as usual mode. Going forward, adoption of digital technologies, innovation and strict adherence to the guidelines will be the key factors in the fight against COVID-19. Needless to say, maximising flexibility of the transport service to continuously adopt to the evolving transit environment will be key. *** //First appeared in Forbes India Blog//

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

OPINION

Anushka Ghosh

How Sustainable and Successful is the Delhi Metro?

Analyst – Core Knowledge Services at Deloitte

he Delhi Metro started with one line running between Shahdara and Tis Hazari. Today it stands as one of the most lucrative metro systems in India, aspiring to 12 lines covering 347.66 km and 253 stations. This is nothing short of commendable. However, one must wonder — what does it take to build a system that works better than all other available public utilities and how sustainable is this venture? The Delhi Metro Rail has faced a series of obstacles, including a low rate of return and massive debt, yet it has been successful in providing quality services. The growth that the Delhi Metro has made is nothing short of brilliant. Where is the funding for this coming from?

The total cost incurred for the metro ranged from Rs 10,571 crores in Phase I to Rs 41,079 crores in Phase III. Needless to say, this puts a massive debt burden on the DMRC. According to DMRC reports, a large part of the funding came in the form of loans from the Japanese Government. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), now called the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), gave soft loans, which are usually given to developing countries on easy terms of repayment. These loans accounted for approximately 60% of the total funding in Phase I and 48% in Phase III. 28% of the funding comes from equity shares contributed by both the Government of India and the state government GNCT D, as well as the interest - free

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

free subordinate debt of approximately 5%. The remaining 7% for Phase I came from property development such as food outlets, ATMs, kiosks, and other ventures. In Phase II, the DMRC made an attempt to bring in publicprivate partnerships (PPPs). For the construction of the Airport Express link, the Government of India and Delhi contributed 39% of the funding and the concessionaires Reliance Infrastructure and CAF Spain contributed 46%. The private partners, however, abandoned the project a year into the construction as the rate of return was very low (about 0.5%). The private partners required a return of at least 15% to recover just the loan liability. This led E. Shreedharan, a key figure in the development of the Delhi Metro Rail and the Konkan Railway, to believe that the metro system in India is not a profitable venture for BOTs (Build Operate Transfer) or PPPs. Why does the Delhi Metro operate at such a low rate of return?

The Delhi Metro is very popular, so why is its rate of return so low? There are three main reasons: low fares, high initial costs, and land acquisition delays. First, the fares for the metro’s Airport Express link were slashed from Rs. 30 to Rs. 20 as the minimum fare and from Rs. 180 to Rs. 100 as the maximum fare. This, no doubt, boosted ridership by a large extent, but it also left the metro with little chance of recovering its capital investment.

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Second, the rate of return on investment is low despite high ridership because of high costs incurred in the initial construction stage. The cost of fixed assets, such as building the stations and the trains, is high for the metro industry. Hence, the Delhi Metro’s fixed capital investment turned out to be a large sum that was difficult to recover. Moreover, most DMRC projects are running behind schedule. These delays and poor planning resulted in even higher initial costs, which are difficult to recover. All of these factors left the DMRC with a large amount of fixed capital and lower operational returns in comparison. Third, acquisition of land was difficult because of the new Land Acquisition Act, which makes it difficult to get permission from the residents or landowners being relocated. Several plots of land delayed construction work due to difficulty in relocating jhuggis. These delays further increased the metro’s operating and construction costs. These three factors together impeded the progress being made by the Metro Rail in expanding and generating a high rate of return, even though revenue from daily operations is high. The DMRC faces a big problem — the easiest way to increase its rate of return is to further increase fares. However, the DMRC cannot state its fare as more than double of that of other modes of public transport, since that would deter people from using the metro. This leaves the DMRC with a slight chance of recovering its losses.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had taken a soft loan of Rs 35,198 crore for construction work from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

The popularity of DMRC was evident when the Delhi Metro ranked 2nd of 18 international metro railway systems across the world in customer satisfaction in a survey conducted by Global Metro Benchmarking Groups “NOVA” and “COMET”. The Delhi Metro was dubbed “most reliable and available”. Since business ventures around the world are heavily dependent on natural resources, they are accountable for producing about 67% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Delhi Metro has made a laudable attempt at reducing these emissions. The efforts of the DMRC has led to a reduction of 57,000 t CO2 E greenhouse gas emissions per day. As a result, the Delhi Metro became the first to receive carbon credits for reducing GHG emissions and reducing pollution levels in the city.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has been certified by the United Nations as the First Metro Rail and Rail based system in the world which will get carbon Credits for reducing Green House Gas Emissions as it has helped to reduce pollution levels in the city by 6.3 lakh tons every year thus helping in reducing global warming.

An initiative to be proud of A success story despite the obstacles Despite the dismal picture painted by DMRC finances, the Delhi Metro still emerges as a hope in the maze of late mornings and frustrating traffic. The fact that the DMRC is very reliable and efficient cannot be ignored; credit must be given where it is due. The Delhi Metro has seen an enormous increase in ridership over the last 13 years and currently holds a record of the highest-ever ridership this year — about 25 lakh people in a single day. This is commendable and indicates that people prefer to take the metro over other means of public transport. Why would they not, with a punctuality rate of 99.9% and increasing technological advancements like mechanized ticket booths. Women have their own compartment to travel in, which adds to the metro’s appeal in a city that is often seen as unsafe for women.

