Metro Rail Today September 2022

Rajesh Agrawal, IRSEE Corporate Consultant, Former Member (Rolling Stock), Railway Board

Dr. Richa Chowdhary Professor University of Delhi, New Delhi

Keshav Kumar Rail, MRTS & Transit Expert, Gurugram

Dr. Vivek Vaidyanathan Urban Transport Scientist & Principal Consultant, Steer, Bengaluru

Dr. Surabhi Singh Professor

Bajaj Institute of Management & Research, Noida

Ar. Priyanka Kumar Urban Planner Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board

Karuna Gopal Smart Cities Advisor Foundation for Futuristic Cities, Hyderabad

Today

transport

institutions to ensure

on its path

Dr. Valavan Amudhan Public Transport Expert Director MRTC Chennai

Sudhanshu Mani, IRSME Rail Innovation Expert Ex GM/ICF, Indian Railways

MC Chauhan, IRSEE Railway Expert

Chairman KMRC, Ex. GM/NCR, Indian Railways

Mass Rapid Transit systems (MRTS) such as the Metro Rail facilitate quick, safe and easy movement of people and promote economic activities, social equity, and an enhanced quality of life for the people. Owing to the possibility of seamlessly traversing underground, over ground (viaducts) or at grade (on surface), the metro rail system connects congested areas with the rest of the city, thus allowing dissipation of the congestion as people reduce the usage of personal transport like cars

On the economic side, MRTS facilitate equalisation of property values across their influence zone Small businesses and start ups can extend the forward and backward linkages far more efficiently, through the MRTS. At the same time, MRTS enhances the overall

and enables less influential segment of the society to participate in the growing economic activities For instance, women can reach jobs that are at a greater distance, as metro would provide them safe and quick mode of travel between home and work place

of

of

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Railway Minister

Mr Sushil Kumar, Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh

Corporation (UPMRC) and Mrs. Rupa Paramanik, Dy Chief Engineer (Underground Structure Design), Bangalore

Corporation (BMRC)

Mamta

Vinod

Anushka

Noumi

Sangeeta

Khushboo

Chennai Bangalore

Hyderabad Gurugram

Noida Nagpur Mumbai Lucknow Kolkata Kochi Kanpur

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH

to produce 3,500 coaches for Vande Bharat, Indian Railways and Metro projects

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH

MMRC to appoint consultants for Mumbai Metro Line 3 Extension

SAIL begins production of HH Rails for High Speed Train and Metro Rail Projects

SAIL has set up a new unit for the production of head hardened (HH) rails at the new Universal Rail Mill (URM) at its Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) in Chhattisgarh at the cost of 1,200 crore This unit is set up as part of its modernization programme for Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) and now started production of Head Hardened Rail (HH Rail) for Metro and High Speed Rail Projects. The 'head hardening' technology requires a special heating process Rails made with this technology are able to withstand 50 percent higher pressure than normal rails

In March 2022, the Government of Maharashtra announced plans to extend Line 3 southbound from Cuffe Parade, adding a 2 5 km stretch with one new station at Navy Nagar The extension would cost an additional Rs 2,301 crore. Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC) is seeking expression of interest/bids from reputed consultants for providing consultancy services for the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) & Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Report for Southern Extension of Mumbai Metro Line 3 from Cuffe Parade to Navy Nagar

MPMRCL to adopt National Common Mobility Card for Bhopal & Indore Metro Ticketing

The Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MPMRCL) is planning to adopt National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) for ticketing & payment in upcoming Bhopal and Indore Metro Rail Systems The NCMC card can be used for multiple purposes like a debit card along with paying the fare in the metro train With this smart card, people will also be able to pay for city bus, parking, shopping, toll tax and other services. The NCMC card user can also enjoy cash back benefits on per transaction like online companies.

KMRL to implement Light Metro Rail projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode

The Kerala Government entrusted Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) with the construction of the Light Metro projects and three flyovers to be implemented by the Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting held on 24th August 2022. KMRL will be entrusted with the task of preparing a new detailed project report for the Light Metro Rail projects

MMRDA likely to start metro services on remaining sections of Metro 2A, 7 by December

As per the latest information shared by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, the work on the remaining stretches of Mumbai Metro's Line 2A (Dahisar DN Nagar) and Line 7 (Dahisar East Andheri East) is 98% completed The authority is planning to commence a trial run of metro trains on these corridors by October this year The authority is aiming to commence commercial operations on these stretches by December 2022 after getting safety clearance from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS)

MMRC launches trial run of Alstom make first Metro train on Mumbai Metro Line 3

Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) successfully conducted a trial run of the first trainset delivered by Alstom for Mumbai’s Colaba Bandra SEEPZ Metro line 3 (Aqua Line) on 30th August 2022 It is the city’s first metro project that can run driverless and the trains to have 75% motorization making operations efficient This is also the city’s first fully underground metro project Mumbai Metro Line 3 will connect the Cuffe Parade business district in the extreme south of the city to SEEPZ in the north central with 26 underground and one street level station. Alstom is also equipping this line with the latest generation of CBTC signaling technology (Urbalis 400)

The metro trial run for the 5 9 km long stretches of Indore Metro's Ring Line (Yellow Line) will be commenced by September 2023 “The progress of the Indore metro rail project is good We are confident that we will conduct the trial run on the 5 9 high priority corridors by September next year,” said Nikunj Shrivastava, Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.

Passenger services on Pune Metro Line 3 may start by March 2025

Punekars may enjoy the ride on Pune Metro's Line 3 (Hinjewadi Shivajinagar) by March 2025 Tata projects will undertake Metro work on the entire 23 km stretch, instead of working on it phase wise, said officials working on the project The work will be completed in 40 months We have already started work on the ground and most of the land is in our possession The project team is planning to complete the project by March 2025. The 23.3 km long Pune Metro Line 3 will connect the IT hub of Hinjewadi with the central hub of Shivajinagar through 23 elevated stations

MPMRCL to start trial run on 5.9 km Indore metro corridor by September 2023

Mumbai Mumbai Meerut Kolkata Kochi Indore Delhi Chennai Bhopal

Pune Patna Nagpur

Agra Metro

Underground tunneling work started to construct 7 93 km tunnel section connecting the RBS College Ramp and Taj Mahal Ramp of the Project Apart from this, Signalling work gains momentum; signal systems being installed in Agra Metro Depot stabling line. Along with civil work, systems work is also being carried out at a rapid pace for timely completion of the project

Delhi Metro

The engineers of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Construction commenced construction work on underground Package DC09 of 23 622 km Silver Line (Aerocity Tughalakabad) After building a guide wall, they lowered the first reinforced cage to form the diaphragm wall (D wall) around Chhatarpur Station’s box, just east of the Chhatarpur Metro Station (Yellow)

Bangalore Metro

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Vindhya (DZ671) recorded second tunnel breakthrough at Pottery Town Station for Reach 6 of Bangalore Metro Rail Project, Phase 2 This TBM was recommissioned in February 2022 to build the 906 702m Cantonment Pottery Town Station section’s south bound tunnel.

Chennai Metro

Tata Projects Ltd received two tunnel boring machines (S97 & S98) from Chinese TBM manufacturer Terratec for approximately 9 km twin tunnels (total 18 km) between Venugopal Nagar Kellys section of Corridor 3 of Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase 2 under TU 01 package Chennai Metro Rail Ltd awarded a contract worth Rs 1,999 to Tata Projects Ltd in May 2021 with a 42 month deadline The under construction Corridor 3 stretches from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Siruseri Sipcot 2

Chinese construction company Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co Ltd (STEC) deployed its third Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM Sudarshan 4 3) and started tunneling for 2 093 km tunnels between Anand Vihar Station’s northern TBM Launch Shaft (chainage 12813 41) to Sahibabad UP Ramp (chainage 14907 00) for Delhi Meerut RRTS Corridor.

Besides this, construction of RRTS viaduct has also been completed for 25 km long stretch of the corridor including over 16 km of Priority Section Around 24 launching gantries (Tarini) have been installed to date at various locations to construct the viaducts expeditiously The viaduct of the entire priority section is almost complete, and all 5 stations are also being constructed expeditiously Dynamic testing of first RRTS train is also started in depot

Delhi Meerut RRTS

Indore Metro

The Engineers of URC Constructions on a sub contract from Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) launched the first segment for 10 927 km on MR10 Road Gandhi Nagar section (Package IN 03) of Indore Metro Rail Project. The 1st segment was cast in April 2022 with a top width of 8 5m, bottom width of 3 5m, and weighs approximately 37 MT and it was launched between Super Corridor 2 and Super Corridor 3 stations of the Ring Line Metro Corridor

Kolkata Metro

Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) commenced mega girder launching for Majerhat Metro station of under construction Line 3 of Kolkata Metro Rail Project. 3 girders (6 pieces) and 4 cross girders were successfully erected by using a 140T crane and bogies on the night of 2/3 April, 2022 The platform has been dismantled for the placement of cranes and OHE modification was done

Apart from this, RVNL commenced mega girder launching for Majerhat Metro station of under construction Line 3 of Kolkata Metro Rail Project.

Kanpur Metro

The engineers of SAM India and Gulermak commenced tunneling on first 3 619 km underground stretch at Bada Chauraha Station for tunnelling between Chunniganj and Nayaganj of the 23 785 km Corridor 1 of Kanpur Metro Rail Project. For this, Tunnel Boring Machine naiknamed Nana & Tatya have been deployed by the contractor. Besides this, construction work also started on 2nd underground stretch (Kanpur Central Jhakarkati Transport Nagar) of Corridor 1 (IITK Naubasta) of the project

Mumbai Metro

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) achieved 41st Tunnel Breakthrough The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM 1239) nicknamed Tansa operated by Doğuş Soma JV arrived at Mumbai Central Station of the Mumbai metro Line 3 (Colaba Bandra SEEPZ).

