Urban Transport Infrastructure March 2019 by Urban Transport News

ISSN 2581-8023 // COVER PRICE â&#x201A;¹ 200.00

#urbanTransport

www.urbantransportnews.com VOL. I / ISSUE 2 / BI-MONTHLY / MARCH 2019

infras t ructure

Road Transport & E-Mobility Special

India sets a realistic goal to make a major shift to Electric Vehicles by 2030 650 km metro rail network now in operation in 14 cities of India

Scan from here to read online version

The Future of Mobility? Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision based on 7C’s: Common Connected Convenient Congestion-free Charged Clean Cutting-Edge

PM Modi shared his 7C vision at First Global Mobility Summit: MOVE 2018 hosted by NITI Aayog on September 7-8, 2018 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Narendra Modi Hon’ble Prime Minister of India

CENTRE FOR METRO & RAILWAYS, HSR, RRTS, BRTS, eMOBILITY AND OTHER URBAN TRANSPORT INDUSTRIES UPDATES

WEBSITE AVERAGE MONTHLY PAGEVIEWS

E-MAIL NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS

213,000

55,000

PLUS FROM 91+ COUNTRIES

PLUS

OUR NEWS

WEBSITE FEATURES

BREAKING NEWS DAILY Thousands of articles covering the industry

MOBILE FRIENDLY

IMPROVED SEARCH

Responsive across devices

Enhanced search capabilities

OPTIMIZED NAVIGATION

MEDIA INTERVIEW

Easier to explore related contents

Interview of industry leaders and experts

INDUSTRY OPINION & RESOURCES

WHITEPAPERS

Expert analysis from industry leaders & vital rail resources Scan to read news updates and our publication online

Publishing research papers on industry challenges & solutions

URBAN TRANSPORT NEWS brings you a daily round-up of news updates from Metro & Railways, Road Transport, BRTS, Water Transport, Urban Air Mobility, Smart Cities and allied industries.

www.urbantransportnews.com

Urban Transport News Website Urban Transport Infrastructure Bimonthly B2B Journal (ISSN 2581-8023) Urban Transport News is an Indian Media Firm engaged in the promotion of Government’s initiatives and private players role in urban transport infrastructure industry and provides strategic business consultancy to the transport infrastructure industry. Apart from publishing news, analysis and insights from the industry, Urban Transport News publishes a bimonthly journal titled “Urban Transport Infrastructure” which is read in over 91+ countries worldwide and widely appreciated by various Govt. Ministries/departments, Corporate Groups, Industry Leaders, Think Tanks, Academic & Research Organizations and other reputed entities. Urban Transport News has set a record of 5 million viewers in a month.

We bring daily round-up and project updates from❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

Metro & Railways (MRTS, HSR & RRTS) Road Transport, Electric Vehicles & Shared Mobility PRT, Pods & Cable Cars Water Transport Urban Air Mobility Smart Cities Projects New Technology & Innovation

E-MAIL NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS

(PRINT+DIGITAL)

PLUS

MAGZINE READERS

55,000 37,500 SOCIAL MEDIA REACH

2,25,000 PLUS

WEBSITE AVERAGE MONTHLY PAGEVIEWS

213,000 PLUS FROM 91+ COUNTRIES

Contact us F-35, First Floor, Pankaj Grand Plaza, Mayur Vihar Phase-I, New Delhi - 110091 Tel: +91-11-4248 4505, 9716 4545 05 E-mail: connect@urbantransportnews.com

Find us at social media

Scan to know more

Urban Transport Infrastructure / March 2019 / Vol. I / Issue 2

REGULAR COLUMNS 06

Editorial

Editorial Advisory Board

Subscription Form

Round Up

Infra Business Updates

Urban Rail Transit Progress Report

COVER STORY 21

E-Mobility: The Game Changer for Informal Public Transport in India

INTERVIEW 23

Mr. Achal Khare, Managing Director, National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited

Mr. Naveen Munjal, CEO, Hero Electric

Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary General, UITP

Mr. Pankaj Kumar Bansal, Managing Director, Chennai Metro Rail Limited

OPINION 28 33 40 4

Why India is positioned to lead the next transport revolution

Jay Walder, CEO, Virgin Hyperloop One

Stage set for a strong e-mobility wave in 2019

Sohinder Gill, Director General, Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV)

Difficulties commuters face in Mumbai Local

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Railways, Coal & Power (GoI)

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

Not just new Highways, Delhi needs Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Cycle and Walking paths to curb Traffic and Pollution

Nearly 30% of the particulate pollution in metro cities are caused by vehicular emissions

Sonya Suter, Senior Programme Manager at Evidence for Policy Design, Harvard Kennedy School

Vineet J Mehra Managing Director ‘DOT’

Land Acquisition Act: A critique for implementation of transportation projects in India Ar. Priyanka Kumar, Dr. Kusum Lata & Shreya Mishra

Urban Mobility Challenges in India R. Sethuraman Sr. EPC Consultant & Member Editorial Board

The BMTC fare is merely fair in Bengaluru Mehjabeen, Ph.D Research Scholar, Periyar University, Tamil Nadu

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES 25

One Nation – One Card (Common Mobility Card)

INDUSTRY VOICE

FAME-II India Scheme

IN SPOTLIGHT 54

Dr. Sonia Sethi, IAS & Additional Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA

EVENTS 55

Key Highlights From Global Aviation Summit 2019

Event Calendar 2019

www.urbantransportnews.com

Managing Editor’s Note Vol. I / Issue 2

March 2019

Mamta Shah Managing Editor Vinod Shah Principal Advisor Surya Prakash Media Manager Vijay Chaudhary Marketing Manager Sunil Kumar Circulation Manager Urban Transport Infrastructure Magazine is published bi-monthly by:

Urban Transport News

(A unit of Indian Infra Business Solutions Group)

F-35, First Floor, Pankaj Grand Plaza, Mayur Vihar Phase-I, New Delhi-110091 Tel: 011-4248 4505, +91-9716 4545 05 E-mail: editor@urbantransportnews.com Web: www.urbantransportnews.com

Subscriptions: Urban Transport Infrastructure eMagazine is sent without obligation to professionals and key opinion leaders working in urban transport industry in India and other countries. However, publisher reserves the right to limit the number of copies. Cover Price: Print-INR 200.00, Digital-INR 50.00 Annual: Print INR 1000.00, Digital: INR 250.00 All subscriptions payable in advance. Print circulation available in India only. © All rights reserved. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. For reprint, circulation in outside India, please contact: editor@urbantransportnews.com Edited and published by Mrs. Mamta Shah, Managing Editor & CEO from 8-B/4, Street No.3, Janta Garden, Pandav Nagar, New Delhi110091, India and printed at Printpack Electrostat, G-2/56, Eros Apartment, Nehru Place, New Delhi - 110019. Disclaimer: The facts and opinions expressed by the authors/contributors here do not reflect the views of editorial team or editorial board of Urban Transport News/Urban Transport Infrastructure Magazine.

ISSN 2581-8023

lectric vehicle revolution is gaining a stronger ground in India and now, a Bloomberg report says that the country has surpassed China in terms of the number EVs in use currently. The revolution, however, is not spearheaded by electric cars or electric two-wheelers. An electric alternative to pedal-driven rickshaws is helping rickshaw pullers avoid fatigue and contribute to clean mobility in the country. India is now home to about 1.5 million battery-powered three-wheeled rickshaws, which is well above the total number of electric passenger cars sold in China since 2011. While car and two-wheeler manufacturers are introducing new electric versions of their otherwise combustion-engined vehicles in India, the e-movement is currently lacking buyers' faith. There are also firms like Magenta Power which are installing fast-charging stations around Mumbai, but the shift from fossil fuel power to electricity will take a huge investment of time and money. For a rickshaw driver, however, electric three-wheelers are proving beneficial. They are faster, easy and more affordable to maintain, and don't require pedalling all day long. All of this translates to more trips and hence it is also more profitable. As many as 11,000 new e-rickshaws hit the streets every month, and annual sales are expected to increase about 9 percent by 2021. Three-wheeled vehicles make up a $1.5 billion market, and manufacturers of electric versions include Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and Kinetic Engineering Ltd., along with smaller outfits that assemble parts imported from China. Ola to join e-rickshaw boom: Ride-hailing startup Ola is rather dominant in India and is now planning to add 10,000 e-rickshaws to its fleet by April 2019. By taking such a strategic approach, we can resolve the problem of urban air pollution. There are some other simple measures that are necessary to take. First, the growth of travel miles in vehicles should be reduced. This will lower some of the road congestion and support more efficient use of the land. Roughly 37 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions won’t have to go into the environment. This reduction can happen through an increase in public transportation usage. Each household is projected to save thousands of dollars with the adoption of more efficient transportation, totaling approximately $6,251 per year. Energy consumption can be reduced by 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline each year. Carbon emissions can be significantly lowered when passengers choose to use more sustainable forms of transportation, such as walking and cycling. This will improve air quality in the area as well as lower carbon emissions. There are more benefits to this type of sustainable transportation. In addition to reduced CO2 emissions, this will create jobs and further support the local economy. One part of the world is already benefiting from employing more sustainable modes of transportation. Mamta Shah Managing Editor & CEO editor@urbantransportnews.com

Urban Transport Infrastructure

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Our distinguished advisory board has been assembled to guide Urban Transport Infrastructure journal to become even more representative of urban mobility & infrastructure industry. Members have been invited from the highest levels of the industry and academic/research institutions to ensure high quality content so that the journal can continue on its path of success.

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

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

Karuna Gopal Smart Cities Advisor Foundation for Futuristic Cities, Hyderabad

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

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

Dr. Vivek Vaidyanathan Urban Transport Scientist Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP), Bangalore

Ishan Chanda Urban Dev. Advisor UK India Business Council, Gurgaon

R. Padmanabhan Chairman All India Rail Safety Council, New Delhi

WWW.URBANTRANSPORTNEWS.COM

www.urbantransportnews.com

Sanjam Sahi Gupta Director Sitara Shipping Limited, Mumbai

URBANTRANSPORTNEWS

Dr. Annapoorna Ravi Media & Comm. Expert Public Affairs Centre (PAC), Bangalore

R. Sethuraman Sr. EPC Advisor Chennai

Ad. Sanndhya Pillai Maritime Lawyer SSS Maritime Services & Consultancy (P) Ltd., Mumbai

URBANTRANSNEWS

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

Think Green, Go Digital ! Subscribe

Urban Transport Infrastructure (Print & Digital) Magazine online Yearly Print*

Yearly Digital

Sample Copy (Print)

₹ 1200.00

₹ 250.00

₹250.00

*Including shipping charges.

You can subscribe your copy from here https://www.instamojo.com/urbantransportnews Special Offer ! Subscribe Annual Print Package and Get Annual Digital Subscription Free.

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION FORM Subscriber Details:

Annual Subscription Details:

Name: ___________________________________

 Print Subscription: ₹ 1200.00

Postal Address: ____________________________

 Digital Subscription: ₹ 250.00

_________________________________________

 Corporate Subscription (10 Set): ₹ 10000.00

_________________________________________ City: ______________ State: ________________

Payment Options:

Country: INDIA

PIN Code: ____________

 Online/Net Banking/Debit/Credit Card

Tel. No.: _________________________________

 Crossed Bank Draft/Pay Order/Cheque

Mob. No. : _______________________________

Payment Date: ___________________

E-mail:

Reference No.: ____________________________

________________________________

Business Account No. 2213638360, Name: URBAN TRANSPORT NEWS, Bank: Kotak Mahindra Bank Branch IFSC: KKBK0000203, Swift Code: KKBKINBB203, Branch Name: Mayur Vihar Phase-I, New Delhi • • •

Account Payee Demand Draft/Pay Order/Cheque should be made in favour of “Urban Transport News” payable at New Delhi/Delhi and it should be deposited in nearest branch of Kotak Mahindra Bank. Online subscribers no need to fill the Subscription Form separately. In case of any query please reach us via e-mail at editor@urbantransportnews.com or contact our subscription & circulation team at 011-42484505

Bureau: Urban Transport News, F-35, First Floor, Pankaj Grand Plaza, Mayur Vihar Phase-I, New Delhi-110091, India

ROUND UP ◆ Metro & Railways Union Budget 2019: Govt allocates Rs.83,301 crores for Metro & Railways In the Budget Rs.18,714 crores have been allocated for Metro Railways and RRTS projects in India. In a major boost to Regional connectivity in NCR, Government of India has allocated Rs. 1000 Crore to Country’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in the interim budget. Rs.17,714 crores have been allocated for various Metro rail projects in India. The government has allocated Rs 64,587 crore to the Railways in the interim budget of 2019-20. Maharashtra state cabinet approves Nagpur Metro Rail Project Phase-II The Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis has approved the phase-II of Nagpur Metro Rail Project on the very first day of the year 2019. The estimated project cost of phase-II is Rs.11,216 crores and the total length of this project will be 48.3 km while the total length of Phase-I is 41.7 km. Central Government approves 30.38 km long Faridabad-Gurugram Metro corridor The Central Government has approved the ambitious metro rail project between FaridabadGurugram, giving a New Year gift to the people of Faridabad. Faridabad to Gurugram metro corridor will cost about Rs 5,900 crores, DPR will be ready in six months. The metro rail is likely to operate from March 2021, on the route. MEGA Co. Ltd. reconstitutes as Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) Limited Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar And Ahmedabad (MEGA) Company Limited has approved the change of the company name from MEGA Company Limited to Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) Limited. DMRC calls first tender for engagement of detailed design consultants for Delhi Metro Phase-IV projects The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Limited invited e-tenders from the eligible agencies through international competitive bidding (ICB) process for engagement of detailed design consultants (DDC) for Civil, Architectural and Building services including E&M works under Delhi MRTS Phase-IV project. Uttarakhand state cabinet approves light rail www.urbantransportnews.com

transit project for Dehradun Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat gave his approval on the recommendations of Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in Uttarakhand. Similar to the metro train, but low-cost Light Rail Transit (LRT) system will be landed in the outer areas like Nepali Farm, Chhidwarka, Mohkampur in Dehradun area. NCRTC issues first tenders for Delhi-GurugramSNB RRTS corridor project The National Capital Region Transport Corporation Ltd. (NCRTC) invited open e-bids on Local Competitive Bidding (LCB) basis for detailed geotechnical investigation work for elevated section from IDPL Complex to Dharuhera for Sarai Kale Khan to SNB (Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror) Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor. The estimated tender value is Rs.1,93,87,340.00. GMRC terminates Ahmedabad Metro civil work contract with IL&FS The Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) Limited terminated the contract awarded to IL&FS Engineering & Construction due to project delays. After issuing the termination order, the same work has been awarded to J Kumar Infrastructure by the GMRC. Karnataka Government clears Rs23K crores suburban rail and Bangalore Metro alignment projects The Karnataka State government gave approval of the much-awaited Rs 23,000-crore suburban railway corridor project and a change in alignment of Bangalore Metro Rail project to connect Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) from Nagawara. Indian Railways plans to allow private rail operators in Railways Indian railway is considering allowing private operators to operate its passenger and freight trains. Railway Board Member (Traffic) Girish Pillai said in a program organized by the Transport Research and Management Center (CTRM) that senior officials are now considering the matter.