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The Delhi Metro has proved to be a reliable and easy mode of transport. Despite major financial hurdles, it has come a long way in providing an excellent service to the city. Being a model metro railway system, the DMRC has been assigned the task of planning and executing construction of metro systems in many states in the country. The one thing that DMRC needs to seriously consider is reducing lags in construction, which can be easily tackled by planning and executing construction better. This would attract private partners to invest in the DMRC, since the interest already exists and just needs to be nurtured through higher rates of return. If fixed costs are reduced and rates of return are increased, it would invariably reduce the debt burden on the metro system and increase profitability. Let’s see how far this journey takes the Delhi Metro!

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

INNOVATION IN RAIL

Thales Launches A New CBTC Generation, Digitalized And Autonomy Ready A new solution that is permanently upgradable, helping operators reduce maintenance costs

hales launched SelTrac™ G8, the 8th generation, Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) system. SelTrac™ G8 incorporates the latest technology and innovative features to support operators to reach their ambitions and transforming passenger’s journeys in and around cities. Rail operators have to transport passengers safely and efficiently, and if a traffic disruption occurs they must keep traffic moving and restore normal service as quickly as possible. The global pandemic has emphasized the need of strong and reliable public transport to support front line workers and the public on their journeys. Most cities are also counting on public transport to restart their economy in a green and efficient way. Therefore metro networks need to be able to boost capacity, meeting growing demand without interrupting day-to-day operations. Rail operators face many challenges including keeping pace with rapidly evolving technology: while a signalling system may have a lifespan of 30 years or more, the hardware and software on it, can become obsolete much more quickly. They also need ways to manage the lifecycle of their systems. Thales’ SelTrac™ G8 is designed to alleviate these issues. It includes a set of advanced features that allow public transport operators to manage network growth, extensions, and fleet expansions as well as prepare for the future and control operations.

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SelTrac™ G8 has a new digital architecture with flexible options designed to minimize the amount of trackside equipment required. Transport operators who will deploy SelTrac™ G8 can benefit from lifelong system improvements, by simply upgrading the software. The G8 platform can also provide an upgrade to existing SelTrac™ systems. G8 provides investment protection by enabling seamless future technology insertion for performance upgrades or obsolescence management. SelTrac™ G8 brings enhanced services, to support operators to achieve 100% availability and on time service. Services capabilities including: health monitoring features for leaner maintenance teams and faster response capability, increased resiliency to failure with greater visibility of seamless hardware and software enhancements to extend the system life with no interruption to operations.

Since its introduction on the urban rail market, SelTrac™ has become a global benchmark. With this new generation of the SelTrac™ system, Thales is supporting the digital transformation of urban rail operators by delivering an innovative solution that includes the latest technologies and paves the way for the autonomous train operations of the next 30 years and beyond. – ALCINO DE SOUSA VP & MD, Thales’s Urban Rail Signalling Among other improvements, the SelTrac™ G8 platform is autonomy ready. One of the autonomous capabilities is designed to make both greenfield and brownfield CBTC deployments faster and easier than ever, with rapid train conversion and minimal trackside equipment.

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INNOVATION IN RAIL

The latest generation of our worldleading driverless train control solution opens up new possibilities for metro operators. - Alcino De Sousa, VP & MD, Urban Rail Signalling at Thales Transport

De Sousa explains the salient features of the eighth generation CBTC signalling technology launched for the Rail & Metro Industry. First of all, what is SelTrac™? Thales’ SelTrac™ is a digital signalling solution that helps metro operators to run more trains on their networks. The technology behind this is called Communications Based Train Control, or CBTC. SelTrac is natively driverless, but it can still be used with an attendant or driver. What’s new in SelTrac™ G8? There are three important new features in SelTrac™ G8. The first is a new digital architecture. This is based on common hardware platforms and is designed to be upgraded easily, including our new object controller or Remote IO to reduce the amount of wayside equipment required. Secondly, we have our suite of enhanced services, to support operators to achieve maximum availability. Thirdly, and last but not least, SelTrac™G8 is autonomy ready. How will customers benefit? The beauty of SelTrac™ G8 is that it is permanently upgradeable. New functions can be added easily just by upgrading the software. We call this innovation insertion. SelTrac™ G8 also features advanced diagnostic and health monitoring tools, easing maintenance and boosting reliability. In addition to this, our customers benefit from a significant reduction in wayside equipment, so installation and maintenance costs are lower.

Can I take advantage of new communications, like LTE and 5G? Yes. SelTrac™ G8 can support almost any type of radio communications, including LTE. Thanks to our new onboard communications gateway, you can switch between multiple radio technologies, so your train always stays connected. This new modular communication approach also supports a clear migration path to 5G. What does “autonomy ready” mean? We’ve developed a brand new autonomous positioning system in parallel with SelTrac™ G8. This uses inertial navigation, radar and radio ranging – the same technology stack that will be used in fully-autonomous operation. It’s remarkably easy to deploy. In fact, the onboard equipment can be installed in a few days. We have already piloted this on the New York City Subway. How is cybersecurity managed? Like all our solutions, SelTrac™ G8 is Cybersecured by Design. Innovation insertion makes security upgrades easier than ever. As we start to take advantage of new communications technologies, such as 5G, the focus on cybersecurity will become even more important. Who can benefit from SelTrac™ G8?

What about the Zone Controller? Our upgraded Zone Controller provides a number of different deployment and redundancy options. It is based upon the same proven hardware platform that may also be deployed as a standalone interlocking or as a subsytem in a legacy SelTrac system, depending on the installed software.

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We’ve designed SelTrac™ G8 to meet the needs of all our customers. It can be used on urban rail, metro, light rail and people movers. And it can be deployed in both brownfield (resignaling lines) and greenfield (new lines) projects. Finally, customers with earlier versions of SelTrac™ can also benefit, because the G8 platform can be provided as an upgrade to their existing SelTrac™ systems.

