Round Up

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH

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.

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, 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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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).

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 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.

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

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

(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).

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.

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

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.

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.