Delhi High Court rejects arbitration court verdict in Delhi Metro airport line case In the matter of Delhi airport metro line, the Delhi High Court dismissed the verdict in favor of Reliance Infrastructure’s subsidiary Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL). Indian Railways plans to enter into Metro Rail March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ ROUND UP market in the country Indian Railways is planning to enter in the field of Metro rail projects in the country. Officials from Indian Railways said that it has the capacity to implement the entire Metro project, including development of Metro coaches, at very low cost. Indian Railways starts survey to find 12 new high speed rail routes Apart from the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor, the Indian Railways has started a survey for 12 new routes to start high-speed rail projects in India. Noida Metro’s Aqua line linking Noida-Greater Noida opens for public The much-awaited metro rail linking the twin-cities of Gautam Buddh District of Uttar Pradesh is finally opened for the public on January 25. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flagged off the 29.7 km long Aqua Line of Noida Metro linking Noida and Greater Noida with the high density of population area of the NCR. Urban Transport News launches Metro Yatri Club for metro commuters On the occasion of 70th Republic Day of India, a group consisting with 26 like-minded persons in association with the Urban Transport News have launched the Metro Yatri Club to empower and guide the metro commuters across Delhi & NCR. A dedicated website with url www.metroyatriclub.org was also unveiled by the Urban Transport News Managing Editor Mamta Shah on January 26. Modern Coach Factory issues tender worth Rs1500 crores for Metro coaches The Modern Coach Factory Rae Bareli has issued tender notices for one and a half thousand crore rupees for construction of Metro rail coaches. The Kolkata Metro and Nagpur metro coaches have also placed orders to the factory. RITES misses deadlines of submission of DPR of Srinagar Metro The Railway Agency RITES is not yet submitted the detailed project report (DPR) of the Srinagar Metro Rail Project which was supposed to submit it by September 2017. Chennai Metro opens 10 km stretch AG-DMS to Washermenpet section for public The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) on February 10, 2019 (Sunday) opened last stretch covering 10 km distance between AG- DMS and

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

Washermenpet Metro of Blue Line of Chennai Metro Rail Project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Tamilnadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has inaugurated the section through video conferencing from Tirupur, Tamilnadu in presence of Governor of Tamil Nadu, Banwarilal Purohit, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and other dignitaries. CRS completes safety inspection of Kolkata EastWest Metro The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) started preliminary safety inspection of Kolkata East-West Metro on February 6. The inspection was carried out on behalf of Railway Board. Before starting the system check, the customary safety certificate required from the Railway Board. Advisory council not agrees on metro and mono rail in Chandigarh The 5th meeting of the Administrator’s Advisory Council was held yesterday under the chairmanship of V.P. Singh Badnore, Governor of Punjab and Administrator, U.T Chandigarh at Hotel Mount view, Chandigarh. The Even after a long discussion in the Advisory Council meeting of Administrator on the option of reducing the increasing traffic in the city and on the option of strong public transport, no concrete decision could be reached. PM Modi lays foundation stone of Patna Metro Rail project Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Rs.13365.77 crores Patna Metro Rail Project on February 17 from Barauni. Near Gate No. 1 of Patna Zoo first foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister through the remote conference. Union Housing & Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Bihar Urban Development & Housing Minister Suresh Kumar Sharma have done Bhoomi poojan. DMRC submits techno-feasibility survey of Jewar Airport Metro line The UP government is going to start work on the first phase of the construction of the Jawar International Airport and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has completed the survey of the proposed metro to run from Pari Chowk to the Jawar Airport. Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has sent a proposal to Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) for the funding of Jewar Airport Metro Line. Central Cabinet approves Ahmedabad

Metro’s

www.urbantransportnews.com

◆ ROUND UP Phase-II project The Central Government has finally given its approval on the phase-II of AhmedabadGandhinagar metro connecting the financial capital of Gujarat with the state’s political and administrative capital. The Phase-II will connect Gandhinagar to Motera with the tracks starting from where the North-South corridor (APMCVasna to Motera) ends. The project cost of the Ahmedabad Metro Phase-II is Rs.5,523 crores. RITES submits final DPR of Dwarka Expressway metro line The Railway company RITES has finally submitted the detailed project report (DPR) of Dwarka Expressway Metro link connecting to Gurugram Sector 23 to Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) after a delay of three months. Dr. Sonia Sethi takes charge as Addl Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA Dr. Sonia Sethi – a 1994 batch IAS, took charge as the Additional Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA on February 20, after Mr. Pravin Darade was posted as the Additional Municipal Commissioner, MCGM. Indian Railways plans to introduce 10 new bullet train routes Indian Railways is working on a comprehensive expansion plan of bullet train projects in India. With more than doubling freight capacity, 10 new corridors of about 6,000 km length are being considered for high-speed rail projects in the country. PIB suggests to reduce cost of Delhi Metro Phase4 up to 550 crores For the approval of Phase 4 of the Delhi Metro, the file was presented at the last meeting of the Public Investment Board, where it has long discussed. It has also been suggested in the meeting that its cost should be reduced by Rs.550 crores and the possibilities of public-private partnership proposals for these lines should also be ascertained. Indian scientists develops Maglev Train with 800 kmph speed After Japan and China, the model of Maglev Train, which is now 600 kilometers per hour, has been developed in India. In fact, the scientists of Raja Ramanna Center for Advanced Technology (RRCAT) of Indore in Madhya Pradesh have succeeded in developing the prototype model of ‘maglev’ train.

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

Maha Metro gets Rs.530 crores for Nagpur & Pune Metro projects The Maharashtra Government sanctioned Rs.300 crore for Nagpur Metro and Rs 230 crore for Pune Metro Rail Project in the budget for the Financial Year 2019-20, tabled during ongoing assembly session on February 27. Thus an amount of Rs 530 crores has been collectively sanctioned for Nagpur and Pune Metro rail projects. Maha Metro unveils common mobility card ‘MAHA-CARD’ in Nagpur Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha-Metro) joined hands with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and State Bank of India (SBI) to bring them onboard for the common mobility program. As Maha Metro Nagpur gets ready for the launch of its services, the first Maha Card is being presented to City mayor and Nagpur’s first citizen Smt. Nanda Jichkar at the hands of MD Dr. Brijesh Dixit on February 28. Chennai Metro to begin construction work of Phase II next year The Chennai Metro Rail Limited will start the construction work of Chennai Metro Phase II from the beginning of next year i.e. 2020. The phase II of Chennai Metro Rail, which will cover 118.9 km with 128 stations, will be fully operational by 2026 if the work started timely. Union cabinet approves Kanpur Metro project worth Rs.11076 crore The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Kanpur Metro Rail Project having two corridors, which will connect major public nodes and city cluster areas of Kanpur. Union cabinet approves Agra Metro Project worth Rs.8,379.62 crore The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Agra Metro Rail Project having two corridors. These corridors will connect major public nodes, tourist places and city cluster areas of Agra. ADB, India sign record $926 mn loan for two new Mumbai Metro lines The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India today signed a $926 million loan to operationalize two lines for the Mumbai Metro Rail System that will ease the distress of millions of commuters each day and help provide a cleaner, less congested city. Indian Railways shares Five years progress and www.urbantransportnews.com

◆ ROUND UP achievement report In the past five years, the Government of India has made safety the foremost priority of Indian Railways. Indian Railways has achieved its best ever safety record in 2018-19 – there has been 81% drop in the number of deaths from 152 in 2013-14 to 29 this year (up to Jan 31, 2019). This is a result of holistic efforts. All Unmanned Level Crossings (UMLCs) on Broad Gauge network have been eliminated. Rashtriya Rail Sanraksha Kosh (RRSK) fund of Rs. 1 lakh crores has been created for safety expenditure. Integral Coach Factory makes record increase of 40% in production The oldest and most prestigious Rail Coach Manufacturing Unit Integral Coach Factory (ICF) of Indian Railways has registered an increase of 40% in production. Along with this, the ICF has become the largest rail coach maker in the world, leaving China’s biggest coach manufacturing unit behind.

MMRDA gets Rs16,909 cr for Metro & Urban Development projects The Maharashtra Chief Minister and Chairman, MMRDA, Devendra Fadnavis, during the 147th Authority meeting, held on 27th February 2019, approved Rs.16,909.10-crore budget for the year 2019-20 presented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). Jaipur Metro terminates consultancy contract with EGIS Rail SA The Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) has terminated the consultancy contract given to French company EGIS Rail S.A. for preparing a detailed project report (DPR) of the phase-II project due to poor performance. Mumbai Monorail phase II opens between Wadala-Jacob Circle The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) opened the complete 20km long Monorail corridor after a delay of several years. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis along with railway minister Piyush Goyal undertook the maiden inaugural journey from Jacob Circle to Wadala depot on March 3. Ahmedabad Metro Phase 1 opens, PM Modi lays foundation of Phase 2 During his two-day Gujarat visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off the metro train services on the 6.5 km long stretch between Vastral and Apparel park of Ahmedabad Metro Rail project

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

on March 4. He traveled some distance on the Phase-1 stretch and unveiled the Common Mobility Card (One Nation - One Card). Apart from this, PM Modi has also laid the foundation stone of Phase-2 of the Ahmedabad Metro for which central cabinet had given their approval in February 2019. Maharashtra approves Thane Metro Rail Project worth Rs 13,095 crores The Maharashtra State cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has approved 29 km long metro corridor for Thane city. This information has been shared by Thane Guardian minister Eknath Shinde. PIB approves Surat Metro Rail project worth Rs.10829 crores The Public Investment Board (PIB) has approved the Surat Metro Rail project in a major push for alternative public transport for the Diamond City. With a total outlay of Rs 10,829.14 crores, the Surat Metro Rail will run on a total route of 40.35 km that includes 6.47 km underground section. PM Narendra Modi flags off 13.5 km Nagpur Metro Rail corridor The Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the 13.5 km long stretch of Nagpur Metro, through video conference from New Delhi. The 13.5 km long stretch covering 5 stations between KhapriSitabuldi of the Nagpur Metro Rail project was inaugurated through the digital unveiling of plaque. PM Modi flags off entire North-South corridor of Lucknow Metro Lucknow sets new history after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Lucknow Metro’s commercial run on the 23-km North-South corridor on March 8. PM Modi lays foundation stone of Delhi-Meerut RRTS and Meerut Metro project Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the Foundation Stone on March 8 for the construction of India’s first Regional Rail between Delhi-GhaziabadMeerut and Meerut Metro at Sikandarpur, Ghaziabad. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Hon’ble Shri Yogi Adityanath and Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri V. K. Singh were also present on the occasion. Delhi Metro opens Dilshad Garden-New Bus Adda corridor for public Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Shaheed Sthal (New Bus Adda) to Dilshad Garden Metro Corridor on the Red Line of Delhi Metro. www.urbantransportnews.com

ROUND UP ◆ Delhi Govt launches first Common Mobility App ‘One Delhi’ The Delhi Government has launched Delhi’s first Common Mobility App ‘One Delhi’ by adding a new feature to the public transport system. Delhi Metro opens Noida City Centre – Noida Electronic City corridor for public Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the long awaited Noida City Centre – Noida Electronic City Metro Corridor on the Blue Line of Delhi Metro. Central cabinet approves 3 lines of Delhi Metro Phase 4 project The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) received clearance of its long awaited phase 4 project from the central cabinet on Thursday. The central cabinet gave its approval only for three of six routes of Delhi Metro Phase 4. CCEA approves Rs 33,690 crores Mumbai Urban Transport Project 3A The Mumbai Urban Transport Project 3A (MUTP 3A) finally got approval from the Central Government. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has gave its nod for MUTP-3A projects worth Rs.33,690 crores for the city. The project was pegged at Rs.54,777 crores. The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) is executing the MUTP 3A project. Navi Mumbai Metro receives two 3-coach metro trains The Navi Mumbai Metro received two metro trains from China on March 11. The trains are with the three-coach formation. These trains have landed at the Mumbai port from China and reached to Navi Mumbai Metro’s Taloja depot for further testing and commissioning activities.