This was TBM 1239’s 3nd (and final) breakthrough, and Doğuş Soma JV’s 5th of 6 breakthroughs planned for package UGC 03 (Worli Mumbai Central)’s tunnels Now, one breakthrough is pending on this Corridor

BANGALORE METRO

Work

Madhavaram

CMRL

Madhavaram)

Moolakadai, Sembiyam,

Sembiyam

Madhavaram Milk

30.09.2022

CMRL

22.10.2022

30.09.2022

Sholinganallur)and Corr5

Madhavaram

ACTIVE TENDERS

METRO

Work Type Scope of Work Issue /Closing Date Authority

Civil Construction of UG Stations at Kolathur Junction, Srinivasa Nagar, Villivakkam Suburban Station , Villivakkam Bus Terminus and Nathamuni with Entry/Exit,Ventilation shafts,Plumbing, Earthmat ,Architectural finishes, Signages etc incl Twin Bored Tunnel

Civil Construction of Five (05) UG Stations at KMC(Kilpauk),Sterling Road, Nungambakkam, Gemini(Anna Flyover), Thousand Lights and Thousand Lights Cross Over Box and works other than Diaphragm wall of Two UG Stations at Royapettah Chetpet Metro in C3

Civil Construction of Four Underground Stations at Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai, Thirumayilai , Mandaiveli and Adyar Junction and Two Cross Passage Shafts and One Emergency Escape Shaft and works other than Diaphragm wall of One Underground Station at Greenway

Civil Construction of Four (04) Underground Stations at Otteri, Pattalam, Perambur Barracks Road and Kellys and works other than Diaphragm Wall of Two Underground Stations at Ayanavaram Puraisaiwakkam Station cum Crossover Box in Corridor3 of CMRL PhaseII Project

Civil Construction of Three (03) Underground Stations at Adyar Depot, Indira Nagar and Taramani Road Junction Ramp and works other than Diaphragm wall of One Underground Station at Thiruvanmiyur Metro in Corridor 3 of CMRL Phase II Project

M&P Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Machinery and Plant at Poonamallee Depot and Training of Personnel on turnkey basis

23.12.2021 27.09.2022

29.12.2021 20.10.2022

30.12.2021 30.09.2022

04.01.2022 30.09.2022

CMRL

05.01.2022 14.10.2022

CMRL

CMRL

CMRL

CMRL

04.04.2022 20.09.2022

Rolling Stock Supply, Testing And Commissioning Of Wheel Profile Measuring Device For Rolling Stock Maintenance 26.08.2022 24.09.2022

Rolling Stock Maintenance service for Battery Operated Golf Cart (8 Seater) 10 NOS 30.08.2022 06.10.2022

Rolling Stock Supply of Brake Blocks for CMRL Phase I Rolling Stock 30.08.2022 27.09.2022

Civil Civil Maintenance Works in Corridor_1 of phase 1 and phase 1 Extension(Including Nandanam HQ building,Nandanam Quarters and Wimco Nagar Depot)and Other Miscellaneous works.

Civil Civil Maintenance Works in Corridor _2 of Phase I (including Koyambedu depot, Koyambedu Admin, Koyambedu Quarters, shenoy nagar park, Central Metro, Central Square and central subways) and Other Miscellaneous Works

12.09.2022 06.10.2022

12.09.2022 06.10.2022

Consultancy Selection of Consultant for Preparation of Detailed Feasibility Study Report for Extension of Chennai Metro’s Phase II network 16.09.2022 14.10.2022

CMRL

CMRL

CMRL

CMRL

CMRL

CMRL

Work

PIS Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of PAS, PIDS and MCLK System, for 3 Priority Corridors of Phase IV Project of Delhi MRTS.

CCTV Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system, for 3 Priority Corridors of Phase IV Project of Delhi MRTS

28.07.2022 29.09.2022

29.04.2022 12.09.2022

CMRL

DMRCL

DMRCL

ACTIVE TENDERS

METRO

Work Type Scope of Work Issue /Closing Date Authority

PIS Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of PAS, PIDS and MCLK System, for 3 Priority Corridors of Phase IV Project of Delhi MRTS.

28.07.2022 29.09.2022

Misc. Instrumentation and Monitoring for raising speed for Existing Operational Airport Express Line. 23.08.2022 22.09.2022

M&P Comprehensive Operation and Maintenance of Sewage Treatment plant (STP) and Effluent Treatment plant (ETP) at Mukundpur Depot. 29.08.2022 20.09.2022

M&P Repair, Replacement of components, Operation and Maintenance of existing 30,000 LPH capacity Water Treatment plant in Shastri Park train Depot and 2400LPH capacity Water Treatment plant at SHDN, RJBG, RJNM, SMPK, MNGM, ATHA, HDNR and NBAA

M&P Design, Manufacture, SITC of Half height platform gate and Full height platform screen door for Aerocity to Tughlakabad, Mukundpur to Maujpur and Janakpuri west to R.K. Ashram Marg corridor of Phase IV of Delhi MRTS.

S&T SITC of Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) System for Signalling, Telecommunication, Automatic Fare Collection, Platform Screen Door/Gate System and Emergency Power Supply to E and M at Elevated Stations of Phase IV of Delhi MRTS.

Electrical Supply, installation, testing and commissioning of street lighting poles from Tikri border to Jhajjar bypass (Haryana portion) in line 5 of Delhi MRTS corridor Phase III.

M&P Design, Providing, installation and commissioning of 1 RO plant having 2 ROs, i.e. one having capacity 2000 LPH and second RO having capacity 750 LPH at Shastri Park Depot including operation and comprehensive maintenance (CAMC).

30.08.2022 29.09.2022

06.09.2022 25.10.2022

07.09.2022 17.10.2022

08.09.2022 07.10.2022

08.09.2022 07.10.2022

Civil Repair and structural strengthening work of fire affected DCOS Building at Mukundpur Depot 13.09.2022 06.10.2022

Track Annual Maintenance Contract of Track for Line 7 (Majlis Park Dead End to Shiv Vihar Dead End including Mukundpur Depot and Vinod Nagar Depot) 13.09.2022 13.10.2022

Track Maintenance contract for Inspection and Rectification/ Replacement of Bearings and Grout in elevated viaduct section of Airport Line and Line 3 Section.

Telecom Licensing of Spaces for installation of Telecom Tower or Masts for Provision and Enhancement of Cellular Mobile Network at 20 Selected Metro Stations or Locations of DMRC Network on Various lines and Depots

14.09.2022 06.10.2022

15.09.2022 27.10.2022

Electrical Provisioning of Smart Prepaid Energy Meters for Property Development Clients at DMRC 15.09.2022 06.10.2022

DMRCL

DMRCL

DMRCL

DMRCL

DMRCL

DMRCL

DMRCL

DMRCL

DMRCL

DMRCL

DMRCL

DMRCL

DMRCL

Work Type Scope of Work Issue /Closing Date Authority

UPS Supply, Installation, Testing, Commissioning & Dismantling of Maintenance Free Valve Regulated Lead Acid Batteries for UPS and SMPS Installed at JMRC.

22.08.2022 21.09.2022

AFC Repair of The Faulty Items of Automatic Fare Collection System 25.08.2022 23.09.2022

JMRC

JMRC

ACTIVE TENDERS

JAIPUR METRO

Work Type Scope of Work Issue /Closing Date Authority

Electrical Procurement of VCB Analyser System 03.09.2022 29.09.2022

UPS Supply, Installation, Testing, Commissioning & Dismantling of Maintenance Free Valve Regulated Lead Acid Batteries for UPS and SMPS Installed at JMRC

06.09.2022 21.09.2022

E&M Rate Contract for Repairing of Submersible Pumps (Borewell) installed at various locations of JMRC 09.09.2022 23.09.2022

E&M Non Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (NCAMC) of Building Management System installed at Chandpole Metro Station of JMRC for Three Years

13.09.2022 27.09.2022

E&M Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) of SCADA System (Make: Schneider Electric) installed at Mansarovar and Sindhi Camp RSS of JMRC 14.09.2022 27.09.2022

M&P Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of RO System Capacity: 100LPH for Nine Metro stations of Phase 1A in JMRC 14.09.2022 30.09.2022

Electrical Procurement of VCB Analyser System 15.09.2022 29.09.2022

Electrical Providing Air conditioning and Electrical Works at Library Hall for Office of DCP Metro in JMRC 15.09.2022 30.09.2022

KANPUR METRO

JMRC

JMRC

JMRC

JMRC

JMRC

JMRC

JMRC

JMRC

Work Type Scope of Work Issue /Closing Date Authority

Solar Design, Engineering, Supply, Storage, Civil Work, Erection of Suitable Structure, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of The 1.0mwp Rooftop Solar PV Project Including O and M For A Period of 5 Years on Kanpur Metro Project Of UPMRCL.

18.08.2022 28.09.2022

UPMRCL

Work Type Scope of Work Issue /Closing Date Authority

Ticketing Design supply, installation, testing and commissioning of AFC system

Audit

Civil Maintenance

Re

25.08.2022 06.10.2022

Chartered Accountant

of Uttar Pradesh

for Civil work of all (21 Nos.) of Metro stations from Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport to Munshipulia including RSS Polytechnic and Transport Nagar Metro Depot.

Solar Design, Engg. Supply, Storage, Civil work, Erection of suitable structure, I T and C of the 2 MWp Rooftop

including O and M of the

RESCO Model for a period of 25 yrs on Depot and Stations of Lucknow

of UPMRCL

02.09.2022 03.10.2022

15.09.2022 17.10.2022

21.07.2022 27.09.2022

UPMRCL

UPMRCL

UPMRCL

UPMRCL

LUCKNOW

ACTIVE TENDERS

NAGPUR METRO

Work Type

Civil Development and Operation of Parking & Ancillary Commercial use on Land Bearing Kh. No. 45/1, 47, 51, 63/1, 64, 65, 66, 75 & 74/2 Mz Pardi Near Prajapati Nagar Metro Station, Nagpur on Public Private Partnership Basis

Civil Development and Operation of Parking & Ancillary Commercial Use on Land Bearing Kh. No. 45/1, 47, 51, 63/1, 64, 65, 66, 75 & 74/2 Mz Pardi Near Prajapati Nagar Metro Station, Nagpur on Public Private Partnership Basis

SURAT METRO

Work

Consultancy

Work

Solar

Undertaking Financial Feasibility

Commercial Development of Land Parcels

PPP

Surat Metro Rail Project Phase I

Date

22.08.2022 22.09.2022

22.08.2022 22.09.2022

NMRCL

NMRCL

for a Period of 25

Date

30.08.2022 14.10.2022

GMRC

Date

11.07.2022

GZB

of NCRTC.