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

ARTICLE

Vietnam’s transport Enterprises: Shining forth in a special year Investing in the development of transport infrastructure, raising the localization rate of imported substitute, the application of technology in management, and production are the three key factors to help Vietnam’s transport enterprise to develop sustainably during Covid-19 period.

ransport is one of the spearhead economic sectors that determining the development of the economy so there is always a need for a sustainable development orientation to promote other economic sectors to develop. In the context of Covid-19 negative affecting the global economy, Vietnamese transport enterprises have made efforts to comprehensively innovate based on Government policies of developing infrastructure investment, then increasing the level of production localization and technology application. Improving the accessibility of urban transportation networks with a series of key projects As a country that is attracting a numerous of quality foreign investments and is advantaged in the wave of factory relocation from China after Covid-19, Vietnamese Government has invested in a series of projects strengthen connection between urban areas and economic regions. Specifically, in 2020 the Government has started construction on 18 projects with a total investment of about 92,384 billion VND, focusing mainly on the Eastern cluster of the North-South Expressway and the North-South HighSpeed Railway (HSR), Long Thanh International Airport

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Project, Terminal T3 International Airport.

Project

Tan

Son

Nhat

Despite the commencement and completion of projects during the Covid epidemic broke out have many difficulties, but these investment has created momentum for economic growth in provinces and cities, and enhanced capacities for contractors and transportation equipment manufacturing enterprises in Vietnam. Being one of the typical enterprises specializing in manufacturing products such as pot bearings, expansion joints, hand-rails, noise barriers, ... for almost of the national key projects, Vinh Hung Trading, Consulting and Construction Joint Stock Company (Vinh Hung JSC) has experienced impressive growth rate at 73.3 %. The quantity of pot bearing only supplied by Vinh Hung JSC increased 2.4-fold in compared to 2019. Technology application is the key to ensure safety during Covid pandemic and sustainable development To control Covid-19 epidemics and improve production and trade efficiency, a series of modern technologies has applied by Vietnamese transportation enterprises. An outstanding technology integration is Base - A

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ARTICLE

comprehensive business management platform that allows connecting all company departments in one platform, digitizing operations to reduce face-to-face interactions, and optimizing productivity and efficiency. A representative of Vinh Hung JSC said that operations and production activities of the company still processed normally even when employers worked at home when Base was integrated. In addition, transportation enterprises in Vietnam also apply Zoom to exchange internally or with partners, implement specialized management software to ensure end-to-end business process is handled on the digital platform.

“2020 proves to be a successful year for Vĩnh Hưng JSC, as the country was successful in dual goals: fighting against Covid-19 pandemic and sustainably develop manufacture to meet requirements of domestic and foreign projects.” Mr. Luong Vo Ta General Director of Vinh Hung Trading, Consulting and Construction Joint Stock Company (Vinh Hung JSC

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In addition to quickly putting new applications into operation as mentioned above, Vietnamese transport enterprises also update latest technology by conducting technology transfers from international enterprises. In 2020, Vinh Hung JSC is a pioneer in Vietnam to put a series of modern machines into operation, apply a management and production system that is in accordance with European standards such as ISO 3834, EN 1090-2. With this breakthrough transformation, Vinh Hung exported products for large projects such as Temburong Bridge (Brunei) - the longest cross-sea bridge in Southeast Asia connecting Malaysia and Brunei, or the CebuCordova Link Expressway Project (Philippines). It can be seen that, as a developing country, Vietnam is one of the most dynamic emerging counties in Asia. Not only is Vietnam a bright spot in keeping Covid-19 pandemic under control, this country in general and it's transport industry in particular have experienced strong growth in a special year.

Host/Co-Host:

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INTERVIEW

Covid-19 presented us with unique challenges that pushed us to put our best foot forward and shine brighter than ever before. - Anil Munjal, CEO, Riello Power India Riello Power India Pvt. Ltd. is a pioneer company that produces a comprehensive range of UPS Systems, from 6 kVA to 6400 kVA for a wide range of applications, right from a small household to large industrial applications such as IT (Data Centers), electronics, medical, industrial equipment, radar & other defense equipment, telecommunication, among others. The company operates on a PAN India level with sales offices & service centers in all the metros and major cities across the country. In a recent conversation with Urban Transport News, Mr. Anil Munjal, CEO at Riello Power India talked on company's role in development of major infrastructure sectors in India.

How do you take your association with Riello Power India? I have been driving Riello Power India as the CEO and Director since its inception. Riello Power India Pvt Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of RPS S.p.A, a world leader in UPS systems. Headquartered at Legnago (Verona), Italy with manufacturing facilities in Legnago and Cormano in Italy and Manesar (Haryana) in India. Riello UPS has its remarkable presence in India for over two decades now.

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We started manufacturing in India almost a decade ago and have been taking big leaps in the industry since then. Our manufacturing plant provides the only full range of Online UPS from 6kVA - 6400kVA for almost every application. We are a very progressive company and constantly innovate our product portfolio to lead in terms of technology and reliability. We are the only UPS manufacturer that specialises exclusively in UPSs. Our USP is that we provide customized UPS solutions based on customer demand. Riello UPS maintains direct control over quality and reliability standards, closely following the entire manufacturing process, installation, commissioning, maintenance and aftersales service, and provide a process of continuous improvement, monitoring customers' perspective and using feedback to make rapid adjustments. What are your priorities in the business and how are you achieving new heights in the UPS business? Please explain. By 2023, the Indian UPS market is expected to rise at a CAGR of more than 9%. We anticipate that the demand for power backup across commercial and industrial sectors, as well as increasing digitalization across the world, will provide us with a slew of new business opportunities. The data centre uninterruptible power supply market is expected to grow in response to the growing adoption of cloud storage services and the growing need for uninterrupted power to ensure efficient operations in