Road Transport & E-Mobility Ahmedabad city to ply 1000 electric buses in next two years The Ahmedabad municipal corporation is going to start 50 electric buses, apart from this, there are plans to run such 1000 buses in the city in two years. Ghaziabad to install charging stations for electric buses Under the Smart Electric Public Transport System, 24 charging points will be built for 100 electric buses operating in the city. For this, electric bus charging hubs will be built in four places in the www.urbantransportnews.com

Ghaziabad city. After missing several deadlines, Amritsar BRTS launches finally For the last two years, the buses of Amritsar BRTS project running with tortoise moves got momentum on January 25. Minister of Local Government, Tourism, Cultural Affairs, and Museums Navjot Sidhu flagged off 94 buses of Amritsar BRTS project. Tata Motors begins supply of 40 Electric buses to Lucknow City The first Ultra 9/9m AC Electric bus was flagged off today in Lucknow by the Minister of Urban Development, Suresh Kumar Khanna along with dignitaries from LCTSL and Tata Motors. Tata Motors to supply 80 eBuses to West Bengal Transport Corporation Tata Motors announces the supply of 80 Electric buses to the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC). The company has already supplied 20 Ultra Electric 9/9m AC E-buses, with remaining 20 9/9m AC E-buses scheduled to be delivered by March 31, 2019. The company will also be supplying 40 9/12m AC E-buses to WBTC in a phased manner. Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, flagged off the buses with dignitaries from WBTC and Tata Motors. Govt of India approves Rs 10,000 crore FAME II scheme With the aims to promote electric and hybrid vehicles in the country, the central cabinet has cleared worth Rs. 10,000 crores FAME-II scheme. Delhi Govt approves 1,000 AC low floor electric buses With the aims to reduce air pollution and make commuting easier, the Delhi cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal approved 1,000 lowfloor AC electric buses to run in the national capital. Delhi will be the first Indian city to have such a large number of electric buses. BHEL installs first EV charging station on DelhiChandigarh highway Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) is setting up a network of Solar-based Electric Vehicle Chargers (SEVC) on the Delhi-Chandigarh Highway. The first in the series of Charging Stations was inaugurated by Dr. A.R. Sihag, Secretary, Department of Heavy Industry (DHI), in the presence of Atul Sobti, CMD, BHEL, at Ethnic India Resort, District Sonepat, Haryana. March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ ROUND UP Govt of India approves a 5-year Electric Mobility Solution Programme The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved setting up of a National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, to drive clean, connected, shared, sustainable and holistic mobility initiatives; Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP) valid for 5 years till 2024 to support setting up of a few large-scale, export-competitive integrated batteries and cellmanufacturing Giga plants in India. Tata Motors signs MoU with Wise Travel India to supply Tigor EVs Tata Motors announced the next milestone on its journey of driving electrification, through its partnership with Wise Travel India Pvt Ltd (WTi), to deploy Tigor Electric Vehicles (EVs) in New Delhi. Delhi Govt issues first tender for procurement of Electric Buses In order to provide safe, secure, efficient and reliable operation of buses in Delhi, the Transport Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) has inducted 1,679 buses under Cluster Scheme for the operation of Private Stage Carriage services in Delhi. Noida Metro to introduce 50 metro feeder buses in 16 new routes In the line of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to provide last-mile connectivity to the metro commuters, Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) will introduce 50 low-floor, airconditioned, disabled-friendly feeder buses across 16 new routes in Noida and Greater Noida from March 15.

Urban Air Mobility India will need nearly 1600 aircrafts worth $224 billion in the next 20 years India’s aviation sector is fast moving forward in the world. It is said in a statement that in the next 20 years India will need about 1600 more aircraft. The Indian government’s initiative UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik) scheme is to provide further momentum to the aviation sector. Under the scheme, the government has tried to make an ordinary person fly in the country as well. According to estimates, the vast aviation market side is stepping into the Indian aviation sector will need to buy planes of 224 billion dollars over the next 20 years.

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

BIAL announces to fund Rs13,000 cr. for Kempegowda International Airport The preparations for changing the face of Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport are being done loudly. To make the airport more grand and luxurious, Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) has announced to fund Rs.13,000 crores. Mumbai to get ‘Make in India’ air taxi by 2025 It is good news for the Mumbaikers that they will start flying with the air taxi in Mumbai from the year 2025. Navi Mumbai based VTOL Aviation Private Limited in collaboration with technology experts at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur is working quietly to develop air taxis that may be a game-changer for India in the global aviation market. Thales launches first Engineering Competence Centre in Bengaluru Thales continues its development in India by announcing the launch of its Global Engineering Competence Centre (ECC) in Bengaluru. The centre aims to accelerate innovation and digital transformation to serve the needs of both the Indian market and the Group’s global objectives. PM Narendra Modi inaugurates civil enclave at Hindon airport Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday inaugurated the new civil enclave at Hindon airport from where commercial flights would be operated to various places, including Shimla and Kannur.

Water Transport Kochi Metro shortlists ship manufactures for Kochi water metro project The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) shortlisted four companies namely Cochin Shipyard, Damen Shipyards, GRANDWELD (a branch of ATOS International) and Larsen & Toubro after evaluating their technical bids. The tender was called for the design, build, supply, testing, commissioning and delivery of 23 ships (boats) for the first phase of the Kochi Water Metro project. Uber launches water taxi services in Mumbai Uber app has introduced UberBoat in Mumbai on February 1. Through the Uber app, riders /passengers can book their speedboats from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Islands and further to Mandwa Jetty and vice versa.

www.urbantransportnews.com

INFRA BUSINESS UPDATES ◆ STEC bags contract for TVS and ECS works of Aarey-BKC section of Mumbai Metro-3 The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has awarded Contract for the “Tunnel Ventilation system and Environmental control system” Phase 1 work for the section Aarey to BKC for its ColabaBandra-Seepz Corridor of Mumbai Metro Line3 (MML-3) project after obtaining clearance from JICA (Japan International Co-operation Agency) as per procurement norms. Datamatics-led consortium bags AFC contract worth Rs.160 crores from MMRDA The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development (MMRDA) has issued letter of acceptance (LOA) to the Consortium led by Datamatics Global Services Limited (DGSL) and AEP Ticketing solutions S.R.L, Italy (AEP) for approx. Rs.160 crores contract for implementing Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system for 52 stations of Mumbai Metro Line 2A (Dahisar to DN Nagar Metro), 2B (DN Nagar to Mankhurd Metro) and 7 (Andheri East to Dahisar) of the Mumbai Metro Rail project. Alstom bags Rs. 580 crores electrification contract of Bangalore Metro Phase-II The French Firm, Alstom has been awarded a contract by BMRCL to provide power supply and traction electrification for the 33kilometer extension to Bangalore Metro under Phase II. Worth around €71 million (INR 580 Crores approximately), it is Alstom’s largest thirdrail electrification contract in India. Tata-Gulermak JV bags Pune Metro tunneling projects worth Rs. 2,283 crores The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MahaMetro) awarded the contract for tunnelling projects for the underground section of the Pune Metro to Tata joint venture (JV) with Turkish company Gulermak, Gulermak-Tata Projects Ltd JV.

BEML bags Rolling Stock contract worth Rs 400 crores of Bangalore Metro The Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) has won a Rs.400 crores Rolling Stock contract of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) to augment the metro services in Bengaluru.

www.urbantransportnews.com

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

â&#x2014;&#x2020;ď ˇ URBAN RAIL TRANSIT (PROGRESS REPORT)

Metro and Mono Rail Network Operational: 647.7 km City (State)

Network Length

Stations

Lines

Since

Ahmedabad Metro (Gujarat)

6.5 km

4 Mar, 2019

Bengaluru Metro (Karnataka)

42.3 km

20 Oct, 2011

Chennai Metro (Tamilnadu)

45 km

29 Jun, 2015

Delhi Metro (NCR)

343.36 km

250

24 Dec, 2002

RapidMetro Gurgaon (NCR)

11.7 km

14 Nov, 2013

Hyderabad Metro (Telangana)

46.5 km

29 Nov, 2017

Jaipur Metro (Rajasthan)

9.63 km

3 Jun, 2015

Kochi Metro (Kerala)

18.4 km

17 Jun, 2017

Kolkata Metro (West Bengal)

27.3 km

24 Oct, 1984

Lucknow Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

22.87 km

5 Sep, 2017

Mumbai Metro (Maharashtra)

11.4 km

8 Jun, 2014

Mumbai Monorail (Maharashtra)

19.54 km

2 Feb, 2014

Nagpur Metro (Maharashtra)

13.5 km

7 Mar, 2019

Noida Metro (NCR)

29.7 km

25 Jan, 2019

Under Construction: 679.18 km City (State)

Network Length

City (State)

Network Length

Ahmedabad Metro (Gujarat)

33.53 km

Jaipur Metro (Rajasthan)

2.35 km

Bengaluru Metro (Karnataka)

80.0 km

Kochi Metro (Kerala)

7.5 km

Bhopal Metro (Madhya Pradesh)

28.0 km

Kolkata Metro (West Bengal)

108.0 km

Chennai Metro (Tamil Nadu)

118.9 km

Mumbai Metro (Maharashtra)

171.0 km

Delhi Metro (NCR)

4.3 km

Nagpur Metro (Maharashtra)

24.5 km

Hyderabad Metro (Telangana)

26.5 km

Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra)

11.1 km

Indore Metro (Madhya Pradesh)

32.0 km

Pune Metro (Maharashtra)

31.5 km

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

www.urbantransportnews.com

URBAN RAIL TRANSIT (PROGRESS REPORT) ◆ Metro and Mono Rail Projects New / Expansion /Approved: 585.78 km City (State)

Network Length

Project Cost (INR)

Lines

Deadline

Agra Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

29.4 km

8,380 crores

2024

Ahmedabad Metro – II (Gujarat)

28.25 km

5,384 crores

2022

Delhi Metro - IV (NCR)

103.93 km

46,845 crores

2024

Dholera Metro (Gujarat)

100.0 km

7,000 crores

2024

Jaipur Metro – II (Rajasthan)

23.8 km

10,394 crores

2025

Kanpur Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

32.4 km

11,076 crores

2024

Mumbai Metro (Maharashtra)

56.46 km

24,814 crores

2022

Meerut Metro (Uttar Pradesh)

35.0 km

11,544 crores

2024

Pune Metro - Line 3 (Maharashtra)

23.3 km

8,313 crores

2022

Nagpur Metro - II (Maharashtra)

48.3 km

11,216 crores

2024

Thane Metro (Maharashtra)

29.0 km

13,095 crores

2025

Patna Metro (Bihar)

33.39 km

13,365.77 crores

2023

Visakhapatnam Metro (Andhra Pradesh)

42.55 km

8,300 crores

2022

Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Projects Corridor

Network Length

Project Cost (INR)

Status

Delhi – Meerut RRTS

82 km

30,274 crores

Under Construction

Delhi – SNB – Alwar RRTS

106 km

28,975 crores

DPR Approved

Delhi – Panipat RRTS

103 km

16,500 crores

DPR Prepared

Delhi – Palwal RRTS

Under Planning

Delhi - Rohtak RRTS

Under Planning

Delhi – Baraut RRTS

Under Planning

High Speed Rail Projects Corridor

Network Length

Project Cost (INR)

Status

Mumbai – Ahmedabad HSR

534 km

1,10,000 crores

Under Construction

Chennai – Mysore HSR

435 km

Feasibility report submitted

Delhi – Amritsar HSR

450 km

Pre-feasibility study under progress

Diamond Quadrilateral HSR

6750 km

Pre-feasibility study under progress

Mumbai – Hawrah HSR

1968 km

Under Planning

www.urbantransportnews.com

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ ADVERTORIAL

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

www.urbantransportnews.com

COVER STORY ◆

E-Mobility: The game changer for Informal Public Transport in India

cross Indian cities, ‘informal public transport’ such as the shared-auto, mini-bus, tempos, and e-rickshaws are increasingly being replaced by cab aggregators such as Uber and Ola. While this is great news for the affluent section of society, who can get a ride in a jiffy and travel in the relative ease of an air-conditioned cars, millions of Indians who rely heavily on informal public transport (IPT) modes are left in the lurch. Apart from being affordable, IPT offers efficient mobility, especially in smaller towns and cities which lack formal public transport systems. This sector also plays a major role in the

www.urbantransportnews.com

creation of jobs—thousands migrate to cities to take up jobs driving rickshaws, despite the low wages. Yet, the modern definition of ‘shared mobility’ excludes them. It is important to understand just how much Indian cities depend on IPT. The ITDP India Programme’s extensive study in Ranchi showed that over a fourth of all trips are made by shared autos. This situation is common among tier-2 and tier-3 cities where public transport is missing in action. However, there is ample scope to improve how IPT operates – for instance, route planning [by the RTO and the urban local body] can reduce congestion in busy localities and provide coverage throughout a city. For Indian cities to have efficient, sustainable, safe and

comfortable mobility, they need to start improving the IPT sector alongside public transport systems. The recent conversations surrounding electric mobility provides an excellent opportunity to intervene in ‘formalising’ IPT. How much of an impact could electrification of IPT have on Indian cities? As stated above, a significant number of trips are made using IPT in several Indian cities. Electrification will reduce the nation’s dependence on oil imports. Oil imports are a significant drain on the public exchequer, costing Rs. 5.6 lakh crores in the fiscal year of 2018. Electrification will also significantly reduce carbon emissions from fossil-fueled vehicles (assuming that the source of electricity is also clean).