TENDER RESULT

Project Work Type Scope of Work

Bangalore Metro E&M Electrical and Mechanical (E&M) Works including Hydraulics, Fire Safety Systems, UPS & DG Sets for five Underground Stations, associated tunnel sections & five Elevated Stations in Reach 6 of Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase II

Bangalore Metro E&M Design Verification & Validation, Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning including Operations & Maintenance of TVS, ECS & SCADA Works of 6 Underground Stations and associated Tunnel Sections in Reach 6 under Phase II

Chennai Metro S&TC Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Signalling and Train Control System and Video Management System for Phase 2

Chennai Metro Track Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Ballastless track of Standard Gauge Including All Associated Works in Underground and Elevated Section from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur of Corridor 3

Chennai Metro Track Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Ballastless Track of Standard Gauge including all associated works in Underground, Elevated and Madhavaram Depot of Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase II Between CMBT to Madhavaram Milk Colony of Corridor 5

Delhi Metro Track Design, Manufacturing and Supply of UIC 60 Turnouts and Scissor cross over for Ballasted/Ballast less Track of Delhi Metro Phase IV Corridor (Line 8 Ext. Janak Puri West R. K. Ashram)

Delhi Metro Track Design, Manufacturing and Supply of UIC 60 Turnouts and Scissor cross over for Ballasted/Ballast less Track of Delhi Metro Phase IV Corridors (Line 7 Extension Maujpur to MajlisPark and Line 10 Tughlakabad to Aerocity).

Delhi Metro Electrical Design, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of 25 kV Overhead Equipment (OHE), 33 kV Auxiliary Power Supply for Elevated Corridors and SCADA System for both Elevated and Underground Corridors of Delhi Metro MRTS Phase IV

Winner Value (₹) Status

Blue Star 186.88 cr. Awarded

Blue Star 202.80 cr. Awarded

Hitachi Rail STS India 1621.19 cr. Lowest Bidder

L&T 267 cr. Awarded

KEC 194 cr. Lowest Bidder

Voestalpine NA. Lowest Bidder

Voestalpine NA Lowest Bidder

KEC International 209 cr. Lowest Bidder

ARTICLE

Barriers in Design & Construction of Metro Rail Projects in India

Apart from Roads, Railways, Air and Waterways two other strong and rapidly developing modes of public transport are ‘Metro rail’ and ‘Mono rail’ systems; they fall under urban infra structure category and are becoming popular mediums of commuting in congested cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and alike; in these crowed cities they are the most preferred modes of commuting especially in busy traffic hours Metros can be constructed above ground (elevated) as well as below ground (UG); hence it brings better connectivity between two points of a city In crowed cities all over the world like London, Singapore, Dubai, Delhi and many more, Metros have been successfully implemented in about past half century or so. The benefits it brings are undebated; but at the same time design and construction of metro rail has no more remained a simple straight forward task due to various problems involved in it, like availability of land, coordination between various disciplines (like Architect, structural designer, contractors, equipment suppliers, regulating authorities, common people etc ), construction permissions, environmental clearances, project funding, timely payment to agencies, availability of right construction machines and techniques, fouling utilities (chartered and unchartered), fouling buildings/ infrastructures, road diversions, safety lapses, unavailability of skilled man power etc The delays are further associated with cost over runs, arbitration, litigations etc which are ultimately taxed upon common public!

Image © Saikanth Krishna

The problems of any ‘Urban Infrastructure development project’ start right from the planning stage. At start of any project, planning or feasibility study is done based on available information with the client (department) or a PMC on behalf of the client The feasibility study is often influenced by the local issues/cultures, political agendas (promises) other than real public needs or the engineering requirements After the feasibility study is complete the tenders are floated in the market; but very limited time is provided to the contractors to make detail study of the alignment of the project and propose a correct construction method or a correct structural option or the method The tenders are often of three types namely (a) Item Rate type, (b) part Design and build and (c) Design and build (i e EPC Engineering procurement and construction) All the three types of tender have their own sets of advantages as well as limitations In item rate type tenders the design is in the scope of the client, whereas in EPC type projects the responsibility of planning, design, procurement and construction is with the contractor. Usually the underground packages are tendered under a EPC mode; also in elevated package the design of ‘special spans’ (i e non standard or longer spans) is kept in the scope of a contractor In certain projects the responsibility of design is split into parts viz substructure is designed by contractor and superstructure by the client But in the limited timelines available at the biding stage, it is practically difficult for the department or a contractor to do a complete or detail design before the tender stage; so at the same time to lower down the tender price the contractors have to make certain assumptions regarding the uncertainties like soil data, services (MEP), miscellaneous structures like cross passages, subways, entry exits, casting yards, launching methods etc and also have to depend largely on the past data bank. In such case after awarding of the project if the reality is different than the assumption (and often it is), then there could be a big financial risk, which no party is ready to bear It is worth noting here that most of the major contractors in India are experiencing financial crisis in the sector of Urban Infrastructure (mainly Metros and Monos) Whereas small size contractors are not pre qualified to handle such major projects although their operating costs (overhead charges) are lesser; but they do not have in house qualified staff and equipment to do major / complex projects.

Keeping above facts in mind, instead of bringing improvement it is often noticed that often one sided tender clauses are introduced (like 100% variation in soil data is possible than that shown in the tender document etc ) Due to such clauses big contractors set ‘bidding strategy’ in mind; they either bid too high or too low. In india we have not yet come out of the mind set of ‘L1’ (lowest bidder wins the race). We fail to understand that at lowest rate how highest quality

can be expected! Of course there is a concept of ‘Technical Bid’ and ‘Financial bid’ which helps to segregate the issues But often small contractors form a JV (joint venture) with foreign companies to get ‘technically qualified’ to participate in the bid. The government officials (client) has to struggle hard to identify ‘genuine’ qualified contractors who can complete the project in time and in estimated cost and with desired level of quality and safety

Due to internationals practices like FIDIC clauses etc some balance could be brought in the construction contracts But still due to involvement of multiple organisations/disciplines it becomes challenging and difficult too, to resolve all issues; and often there is dispute between various parties which may lead to arbitrations/litigations ultimately causing delays in construction And we know in today’s date ‘TIME IS MONEY’ !

In the foregoing paragraphs, other key problems that cause hurdles in Metro projects are covered one by one

Availability of Land

In urban infrastructure projects main constraint is with the timely availability/handover of land for construction purpose; without getting the land piles/ pilecaps/piers/launching can’t be done in time, leading to delays cost and time overruns. Even the availability of land for developing site establishments, like casting yard, batching plants, rebar cage making yard, site office etc is important for any contractor

In many metro projects at many stretches the alignment crosses from crowed areas like markets, prime areas/villas (where high profile people like actors/politicians/sportsmen stay), temples or private properties. In such cases the land has to be acquired first by the client through official correspondences and legal procedures and then has to be handed over to the contractors This acquiring and handing over takes a long time If the land is not handed over in time, then the contractors have to suffer time losses and they claim for idling charges In current times often this responsibility is imposed on the contractors and the contractor has to coordinate with various land owners and seek the permission. The government bodies or private parties often do not entertain the contractors and the matter has to be escalated up; thus without the support from the main client

acquiring the land is almost impossible for the contractors In Kolkata underground metro package extending from Howrah Maidan to Mahakaran the alignment had to be changed because of non availability of land to construct an underground station at existing market area where many old shops and heritage buildings are located This took a long time to get technical, administrative and financial clearance from top level This scenario is common in many other metros too In one another metro project in Kolkata running from airport towards the city at many places the land is still not handed over to contractors even after passage of long seven years (whereas the construction duration specified in the tender document was merely 26 months) In one elevated metro package in Delhi running from Sadar bazar to Shankar vihar area the land was handed over to contractor after almost 1 ½ year (whereas the duration of that project as per contract document itself was 20 months) In one similar elevated metro construction project in Delhi from Okhala to Kalindi kunj area at various places the land clearance was not available for accessing the construction equipment (like cranes, trailers, piling rings etc ) in private land; as a result the contractor had to change the launching method during actual execution of spans in that area (which differed a lot from tender stage submission) At a few places in Delhi and Kolkata the alignment was passing through military camp areas at the tender stage but during actual construction the military authorities did not permit any access in their premises (probably the PMC even had not consulted them during finalisation of the alignment); resulting into change in alignment, time and money losses

There are so many cases to be sighted for an example; unless and until our profession identifies the land acquisition problem we won’t be able to overcome these issues and complete the urban infrastructure projects in time !

Coordination Between Various Disciplines

In metro projects (especially underground metros) there are several disciplines involved like Architect, Mechanical Electrical Plumbing engineers, Structural engineer, Geotechnical engineer, execution (construction) engineer, quality control (QAQC), safety, surveyor, vendors / material suppliers different statutory bodies, GC/PMC from client side etc the degree of success of project depends on the effective coordination between all these parties to deliver the end product in time and specified quality without increase in the cost Often the structural design and detailing progresses ahead of other disciplines as it is directly linked to the construction progress whereas most of the other disciplines (mainly MEP and Architecture) get delayed due to linkage with other outside vendors, finishes or even the last minute trials

and R&D done by the creative Architects But unless these other disciplines clear the structural submission actual construction can’t happen. In one of the underground metro rail construction packages in Chennai, the construction of staircase was done as per structural drawings but after six months the architect changed the number of steps in that particular stair !