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INTERVIEW

banks, financial institutions, and businesses. The growing popularity of modular data centre UPS systems will provide us with a significant business opportunity. Furthermore, in the coming years, the increasing number of technological advances and government initiatives to increase electrification rates and the growth of smart cities across the country will drive demand for UPS systems even higher. Not only that, but increasing demand from tier 2 and tier 3 cities is expected to drive UPS business growth in the country until 2023. We are optimistic that the business will grow stronger in the coming years. We've been in the UPS market for over two decades, and it's an industry in which we're experts and have a significant technological advantage over our rivals. Last year, everyone had a difficult time because the entire planet was confronted with and battling a pandemic. It presented us with unique challenges that pushed us to put our best foot forward and shine brighter than ever before. We took full advantage of the time we had to get through it and came out with flying colours. We take pride in assisting our country during this critical time by providing continuous support to all critical activities such as hospitals and telecommunications that were relentlessly responding to the COVID19 crisis and depended on the efficiency and consistency of the power supply. The medical field is one of the places where the UPS is needed. Riello Power India provided its technological solutions to protect intensive care machinery, lung ventilators and monitoring and diagnostic equipment to the healthcare sector. What are the different products and solutions which you are providing for the Urban Mobility Sector? Riello understands that transportation infrastructure is becoming increasingly technologically advanced and complex. At the same time, it must have a high degree of resilience and dependability under all operational and environmental environments. UPS and power continuity are critical components in ensuring service continuity and excellence. We provide our uninterruptible power supply systems (UPS) to Urban Mobility for their Mission-Critical & Emergency Category Loads including but not limited to lighting & Control load of Lifts & Escalators, Security, Signalling, Fire Alarm Control Panel, Door Frame Metal Detectors to name a few. We offer them with tailor-made solutions that satisfy the requirements of special standards or particular operating conditions as may be applicable.

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What is your main product for the Metro and Rail Sectors? Please specify. As mentioned above, we provide our uninterruptible power supply systems (UPS) to Metro & Railway Sector for their Mission-Critical & Emergency Category Loads including lighting & Control load of Lifts & Escalators, Security, Signalling, Fire Alarm Control Panel, Door Frame Metal Detectors just to name a few. We offer them with tailor-made solutions that satisfy the requirements of special standards or particular operating conditions as may be applicable. Our systems are relentlessly working in Delhi Metro Phase1, Delhi Metro Phase-2, Delhi Airport Express Metro, Chennai Metro, Mumbai Metro, Lucknow Metro, Jaipur Metro as well as Rapid Metro. We are now working with various other ambitious metro projects including Delhi Metro Phase-4, Nagpur Metro, Pune Metro, Bangalore Metro, etc. to name a few. What do you think about the expanding Indian market? Is there any major changes going to come in the near future? We are ready for the expanding Indian market. We have recently introduced an array of new products to cover lower and middle ratings of UPS solutions to cater to B2C segment and offer range of solutions to tier 2 and tier 3 cities. We also launched additional high capacity UPS series suitable for Data Centres. What are the specifications of your products which make them different from that of the other manufacturers? Can you please tell me something about it? As stated before, we are the only UPS manufacturer that specialises exclusively in UPSs. We are uniquely positioned in the market as we have got all the technologies and all the ratings of UPS right from SCR based to IGBT based UPS, transformer-less to transformer-based UPS and single phase to three phase UPS. We offer the only full range of Online UPS from 6kVA - 6400kVA for almost every application right from a small office or a commercial establishment to large industrial applications such as IT (Data Centres), electronics, medical, industrial equipment, radar & other defence equipment, telecommunication, BFSI, FMCG, automobile, oil & gas, education, aerospace among others. So as you can see, Riello Power is a UPS expert and that is our core business. With which of the Metro corporations you are currently working with? What are your plans for expansion of the business?

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INTERVIEW

We are working with various other ambitious metro projects including Delhi Metro Phase-4, Nagpur Metro, Pune Metro, Bangalore Metro, etc. to name a few. We are a technology & innovation driven company and keep on introducing new products and range of existing products for our customers benefit through our constant efforts & investment in R&D. India is going through the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Do you think it is going to affect the economy? Please express your views. Many organisations around the world have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has demonstrated the importance of adaptability and crisis management in dealing with unpredictable circumstances. A new wave of Covid-19 cases poses new threats, but they are unlikely to destabilise India's economic recovery, as we have learned to deal with them in the recent past. The first wave was completely unknown and we were not prepared just like all other nations. There were no protocols and operating guidelines to combat the spread of Covid 19 so lockdown was the only choice in front of the government. But now we stand prepared and have taken lessons from the past. There are well structured guidelines and protocols prepared and shared by the government from time to time with all business sectors to safeguard employees, their families and all the citizens of our city in general from this current Pandemic of COVID-19. In addition, the Indian government is implementing a vaccination campaign with great efficiency and swiftness. I strongly hope that we will be able to overcome it.