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ COVER STORY It has been extensively reported that Indian cities are grappling with very poor air quality. WHO reports that 14 out of the world’s 15 most polluted cities are in India, nearly all of them in the northern region. These are also the same cities where IPT forms the backbone of public transport. Given that electrification will drastically reduce local emissions from transport, cities should actively try to switch from fossil fuel based vehicles. This is not to say that electrification of IPT is at a nascent stage in India. Several northern Indian cities have taken to e-rickshaws over the past decade, so much so that they currently form the largest electric fleet in the world, comprising of 1.5 million vehicles! E-rickshaws evolved from efforts in the late 1990’s to modernize the humble cyclerickshaw. They first gained popularity in Delhi as efforts to improve mobility infrastructure in the lead up to the 2010 Commonwealth Games. These vehicles used cheaper lead-acid batteries for power and were easy to drive, with low capital and maintenance costs. These factors led to an increase in its popularity across cities in north India. Today, estimates show that more than 11,000 such vehicles enter the market every month. This growth has been largely driven by the private sector; efforts from the State have been rather limited. The Government of Delhi, realising the potential of electric IPT in reducing local air pollution, offered a subsidy of Rs 30,000 upon purchase. However, states and cities have yet not addressed the issue of ‘regulating’ these vehicles which can improve last mile connectivity, reduce road congestion, and improve air quality. In fact, initial uncertainties over the

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

Made in India Electric Vehicles in an EV Show. [Photo: Sanjay Rawat]

categorization of e-rickshaws under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, as well as concerns over safety had even led to e-rickshaws being banned in cities like Delhi and Ranchi. A conducive policy and regulatory environment is necessary to maximise the benefits of electrification. This would involve the set-up of supporting infrastructure such as charging stations and e-rickshaw stands, identifying routes for operation, and having a clear set of guidelines on enforcement. However, as mentioned above, IPT often does not get the attention it deserves. An example for the same can be seen in the FAME scheme. The initial focus of the scheme was to incentivise electrification of private motor vehicles. Even though threewheelers were part of the scheme, the lack of attention to the endusers—the owner and the commuter—meant that the uptake was minimal. To unlock the full potential of electrification, India should have a clear vision expressed through a model ‘national electric vehicle’ policy. While addressing the whole spectrum of electric

vehicles, the core focus of the policy should undoubtedly be on the electrification of modes that have low per capita energy and space requirement—specifically buses and informal public transport—and disincentivize the use of modes that are polluting, and consume higher per capita energy and space, such as cars. Such progressive policies would help states adopt a similar stance based on their contextual requirements. (Contributor: ITDP India)

www.urbantransportnews.com

INTERVIEW ◆

India set for Transport Revolution 2.0 with High Speed Rail: Achal Khare

SPV is to immediately take up the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project. In the future, we will do similar kind of activities in other places as well. The hallmark of this particular project is that we are setting up standards at the same time as high-speed rail has never existed in India before. We have to develop all kinds of highspeed rail standards in collaboration with our Japanese partners.

he High – Speed Rail (Bullet Train) corridor is going to be built for the first time in the country and it is making headlines from the beginning. Mr. Achal Khare, Managing Director of National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) has shared his views on all such important aspects related to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Speed is the most crucial factor Rail project. Here are excerpts:in operating high-speed What is the mandate of National rail which has not been High Speed Rail Corporation experienced in India. How are you leveraging technology and Limited? Mr. Achal Khare: The National innovation considering the speed High Speed Rail Corporation factor? Limited (NHSRCL) has been set Mr. Khare: We have to leverage up as a special purpose vehicle new-age technologies. But when I (SPV) with the partnership of say new-age technology, I’m not Government of India through talking about a technology which Ministry of Railways, has never been tried elsewhere Government of Gujarat, and the before. But yes, for India, some of Government of Maharashtra. The them are new. Various kinds of prime objective of setting up this innovative techniques have to be

www.urbantransportnews.com

adopted. We are proceeding in that direction only. The survey part is very crucial for any project. For instance, for the first time in India’s railway project, we have done an Aerial Lidar survey and not just a ground survey. It was completed in three months only. We are also consulting and interacting with leading technical institutions like IIT Mumbai and other institutions. IIT Mumbai is an official partner of this project and they are helping us in various designs. IIT Gandhinagar is helping in underground utility survey. Whenever we are hearing about new technology or innovation which can be useful for this project, we are trying to connect with them on a priority. The remarkable thing was done for the Delhi Metro and now what we are going to do will be of great significance too. On the other hand, we will be focusing seriously on trained

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ INTERVIEW human resources and for that, we are developing a training institute much ahead of the project commissioning date. It will be ready by December 2020. It is coming up in Vadodara. Do you think this project will be a watershed moment for India’s transport infrastructure development sector? Mr. Khare: First transport revolution took place in India when metro rail arrived. It was within the metro cities. But the high-speed rail will be the gamechanger for this country. We will witness Transport Revolution 2.0 when this project will be implemented. The country needs it. There are some reservations but let’s accept it — India needs high-speed rail. What is your vision for India’s high-speed rail? Mr. Khare: It needs to be understood in two parts. First, the Government has already given us the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor. It will ensure quick mobility. But for me, it goes beyond quick mobility. In Maharashtra, four stations (Mumbai, Thane, Virar & Boisar) will come up for this project. For the State, it will serve altogether as a new transport means. Activity centers will be shifted to places like Virar and Boisar, reducing travel time from the main Mumbai city. All this will result in the large-scale socioeconomic development of the entire area. The same transformation will happen in Gujarat particularly towns like Anand, Bharuch, and Vapi. In the next 10-20 years, we are going to witness a complete transformation of the areas through which high-speed rail will pass. A similar thing will be noticed when high-speed rail commences operation in other parts of the country.

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

www.urbantransportnews.com

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION ◆

One Nation – One Card: Salient features

he Government of India has launched an innovative initiative ‘One Nation One Card’ (ONOC), also called as National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) on the 4th of March 2019. With the implementation of this initiative, the citizens can use a single card to commute on a bus, trains, metros, etc. along with shopping, money withdrawal and payments. The ONOC provides the convenience of using one card to access all the services in a city. The card users need not carry multiple cards and memorise the passwords. The same card can be used by citizens to board buses and metros. In this article, let us look in detail about One Nation One Card. What is One Nation One Card One Nation One Card, an interoperate transport card can be used in the form of debit, credit or prepaid card of a partner bank. The card is similar to any RuPay debit/ credit card that is available with more than 25 banks with the inclusion of State Bank of India (SBI). The card can be used for making payment in metro, bus, suburban railways, smart city and retail shopping. Major Highlights - This card can be used to purchase tickets for any public transport. - The card can be used for shopping. - The card can be used for digital payments and cash withdrawals. The money would be debited from the card automatically whenever any service is used by the cardholder. - It saves time to pay for a bus or a metro ticket.

www.urbantransportnews.com

- The cardholders need not wait in long queues on the ticket counters. - The cardholder can recharge the card online. - The card can be used both as a debit and a credit card. - The card can be used for making payments at toll plazas and to park vehicles. - The card offers cashback on making bill payments and other similar offers. - A cardholder can avail 5 per cent cashback at ATMs and 10 per cent cashback at merchant outlets while travelling abroad. - The card is assisted by indigenously developed Automatic Fare Collection Gate ‘Swagat’ and an Open Loop Automatic Fare Collection System ‘Sweekar’. Both these initiatives were launched by the Prime Minister. Issuance of the Card National Common Mobility Cards are bank-issued cards on debit/ credit/ pre-paid card products platform. Significance of the Card The card runs on RuPay card, and it eliminates all the travel related difficulties. The commuters using bus, train and metro does not have the adequate change to pay for toll plazas and parking. To

overcome this issue, this automatic fare collection system has been introduced. The cardholders can also use this card to withdraw money and to travel in metros in any part of the nation. With all these features and the working pattern of the card, it can be said that the RuPay card is merged with the mobility card. With this advancement and one-of-its-kind ‘Made in India’ card, there is no requirement for the country to depend on foreign technologies. A customer can use this single card to make payments across several sectors including metro, bus, suburban railways, toll, parking, smart city and retail shopping. The stored value on the card aids offline transaction across all travel requirements with minimal financial risks for the stakeholders. The service area feature of the card supports operator specific applications such as monthly passes, season tickets etc. These cards can be either used in PoS machines in ticket counters or can be used as metro rail smart cards to enter a platform.

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ INTERVIEW

The sector needs government’s push to a certain level and not for life long. – Naveen Munjal, CEO, Hero Electric

With high cost of batteries, complete transition from internal combustion engine to electric vehicle is a huge concern for India. Battery technology is very expensive and if we wait for the battery cost to come down, we will miss the bus. The sector needs government’s push to a certain level and not for life long, says Naveen Munjal, Chief Executive Officer, Hero Electric. What is your view on the current state of affairs in the Indian electric two-wheeler market and the EV market in general? What are the current challenges being faced by companies? Mr. Naveen Munjal: Major issues in the Indian two-wheeler market are lack of awareness and high cost of batteries. There has to be a certain mandate which is required for this industry to takeoff. The market for two-wheelers for us is divided into two segments – the regular consumers in the B2C business using our vehicles for daily commute and the B2B business which includes people running vehicles for delivery of goods like food, eCommerce etc. Where there is a commercial angle, having electric vehicles makes a lot of sense. If

you are covering a certain distance, let us say 30-50 km, the economy for running an electric vehicle is far better than an Internal Combustion engine. The B2B opportunity is very large. There are around 120,000 vehicles in India delivering eCommerce goods. We also have vehicles for food delivery. So, the estimation runs into millions of units per year. According to a view, the adoption of EVs is far below the industry expectations.

What is the need of the hour for the EV industry to take off? Mr. Munjal: There has to be a carrot-and-stick motivation approach. To start with, we need to ensure that a few cities should not have IC engine vehicles. Subsidy should be given to boost EV adoption the way government

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

subsidised petrol to support the logistics sector. A majority of the market in India comprises leadacid batteries. With the switch from lead-acid to lithium-ion we are already buying the top-end technology and so we should support it. We also have to lower the cost of the battery to the extent that it makes economic sense for a consumer. Also, the market needs a push towards the adoption of EVs. People should be encouraged to convert their vehicles into electric. It should be done in the way three-wheelers in Delhi got converted to CNG. But people do not accept change easily. It happens when you push the change through. Basic awareness about long-term benefit is also required. The government has to play a crucial role whether it is on spend or on www.urbantransportnews.com

INTERVIEW ◆ marketing. Industry players alone cannot do much as we are a commercial organisation and at the end of the day profit-making is our end objective.

in India which does not exist currently. With the current volumes in India, which are around 100,000 units a year, to create that level of full infrastructure is extremely Do you think the pace of expensive. Companies have to adoption of battery swapping is rely on import of components. satisfactory? Mr. Munjal: Around 75 per cent of the vehicles on the road are two-wheelers. We think battery charging will exist along with battery swapping in two-wheelers. For B2B businesses, battery swapping is more logical. For deliveries or e-taxis battery swapping is a good concept. For a taxi, charging the vehicle for four hours leads to revenue loss. What kind of batteries are used in your vehicles and where is the company investing when it comes to the EV segment? Mr. Munjal: Our batteries are removable from the vehicle. In one charge, it gives 60-80 kilometres depending on the kind of battery used. That is more than enough to take the customer to the day’s usage. If we have very dense charging infrastructure our battery size will automatically come down. And if the battery size comes down, our vehicles can become cheaper. We are investing heavily in technology for the vehicle itself. We are expanding our network. We are helping create a lot of awareness through marketing. We are creating new plants as we are already running out of capacity on the existing ones. We are doubling our production for EVs year-on-year. What is the state of play when it comes to domestic manufacturing for the EV industry? Mr. Munjal: There is no supply of critical components in India. We have to create the infrastructure for manufacturing www.urbantransportnews.com

As an investor, what is your sense of the competition developing in the market? Mr. Munjal: At the end of the day, we have to compete in the market and we are competing against the IC engine. We have certain volumes for electric twowheelers but for companies with up to 10,000 units in a year, getting investments is very tough as there are multiple-models involved. We have to focus on Make in India but that needs a lot of transition. If the volumes are not there then the competent companies will not invest.

Do you think implementing strict norms could help in increasing the offtake of EVs in India? If not, what could be the other approach? Mr. Munjal: If we cannot use the stick approach, we need to give the carrot. We need government interventions. Battery technology is

very expensive and if we wait for the battery cost to come down, we will miss the bus. In China, the government has seeded the market for the past so many years. Their subsidy has gone away now. The sector needs government’s push to a certain level and not for life long. We want the volumes to reach up to at least 2 million which is onetenth of the population of IC engines and then the market will take over. The electric vehicle sector needs initial seeding. Measures like putting a penalty on IC engine which are polluting vehicles will also help the EV market.