Another observation is ‘Clashes’ between MEP and structural submissions; this could be controlled using BIM (building information modelling) But by the time BIM software model is made available about 50 to 60% of the construction is over. Thus more than accuracy or innovation the ‘effective coordination’ plays a vital role in mega underground / elevated metro projects

‘Change management’ or the ‘design revisions control’ is yet another area of worry The last or the latest revision of drawing shall be made available in the hands of workers as soon as possible This often is difficult to do Many contracts demand for an ‘interface manager or a design coordinator’ to troubleshoot such issues. But the effectiveness of this post depend on the candidate’s interest, past experience and the freedom given to him by the project manager of that site

Construction Permissions, Environmental Clearances, Road Traffic Diversions

In big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata etc the contractors are not permitted to construct or carry construction vehicles in busy traffic hours, to facilitate public comfort. This imposes additional target on the construction equipment like trailers, cranes, workers etc While working in limited time (mostly late nights) still keeping the same construction progress is difficult for inexperienced contractors; and without disturbing the adjoining residential areas (by sound) is a challenging job During construction lot of dust and muck is generated which has to be handled carefully without spillage on the operating roads. Many big contractors have to outsource this job of excavation and muck disposal to sub contractors in that area. The sub contractors often mess up the job!

Another aspect of construction is to obtain construction permissions from statutory/regulatory bodies or environmental clearances or permission to operate over a live railway track Environmental clearances to cross rivers/canal or a green belt are often tough to obtain All these permissions easily consume six to eight months time but ultimately drag the project commissioning date by that much time. After the collapse of a PSC I Girder on a live railway line near Thane, the railway approvals have become further more stringent

Once the contractor acquires all the relevant permissions after a lot of struggle the next challenge is how to work in congested traffic road areas For this a ‘traffic diversion’ plan is prepared and submitted to local traffic control authorities The traffic has to be routed in such a way that the common public will have least inconvenience and for a minimum time. In many areas in spite of traffic being diverted it is found that in night time the

vehicles enter into wrong/prohibited construction zones and sometimes even hit/meet with a collision with construction devices (formwork/ staging) leading to a catastrophe. To eliminate such collapses, contractors depute traffic guard/traffic marshals at various critical junctions on the road at own responsibility but still the common public in our nation is not educated enough and always feel credit in breaking the traffic rules! Thus more awareness and personal discipline is required at all levels of our society to facilitate easy and sustainable urban construction in India.

It is often observed that the vehicles are parked illegally below the ‘under construction’ viaducts by removing the construction barricades In certain places accidents took place due to some falling objects on such illegally parked vehicles!

Project Funding and Timely Payment to Agencies

Any mega project has two sides first is ‘Technical viability’ and second is ‘Commercial affordability’ Many projects are sanctioned and funded with the help of international funding organisations But as the time elapses the cost of the project keeps increasing rapidly Irrespective of this fact the tenders are framed in such a way that clients keep making the payments to contractors as per old rates only (without giving a due consideration to escalation of material rates). In government the approval procedure is multi layered; so for any approval often months and years are consumed This often raise a question in the common public’s mind “Are we geared up to handle such projects in India !”

Availability of Right Construction Machines; Techniques; Materials and Workers

In underground metro construction projects, selection of correct machine for specialised operations like rigs and hydromills for diaphragm walls, TBM for tunnels, and many other such mega equipment, plays a vital role Apart from the equipment the construction method viz Top Down or Bottom up or simply cut and cover or a box pushing technique (for a subway) decides the project speed and cost Often at tender stage sufficient data is not available for the contractor to bid and they assume certain method for arriving at the optimal contract price. But post award of the project there could be the last minute surprises like the type of soil is different than that shown in the tender stage soil investigation data or there are some local constraints like adjoining buildings or other

For any of the metro rail construction project in India the construction duration specified is from 24 to 30 months From past history of fifteen/twenty years, we hardly find a single project which was completed in such stipulated time (most of them took double than the time specified in tender) !

The clients often cover up themselves by contractual clauses like LD (liquated damages), variation etc

As per the soil profile or hard strata (weathered rock) etc the contractors have to plan for grabbing equipment/hydromill for the diaphragm wall excavation Also the depth of the wall governs the cost of the equipment. Often as an alternative to diaphragm wall a secant pile wall or an open cut trench is considered depending on the depth of wall, type of strata and water depths

In TBM there are several types viz Earth pressure balancing (EPB), Slurry Shield type with single shield, double shield, mix shield etc which has to be selected carefully as per the type of strata encountered along the alignment of the tunnel There is a large dependency on expatriates (European expert engineers for the tunnel boring technology) in India as far as underground metro projects are concerned.

One practical constraint faced during construction is availability of necessary construction materials (cement, sand, aggregates and reinforcements) and construction workers Most of the construction workers come from northern or eastern states with a farming/ agricultural background; hence during harvesting season most of the workers return back to their homes, this causes a big set back in construction activity, every year.

Fouling Utilities (Chartered and Unchartered), Fouling Buildings/Infrastructures Fouling Water

Bodies Like Nallah

While working in big cities, utilities is major issue When contractor excavate for pile/pilecap he gets surprises due to fouling lines, like water pipe lines, electrical lines, gas lines, telephone lines, drains, underground petrol/water tanks etc the same has to be diverted/relocated before the construction is commenced, without causing discomfort to common public. Often contractor depute a separate team of engineers to coordinate with various authorities under who’s scope respective utilities fall There is lot of paper work involved with various authorities for such utilities diversion Sometimes the local body may refuse to divert the utility or the cost involved is more than that estimated at the tender stage

Other than the utilities, another major issue is fouling structures on the alignment. In such cases the owners of the property are reluctant to get relocated and often approach to court of law to ask for stay; or demand heavy compensation for relocation This issue clearly indicates improper / incomplete feasibility study at tender stage In such cases often the priority is given to local convenience and the alignment will have to be diverted !

Selection of the Contractor and Consultant

In initial period of metro construction/urban infrastructure in India lot of scrutiny used to take place, resulting into only reputed agencies to qualify for the work But after gaining sufficient experience and to encourage smaller contractors and healthy competition many small size contractors were allowed to enter in this sector But this resulted into major setbacks in the projects due to lack of experience and equipment etc.

Another important aspect in the metro/urban infrastructure projects is selection of an experienced design consultant In India there are limited numbers of design consultants offering the multi disciplinary design service; hence they are always overloaded and may not be able to deliver the detail drawings in time There is also a significant dependency on the foreign consultants for the detail design service but in this case contractors have to pay higher design fees There are many aspects like tunnel interventions, cross passages construction using NATM, jet grouting, TAM grouting etc where limited expertise is available in land and there is large dependence on expatriates

There are so many aspects which affect/influence the urban infrastructure projects; one of them is availability of design software programs. There are many professional design software programs available

in market but every consultant may have their own choice Often the clients demand for a separate license of these software for their record / use on the project. Utility of those softwares is really questionable.

Technical specifications and conflicts

Success of any mega project depends on the robustness and completeness of technical specifications and drawings But due to lack of time many times the specifications are not comprehensive and certain specifications foul with each other; in such cases certain contractors take advantage of such situation; to name a few such clashing specification as examples : (1) a few contract specs recommend to perform crack width check during construction stage whereas a few specs give concession on this (2) a few projects demand liquefaction analysis of strata whereas a few do not mention it (3) a few contact specs insist for application of RDSO recommendations whereas a few remain silent, (4) regarding LWR specs, often there is a debate between specialists

The Ground Water Table (GWT) defined in the tender is always questioned by the contractors, as there is no basis and even distinction between temporary stage and permanent stage GWT Hence often the contractors are forced to design the temporary structures considering full water table which is actually based on past 100 years return period or so This results into over design of temporary works and it is a wastage of national resources In many packages in Delhi the water table specified used to be a few meter below FGL (finished ground level), whereas the same was revised to 0 m (i.e. just at FGL) from 2012. After the recent phenomenal flooding in Chennai the same is found to be revised to +2 0 m above the FGL All such clauses do severely affect the structural design and resulting cost

One more such debatable clause/practice in underground metro construction projects is whether to consider the friction from diaphragm wall above base slab during floatation check or not ! In a few metro projects one of the foreign consultants introduced a practice of neglecting the outer friction, which resulted into tremendous increase in the depth of the diaphragm wall; whereas the same design was challenged by another foreign consultant as such friction was considered by them in some other project in India. Issue regarding pile load test using IRC ‘Vs’ IS code can be added.

To resolve all such conflicts in specifications enormous time and efforts are spent by various stakeholders to arrive at a common platform; but when there is no common opinion the matter escalates to arbitration or even court of law As a result, finally the common people have to suffer

Safety lapses, unavailability of skilled manpower

This is last but very sever hurdle in the metro projects Safety lapses, unavailability of skilled man power / less payments or undue pressure on the contractors often leads to risks and could lead to even fatalities. In the recent years the construction Industry has suffered severe failures in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad The losses caused by these failures were beyond quantification

To safeguard the interest often clients demand for a third party proof checker to certify the design of ‘temporary works’ used by contractor at his site.

Summary

From the discussion till now it would be clear to the readers that the construction of projects in urban areas is not a simple job yet the industry keeps moving with new targets with new projects A big political will lacks

due to which all the hurdles faced in the mega construction projects remain unresolved On one hand when the real life project scenario is becoming more and more complex on the other hand the engineering colleges are making their syllabus more and more simple (diluted!) and easy so that students can fetch maximum marks in exams; when such engineers join a job have to struggle hard to cope up with the real life situation Even the academic syllabus does not cover practical aspects of the field

Although this is a real situation the authors have higher hopes from the new generation. There are so many more aspects to write / to discuss but considering the page limitations only the key aspects were discussed here, in brief. We professionals need to come together, seat down across table, debate and resolve these issues one by one The bureaucracy, corruption and unethical practices can’t be dealt through a technical paper but can be curbed by sound technical practices, and strict adherance to administrative rules/good management

***

This article is co-authored by Vivek Abhyankar, Raviteja Kilaparthi and Raffik Basha. All authors are experienced structural engineer in Rail & Metro sectors in India.

The views are personal.