and community's health and welfare are our top priorities. We follow all the protocols of local government and adhere to all recommended measures like social distancing, regular premise sanitization, cleanliness, well-ventilated working spaces etc. If any corona case emerges amongst our employees, we ensure that he/she goes into self-quarantine for the prescribed period along-with taking proper medication and resumes work only when it’s safe for him and others. Wearing a mask and taking the appropriate safety measures are mandated in our organisation. It is compulsory for all our employees and outsiders to download & use Aarogya Setu App which is checked by Security Personnel at the entrance gate diligently before allowing gate entry alongwith following other guidelines of measuring temperature. In addition, except for the most significant factors, we have reduced business travel to almost nothing. We are committed to support the government in their mission to fight back Corona. In the year 2018, you inaugurated a new manufacturing plant of Riello in Manesar. What are the specifications of this plant? How will such initiatives give a boost to the Make in India initiative? Riello Power India Pvt. Ltd. has a state-of-the-art manufacturing unit at Manesar, India. With a built up area of more than 50000 sq. ft., the plant is highly integrated facility that is designed to produce world class UPS systems and provides the only full range of Online UPS from 6kVA - 6400kVA for almost every application. This manufacturing facility is a reflection of the company’s overall growth strategy to drive innovation, technology & product development. Riello UPS is a global brand recognized as one of the world leaders within its domain. It is a big boost to the ‘Make in India’ initiative as we are manufacturing our products in India with nearly 60% localization of our supply chain. Please share a message for our readers. Since UPS means uninterruptible power supply thus it is a critical device that supports mission-critical applications across diverse industries. I'd like to emphasise that consumers should give value to high-quality rather than a low-cost. Customers should not equate UPS to a box rather understand the crucial need of a reliable UPS system for their business function. Since UPS is the backbone of every critical operation, customers should regard UPS as a good business partner. ***

What are the measures which you have been taking to combat the spread of COVID-19? We are a socially conscious organization. Our employees'

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OPINION

Atmanirbhar Bharat: Indigenising Metro Transit

Amruta Ponkshe Sr. Associate, MSCI Inc.

ollowing China’s attack on Indian defence personnel at Galwan Valley in Ladakh, there is an overall atmosphere of discontent towards China in India. Several Chinese apps were recently banned as the Indian government deemed that they posed a threat to India’s sovereignty, security and public order. Though a software ban curbs Chinese aspirations of expanding its digital silk road to India, there are demands that Indian firms and government agencies scrap contracts awarded to Chinese firms in all sectors like power and transportation. Several public sector undertakings, including the Indian Railway, have already cancelled mega contracts given to Chinese companies.

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Providing indigenous options to China made equipment, heavy engineering and manpower will also have a greater impact in the government’s bid to turn ‘Atmanirbhar (Self Sufficient)’, especially in the transportation, power and infrastructure industries. Within few days of the altercations along the LAC, Chinese firms were shunted out of the bidding process for the Mumbai Monorail project. However, another Chinese firm was awarded a contract worth Rs1,126 crore for the Delhi Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project. Since the contract award, there have been several outcries to cancel the contract, both from within the ruling party organisations and opposition groups. However, banning Chinese firms from taking part into a project that they have entered through a competitive bidding process may not be as easy as an app ban. Currently, there are several Chinese companies working on Metro projects all over the country. The Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company Limited (STEC), which has won the above contract, is also involved in construction of the metro routes and other infrastructure works in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). There are five other Chinese firms working on the MMR metro conducting civil, tunnel works, and system works for the various metro routes. These firms work alongside their consortium partners from all over the world, including firms from India, Japan, France and Germany. As metro projects are funded directly or subsidised by multilateral agencies who

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OPINION

do not endorse or allow discrimination against bidders from a particular country, keeping Chinese firms out before the bidding process begins could be the only way out to keep the Chinese away from India’s sensitive public transport networks. While the government was quick to launch the Atmanirbhar Bharat app challenge to indigenise India’s digital experience, such steps have long been in the works for its metro and rail transportation sector. Back when the Metro railway systems were being developed and planned for cities with two million plus population in 2013, the Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) of the erstwhile UPA government set up a committee for ‘standardisation and indigenisation’ of metro railway coaches. Earlier, only rolling stock (coaches) and signalling and communication systems were under the ambit of the standardisation framework. The move to standardise metro rail equipment and components was necessary to bring down costs and bring in uniformity in manufacturing and maintenance of components across various metro systems. Indigenisation of the metro component industry would help in encouraging skill development, manufacturing and job creation for under the Make in India campaign; which has now received renewed focus under the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign in light of Covid -19 economic downturn.

metro coach manufacturing that benefits the burgeoning metro railway sector in India. Similar steps can be taken to establish home grown original equipment manufacturers (OEMS) that provide metro components at a cheaper cost and adapted to Indian conditions. The first step to do so is to standardise and establish parameters to adopt these systems for the Indian context. Merely banning Chinese firms from competitive bidding and service provision won’t help in view of the lack of Indian equipment and manpower required to build Indian Metro systems. The government has to take conscious steps to provide impetus to home grown and external entrepreneurs along the lines of domestic arms and ammunition manufacturing to develop the necessary skilling and manufacturing base so that Bharat can have a truly Atmanirbhar metro transit experience. Views are personal. This article first appears online at orfonline.org

The Delhi Metro’s strides in indigenisation have provided amazing results, with 90 percent of DMRC coaches being made in India. When the first train of DMRC was launched, the country imported coaches from Germany and South Korea. Stipulation in contracts where less than 25 percent of the rolling stock can be manufactured outside of the country has led to foreign infrastructure companies like Bombardier (Germany) and Alstom (France) to set up manufacturing units in India. Due to standardisation, these coaches can be used as rolling stock in metros across the country. Now, these made in India coaches are also exported to the metro systems of Sydney and Queensland in Australia. The government owned Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) which earned a INR 3,015 crore contract to manufacture rakes for Mumbai Metro, will begin supplying its completely indigenised coaches by the end of 2020, manufactured in its Bengaluru factory. In addition to these, the Indian railways itself through its Integral Coach Factory (ICF Chennai) and Modern Coach Factory (MCF Rae Bareilly) have begun producing metro railway coaches, since there is an expected countrywide demand for 2,000 metro trains between 2015 -2000. The coaches produced by the railways are significantly cheaper by Rs 3-4 crores than foreign manufactured coaches. Thus, indigenisation through contract stipulation, knowledge sharing and technology transfers have resulted in creating an industry of