Which battery company will actually set up a plant if there is *** no offtake? Mr. Munjal: The offtake will not happen until the price comes down. It is a full vicious cycle. We are doing our bit in terms of introduction of products and marketing but we need component suppliers, battery suppliers at reasonable prices. March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ OPINION

Why India is positioned to lead the next transport revolution Jay Walder Chief Executive Officer Virgin Hyperloop One

hroughout my career leading some of the world’s most complex transportation systems, I can say with certainty that business as usual and incremental change alone will not solve the transportation challenges cities face today. We need a proposition for the 21st century. India moves 23 million people on its railway system every day, with 2400 flights taking off daily from its airports, and 230 mn registered vehicles on Indian roads. Tackling urban transport challenges is both an existential question for India, and an opportunity closely tied to its fundamental strengths – booming cities, a vibrant young workforce, and robust economic growth. India has the chance to build the first new mode of mass transportation in over 100 years – one that is fast, safe, cost-effective, with zero direct emissions. By being the first country to have a hyperloop system, the project could create close to one million direct and indirect employment opportunities that support ‘Make in India’ industries, attract investment from around the globe, and solidify the country’s future as a knowledge and research hub. This opportunity is supported through three ‘innovation leaps’ that India has made. India’s demographic dividend, a young cohort of ambitious, creative

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

and restless minds, and worldclass high-tech engineering skills – comes with a hunger for new technologies. We see this in electric vehicle (EV) policies and in the Supreme Court’s intervention asking the government to evaluate hydrogen fuel cell technology. India is keen on re-imagining urban transport and extending its pioneering role from space technology into the urban transport arena. Connecting Mumbai and Pune in less than thirty minutes will create one of the most globally competitive megaeconomic regions, rivaling China’s super-city clusters plan. The hyperloop system we have proposed to the Government of Maharashtra will support 150 million passenger trips annually, save 90 million hours of travel time, and bring potential economic benefits worth USD 55 billion over the next 30 years. The project ensures high ridership potential, offers affordability as a mass transit mode, becomes more effective as it scales, and provides benefits that outweigh the costs to build and operate. This system becomes more powerful when replicated across different regional clusters. Imagine commuting between Delhi and Mumbai in 55 minutes, Mumbai-Chennai in 50 minutes, Bangalore - Thiruvananthapuram in 41 minutes, and BangaloreChennai in 20 minutes. The hyperloop system’s appeal for

India comes from its ability to complement existing transport technologies. Hyperloop systems can be built to inter-connect with existing High-Speed Rail (HSR) or Metro projects. For example, in the future a student from Ahmedabad should be able to reach Pune, by taking the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train and then transferring to the 25-minute hyperloop ride to Pune, just as present metro commuters switch from one metro line to another. Marrying India’s high-quality research and engineering capabilities, with a new transportation technology like hyperloop is the third innovation leap. We could see development of a global hub for hyperloop research and manufacturing in Maharashtra within the next 1824 months. Phase I of the VHO Mumbai-Pune project is scheduled to be completed in 2023, after all regulatory clearances have been secured. If first, India will become the global manufacturing and export hub for hyperloop systems which will fuel demand for high-tech jobs in India and partnerships with education institutions. It is our goal to build the future of global transport in India. We are proud to be working together with a country that sees a new transportation eco-system for the 21st century and beyond. *** www.urbantransportnews.com

INTERVIEW ◆

The Art of Public Transport” can truly be found everywhere! – Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary General, UITP As the only worldwide network to bring together all public transport stakeholders and all sustainable transport modes, UITP and their global membership knows what direction the sector is going in. The UITP Global Public Transport Summit (Stockholm 9-12 June 2019) is the largest of its kind in public transport and urban mobility and the event where the sector will gather to discuss the current state of play, and what that future will look like. Leading the debate will be UITP’s Secretary General Mohamed Mezghani. Mohamed became UITP Secretary General in January 2018, and although this is his first Summit as the association’s head figure, he details his past involvements in various roles within UITP and a public transport and mobility career spanning thirty years. Read all about the next UITP Global Public Transport Summit in our conversation with Mohamed… www.urbantransportnews.com

The next UITP Global Public Transport Summit will take place in Stockholm (9-12 June 2019). What can you tell us about this edition? Mohamed Mezghani: The next UITP Summit will be the biggest edition yet. The Summit was previously held in Stockholm in 1991, where it was known as the UITP World Congress. The growth and recognition of the Summit is something truly incredible. It has become the largest event of its kind in public transport and urban mobility. In Stockholm we will have 280 exhibitors across 40000m2 of space. 2500 participants and attendees will join us in Sweden with more than 10000 visitors expected per day. These are brilliant numbers! What makes the UITP Global Public Transport Summit the biggest of its kind is that we cover all modes. We have mass transit and shared modes and new players all under one roof. It is also the global reach that makes the UITP Summit special. Our worldwide

attendance will reach up to 90 countries. We will also have a rich programme that covers many sectoral topics and will take place across plenary sessions, lunch sessions, poster sessions and exhibition sessions. The 2019 programme will revolve around seven main topics: customer service excellence, planning and governance for improving quality of life in cities, mobility as a service and the new combined mobility paradigm, attracting new talents and skills, operational excellence, funding and finance and harvesting innovation. These will be discussed through plenary sessions and panel discussions. Taking part in these discussions will be hundreds of high-level speakers from around the world, including CEOs, political figures and innovators. So far we have leading names from France, Indonesia, China, Australia, Canada, Kenya and Saudi Arabia, to name but a few. The UITP Summit offers something for everyone, at all times.

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

•

Strategic Business Consulting

•

Industry Market Research & Forecasting

•

Active Tender & Business Alert

•

Customer Feedback & Survey

•

Project JV & SubContracting Solutions

•

Corporate Interview & Media Planning

•

Vendor Registration & Approval

•

Digital & Print Advertising

•

Media Monitoring

•

Infrastructure PR & Brand Management

Helpline: +91 9716454505 E-mail: connect@urbantransportnews.com WWW.URBANTRANSPORTNEWS.COM

Yes, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re

INDIAN INFRA BUSINESS SOLUTIONS GROUP Your Media and Business Consultant

◆ INTERVIEW The theme for the 2019 Summit is “The Art of Public Transport”…what does the theme mean to you personally? Mr. Mezghani: The theme for each Summit edition is carefully selected. The UITP Summit always has a theme which is relevant and special to the host city. “The Art of Public Transport” is not the 2019 theme by chance! It’s inspired by the Swedish metro holding the distinction of being ‘the longest art gallery in the world’. However, the theme of the Summit is more than just the artistic aspect. We are also encompassing the craft and excellence in delivering public transport; the engineering aspect, the governance of public transport. We will also cover the latest innovations that illustrates this art. It’s also important to emphasize the key role of the people who deliver the state of the art public transport around the world. Our industry colleagues, including the very talented UITP staff, are ‘mobility artists’ – working every day to showcase public transport. The theme will show and reflect their contribution to the sector. The UITP team has been showcasing their abilities as artists by taking pictures around the world with our stencils – not only does this show the global reach of our staff and membership, but also that “The Art of Public Transport” can truly be found everywhere! As the biggest event of its kind in public transport and urban mobility, how important has the UITP Summit become to the sector? Mr. Mezghani: UITP has more than 1600 members across the globe and the UITP Summit has become so important to the sector that our members consider it a first Tier event. This is extremely flattering as they clearly view it as an unmissable event. For

exhibitors – it is the event as the UITP Summit is essential to their work. There’s the chance to premiere their innovations and to showcase to the industry. Crowds come from all over the world – transport leaders and CEOs - and visitors get to hear them speak and meet them. We also have a growing number of political figures participate, which is very important as it shows that key decisionmakers view the Summit as relevant part of their calendar. The wide variety of topics on offer is also covered by the international press and media, with a very strong showing from the trade press. The first Summit was held in 1886, the year after UITP came in to being, and the numerous editions since then have built great credibility to become the best event in the eyes of the sector. What makes Stockholm the best host for this edition? And what can you tell us about UITP’s relationship with 2019 local host SL? Mr. Mezghani: Stockholm is a great city to host the next UITP Summit. It has so much on offer – from being considered the safest city in Europe, to being the second most connected city in the world. Its urban mobility policy is a model in its kind with a balanced urban planning, a multimodal public transport network and car traffic restrictions (with the congestion pricing scheme for example). It also perfectly showcases art in public transport. Our relationship with SL is very strong, we work closely on the Summit. Moreover, our members in the Nordic Countries are actively partnering with SL making the Summit a highlight not only for Sweden but also for Finland, Iceland, Norway and Denmark. UITP only goes to cities with members and committed hosts. We don’t want to organise the Summit alone – and as a member-led global association, we don’t have to! In fact our

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

relationship with the local member host is so strong that we’ve always co-hosted with a member since the first edition in 1886! There will be hundreds of exhibitors, speakers and delegates, as well as thousands of visitors, in attendance over the three days of the Summit. What can they expect to see and experience? Mr. Mezghani: They can expect the opportunity to share the latest public transport developments from over the world. The sector is changing and these changes will be discussed, alongside the challenges we face. There’s a great deal going on in public transport. We have the growing development of new players, the growth of shared mobility, on-demand modes and more. Digitalisation is also changing the sector and needs to continue to be discussed. It’s important to all meet together to share the experiences of change with members. All of this will be covered at the Summit – to share, and learn is very important. There’s the also the chance to meet and to listen to many high-level speakers. In fact we have more than 100 CEOs from transport bodies speaking in Stockholm. And finally, can you tell our readers in one sentence why they should come to the UITP Summit? Mr. Mezghani: There’s so much to say about the UITP Global Public Transport Summit that you will have to kindly allow me a lengthy sentence!... The UITP Summit is the unique opportunity to learn from peers and to see the latest technological developments first hand; to see high level speakers show commitment to public transport and sustainable mobility and to interact in a friendly environment by having fun in a very nice city like Stockholm and enjoy its white nights! I hope to see all of you join us there in June. *** www.urbantransportnews.com

OPINION ◆

Stage set for a strong e-mobility wave in 2019

hen one looks back at the year that went by and what it meant for electric vehicles in India, it largely epitomised chaos and confusion on the policy front. It was a time when fence-sitters were still wondering if it is the right time to get into the EV business. However, some of the old diehards like Sun Mobility, Hero Electric and Mahindra & Mahindra continued to fiercely pursue their passion as if they had already factored policy indecisiveness into their strategies! It was also a year when startups such as Ather, Zoomcar, Vogo and Lithium Balance aggressively ventured into development of differentiated products as well as into smart connectivity, bike sharing/rental, bike taxis and deliveries. New and big names from unrelated businesses right from the Essel group and Modis to the

www.urbantransportnews.com

Mittals and Kalyanis also brushed the fringes of the EV arena with their foot-in-the-door strategies. The initiative by the state-run Energy Efficiency Services (EESL) deserves special mention for the right intentions but not so right planning. Entry-level electric cars are not meant to run for long distances and rough/tough usage and that’s what these cars ended up being subjected to, prematurely calling off the experiment. With oil prices on the rise and pollution becoming a huge challenge to contend with in some big cities, the clamour for electric vehicles as a solution for clean air got louder. While Karnataka and Telangana announced big fiscal sops to promote EVs, other states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab followed suit with a lot of noise but no serious follow-ups. Some like Delhi were late risers but had no choice but to join the

Sohinder Gill Director General Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV)

bandwagon when November pollution levels went out of control and they came up with grandiose ideas. Others have still to rise to the occasion and do their bit in cleaning up the environment. The policy front Even if the policy front was confusing, it wouldn’t be fair to label the efforts of the decisionmakers as random or erratic. Six ministries (and dozens within them) were continuously wracking their brains to find the right solution for putting emobility on the high growth trajectory.