With the economy recovering and businesses back to normal, we at Urban Infra Group are happy to announce the revised dates of the 2nd edition of Urban Infra Business Summit & Awards 2022 The event is now scheduled on 7th November 2022 at India International Centre, New Delhi, India It is specially designed for the Railways, Metro, Transportation and Urban Infrastructure sectors and celebrating 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence with the Industry

Under the Urban Infra Business Leadership Awards 2022, we will honour and recognize industry leaders (individuals and corporates) for their extraordinary contribution in developing major infrastructure projects in country through their innovative ideas, products, and services

The entire program will be hosted by Urban Infra Group (Urban Infra Communication Pvt. Ltd., Urban Transport News & Metro Rail Today) in association with leading industry players engaged in developing India’s Urban Infrastructure The Urban Infra Group is working in the field of PR, Media, Research & Advertising since 2017 and is sole publisher of two leading B2B magazines Urban Transport Infrastructure and Metro Rail Today. Its magazines have over 10 millions readership worldwide and gained trust in the Industry as best referral publications for authentic & up to date project information, data analysis, market research and strategy formulation

Working closely with government bodies, transport planning departments, planning commissions, policy makers, private companies, regulators, social enterprises and corporate/trade associations, our experience has seen us assemble wide ranging coalitions and position our clients at the forefront of the debate, protecting them in times of crisis, raising their profile and helping them enter new markets

We know that industry

infrastructure sectors need to establish

that stand the test of time This

Mumbai Ahmedabad HSR

508.0 NHSRCL Under construction (50.0 km)

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

15345.0

Ashwini Vaishnaw is India's incumbent Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology (IT). Under his leadership, the Railway Ministry has pressed for domestic production of tracks and wheels, thereby giving a fillip to the Indian manufacturing sector and businesses

The minister says this is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “Make in India”, and his ‘Panchpran’ (five resolves)

There’s a new push by the Railways on the indigenisation front. What is the thinking that has put the ministry in this mode?

In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Panchpran’ (five resoles), which also talks of a developed India, the Indian Railway has decided to go for domestic production of wheels and tracks for high speed trains

We have already floated a tender to invite domestic manufacturers to make high quality wheels.

The railways will procure 80,000 wheels for the high speed trains per annum worth Rs 600 crore for the next 20 years

This is the first time that the railways have invited private players to manufacture wheels Our aim is to completely substitute imported wheels with locally produced ones

Besides this, we will soon float a tender for private manufacturing of high strengthen rail tracks These tracks are currently imported from various countries

Is there any plan of the railway to set up its own factory to meet the shortfall?

The thrust at the moment is to bring in private players into the production of rail wheels and tracks for high speed rail. The railways want the factory to be set up and production started in

The introduction of the modern and high-speed Vande Bharat trains is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of a modern and developed India.

18 months with 100% accuracy using the complex forging technology We have been importing these two components from Europe since 1960 to meet the requirements in LHB or other high speed trains.

Does India have enough quantity of such high-quality steel to meet the railways’ demand?

Yes, India has availability of steel of high quality, which can meet our requirements What we need now is systematic utilisations of all this

Vande Bharat trains have been your ministry’s another focus. How is it coming along?

Indian Railways has successfully completed trials of the second generation Vande Bharat train that will come with enhanced passenger comfort and safety features Regular production of these trains will begin from October

By August 15, 2023, almost all megacities of the country will be linked with the Vande Bharat trains as per the vision of the PM

The train’s bogies use the latest design, air spring system has been fitted which reduces vertical jerks to almost zero, giving the maximum level of riding comfort

The content on demand facility in addition to the wi fi facility will be made

available to the passengers so that they are able to watch movies of their own choice on the 32 inch LCD

The introduction of the modern and high speed Vande Bharat trains is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of a modern and developed India

This train can run even if the tracks are submerged in two feet of water.

There have been safety concerns about high-speed trains. How safe are these trains?

This train has been fitted with an anti collision device Kavach All trials have been completed successfully at running at 180kmph Its serial commercial productions will

start from October this year Its next version will be designed and developed to run up to the 200kmph speed

Post Covid pandemic, questions have been raised about how safe it was to travel in crowded trains. How do you plan to deal with health concerns?

The rakes of the Vande Bharat train have been fitted with photocatalytic ultra air purification system This system is capable of annihilating germs or any airborne virus and bacteria with 99 9% certainty This system keeps the anterior ambience of the coach disinfected to an optimum level. It is absolutely safe to travel by these trains.

Has this system been developed by railway or imported?

The photo catalytic ultra air purification system has been developed in the laboratory of DRDO As per the recommendation of the Central Scientific Instrument Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh, this system has been

installed in each rake of the Vande Bharat train, so that bacteria, virus and others particles can be filtered and air cleaned 99 9%

Will this device be installed only in Vande Bharat or other trains too?

This device will also be installed in the AC rakes of other express trains. But in all 400 Vande Bharat trains this system would be in built

***

(Source/TNIE)

Shri Sushil Kumar is a senior technocrat and the acting Managing Director of Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (UPMRC).

He joined UPMRC in 2015 and has contributed significantly to the metro rail operations in Lucknow and now in Kanpur as well.

Shri Sushil Kumar has about 28 years of experience working in senior positions in Indian Railways, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, and Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation.

Under his visionary leadership, the UPMRC is presently implementing the metro rail systems in Agra and Kanpur cities.

In a recent interaction with Metro Rail Today, he frankly talked about his priorities and strategies to provide sustainable & smart public transportation systems for the people.

First, kindly accept our heartiest congratulations on taking charge of the acting managing director of India's one of prestigious and role modal metro authority Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC). You have been associated with the rail & Metro industry for more than 35 years, kindly share some information about your academic & professional journey?

In today’s modern era, innovation is the need of the hour and adopting new technologies to complete the project within stipulated time frame with cost effectiveness yields desired results. We all should work together as a team to give our best performance while acknowledging the contributions of other engineers who working tirelessly in building a modern and developed India.

Thank you for the good wishes. I would like to tell the readers that I am a graduate from IIT Roorkee & a postgraduate from IIT Delhi. Previously, I have served in Ministry of Railways as Director/Power and was a member to different committees in the fields of Energy Conservations, Energy Planning under different Ministries Before that, I served as Additional General Manager for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and helped in set up of state of the art maintenance facilities for maintenance and overhauling of trains. I hold expertise in project management, design specification, technical support, operations and maintenance in Indian Railways and urban transit & metros for Rolling Stock/Trains, Signalling, Traction Power System, and Telecommunication including operation

I have also worked as Chief Electrical Inspector General to Government of India besides working as National Project Director for UNDP project for Energy Conservation.

Before taking the responsibilities of Managing Director in

UPMRC, I served as Director (Operations) and was responsible for day to day Operation & Maintenance activities

I have also received “National Award for Outstanding Service” from Ministry of Railways and Outstanding Performance Award for my services in DMRC

What is the current progress of remaining sections of Kanpur Metro? Is there any new innovation or technology being adopted to complete the project ahead of schedule?

The commercial run on the 9KMs long Priority Section (IIT Kanpur to Motijheel) of the Kanpur Metro Rail Project commenced on 29th December 2021 which was inaugurated by Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi in the esteemed presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath on 28th December 2021 The Priority Section of Kanpur Metro has been completed and commissioned within a record time of 2 years & 1 5 months. This Priority Section is a part of Corridor I (IIT Naubasta), which is approx 23KMs long. Beyond the priority stretch, the construction is been executed on the whole remaining section of the corridor in phases for better efficiency and execution

A 4KMs long underground stretch is being constructed between Chunniganj and Nayaganj having 4 underground Metro Stations viz Chunniganj, Naveen Market, Bada Chauraha and Nayaganj. It is to be mentioned that this stretch is passing through the most important market and shopping places of the city

Two state of the art Tunnel Boring Machines ‘Nana’ and ‘Tatya’ have been launched for the tunnel construction under this section UPMRC has named these machines after the names of famous revolutionaries of the city; Nana Rao Peshwa and Tatya Tope

important places of the city including Kanpur Central Railway, Jhakarkatti, and Transport Nagar is being constructed Soon, the TBMs for this section will be launched from the Nayaganj And with this, there will be 4 TBMs working at the same time in the city

Construction works on the elevated balance section including 5 elevated stations stretching from Bara Devi to Naubasta have also been started

This parallel working strategy has been adopted to complete the corridor within the challenging deadline and UPMRC is leaving no stone unturned to repeat the history by completing the Kanpur Metro’s corridors on time UPMRC is also planning to float the tenders for the construction of 8 6KMs long Corridor II stretching between Chandra Shekhar Azad Agriculture University and Barra 8 with Rawatpur as the interchange point

For this remarkable fast pace of construction and world class infrastructure and aesthetic, many innovations laid the foundation that had been executed during the construction phase of Kanpur Metro Project’s Priority Section and among which ‘Double T Girder’ was a very noticeable one This happens to be the first time in India that a Double T girder was used for the construction of Metro Station’s concourse level base Not only this is an improved technique for the construction of the base of the concourse level as compared to the traditional shuttering method, but it also makes the concourse area look better in terms of aesthetics and design and above all saves time This innovation leads to the completion of construction of the base of the concourse levels of all the 9 Metro Stations of the Priority section in just 7 5 months

What is the current progress of the Agra Metro Rail project and when is the priority corridor of the project scheduled to be ready for the use of the public?