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OPINION

Six innovations which are shaping the future of rail and metro

4. Virtual reality Luke Upton Welsh Journalist Smart Rail World

he rapid pace of technological, environmental and demographic change is leading to some major technological innovations in the world of rail and metro. The increase in urbanisation for example will place a higher demand on infrastructure, and therefore a heavier reliance on rail. But what will rail transport look like in the future? Here are six of the biggest innovations. 1. Digital revolution Rail is undergoing a digital revolution with the Internet of Things (IoT) enabling on-board sensors to deliver real time analysis and monitoring, spot problems before they cause delays, automate maintenance and ensure the train’s location is always 100% accurate. 2. New steel developments The tracks themselves are seeing changes, new steel developments have improved strength-to-weight ratios matching even the best titanium alloys and materials like graphene help make materials that are longer lasting, more resilient to extreme weather and better for the environment. 3. Drones for identifying problems Whilst high above the tracks, drones are already in use in identifying problems, assisting maintenance workers and in providing additional security by offering a view of trespassers or other threats.

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Virtual reality is something making a lot of headlines at the moment and is already in use with industry giant Bombardier, including it in their manufacturing process. Overcoming the challenges of cost and time, VR manufacture creates a 3-D model of a product, tests its efficiency virtually and then brings it to market more quickly and economically. 5. Driverless trains Copenhagen and Dubai are just two metros that operate driverless trains and automation is increasingly the choice for new networks. Why? A driver free network can deliver a deliver a more predictable network, maximise capacity when many metro systems are struggling to match demand and by removing the element of human-error enhance safety and security. Environmental concerns, fears over energy security and the lowering costs of implementation mean that rail is looking at new forms of power. 6. Alternative energy sources An area of increasing interest is the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative to diesel to power trains. Already being tested by some railways its advantages are that it offers a competitive price, and lower carbon emissions plus an established regulatory structure when compared to its fossil and renewable fuel rivals. Urbanization, rapid population growth and climate change concerns are now seeing even regions previously resistant to investing in rail and metro, for example the Middle East, embracing its advantages. These pressures coupled with dynamic innovations like the six listed are making public transport both sustainable and competitive and giving rail and metro a bright and exciting future.

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

OPINION

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had taken a soft loan of Rs 35,198 crore for construction work from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

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OPINION

Urban mobility for women empowerment in the decade of action

Shruti Jain Junior Fellow, ORF’s Centre for New Economic Diplomacy

effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in political, economic, and public life (SDG 5.5). Thus, urban development must view women as endusers of transport infrastructure and consider their diverse needs.

Building infrastructure in cities that is genderblind can lead to the social and economic exclusion of a large section of the population. The gendered perspective of transport

Often due to differences occurring in socially-constructed gender roles, women are predisposed towards certain travel characteristics that are distinct from those of men. These differences in travelling patterns can be due to several reasons such as variation in responsibilities, safety concerns, lesser income, and lower bargaining and decision-making powers.

It is necessary to study urban mobility from a gendered perspective as access to safe mobility directly relates to the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It can ensure women’s

Safety is a major concern raised by women regarding limited access to urban transport; the incidence of genderbased violence is higher for women. A report on Women and Mobility by the Asia Foundation, showed that 50 percent of sexual harassment cases against women in cities took place while using public transport and 16 percent while waiting for public transport. It was also found that poor infrastructure including lack of street lights, public toilets, and useable pavements, made travelling by public transport more uncomfortable and unsafe.

n cities, infrastructure is a necessary foundation for achieving sustainable and inclusive socio-economic growth as it directly affects access to education, work, and other services. Yet, cities are often designed without considering the needs of all the members of society. Lack of mobility within cities can lead to geographical segregation — exacerbating inequalities by reducing new opportunities for women and marginalised groups in urban areas. Building infrastructure in cities that is gender-blind can lead to the social and economic exclusion of a large section of the population.

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OPINION

Safety is a major concern raised by women regarding limited access to urban transport. Further, it was observed that long distances are a major deterrent for women’s participation in the labour force. An Informal Economy Monitoring Survey highlighted that women in urban areas are more likely to decline better paid jobs that are far away from their homes for lower-paid, local opportunities — primarily as urban transport does not account for their needs of affordability, safety, comfort, and security. In another instance, it was found that when women were displaced in Delhi from an informal settlement to the periphery of the city, their employment fell by 27 percent. Women also have fewer mobility options and are highly dependent on public, intermediate public transport or nonmotorised forms of transport. As income-generating jobs are given precedence over caregiving or domestic responsibilities, women are less likely to use private transport. The COVID-19 pandemic has further decreased mobility options for women. Due to high congestion and the need for social distancing, there has been a decrease in the use of mass-transportation services by women. In Delhi-NCR, for example, the share of metro services for female commuters has decreased by 16 percent post COVID-19.

Due to high congestion and the need for social distancing, there has been a decrease in the use of mass-transportation services by women. Eyes on the street Personal safety is one of the most important factors affecting women’s choices and preferences for transport in India. Better designed physical infrastructure such as wide pathways with sufficient lighting, eliminating dark corners and view-obstructing structures, universally accessible interchanges, public toilets, women-dedicated safe parking spaces, and adequate seating arrangement can not only facilitate non-motorised mobility but also improve last or first-mile connectivity for public transport. In 1961, author Jane Jacobs highlighted the importance of informal surveillance of the urban environment. In her concept of “eyes on the street,” informal surveillance through vibrant public spaces can make people feel safe, despite being among strangers. Building a congenial atmosphere near public transport interchanges in the form of restaurants or shops can create vibrant community spaces. This bottom-up community planning approach can create networks of mutual care and provide indirect surveillance for women.