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ OPINION Needless to add, there was extensive lobbying by those with vested interests. Despite all this pressure, the people entrusted with the policy did indeed give their valued inputs that were practical and rational. By the end of the day, good sense prevailed and the latter part of 2018 saw a positive and cohesive thought process emerging on how India should promote EVs. While the year that went by could be summed up as one of cautious optimism, 2019 could be a turning point for e-mobility which could see a slew of innovative ideas. These include the green number plate, special licences to allow youth in the age group of 16-18 to ride electric twowheelers, exemption for permits for EVs in commercial space, experimenting with a few thousand electric buses, allowing e-bike taxi operations and many more. In the electric space, twowheelers and e-ricks are the fastest growing, followed by ebuses and e-cars. Nearly 1.1 lakh two-wheelers and over three lakh e-ricks were sold in 2018.

cause of lower pollution and traffic congestion. Reducing the GST levels both on lithium-ion batteries and EVs will help in making them more affordable. Likewise, mandating a certain percentage of e-bikes for use by courier services, food delivery services and e-commerce companies will help spread the word on electric mobility. The EV industry has been working relentlessly towards the creation of a greener future and robust e-vehicle economy. It is important for the industry and policy-makers to work in tandem and help increase their use in India. Eventually, it is the enduser who will need to appreciate the need for clean air and gradually wean away from fossil fuels while buying vehicles. ***

Radical ideas required One of the bold, yet fiercely opposed ideas is to levy a green cess on IC-engine two wheelers based on the ‘polluter pays’ principle. This is intended to create a fund that will help in bringing down the cost of electric two wheelers for a year or two in order to put the first million on the road. Though a welcome step for EVs in India, implementing it will need a lot of guts. The next logical step is to start a massive awareness campaign that will sensitise the general public about the advantages of EVs. Creating simple and basic charging infrastructure will further give a thrust to their acceptance. Bike sharing and rentals will also help towards the

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

… Support and contribute to

Urban Transport Infrastructure next issue

focused on “Multi-Model Transport in Cities” Last date for entry submission is

editor@urbantransportnews.com

www.urbantransportnews.com

OPINION ◆ participation. The equity will enable exercising managerial control over the project and consequently to overview the execution and operation of the project through its panel of experts. The SPVs can explore new financing options, including a variety of PPP possibilities. The corpus of the SPV can be built up by a combination of equity, soft loans, sovereign loans, bonds and recourse to special funds like pension funds. This SPV can also be mandated to park its money in safe, high-yielding locations for disbursement to the projects on ground. After the infrastructure project is implemented and stabilised, the SPV can also plan for withdrawal from the project through disinvestments/ buy-back or sale of stakes. Till then the support from the SPV through timely

infusion of equity will continue to ensure operational cash flow support. If such an arrangement is in place, infra projectimplementing agencies can concentrate on their core competence of project planning and execution, while the specialised SPV can utilise their expertise and economies-of-scale benefits to explore the best possible sources of funding domestically and internationally, can provide technology support, can help in implementing sustainable and robust best practices across all domains and more importantly can act as the representative of the state in uniformly implementing the larger interest of environmental and social causes in a economically viable manner. To this extent, the individual projects can save on costs. The state will

also get an opportunity to bundle up a group of projects with different ROI profile, so as to build a portfolio of projects, which supports each other in ensuring economical viability. The participating financial institutions and government can ensure that their funds are appropriately distributed among various projects and these projects are effectively controlled and supervised by a specialised agency. The financial institutions can be relieved completely of the threat of NPA and risk of default, and at the same time be ensured of returns on their funds. The State will develop a centralised key expertise in project execution and management, which would provide a strong knowledge capital for the infrastructure needs of the state.

Showcase your brand with Urban Transport Infrastructure and Urban Transport News • Print Advertising • E-Newsletter Advertising • Online Advertising Decision Makers’ Choice We offers a range of print and online advertising opportunities suited to all your customers’ needs. Our “Urban Transport Infrastructure” bi-monthly magazine and news website are accessed by urban transport professionals and decision makers’ community across the world including various typical job functions. Strategically position your brand within the Urban Transport network to put yourself in front of leaders in the transport industry. With an audience of 27,200 print and digital readers, 18,000 plus e-newsletter subscribers and 27,500 average unique monthly website visitors, our brand awareness opportunities enable you to reach valuable prospects, capture mindshare and encourage direct response.

E-mail: connect@urbantransportnews.com www.urbantransportnews.com

Call: +91 9716454505 March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ INTERVIEW

Chennai Metro Rail will be a faster, ecofriendly and efficient mode of transport… – IAS Pankaj Kumar Bansal, MD, Chennai Metro Rail Ltd.

IAS Pankaj Kumar Bansal, Managing Director, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has talked with the Urban Transport News team about the initiatives and achievements of CMRL since inception of metro services for the public. Here are the excerpts of his interview:Congratulations! You must be feeling proud and happy after the commissioning of the Blue Line of Phase 1 of the Chennai Metro. Looking back, how would you rate the performance of the project team in achieving this milestone, after surmounting innumerable roadblocks? Pankaj Kumar Bansal: Outstanding and exceptional performance done by our project team. The initial cost estimate of Rs 14,000 crores, when compared to final cost of over 20,000 crores represents an overrun of more than 40%. We know that the foreign exchange rate escalation represents a substantial part of this overrun.

What factors, apart from this variation, would you attribute the overrun to? By hindsight, do you feel would your planning for Phase 2 cover any particular aspect that didn’t go as well as expected in Phase 1? Mr. Bansal: The project cost sanctioned in 2009 is Rs.14,600 cr for the entire Phase I and it is estimated that the completion cost can go up to Rs. 19,058 cr, which is 30% over the sanctioned cost. The reasons for the cost overrun are mainly increase in land cost, variations to the contracts (approx. 5% of the original cost), price escalation, foreign exchange fluctuation (4%), etc. The variation to contracts include re-tendering of terminated contracts and

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

execution of emergency works. The increase in land cost about 12% on the original cost is estimated on considering the enhanced compensation claims, the actual requirement of lands. During estimation, an expenditure about 4% of the sanctioned cost was proposed for property development. However, it is highlighted that Rs. 19,058 cr is only an updation of the project cost and also, as the Phase - 1 project is nearing completion, cost expended till date is only 12% over the sanctioned cost of Rs. 14,600 cr. (a) Factors affecting apart from variation are Price variation, Delays in completion of project due to land acquisition, the existing geology of mixed ground condition in Chennai had adversely affected www.urbantransportnews.com

INTERVIEW ◆ the progress of tunnelling work, limited availability of work sites and difficult situation of road traffic diversions, limited time of disposals of mucks etc., apart from non-performance by the contractor, Design built Contract. (b) Yes. Based on the experience& lesson learned from phase 1 all the above factors have been duly considered with proper planning including detailed design by CMRL along with, hybrid BOQ contracts including more transparency for timely execution of work. Some of the big names in the construction industry were associated with this project that has just been completed. There are also reported instances of non-fulfilment of obligations in some cases leading to drastic measures, having been taken. Frankly, could the terms of the construction contracts been made better, looking at them from hindsight? Mr. Bansal: There is no solution for non-performance in any contract. Most of the problems has been resolved by more transparency with CMRL in future contracts in terms of Build contract with CMRL design rather than Design and built contract. What would you rate as the single most positive aspect of this incredible journey? The public transport in this city, though it is one of the best connected in India, is overburdened. Looking ahead, will the Metro make a substantial difference? Mr. Bansal: The most positive aspect of this incredible journey is the co-operation by the Chennai public to support CMRL by completing Phase 1. Chennai city has witnessed rapid growth of population and vehicles. The population of Chennai was 8.9 www.urbantransportnews.com

million as per 2011 census compared to 7.04 million in 2001 census i.e. 2.37% growth. Similarly, the vehicular population of Chennai has shown a compound annual growth rate of 10%. Currently there are around 5.39 million vehicles in the city. The city is predominately served by a bus fleet of around 3720 buses and the suburbs are supported by suburban Rail Network and an elevated suburban rail (MRTS). The present share of public transport for Chennai city is 28.4% and its share has been declining steadily. Government of Tamil Nadu (GoTN) endeavours to increase the share of Public Transport to 46% by 2026. Metro Rail system will play an important role in decongesting the traffic and enhancing the share of public transport in the city. Metro Rail will be a • Faster and efficient mode of transport which reduces journey time considerably • Eco-friendly and pollution free transport • Low energy consumption – Since, Metro requires only 1/5th of the road based system per passenger km • Capacity to carry very high volumes of peak hour peak direction trips • Generates employment and will increase overall productivity. What would be your vision of a comprehensive concept to ease urban mobility in a sprawling and fat expanding urban megapolis like Chennai? There are initiatives in some cities in Europe and the US, apart from Japan, to exploit the digital environment, like mobile apps, to include connections to feeder services, other forms of public transport and even booking parking space. Your comments on this are welcome. Mr. Bansal: Chennai, a fast

growing city is experiencing variety of challenges. Traffic is one of the most significant challenges which the city is facing, congested roads, pollution are a strain on the environment and the overall quality of life. Strategies and measures are being devised across various cities in the world. Some of the notable solution includes, Electronic Journey Planner being widely followed in London, where the real time information like congestion/traffic on a particular road, location and time of public transport systems, parking space is made available through an app called Journey Planner, through which the public can plan and opt for any kind of public transport systems. Public Light Bus in Hong kong also known as mini bus, complement the standard Hong Kong bus lines, serving areas that are hard to reach efficiently. With a carrying capacity of 16 Nos theses buses are typically faster and are more efficient with higher frequency. It is a major solution to overcome the last mile connectivity issues. Integrative Public Transport Model – Copenhagen is an integrative system aims to reduce traffic congestion. It brings together various transport operators in a city, through a common ticketing platform which makes things easier. Hangzhou: Public Cycling System is one of the world’s largest public bike-sharing programmes. The city boasts 67,000 public bikes with 3,000 service points, and had an average daily renting volume of 230,000 bikes in June 2013. One reason for the popularity of the system is its ease of use. Bikes can be rented using either a smart card that can also be used for other types of public transport, or with a cash deposit paid by non-local travellers who do not have a smart card. The convenience of the bike-renting system has proved popular for daily transport and also, in particular, for travelling between different public transport services. Some of the

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

INTERVIEW ď ˇâ&#x2014;&#x2020; above proposals to ease urban mobility are under pipeline for implementation in Chennai City also. To enhance the last mile connectivity for Metro Rail system, feeder systems like mini buses, cycles, auto and share cabs are made available. Further, Greater Chennai Corporation is planning for enhanced bicycle system in the city with 4000 cycles with 240 docking stations across the city, which will encourage people to use bicycles for short commuting. Planning is under way to integrate various public transport operators at city level. The use of digital medium extensively to effectuate the above proposals would be a underlying factor. With the Chennai Metro Rail app, you can check out the nearest metro station linked to in Google Map, modes of transportation to reach any metro station, essential information about the station, platforms, details on routes taken & in between stations, corresponding Metro fares, Parking fares for all vehicles, Train timings, Feeder Service available at stations, Where to stay & dine etc. CMRL Mobile app is a dedicated application to provide you with a comfortable journey experience every time you use the metro rail service. The precise information and creative infographics help you grasp details on the go. CMRL had recently engaged vehicles for last mile connectivity to the passengers seamlessly from their home to the destination and back. The integration of last mile connectivity, Parking availability and booking is under development in CMRL Mobile App for passenger convenience. In addition to this, CMRL has also initiated to upgrade the existing infrastructure to accept Q.R tickets from CMRL Mobile App and also to accept Open. www.urbantransportnews.com

Loop Bank EMV/ Rupay cards for payments. This will encourage cashless transactions and also save on procurement and sale of Smart cards for CMRL. For the passenger, the need to go to a Ticket counter would be reduced. The estimate for the Phase II project has been trimmed by Rs 11,000 crores to Rs 69,000 crores. That means the reduced cost of building elevated stations as compared to underground ones more than offsets the increased cost of land acquisition for over ground transport. Are there other cost cutting measures planned? Mr. Bansal: Other measures were reduction in station box size both elevated and underground stations, Reduction in entry and exit structures along with nos etc., efforts are made to optimise the use of area by public as well as system installation. Due to the above measures there is substantial reduction in land acquisition.

How has the Chennai Metro project fared in terms of sustainability of the environment? Any creditable achievement? Mr. Bansal: CMRL has taken the following initiatives in terms of sustainability of the environmentSolar Power: CMRL has installed Roof mounted Solar Panels for a capacity of 3.620 Mw power. Out of these plants daily around 14000 units of electrical energy is generated. CMRL is saving around 34% (Rs. 6.354.169) towards electricity cost as compared to TANGEDCO tariff, for these generated units. Installation of 4 Mw of solar panels is underway, which will further generate around 16000 units of electricity daily. Water conservation: CMRL is also conscious about water conservation. In CMRL water

efficient toilet fittings are used. In water taps economisers are fixed , that will restrict the water flow and save around 40 % of water. In CMRL we recycle and reuse water. There is a 150 KLD , Sewage treatment plant which treats sewage collected from entire Admin and Depot buildings and the treated water is used for toilet flushing in staff quarters , irrigation. Sewage Treatment: In CMBT station there is Sewage treatment plant (Anaerobic type) which takes no electricity for working, generates around 5KL of treated water daily which is used for gardening. Installation of a Sewage treatment plant is under way at Guindy , the output of which is used for flushing the toilets. In all areas water usage is monitored by having flow meters for economic usage of water. CMRL stations and Depot have got platinum rating by IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) for efficient design and construction. Cutting of tress were minimized. So far, CMRL planted 60000 saplings in and around Chennai City from 2010. Rare/ Endangered/ Red List/ Trees are transplanted by adopting Miyawaki (Japanese Technic) 1280 Saplings were planted in 400 Sqm area. Is there anything about our publication (Urban Transport Infrastructure Journal) you think we could do better? Mr. Bansal: CMRL has been fortunate to be received by the Media and Publications positively. We hope that Urban Transport Infrastructure Journal would continue to support the Chennai Metro Rail Project in the future as well. ***

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ OPINION

Difficulties commuters face in Mumbai Local

Piyush Goyal Minister of Railways, Coal & Power, Govt. of India

ndian Railways is the lifeline of the nation. Nowhere is this as true as in Mumbai, where the suburban network popularly called ‘the local train’ ensures that Mumbaikars reach their destination on time. At a total length of 459 km, the network has more than 3,000 services of local trains carrying around 80 lakh commuters on a daily basis, making it one of the busiest urban transport systems in the world. The dabbawala carrying tiffins on the local train has become an iconic image to describe the city. To ensure that Mumbai has world-class infrastructure in keeping with its metropolitan status, the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a number of initiatives to upgrade the suburban system, which will help improve passenger satisfaction and safety, reduce congestion, and adequately plan for the future. With regards to passenger safety, the Railways is working in