Beyond this stretch, the remaining 3KMs long UG section of the corridor I passing through the busiest and most

Agra Metro Rail Project, inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 7th December 2020 in Presence of

(Kanpur Metro)

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath is being executed at a very fast pace by the team of UP Metro In a short span of around one year and 8 months, the entire piling work, pile cap work, erection of piers for the priority corridor, erection of all 144 Double T Girders for elevated stations in the priority corridor has been successfully completed The erection of U Girders is also going to be completed very soon Simultaneously, the construction work for underground stations is also being carried out at a fast pace

The finishing works of elevated metro stations of priority corridor have also reached an advanced stage, with systems and utilities work in place. The track work for the priority corridor commenced on 08th July 2022, in a record time

Similarly, plunge column work also began at Agra Fort Metro Station and set of the RSS (Receiving Sub Station) started at ISBT Metro Station

A world class metro depot is being constructed for the first corridor of Agra Metro Project, and the test track for trial run of the metro trains is also ready in the depot. Similarly, OCC building (Operations Control centre) is also coming into shape which will be equipped with highly advanced technology The signalling works have also begun and shunt signals are being installed inside the Agra Metro Depot Premises The entire metro operations on the first corridor of the Agra metro will be controlled from the depot

The Agra metro team is working diligently to deliver a world class metro to the people of Agra in time We hope to start the revenue operations on the priority corridor of Agra Metro by the beginning of the year 2024

UPMRC is executing underground metro sections for the first time in the state. Did you find any major engineering challenges in execution of underground corridors/stretches of Kanpur and Agra Metro? How are you dealing with these challenges to keep the construction activities smoothly?

As mentioned above also, in Agra, presently the underground section work is going on for 7 stations for the first corridor of Agra Metro Project The D wall work is presently underway for the underground stations of Agra Metro

The D wall can be understood as the boundary of a Metro Station. Before starting the construction of an Underground Metro Station, this wall is constructed as a security enclosure around it The D Wall will be constructed with the rectangular panels This wall will exist up to a depth of approximately 21 meters The D Wall gives strength to the under construction underground station walls and paves way for Tunnel Boring Machines

(TBM) to construct a tunnel for the underground section.

In all, Seven Metro Stations are to be built in the Underground Section for the first corridor of Agra Metro Rail Project, viz Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Jama Masjid, Medical College, Agra College, Raja Ki Mandi and RBS College

It is to be noted that the underground stations of Agra Metro will also be prepared with the Top Down Method i e construction work will be done from top to bottom This system is being adopted to minimize the impact on traffic as the barricading on the road will be reduced after the construction of the first floor starting from the road level The construction work of the station below the road will continue and the movement of vehicles on the road will also continue smoothly eventually

Is there any new update on the proposed Charbagh Vasantkunj Metro Corridor 2 of Lucknow Metro Rail Project? Kindly also share some new updates on the proposed Light Rail Transit System in Gorakhpur and some salient features of the project.

UPMRC has revised the DPR of the East West Corridor of Lucknow Metro Rail Project i e proposed between Charbagh and Vasant Kunj as per the directions of the government. The revised and updated DPR has has been submitted to Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP). The total route length of the corridor will be 11 165 km of which elevated length will be 4 286 km while underground length will be 6 879 km The total number of stations in this corridor will be 12 comprising 7 underground and 5 elevated stations The estimated time of completion is 5 years

The Depot of this corridor will be constructed at Vasant Kunj. The estimated capital cost without taxes for constructing this 11 165 km long corridor in February 2019 was Rs 3786 crores which has escalated to Rs 4264 89 crores The change in cost is in sync with the current infla

(Agra Metro Depot)

tion rate as per government guidelines

DPR has been also upgraded with 750 DC traction system which is being followed in Kanpur & Agra Metro project mainly due to severe OHE flashing problem occurring as a result of metallic wire in kites being faced in Lucknow Metro project

The 15 14 km long corridor of Gorakhpur Metro Lite Rail Project (Shyam Nagar to MMM Engineering College) has also got approval from Public Investment Board (PIB) on 22nd November 2021 at an estimated completion cost of 2670.37 Crore.

UPMRC recently signed a prestigious contract with DB International Operations (a subsidiary company of Deutsche Bahn AG) to train their engineers for providing operation & maintenance services to India's first RRTS project. Kindly share some insights on this new achievement?

UPMRC has started training of newly recruited staff of German Rail company DB ie Deutsche Bahn at the training institute (CoET) of Transport Nagar Depot In the ultra modern training Institute of Lucknow training is being provided to a batch of 150 trainees of Train Operator

(SCTO) and Maintainer staff of DB In 90 days of training, these trainees will learn the nuances of train operation and maintenance.

German Rail Company 'DB' had earlier come to India and surveyed the training institutes of various metro and rail projects to train its newly recruited staff DB studied the efficiency of the employees who got training from the training institute of UPMRC and also tested world class facilities of the training institute After which the Centre for Excellence of Training (COET) of UP Metro was selected for its newly recruited staff. The Training Institute of UPMRC is equipped with ultra modern facilities amongst the Metro Rail

Training Institutes across the country. So far more than 1100 trainees have received technical training in Metro Rail Operation and Maintenance from this training institute

The training institute of UP Metro has set world class standards of training today For the successful conduct of metro operations in Lucknow and Kanpur, the training of technical staff was done in CoET itself Today all those employees are making us proud by achieving excellence in their respective fields. It is certainly a proud moment for us that we are also providing training in the field of train operation and passenger services to the personnel of reputed foreign railway institutes like German Rail Company which is a commendable achievement in itself

(Lucknow Metro Route Map)

It may be noted that DB, i e Deutsche Bahn will deploy these trainees for the RRTS project to be operated between Delhi Ghaziabad Meerut.

Is UPMRC also developing any training institute/academy in line with DMRC to provide world-class training and develop new manpower for the upcoming metro rail projects in India?

UPMRC has already set up a training facility/institute at Transport Nagar Metro Depot in Lucknow which provides training to newly recruited staff & trainees before handing them the charge of their work, duties and responsibilities in their respective fields The training institute is named as Centre of Excellence for Training (CoET) which has successfully imparting both technical and professional training for 4 years now. It has world class infrastructure and state of

the art facilities to cater to the needs and requirements of the professional/technical training and has been grooming young minds in developing man power for the upcoming Metro projects of Kanpur & Agra

Recently, UPMRC also provided train operations training to the employees of German Rail Company, DB (Deutsche Bahn) German Rail Company 'DB' had earlier come to India and surveyed the training institutes of various metro and rail projects to train its newly recruited staff. The DB studied the efficiency of the employees who got training from the training institute of UPMRC and also tested world class facilities of the training institute After which the Centre for Excellence of Training (CoET) of UP Metro was selected for its newly recruited staff It may be noted that DB ie Deutsche Bahn will deploy these trainees for the RRTS project to be operated between Delhi Ghaziabad Meerut.

What is your message for young engineers and metro professionals on this Engineers Day?

First of all, I would like to share with you the significance of Engineer’s Day with you The birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya which falls on 15th September is celebrated as Engineer's Day every year. This day is celebrated in recognition of his significant contribution in the field of engineering and education He is also considered among the greatest nation builders who have been instrumental in carrying out several architectural marvels like Krishna Sagar dam in Karnataka & flood protection system of Hyderabad

As an engineer and a metro professional, I urge them to

take inspiration from this legendary engineer and put their heart and soul while working in the field of construction and architecture Every individual should remain motivated and work hard with perseverance to achieve his/her target and should inspire others to innovate in the field of engineering and technology In today’s modern era, innovation is the need of the hour and adopting new technologies to complete the project within stipulated time frame with cost effectiveness yields desired results. We all should work together as a team to give our best performance while acknowledging the contributions of other engineers who working tirelessly in building a modern and developed India

Anything else, you want to share with us in respect to the contents being served by our publications Metro Rail Today and Urban Transport Infrastructure?

The contents of the publication Metro Rail Today and Urban Transport Infrastructure are very informative and illustrative covering all the genres and aspects of Railways and Metro Rail industry It also comprehensively highlights the innovations and latest developments in the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) sector The journals also incorporate the latest technologies and latest forms & evolution in modes of Mass Transit at both national level and international level. It is a great platform to share information, views and ideas with other technocrats thereby enhancing our reach & scope while providing new avenues & opportunities in Research & Development (R&D)

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MP Metro to develop Indore & Bhopal as Smart City for Smart Commute

In return, they will be more productive, generous, and cooperative with their colleagues With another comfortable ride home, they will enjoy quality lives and make for an amiable and flourishing society

adhya Pradesh is proud to have its seven cities included among India’s 100 smart cities mission Two of them, Bhopal and Indore, made it to the priority project shortlist. India’s 100 smart cities mission includes seven cities from Madhya Pradesh. Two of them, Bhopal and Indore, made it to the shortlist of priority projects These cleanest cities in the country are now through a fast paced development process

Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, has scored the highest in the Smart City criteria It’s the education hub of the State and is currently witnessing a rapid industrial transformation. The city’s geographical location and efficient connectivity to all parts of the country make it a promising prospect for a metropolitan status The city’s expansion will attract more and more businesspersons, entrepreneurs, and job seekers With the increasing population, there will further be a need for better connectivity and means of transportation

Indore is already a step ahead. Known as the heart of industrial activity, the city attracts aspirants from across the State and beyond It has been manifesting the ambition to be a metro city for a long, and in all sense, it is one The city has excellent infrastructure and optimum connectivity with the rest of the country India’s cleanest city is now longing for an eco friendly and convenient transit system

A Way Ahead The MP Metro

At a time when people are tormented by tedious and time killing conventional transportation, this has come as a wave of fresh air It will be an end to most of their suffering and take them to their destinations on time With MP Metro, there will be an assurance of comfortable travel and of reaching the workplace rested and stress free.

A Safety Assurance

With a well guarded, well protected infrastructure, the MP Metro ensures the safety of commuters and their belongings. The trains are equipped with CCTV for supervision, both inside the coaches and on the platforms It has special provisions for the differently abled and senior citizens A Platform Screen Door system will prevent people from falling on the tracks

A Dependable Mode of Transportation

The CBTC Technology based Moving Block System will reduce the interval between two trains without compromising the safety of travellers and the MPMRCL property So even if you do miss your metro home, there is nothing to worry about because the next one will arrive as soon as two minutes!