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Overcrowding can lead to a higher incidence of sexual harassment. Due to safety concerns, women have a narrower time frame to travel by public transport. The reduced ‘safe window’ can increase congestion during certain hours and make public transport less reliable and safe. To reduce congestion, transport services must be boosted by increasing the frequency of short-distance mobility services, creating a flexible fare structure to ensure multi-journey tickets. GPS-enabled night taxi services by women drivers can improve safety during non-peak hours. Safety concerns can be addressed through increased surveillance at key transport interchanges. This can be ensured through more women being employed in leadership roles as transport sector authorities, active CCTV monitoring with a dedicated task force, and GPS tracking services. In most Indian cities, intermediate public transport such as taxi services, auto-rickshaws and cyclerickshaws are not formally registered; this makes it difficult for them to be traced. Despite the existing Central Motor Vehicle Act 1988 and the State Motor Vehicle rules, there is no institution to upgrade the intermediate public transport (IPT) with respect to routes, fares, vehicle performance, and technology services. To ensure safety and effective tracking, it is necessary to constitute a regulatory authority to ensure uniformity within the IPT services.. It is essential to carry out a modal split, where the percentage of male and female residents using particular forms of transport is assessed. Typically, little attention is given to gender differences in travel patterns due to a lack of gender-disaggregated statistics. It is essential to carry out a modal split, where the percentage of male and female residents using particular forms of transport is assessed. More gender-disaggregated data can help understand women’s travelling patterns and demands, including the mapping of routes used by women, the reasons for lack of safety, and the availability of amenities around modes of transport. Improved mobility not only broadens women’s economic and social opportunities but also plays an important role in curbing urban congestion and environmental damage. Limited access to safe transportation can increase women’s ‘hidden barriers’ in participating in the labour market as well as negatively impact their access to other services such as education or health, especially during the pandemic. Thus, women’s reclamation of public spaces is a requisite for the realisation of their right to the city and inclusive urban development. Views are personal. This article first appears online at orfonline.org

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

IN SPOTLIGHT

Technocrat to Politician: Journey of Metro Man E. Sreedharan

lattuvalapil Sreedharan popularly known as the ‘Metro Man’ could be the busiest 88-year-old in the country. On February 19, 2021, he took many people surprise by announcing that he had decided to join the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), the biggest political party of India. Since then, his transformation from a technocrat to a politician has been quick and stark. Sreedharan played a key role in the building of the Konkan Railway and the Delhi Metro. In India millions of people are dependent on the public transport and the credit for changing the very face of Indian public transport goes to this enterprising engineer. The man who began his career as a lecturer in an engineering college appeared for the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) and joined the Indian Engineering Service (IES). He first proved his ability as an engineer when he was put in-charge of restoring a bridge that had been damaged by a cyclone. He executed the complete work within 46 days as against the six months

METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

allotted to this task. Recognized by the government for his brilliance, he was made the in-charge for planning and designing the Kolkata metro, the very first metro in India. The next several years saw him working with the singleminded conviction to improvise the public transport system in India. He had become such an invaluable asset to Indian Railways that the government let him know that his services would be required even after he retired from IES. Several national and international honors have been bestowed upon him for his pioneering works.

Speaking at the first convocation of Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women in December 2018, 'Metro Man' E Sreedharan had pitched that the future of the country lies in the hands of engineers and technocrats and not politicians.

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IN SPOTLIGHT

Childhood & Early Life • • •

He was born in Palakkad district of Kerala on 12 June 1932. His family hailed from Karukaputhoor. He received his early education from Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School after which he went to the Victoria College in Palghat. He chose to study engineering and completed his Civil Engineering from the Government Engineering College, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.

•

Awards & Achievements •

Career •

•

After completing his education he was appointed as a lecturer in Civil engineering at the In 1953, he appeared for the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and cleared it. He joined the Indian Engineering Service (IES) and was posted as a Probationary Assistant Engineer in the Southern Railway in December 1954. He faced the first big challenge of his career in December 1964 when a cyclone damaged the Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu. The Railways allotted a period of six months for the repair works while Sreedharan’s boss wanted the work done within three. Sreedharan, who was made in-charge of the restoration, executed the work in just 46 days. In 1970, Sreedharan was assigned the responsibility of implementing, planning and designing the Kolkata Metro, the first ever metro in India. He was deputy chief engineer at that time. With his hard work and determination he led the successful completion of the job and set the pace for the further development in infrastructure engineering in India. He was associated with the project till 1975. In October 1979 he joined the Cochin Shipyard Ltd., the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in India. But at the time of his joining, the agency was not performing well. However, under Sreedharan’s direction, the agency flourished and launched its first ship MV Rani Padmini in 1981. He became the General Manager, Western Railway in July 1987. A couple of year later he was elevated to the post of Member Engineering, Railway Board and exofficio Secretary to the Government of India. He retired in June 1990 but the government informed him that his services would still be needed and thus he was appointed the CMD of Konkan Railway on contract. The Konkan Railway project, which had 93 tunnels with a total tunnel length of 82 km and involved tunneling through soft soil, was very different from the typical Indian railway projects. The total project covered 760 km and had over 150 bridges. Under his leadership, the work was completed in seven years. He was later made the managing director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). Again he proved to

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be an extraordinary leader and all the scheduled sections were completed within their respective budgets, and by their target time. The phenomenal success of the Delhi Metro made him a national celebrity and the government honored him with many awards for his relentless hard work and dedication. He retired from service in December 2011.