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

mission mode. Foot over bridges (FOBs), platforms and pathways at the end of platforms, are now treated as safety items having highest priority with no budget restriction. Earlier, only the first FOB at a station was considered essential. To allow free and safe movement of passengers, 87 FOBs have been constructed since 2014, including 44 after the unfortunate Elphinstone Road station tragedy. A further 70 FOBs will be commissioned this year while 55 will be commissioned next year. The average time for construction has been reduced from eight to nine months to about three months. We have also raised the height of all station platforms in the suburban section to allow safer entry and exit into trains. Very often, passengers climb a train and do not register that it is about to move. This poses a serious risk to their lives and well being. Therefore, a new innovation in the form of a blue light signal on the www.urbantransportnews.com

OPINION ◆ door of the coach to signal that the train is starting has been introduced. Passengers will now have adequate warning. We will proliferate this system after all trials are completed. Under our government, we have significantly scaled up investments in new projects. In 2016, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for the Mumbai Urban Transport Project 3 (MUTP 3) worth approximately ₹11,000 crore. Under this project, a number of works have been started, including the Airoli-Kalwa elevated link, Panvel-Karjat new suburban double line corridor, and the introduction of 47 new air-conditioned suburban trains. These will help decongest the network and improve services. In the 2018-19 budget, an unprecedented ₹55,000 crore was announced for a new project in Mumbai — the MUTP 3A — showcasing the government’s ambitious plans for the suburban system. Under this, a number of lines will be extended and introduced, and a communications-based train control (CBTC) system will be introduced for improved safety and punctuality. Funds will also be allocated towards station improvement and procurement of AC rakes. Long-pending projects are also being fast-tracked and completed. The long-awaited Nerul – Seawood / Belapur Uran line’s first phase is finally complete. Sanctioned in 1996-97, the work was very slow. After 2014, the work was fast-tracked and the line opened in November 2018. The personal intervention of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis helped smoothen all issues. Now, the project’s second phase is in progress. Having personally travelled on local trains as a student, I know the difficulties an average www.urbantransportnews.com

yatri faces. To beat the sweltering heat and humidity, an AC rake was introduced for the first time. We have given the green light for procuring 210 AC rakes. No more long queues It was inconceivable that for a city which never stops, people stopped and waited in long lines to buy tickets for local trains. Those days of waiting in long lines have now ended with the introduction of the UTS mobile app to buy unreserved tickets on the spot. Waiting for trains has become more convenient with the introduction of high-speed wi-fi at 27 stations.

Having personally travelled on local trains as a student, I know the difficulties an average yatri faces. To beat the sweltering heat and humidity, an AC rake was introduced for the first time. We have given the green light for procuring 210 AC rakes.

escalators, Swachhata and security through cameras. In fact, we have also given importance to the security of women passengers. Taking feedback, a number of CCTV cameras have been relocated at stations to ensure better focus on ladies’ coaches. Over the last four and a half years, the Railways has become cleaner, safer, faster and more convenient. The Indian Railways is committed to providing better services to every Mumbaikar and our efforts to improve infrastructure, passenger conveniences and safety will ensure the iconic Mumbai suburban system is a part of the New India vision. ***

We have also reduced the waiting time for trains. Since 2014, 214 services have been added to the Mumbai suburban network. To meet the evergrowing demand for direct connectivity between India’s financial capital and political capital, an additional Rajdhani train was introduced between Delhi and Mumbai. It will take a different route covering central India, and will serve hitherto unserved areas. In a record, this Rajdhani was fully booked in less than five hours for its maiden journey, showing how eagerly people were awaiting this service. We are now improving stations through increased lifts, March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ OPINION

Not just new Highways, Delhi needs Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Cycle and Walking paths to curb Traffic and Pollution

elhi has laid the foundation stone for at least two new road projects in the last month, the 170 - km - long Saharanpur National Highway Corridor and 27.6-km-long Northern Peripheral Road or Dwarka Expressway--promising to ease traffic, save commute time and reduce pollution by emissions from cars idling in traffic. The logic of building bigger roads to ease congestion has led to dizzying knots of flyovers and expressways all around the world. But when we create more space for cars, traffic rises to meet the new capacity--often leaving travel times unchanged or even worsened, a phenomenon known as “induced demand”. More pavement makes a road temporarily faster, but this also makes travel “cheaper”, causing more trips or diverting travel from other roads, until congestion is just as bad as ever. Examples have been around almost as long as the automobile itself. Take New York City’s Triborough Bridge. Before it opened in 1936, local officials believed it would reduce congestion by half, according to Robert Caro’s 1977 biography of urban planner Robert Moses. But within a month, the Triborough was the site of what a local newspaper called a “crosscountry traffic jam”. Even China’s 50-lane highway is not immune, having been the site of a 12-day jam in 2010. Estimates of induced-demand effects vary, but one analysis of US cities between 1983 and 2003 by economists Gilles Duranton and Matthew Turner at the University

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

of Toronto found that traffic volumes kept up with roads. In other words, we cannot build our way out of traffic. Delhi itself has fallen into this same trap before. The ministry of urban development’s High Powered Committee on Decongesting Traffic in Delhi, 2016 noted, “despite… increasing the length of the road network and road surface space through widening… the traffic congestion has continued to increase unabated”. Yet, as Delhi policymakers announce new projects to meet growing demand, they risk repeating this mistake.

And traffic is more than a nuisance. By some estimates, up to 30% of Delhi’s hazardous particulate matter is transportation - related, and vehicles are responsible for a third of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the government’s

Sonya Suter Senior Programme Manager at Evidence for Policy Design, Harvard Kennedy School.

2016 emissions inventory. A 2017 analysis by the Centre for Science and the Environment showed that Delhi’s traffic was at “peak” for the entire 12-hour period that they measured--a rush hour that never ends.

www.urbantransportnews.com

OPINION ◆ Delhi is forecast to become the world’s largest city by 2028, adding 11 million people by 2035, according to an International Association of Public Transport analysis of United Nations data. If it tries to build roads to accommodate them, we can look forward to even more smog-filled gridlock. If instead Delhi’s policymakers are serious about a more efficient, cleaner, and safer transportation system that can accommodate millions of additional people in the coming years, they have options. Buses, cycle and pedestrian lanes move more people, more freely and reduce pollution Providing dedicated lanes for buses, or moving to bus-rapid transit (taking Delhi’s past lessons into account) can efficiently and reliably transport at least four times as many people as single occupancy vehicles, while avoiding costly pile ups. Delhi’s current plans to buy more buses

www.urbantransportnews.com

are a good start, but this will likely need to be expanded to make buses a viable option for many. With conservative estimates, today’s bike lanes can move three or four times more people in an hour compared to cars, and will become even more efficient with the introduction of new e-bikes and electric scooters. Delhi’s footpaths could carry more people too, but Delhi traffic police report half of all footpaths are obstructed, pushing pedestrians into the street far too often for comfort. Investing in bike and pedestrian infrastructure would allow many more Delhiites to move more freely while emitting less or no pollution, and paying less for their commutes. Finally, Delhi can lead by using pricing strategies on its roads that encourage people to take only the trips that they really need or carpool. High - occupancy vehicle requirements - though much

maligned in the press--had actually helped reduce congestion in Jakarta, Indonesia, a report by Rema Hanna, co-Director of Evidence for Policy Design at Harvard Kennedy School, along with MIT co-authors shows. Another analysis of London’s congestion charge found a 30% reduction in congestion. Some cities, such as Oslo and Madrid, are even trying to remove cars from their urban cores altogether, returning the streets to the people. Looking at a new highway in 1939, New York City officials “could not understand where those cars had come from”, according to the Robert Moses biography. The roads they had attempted to relieve were “just as jammed as ever”. Now after 80 years of trial, error, and research in cities all over the world, Delhi has many more options to tackle congestion. ***

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ OPINION

Nearly 30% of the particulate pollution in metro cities are caused by vehicular emissions…

onventional transport vehicles are a proven source of carbon emission; badly tuned engines and lack of monitoring infrastructure that has led to catastrophic situations. Current data suggests that nearly 30% of the particulate pollution in metro cities are caused by vehicular emissions. The Environment clock is ticking and if urgent measures are not heeded to address the above issue, it may prove to be the death-knell for our Planet. To address the concern of greenhouse emissions where transportation is a major contributor, the logistics industry needs to stay abreast with modern technologies and automobiles that can cut down on CO2 emissions. This can further be achieved by the adoption of transformation strategy relating to use of Electric Vehicles to fulfill the promise of reducing carbon intensity for a sustainable future. Business entities dedicated to the cause of providing services through Electric based transport solutions can contribute in substantial measures bringing about impactful results. The services of ‘DOT’ are focused around creating an Ecosystem which is Electric, Safe, Cost-effective, Sustainable and

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

Environment friendly through its fleet of E-Cargo Vans and Electric Bikes. We have also been able to contribute in Social Upgradation by offering mass employment opportunities to under and unemployed individuals and uplifting their standards of living. E-Comm Industry is a high growth, high revenue area which is projected to change the landscape of retail buying in India. Innovative transport solutions in this field for first and last mile deliveries are the areas where Electric Vehicles will prove to be a boon for our future generation. Encompassing all the above environmental aspects and its benefits, it is essential that Electric Vehicles are the need of the hour. Benefiting all the industries viz E-Commerce, Food-Tech, Cold Storage, Pharma, and serving numerous other purpose catering to one’s personal use; E-Vehicles is the only answer on optimizing environment friendly technology with zero emissions. They are the only option that meets innovation and the needs of the people by offering solutions that are both people and environment friendly.

Vineet J Mehra Managing Director ‘DOT’ (A unit of Green Valley Energy Ventures Pvt Ltd.)

www.urbantransportnews.com

OPINION  ◆

Land Acquisition Act A critique for implementation of transportation projects in India

n India, about 68% of the population lives in rural areas and the rural population heavily depends on the primary sector. This is the reason there is hardly any land which is not occupied. To carry out some developmental work like construction of dams, flyovers, bridges, railway lines, mines etc., a vast expanse of land is required to be acquired by the government to land thereby depriving the existing occupants of its use. This process of development leads to large-scale displacement and forced transfer of people from their land. As we all know that, development is a necessity in the present world, but the serious question which arises is ‘development at what cost?’ is it at the cost of the landowners who are extremely possessive about their land, or the poor helpless farmers for whom land is the only source of livelihood and earning who they treat like a mother? Should the www.urbantransportnews.com

Ar. Priyanka Kumar Urban Planner (RCUES) & Member, Editorial Board

Dr. Kusum Lata Associate Professor, Urban & Regional Planning, IIPA

government of India strive to strike balance between the two or blindly go for development without bothering to secure the interest of the landowners and the farmers? Land acquisition in India Land acquisition in India refers to a process by which Indian union and state government for the purpose of industrialization a process, this whole process is done acquires private land for the urbanization and development of infrastructural facilities of the private land, and the affected landowners get compensation or their rehabilitation and resettlement.

Ms. Shreya Mishra Intern, B. Arch., RCUES Lucknow

In 1824 the British government enacted the first land was applicable to acquisition legislation in India. The act was called the Bengal Resolution I of 1824, the law applied “presidency of Fort William subject to the whole of Bengal province.” This law enabled the government to “acquire, at a fair valuation, the immovable property or land required for the construction of roads, canals or other public purposes.” This regulation was extended in 1850, to Calcutta (now Kolkata), with another legislation, the Act I of 1850. “This act was for the object of confirming the title to lands in Calcutta for public purposes”.