Convenient & Affordable

The Automated Fare Collection System is not only affordable but will simplify the commute. It’s compatible with an NCMC card based ticket system that allows travellers to enter and exit the platform using tokens or smart cards It will also restrict unauthorized entry into the platform and train

A Modern Way to Travel

MP Metro has opted for Communication Based Train Control technology for operations. It’s safe and reliable and ensures fast and efficient train operations. The signal and train control system is equipped with the highest grade of automation (GoA 4) and facilitates a driverless train operation It’s a unique feature implemented first, by MP Metro, among all the metro rail projects in India

This State of the art Metro Rail Project will provide the residents of MP’s Smart Cities with the Smart Means of Commute. And make their lives easy and enjoyable. The project is under a fast paced development process and will be accessible to the citizens very soon

RUPA PARAMANIK

Dy. Chief Engineer (Underground Structure Design)

Metro Rail Corporation

Engineers Day Special

Rupa’s favourite quote fits her well, as her pioneering spirit has helped her not only advance but thrive in the male dominated world of engineering

After completing her degree in Civil Engineering, she faced various challenges during her job search in the engineering domain as there no construction company was ready to recruit a female engineer But despite the criticism and

Meet Rupa Paramanik, An inspirational woman leader for the nextgeneration engineers

challenges she never gives up and her own occasional self doubt, she continued on to an entry level field engineering job as Design Engineer at STUP Consultants Pvt. Ltd. Although she initially worried that her gender would keep her from being taken seriously, she forged strong, successful relationships and built trust with her clients

Since then, she’s followed opportunities from STUP to Namma Metro, Bengaluru, and now assumes more responsibility, forging professional connections, and creating a new life for herself each time. Now as a Deputy Chief Engineer at Bangalore Metro Rail Project, she uses her technical and project management skills to help build the underground metro structures that literally transform the urban rail infrastructure

Recently, we interacted with Ms Rupa Paramanik via email and discussed various points that cover the beautiful and very inspirational journey of her life. Read on for more about her adventure & dedication towards learning new things and maybe get inspired to plan your own.

I believe that as long as you build yourself a close circle of allies, there is every opportunity to succeed…

Kindly tell us about your academic and professional journey. What sparked your interest in civil engineering?

I graduated from NIT Durgapur with specialization in Civil Engineering in 2004. I completed more than 18 years of journey in my professional career since then. I led large structural engineering projects at MNCs and Indian conglomerates I participated in prestigious metro projects as a Detailed Design Consultant (DDC)/General Consultant (GC) from review to approval of drawings for Bangalore, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and Ahmedabad

To be honest, when I got an opportunity in Civil Engineering, I was not sure whether I will be able to grasp it. But slowly I started believing that God has a big plan and started loving the subject and started realising it.

As a female Civil Engineer, it was quite challenging in 2003 04 when 100% placement was not obvious I didn’t get any right opportunities during campus placement and faced various challenges during job searching as most of the construction companies rejected me because they were not ready to recruit a female engineer. I was disturbed but didn’t give up, I knew I need to change the situation and will have to prove that a woman is also equally capable in the structural and construction industry I started exploring through the right channels and got the start after 3 months of completing of degree And since then, I have been working hard and trying to give my best as per my capability

You work on very large scale projects with long time horizons. What are your go to time management strategies?

I believe that we need to use our time wisely “The key is not spending time, but investing it” Stephen R Covey

Time management is nothing but common sense If we consider work as part of our life, then we will enjoy the work. Naturally, we will not feel stressed.

For best time management, I generally follow a few basic measures/principles such as:

 I set specific/concrete realistic goals on a daily basis as there are only 24 hours in a day Set both long term goals and short term ones to support them I integrate my goals with my organization, personal, and career growth

 I set reasonable expectations (as we know that no one’s perfect)

 I make a schedule and maintain the calendar. I usually spend my time and use resources mindfully

 I review and revise my plans to make the best use of the available time

 I examine my values to help to make time management decisions

 I realise that goals can be changed, but know which goals to stick to

 I use my idle time to review and utilise the same for learning new things each day I try to make it a habit to improve my knowledge of the subject on daily basis

Many people imagine engineers sitting in their offices and making calculations all day. What are the biggest misconceptions people have about your job?

Right, if people imagine engineers sitting in their offices and making only calculations all day is the biggest misconception is not correct for civil engineers We must have extensive knowledge about the subject and its practical implementation as per reality.

We must develop a relentless attitude and not allow fear to stop us, need to develop a seeking spirit to learn from practical aspects as well, based on our ability. Sometimes we may not correlate or enjoy but we need to persevere, to visit the site, visiting the site executions give vast clarity about the subject and the project broadly

What is it like to be a woman in engineering? Do you feel that your gender gives you a different perspective and experience from your male counterparts? Any advantages?

I feel lucky to be entering the profession of engineering; it’s the best engineering has ever been for women.

I believe that as long as you build yourself a close circle of allies, there is every opportunity to succeed

As a woman in engineering, it is advantageous to see yourself playing an important role in the workplace and society

As for gender discrimination concerns, I never feel that differentiation I simply tried to give my best and enjoy the work I am responsible for Honestly, I have received support from my family, friends, teachers, colleagues, and seniors who lifted up.

It is not fair to take advantage of being a woman engineer Based on dedication, perseverance and sincerity, one can make a difference and make the corporate world a better place for women

What advice do you have for women interested in engineering? What kinds of practical experience should they have? What technical skills should they pick up?

I think it is time to change the mentality about what a woman engineer can do, you must follow your dreams and excel in whatever work you have been given I would say if you believe in your ability, if we enjoy the present journey, give our best with complete sincerity Nothing is impossible Always try to be in the present not to think about the consequence or outcomes or think about the past/future which I don’t have any control over.

during engineering graduation but in reality, we need to learn many new things as per actual site conditions and practical implementation based on technical skills which give massive clarity about the subject. It gives immense joy and fulfilment when we see the structures which we theoretically analysed / designed are successfully implemented/executed and functional for many years

You’ve moved to different cities for job opportunities more than three times. How have you built personal and professional networks in brand new cities?

Yes, it is true, as I mentioned earlier that I worked in Delhi Metro (Phase 2 & 3) and Jaipur Metro. I was posted there for 10 years. I was in Mumbai and worked for Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), I was posted in Pune and was responsible to review design/drawings as GC Now I am in Bangalore To be very honest, I never thought from that point of view about changing the cities or strategizing myself I simply follow the path dedicatedly to whatever came on my way You know, I continued to connect the dots/ human hearts in terms of metro connectivity or road connectivity, providing almost door to door connectivity to make people’s life easy and comfortable With complete sincerity, I worked hard and I got a huge opportunity to work/interact with different people from different backgrounds and cultures Thoroughly enjoyed different cultures, journeys and create many beautiful human connections at different locations (India or Abroad like Mongolia) along with professional connections in these years. And I didn’t plan anything, it just happened very naturally.

Finally, what do you wake up looking forward to? What’s next for your career?

There are three aspects that drive me these days:

Professional satisfaction by providing leadership in rail projects all over India and abroad

Continuous learning of new concepts from peers, seniors and upcoming talents.

Social responsibility by providing sustainable development of infrastructures

Not to fear or not to think too much about success, if you think about outcome or success, automatically we will be fearful But if we are excited about the process and work with passion Believe me, you will enjoy the journey, which will give you immense joy and a sense of satisfaction. Also, you should not think only about your own benefit, to think about personal growth aligned with organisation’s growth You know, to think about how I am going to help organisation to grow along with my personal growth

To work with passion and of course, we must have practical experience in the subject for which we are responsible Broadly we learn about theoretical knowledge

What are your thoughts on our publications i.e. Metro Rail Today and Urban Transport News?

It is one of the best publications which focuses on the highlights of the recent development in Rail & Metros (e.g. urban metro/suburban metro/fright rails) and urban transportation and other sustainable infrastructures all over India

It gives an overview of ongoing and upcoming challenging infrastructure projects and captures the latest ideas for Industry development which is the need of the hour I regularly read and follow Metro Rail Today and Urban Transport News and keep myself updated

Phase 1A of Kochi Metro opened, Foundation Stone laid for Phase 2

In his Kerala visit on 1st September 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Kochi Metro's Phase II and launched various projects of Kochi Metro and Indian Railways worth over Rs4,500 crore including the extension of Kochi Metro Phase I (from Petta to SN Junction) The Phase 1 extension (1A) was built at a cost of Rs 700 crore

“With this model of multimodal connectivity, the city of Kochi will have three direct benefits. This will reduce the travel time of the people of the city, reduce the traffic on the roads and reduce the pollution in the city To protect the environment, India has taken the colossal pledge of net zero, it will also help in that This will reduce the carbon footprint", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while addressing the public

The Prime Minister reiterated that in the last eight years, the Central Government has continuously worked to make the Metro the most prominent mode of urban transport He also added that the central government has expanded the metro to other big cities of the state, and is not limited just to the capital

The Prime Minister remarked that the first metro in our country ran about 40 years ago and in the next 30 years, merely 250 km of metro routes were added.

Emphasizing the work done in the last 8 years, Prime Minister said “More than 500 km of Metro routes have been laid in the country, and work on the new route of more than 1000 km is taking place rapidly “

“We are completely transforming Indian Railways Today, railway stations in the country are also being developed like airports,“ the prime minister added.

Phase 2 of the Kochi Metro Rail Project will cover a total distance of 11 2 km and will connect JLN Stadium to Info Park 2 with 11 stations

Mumbai Metro launches trail run on Corridor 3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz)

Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) successfully conducted a trial run of the first trainset delivered by Alstom for Mumbai’s Colaba Bandra SEEPZ Metro line 3 (Aqua Line) It is the city’s first metro project that can run driverless and the trains to have 75% motorization making operations efficient. This is also the city’s first fully underground metro project.

On 30th August 2022, the 1st metro trainset was flagged off for trial runs by Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister, Maharastra & Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM, Maharastra along with Smt Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, MMRC The metro trainset ran a 3 km stretch from Sariput Nagar, Aarey to Marol Naka for the inaugural trial run.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that we are committed to completing the 1st phase by December 2023 We are happy with the way the project has picked up the pace

Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "We are satisfied with the progress of the project and glad its in able hands The Government of Maharashtra assures Mumbaikars that all the required support shall be extended to team Metro 3 for ensuring successful completion of the project".