• •

The Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, in 2001. The Government of France bestowed upon him The Order of Légion d'Honneur, the highest decoration in France, in 2005. In 2008 he received the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India, in recognition of his work with the Delhi Metro.

Personal Life & Legacy •

•

He is married to Radha and regards his wife as a great pillar of support. The couple has four children, all of them are now well accomplished in their own chosen fields. He regularly reads the Bhagwad Gita and tries to imbibe its teachings in his professional and personal life. He does not regard the Gita as a religious text, but as a handbook of advice on how to optimize life. He is a very principled man who believes that time is money. Even though he is in his eighties, he still leads an active life and continues to advice the government on its metro and rail projects.

Political Life Today, as the 88-year-old kick starts his political career as Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) chief ministerial face for the Kerala Assembly elections 2021, Sreedharan has put forth 'development' on the table, with the aim of leading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to victory in the southern state. Native to Karukaputhur taluk of Kerala’s Palakkad, Sreedharan is contesting from the same district with the NDA ticket with hopes that people will vote for him because of his "selfless" work for the good of the society in the past. ***

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INDUSTRY EVENT CALENDER 2021

Dates

Event Name

Venue

February 22-25

SmartRail

London, UK

February 24-26

International Railway Summit

Berlin, Germany

February 24

Rail Business Awards

London, UK

March 3-5

Eurasia Rail

Konya, Turkey

April 20-21

Safety of Passengers

Warsaw, Poland

May 12-14

Electrotrans

Moscow, Russia

May 20-21

Smart Ticketing & Digital Services Forum

Budapest, Hungary

June 1-July 31

Urban Rail & Equipment Business Virtual Show

Online

June 16-18

Rail Solution Asia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

June 21-23

Conference on Railway Excellence

Perth, Australia

June 28-30

Rail and Metro Infrastructure 2021

Online

Aug 10 – October 10

Urban Infra & Construction Business Virtual Show

Online

August 5

2nd Rail Infra & Mobility Business Awards 2021

New Delhi, India

September 7-9

Railtex & Infrarail

Birmingham, UK

September 13-15

Transport Security Congress

Miami, USA

October 12-13

Middle East Rail

UAE

October 18-20

SmartMetro

Vienna, Austria

October 29-31

Urban Mobility India Conference & Expo

Kochi, India

Nov.1 – Dec 15

Transport, Logistics & Technology Virtual Show

New Delhi, India

November 9-10

MOVE

London, UK

Nov 30 – Dec 2

SmartRail Europe

Rome, Italy

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METRO RAIL TODAY APRIL 2021

EDITORIAL CALENDER AND ADVERTISING RATES 2021-22

METRO RAIL TODAY MAGAZINE Issue

Special Story

Featured

Apr 2021

History of Metro Railways in India: Trams to Modern Metro

Development of Metro Rail Projects in Uttar Pradesh

Major components of Rolling Stock (Metro Rail)

Role of Development Finance Institutions (DFI) in Urban Railways

May 2021

Indegenisation in Metro Railways: Indian Vs Foreign Players

Development of Metro Rail Projects in Delhi-NCR

Heat Ventilation & AirConditioning (HVAC) system

Cool Reflections for Overheating Metros in Summer seasons

Jun 2021

Need of High Speed Rail (HSR) and Hyperloop Train in India

Progress report on Mumbai & Navi Mumbai Metro Project

Signalling & Telecom, Train Control, CBTC Technology

Role of Ministry and UMTAs in developing Urban Rail Transit

Jul 2021

Development of Metro Rail Projects in India: In depth Analysis

Metro Rail Projects in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka

Role of Machinery & Plants in operation of Metro Rail systems

Public-Private-Partnership in developing Urban Railways

Aug 2021

Latest Innovation in Urban Rail Transit Systems

Metro Rail Projects in Bihar and West Bengal

Rolling Stock and Coach Manufacturing Plants

Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat Scheme in Metro Railways

Sep 2021

Role of Construction Equipment in development of Metro Rail project

Development of Metro Rail Projects in Maharashtra

Role of Digitalization and BIM Technology in Urban Railways

Role of Steel and Cement Industries in Urban Railways

Oct 2021

Future of Regional Rail Transit System (RRTS)

Metro Rail Projects in Madhya Pradesh

SCADA, Traction and Propulsion Equipment

Role of Foreign Funding Institutions in developing Urban Rail Transit

Nov 2021

Future of Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) like Metrolite, MetroNeo

Delhi Metrolite and Nashik Metro Neo Project

AFC, Ticketing & Contactless Payment System

Future of Consultancy Business in Urban Railways

Dec 2021

Role of Suburban Rail in Metropolitan Cities

Metro Rail Projects Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir

Role of IoT, 5G and Automation in Urban Rail

Life Cycle and Cost Analysis of Metro Rail System Projects

Jan 2022

Comparative Study on Metro and other modes of Public Transport

Metro Rail Projects in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana

Importance of specialised Training for Metro projects

Year End Review 2021, Progress Report on India & World Metro

Feb 2022

Future of Mono Rail and Urban Trams in India

Special Report on Kolkata Tram and Mumbai Monorail

Train Surveillance and Security Systems

Business Opportunities in Rail & Metro sectors

Mar 2022

Hydrogen Fuel and Green Metro Systems

Metro Rail projects in Gujarat

Pneumatic and Mechanical Equipment

Rail & Metro Budget 2022 (Analysis) /Women in Urban Rail

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Metro Rail Today April 2021

Articles inside

Tender Watch

Construction Updates

Round Up

Editor’s Note