Alstom is indigenously designing, manufacturing, and commissioning 31 lightweight, fully furnished modern passenger train sets of 8 cars each (248 metro cars) for the 33 5 km long underground stretch of Mumbai Metro Line 3 This is the biggest rolling stock contract in India’s urban mobility sector for the company, valued at approximately €315 million. Making it an easy travel for Mumbaikars, these metro trains are estimated to reduce 35% of overall traffic and help in reducing air & noise pollution

NCRTC is implementing Double-Tap AFC system for the India’s first RRTS corridor

ith the implementation of the Delhi Ghaziabad Meerut RRTS corridor, team National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is all set to bring in the country’s first Regional Rail on time and provide a transformational transit mode for the people of NCR I am confident that we will be able to operationalize the Priority Section of this first RRTS corridor, Sahibabad to Duhai (5 stations), early next year.

With our commuter first approach, we have ensured that from stations to trains provisions are made to take care the needs of the commuters for a comfortable regional travel For ensuring large scale adoption of new age transit systems by the public we are focusing on comfort, safety, affordability and reliability for the commuters.

Out of many unique features incorporated in the country’s first RRTS, one is the provision of a ‘Premium Class’ coach in every train This dedicated coach will be accessible through a Premium Lounge on the station platform from where the commuters can board This is an initiative to encourage commuters, currently travelling in their personal vehicles, to switch to RRTS without making any compromise on comfort. This modal shift shall add to the ultimate objective of reduction in the congestion on roads

Access to Premium Lounge will be controlled using a Double Tap functionality implemented in the RRTS Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) System, which is being done for the first time in the country and perhaps first in the world.

The AFC system being implemented by NCRTC is also in line with the Government of India’s vision for achieving the goal of ‘One Nation One Card’ via National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) standard for all transport modes providing hassle free commuting experience to the public at large.

Double-Tap Functionality

The RRTS AFC system will have gates at two levels at the stations Concourse level and Platform level Concourse level gates will allow commuters to access the paid area at the Concourse and standard class boarding area at Platform level Platform level gates at entrance to the Premium Lounge will allow access to the ‘Premium Class’ area.

For travelling in the ‘Premium Class’ commuters will need to follow some very simple steps:

• Purchase a ticket from the station (Ticket Vending Machine or Ticket Office Machine) or via Mobile APP A commuter can also use NCMC card

• Tap the fare media (QR/NCMC Card) at the entry AFC gate in the Concourse and enter the paid area

• At Platform, tap the fare media for the second time on the Platform AFC gate and enter the ‘Premium Class’ lounge.

• Commuter can now board the ‘Premium Class’ coach

• At the completion of journey, the commuter will alight in the Premium Lounge at the Platform and tap the fare media on the Platform AFC gate to proceed towards the Concourse

• At Concourse, the commuter will tap the fare media for the second time to exit the station paid area.

The commuters who use e wallet in the AFC card will have the flexibility to decide the class of travel after reaching the platform In case a commuter intends to travel using QR media, then he/ she will have to decide the class of journey and purchase the required ticket accordingly

Vinay Kumar Singh, MD, NCRTC

Ahmedabad Metro launches TBM without using DWall for the first time in India

In innovation can alter the course of things significantly while paving the way for record breaking milestones At the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project (UG 1), Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) were launched without using Diaphragm Wall (D Wall) for the first time, for any Metro project, in India

This alternate methodology helped to speed up the construction of the Kankaria Metro Station, and, eventually to speed up tunneling for the remaining project. In the UG 1 project of Ahmedabad Metro, Afcons is constructing two underground stations, twin tunnels of about 3 5km in length in total, a cut and cover section, and a ramp connecting elevated and underground sections

The first TBM, ready for commissioning, could not be set in motion as the headwall construction came to a standstill due to a delay in handing over of land for Kankaria Station and various other issues. To minimise the delay and speed up execution, the project team adopted a new methodology of TBM passthrough without a D Wall at Kankaria Station

In top down construction methodology, the station box D Wall is placed before the TBM passthrough, which was not possible at Kankaria Station This innovative methodology ensured that the delay does not have a domino effect. The station’s width was subsequently increased from 20m to 22m to accommodate the unique TBM manoeuvre

Explaining the process, Project Manager S Nakkiran said, “The TBMs were launched from launching shaft as tunnelling started for both east bound and west bound routes The tunnelling for both routes was completed smoothly by constructing permanent rings, and the TBMs were then retrieved at Kalupur Station. As far as Kankaria Station was concerned, the D Wall of the main station box was constructed in a phased manner once the land was handed over in phases "

For the first time in India, this method has been used in a metro project Previously, it was adopted in Istanbul Metro

To ensure the smooth functioning of TBM, the team also developed an in house calibration unit for the earth pressure censor “Sometimes, the sensors gave a deviated value of earth pressure when the face of the censor was covered by muck Hence, its calibration was required However, getting calibration done from the manufacturer every time, or, renting a unit for it was not cost effective, and it was time consuming Therefore, the team developed a calibration unit in house to address the issue," Nakkiran said.

To expedite work at Kankaria Station, parallel construction was adopted instead of the sequence method “We could complete the construction of the main station box four months ahead of schedule, and the erection of the Over Track Exhaust (OTE) duct was done five months ahead of schedule The efforts were also appreciated by the client (Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation)," he added

Ahmedabad Metro (UG 1) Project is slated for inauguration shortly and Afcons has completed the project without compromising on health and safety parameters The project has clocked twelve and half million Safe Man Hours

The site has earned various accolades, including a four star rating by the National Safety Council of India, and the Safety Innovation Award from The Institute of Engineers (India) after an extensive evaluation of health and safety management at the site. The British Safety Council has also issued an appreciation certificate

Remembering Metro Man

Dr. E. Sreedharan on National Engineers Day

• In 1970, he designed the first ever metro in India the Calcutta Metro.

• Under his leadership, the first ship of the Cochin Shipyard was built in 1979.

• Even after announcing his retirement in 1990, he was asked to head the Konkan Railway project.

• In seven years' time, the Railway was built.

• He executed the construction of the Delhi Metro in 2002 before the stipulated time.

The man who revolutionised the way India commutes is Elattuvalapil Sreedharan The Metro Man of India.

Early Life

E Sreedharan was born on 12 June 1932 in the Palakkad district of Kerala He did his schooling in the district and then went to Victoria College in Palghat Later on, he completed his Civil Engineering at the Government Engineering College, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh

His journey began as a lecturer in Civil Engineering at the Government Polytechnic, Kozhikode, and then as an apprentice at the Bombay Port Trust.

Professional Journey

Little did he know that he would grow up to become the man who laid down the foundation of modern infrastructure engineering in India

As a part of the Indian Engineering Service (IES), his first project was the restoration of the Pamban Bridge that connected Rameshwaram to mainland Tamil Nadu

The deadline for its repair was six months, which was reduced to three months by his boss Sreedharan completed the work in 46 days This fetched him his first recognition

The Railway minister’s Award

In 1970, he was made the deputy civil engineer for the implementation, planning and design of the Calcutta Metro the first ever metro in the country This was Sreedharan’s first step towards changing the way India moves

In his biography India’s Railway Man, it is said that Sreedharan refused to halt his work in the Calcutta Metro during the 20 day strike by 1 7 million workers in 1974

In 1987, he was promoted to the post of general manager at Western Railways Two years later, he was again given an elevation to the post of Member Engineering, Railway Board and ex officio Secretary to the Government of India He took retirement in 1990, however, the Indian government was still in need of his services He was appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Konkan Railway on contract Under his leadership, the project was completed in seven years.

The Konkan Metro was, in many ways, unique It was the first project in India to be undertaken on a BOT (Build Operate Transfer) basis The Konkan metro was constructed during the first Gulf War when there was a fuel shortage in countries across the globe But the project stood up against all odds and its completion, without significant cost and time overruns, was considered a massive success

In 2001, he was given the Padma Shri Award. But Sreedharan’s work in Delhi Metro got him the title of The Metro Man of India

The project which was completed ahead of the stipulated time and within the budget was crucial to India in 2005

His groundbreaking work earned him the Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by the government of France, and the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 2008

Sreedharan announced his retirement in 2005, but his tenure was further extended to complete the second phase of the Delhi Metro

After 16 years of service with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, he retired on 31 December 2011.

But his expertise kept roping him to projects across the country He served as the advisor of the Kochi Metro, Lucknow Metro and Jaipur Metro

Personal Life

He married to Radha Sreedharan and regards his wife as a great pillar of support He has 4 children & all of them are well accomplished in their chosen fields.

RAIL

METRO EVENT CALENDER 2022

Dates Event Name Venue

January 20 InfraTalk Virtual

February 10 Rolling Stock Forum London, UK

February 15 17 International Railway Summit Berlin, Germany

March 8 10 RailTech Europe Utrecht, Netherlands

March 9 10 UITP India Urban Rail Seminar Virtual

March 15 18 Rail Digi Expo Virtual

March 17 19 RailwayTech Jakarta, Indonesia

March 23 25 Transport India Expo New Delhi, India

May 10 12 Railtex/Infrarail London, UK

May 10-12 IT-Trans 2022 Karlsruhe, Germany

May 11 12 Asia Pacific Rail 2022 Bangkok, Thailand

June 5 9 World Congress on Railway Research Birmingham, UK

June 30 July 2 IRSE Technical Seminar & Exhibition 2022 New Delhi, India

July 7 Rolling Stock Networking 2022 Derby, UK

August 21 24 International Conference on Railway Technology Montpellier, France

September 20 23 InnoTrans 2022 Berlin, Germany

October 26 Modern Railways RVE Milton Keynes, UK

November 4 6 Urban Mobility India Conference & Expo Kochi, India

November 7 Urban Infra Business Summit & Awards 2022 New Delhi, India

November 10 11 Rail India Conference & Expo 2022 New Delhi, India

November 9-10 MOVE 2022 London, UK

Nov 29 Dec 1 Rail Live 2022 Malga, Spain