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ OPINION Land Acquisition Act: 1894 In 1947 when India gained independence in, GOI adopted the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 by the “Indian Independence (Adaptation of Central Acts and Ordinances) Order” in 1948. The land acquisition in India has been done through the British-era act, since 1947. The rural development ministry initiated the actual process of amending in the act in 1998. This Act is called the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. It extends to the whole of India except one state [the State of Jammu and Kashmir]. It comes into force on the first day of March. 1894. The Land Acquisition Act is existing Law within the meaning of Art 306, sub-cl (10) saved by the provision of Art 31 (5)) of the Constitution.

was governed by Land Acquisition Act of 1894. In Jammu & Kashmir the land acquisition is governed by the Jammu and Kashmir Land Acquisition Act 1934. Now in India the land acquisition is governed by the Right to Fair Compensation and transparency in land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR). This Right to Fair Compensation and transparency in land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 came into force from 1 January 2014. Till 2013 the land was governed by Land Acquisition Act of 1894. Now, as per the RFCTLARR, 2013 most of the land acquisition is to be processed. Some models of land acquisition as per RFCTLARR, 2013 are as follows :

Figure 1: Land Acquisition Process as per Land Acquisition act 1894 Source: from chapter 7 of the Act

Land Acquisition Act: 2013 Now in India the land acquisition is governed by the Right to Fair Compensation and transparency in land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR). This Right to Fair Compensation and transparency in land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 came into force from 1 January 2014. Till 2013 the land

Bulk land acquisition method with Private Initiative: Some of the state government and ULBs have developed models in which private sector acquire land by directly paying compensation to the affected families to defray the cost of land acquisition. Bulk land acquisition method as a State Initiative In this bulk land acquisition

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

method, for entire area encompassing different land uses and involving various activities, Master Plan is prepared. Developm ent of land is done accordance to the planning norms for various uses/activities. In this process Bulk land is acquired from farmers by the development agency and compensation is paid to farmers/owners based on the provis ion of prevailing act. Haryana Guided Land Development Model: In this model of land acquisition, the private developer can acquire land directly from farmers at market price and at the same time, it permits a land owner to assume the role of a colonizer. This model provides fixed time period of 5 years to utilize that land acquired (initially 2 years, then exte nsion of 3 year, if required) & the developer is expected to complete the projects within this period. Major highlights of this model are that the difficulties and delays inland acquisition are avoided and pressure on government to pay compensation is reduced, overall enhancing investments. Ghaziabad Joint Venture Model As per approach followed by Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA), a joint venture (JV) is formed between the GDA and the builders/developers/ co‐operative societies through open bid (based on technical and financial capabilities). Twenty per cent of the plots developed are to be reserved for EWS/LIG and the costing and allotting of social facility by developer has to be do as per the government regulations. The balance of the land is to be sold by the developer at profit. For the entire process, the development aut hority acts only as a facilitator. Project duration is specified in the JV agreement and penalty is imposed if developer requires time extension, thus making sure www.urbantransportnews.com

◆ OPINION that land is utilized within the them is as follows: Challenges stipulated time period. The determination of the market value by the Collector Below market price acquisition: Hyderabad Differential under Section 26(b), as average of land acquisition done by Compensation Models the last three years price on the government is usually done in In Hyderabad, the land basis of the sale deeds, is prices below market standard. It acquisition technique has been calculated as market value. And increases many times after the modified into two different that is to be multiplied by a factor agricultural land is converted in models, in which while acquiring specified in the First Schedule. industrial or other purposes, even if land for public and private And the Multiplying factor market price is paid. projects, different level of mentioned here is 1.00 to 2.00. In Agriculturally fertile lands: Most compensations are arrived at, case of rural areas it is based on fertile lands have given birth to these are ‐ the distance of the project from prosperous settlements which are Model I: When land is acquired urban area as may be notified by usually well connected and have for projects mainly for public pur the government. Multiplying much better infrastructure. pose such as roads, power factor is only 1.00 the case of Incidentally, these are also the land generation and distribution, urban area; Compensation has to that industry usually wants. irrigation, schools, welfare be paid to the landowners on the Acquiring these agriculturally housing, environmental projects basis of the market value of the productive lands by government etc., appropriate compensation is land. It is really difficult to and converting them into nonpaid to land‐owners by consulting calculate market value in India agricultural uses have produced them. because of a running parallel much resistance. Model II: When land is acquired economy involving black money, Tribal rehabilitation: In India, we for projects such as SEZ, transactions of cash often made found mining resources in forested Industrial Estates, Satellite with black money. To avoid lands home to tribal population. As townships and others where value payment of stamp duty at the they live there for them, land and addition enhances the land prices time of registration of the sale associated forests represents a way substantially, mainly for third deed thus prevails the corruption of life encompassing all aspects of party use, compensation is in the form of understating the existence. Tribal communities normally worked out on profit market value in the sale might end up feeling culturally and sharing basis, which is in two documents. socially alienated, even with perfect parts, namely‐ rehabilitation. • Basic Value (Government Rate) Juxtaposition of Land 1894 Act 2013 Act • % Equity Sharing in SPV/% of Shift Compensation Based on market Market value doubled in rural Net Developed Area/Built Space value areas but not in urban areas CIDCO Model of Land Development in Navi Mumbai Market value Based on current use Whichever is higher of: follows the technique of land of land. Explicitly (a) Value specified for stamp banking for land assembly. The prohibits using the duty and - ready reckoned compensation to land owners is intended use of that (b) Average of the top 50%by done by the way of monetary land while computing recorded price sale of land and land compensation. But in market value. in vicinity. Vasai Virar sub‐region, CIDCO Solatium 30% 100% undertook the land assembly by Return of land No provision Acquired land if not used within obtaining power of attorney from to land owner five years it will be return to land landowners or outright purchase bank or land owners. of freehold lands located close to Sharing of No provision If acquired land is unused and each other by private developers profit/appreciati transferred 20% of the profit shall or builder. The promoter is solely on be shared with the original land responsible for providing and owners. maintaining infrastructure for R and R No provision for R R and R necessary for all affected consolidated land parcel. and R families. The 2013 Act although is not (Rehabilitation perfect and is far better than its and earlier counterparts but it also a Resettlement) Table 1: Comparison between Land Acquisition Act 1894 and Act 2013 number of drawbacks. Couple of

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

www.urbantransportnews.com

Environmental concerns: General construction purposes, for which land is acquired, often end up being more environmentally harmful. This harmful impact of land acquisition has raised concerns from environmentalists against land acquisition on the grounds of ecological destabilization. Conclusion As we all are aware at Land is a precious resource for the farmers and not anything less to any landowner. It is the most important source of livelihood for them, who earn from their land and the farmers constitute almost half the labor force in India. They did not want to part with their land, as for them for land is the basic requirement while the government has to carry out development work. The 1894 act brought by British was in its own right a draconian, unjust, archaic legislation. This compulsory acquisition was provided by legislation of land without the consent of the landowners, it only provided for monetary compensation (determination of which was not satisfactory), there was no provision for rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced people. This legislation generated a lot of conflicts as large business groups pressed for land acquisition for their mega projects and the landowner protested and the protests grew louder and strong with events like Singur and Nandigram. Finally, the Government enacted the 2013 Act with provisions of just and fair compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement to the affected families. The effect of land acquisition on the affected families was to be gauged by a Social Impact assessment before resorting to land acquisition. It also provided for the return of land to the owners if the land www.urbantransportnews.com

Figure 2: Hierarchy of Land Acquisition Act in India (Source: www.inquisitivereaders.blogspot.com)

remained unutilized for a period of 5 years. Determination of compensation it was to be done under the method that provided under the Act, further enhanced by 100% immediate attention. There are several provisions which are landowner’s friendly. But there are certain flaws which if removed would be helpful the Act more just and acceptable such as - Below market price acquisition, agriculturally fertile lands, Tribal rehabilitation, Environmental concerns Bibliography •

• • • •

•

Social Impact Assessment and Consent Rules: a Major Step toward Improving the Process of Land Acquisition by Rahul Bajaj Land Acquisition - What the debate is about? From career Ride Determination 0f Market Value for Land Acquisition by Manupatra The land Acquisition Act 1894 (The land acquisition act, 1894 act no.1 of 1894 [as on 1955]) Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 URDPFI Guidelines 2016 Vol 1: Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation

About Authors Ar. Priyanka Kumar (B. Arch., M. Plan.) is Urban Planner in Regional Center of Urban Environmental Studies (RCUES), Lucknow (Estd. by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs). She is an active member of Editorial Advisory Board of Urban Transport Infrastructure Journal being published by the Urban Transport News. Dr. Kusum Lata (Ph.D., M. Plan., BE (Civil) is Associate Professor (Urban & Regional Planning) in Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi. Ms. Shreya Mishra is pursuing B. Arch. and doing her internship under the mentorship of Ar. Priyanka Kumar in Regional Center of Urban Environmental Studies (RCUES), Lucknow.

***

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

â&#x2014;&#x2020;ď ˇ OPINION

Urban Mobility Challenges in India of urban transport needs massive investment and will on the part of the concerned authorities. However, environmental factors are not to be ignored and decisions should take into consideration all sections of the population.

R. Sethuraman Sr. EPC Consultant & Member Editorial Board

ven a child will tell you that the biggest challenge facing the nation as a whole is its population. However, the flip side is the advantage of trained human capital that can be harnessed for progress. This is the segment of the population the nation depends on for its growth and march towards superpower status. And these are the people who work in bustling metropolises and tier 2 and 3 cities with visions for themselves, the community and the nation. Longevity in India is on the rise, with an increase in the population of senior citizens who have made cities their permanent home. They want a quality of life and dream of living in an urban utopia for the rest of their lives.

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

The urban population in India is made up of different groups each with its own agenda, vision, ambition, and needs. The common thread running through all this is the central issue of rapid transportation in urban areas. This problem has assumed gargantuan proportions and is the central factor in town planning across cities in the country. Public transport in big cities is inadequate and overburdened. In big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata, a person spends, on an average, about 3 hours per day commuting to and from his place of work and residence. This is the time that could be put to better use as leisure time or work hours. Safety is also an issue because of overcrowding, footboard travel and the like. Parking space is becoming extremely difficult to find. This is a real nightmare in big cities and sometimes, one has to wait for long periods of time before a slot becomes free. This is time wasted. Environmental activism is a factor to reckon with in any development plan. The problem

India compares very unfavorably with European cities with respect to average speeds in cities. The average speed of urban travel in India is around 20 kmph compared to around at least 30 kmph in London. This difference can be attributed to traffic indiscipline and the condition of roads, among other factors. Massive investments in rapid transportation is the only solution. Considering all factors, it is obvious that improvement in rapid transportation in cities is the only solution to the urban mobility challenges in India. Measures like imposing utilization tax and tolls will not solve the problem as people can pay their way through. To give them credit, successive governments have taken the issue seriously and have allotted funds for development of urban infrastructure, including urban transportation. The only solution is to pursue targets with renewed vigour as the problems like population are fait accompli. ***

www.urbantransportnews.com

The BMTC fare is merely fair in Bengaluru…

engaluru which was initially known as Bangalore is also known as ‘Silicon Valley’ because it is a hub for Information technology companies in the country. Bengaluru also got the lion’s share of highly educated migrants i.e. both graduate and postgraduates of about 47.7%, which was more than Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad at 36.6%, 36.2% and 29% respectively. Bengaluru was also reported with the highest percentage of intrastate migration of about 33.8% followed by Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kolkata at 29.2%, 25.3%, 20.2% and 19.6% respectively. The migration has made Bengaluru the 3rd largest populated city in India. Bengaluru is facing the same kind of issues as any other fastest growing cities in the developing nations such as; water shortage, a waste management problem, public health issues, social and economic inequality, traffic jam, not enough mode of public transport etc. are the most addressed nowadays by the people. Among all these issues, there is an issue which is also affecting directly and indirectly towards the middle class and poor class people is the rise in the bus fare. Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) owns a monopoly for city public transportation as Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRC) started functioning only in two lines recently. Right before the city cabs, Ola and Uber become functional in the year 2014-15 and there were no other means of

www.urbantransportnews.com

transportation apart from private and organisations’ vehicle, and the BMTC was the sole public transport. Around 6 years back, when the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) used to borrow money from the central government and state government of Delhi and ran on losses beyond Rs.200 crore annually and Mumbai at Rs.50 crores, Bengaluru used to earn a profit of around Rs.20 crores yearly. However, the BMTC used to pay Rs.3000 crores for fuel alone and used to pay highincome tax to the state government when the other city bus transport still was trying to break even and never had a nightmare to pay the taxes to the government. It is still the only means of transportation for the lower middle class and poor class people but, the maximum fare of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) is 39, 20 and 29 rupees and minimum fare is 5, 3 and 4 rupees for adult, children and senior citizen respectively for ordinary bus services (red and whiteboard). The minimum distance covered in 6 rupees’ ticket is not more than a half kilometre. The daily passes are of two types i.e. Ordinary Day Pass

Mehjabeen, Ph.D Research Scholar, Periyar University, Tamilnadu

rupees 65 (with Valid BMTC ID) rupees70 (without ID) and Gold Day Pass of Rs.140. If you show the BMTC ID also the conductor says ‘65 rupees’ pass is not available so you could buy 70 rupees pass’. The gold day pass of rupees 140 could be used in both ordinary and Vajra buses. The problem here in many routes the AC buses are not available often, for instance from Bansankari to Silk-Board. In such cases after taking the gold day pass also one needs to travel by normal buses and, if one has to travel long distances then in some route the ordinary buses are not available often then one needs travel by AC buses. Therefore, for many a route, the ordinary daily passes are not comfortable. The ordinary blackboard monthly bus pass is issued with the payment of Rs.825 and; the ordinary red board bus pass is issued with the payment of Rs.1050 which is not acceptable in Volvo or Vajra buses and

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

◆ OPINION airport buses. Again here the limitation of using pass is there. Vajra Gold Monthly Pass is issued with the payment of Rs.2250 (with BMTC ID card) Rs.2300 (without BMTC ID card but, with any government approved ID) and Rs.1500 (with student ID). The colour of the passes is Brown, Pink and Blue respectively. These passes are accepted in both Vajra and ordinary buses but, both monthly and the daily passes are not accepted Vayu Vajra bus or the airport buses. The “Vayu Vajra bus Services’ is for the airport which, has minimum and the maximum fare is Rs.100 and Rs.320 respectively. Especially people whose workplaces are far, try to pool the city cab as ‘Ola and Uber’ is one of the fast moving consumer services and it is comfortable and available in doorstep, almost in the same cost. It is mostly

applicable to the people who could minimum afford the AC bus passes. People who cannot afford to take city cabs still travel by BMTC buses. It was reported in the year 2017 that Bangalore buses could replace 50 cars and 200 bikes and a bus carries only 1000 passengers. It is one of the costliest bus services in India as it has more than seven fare hikes in the last 3 years. It has become unaffordable for the factory workers and other people holding blue collar job who earn only 5000 to 7000 rupees per month. People those who cannot afford cabs choose to use a two-wheeler. Less number of fleets also leads to an increase in private transport on the road which is one of the reasons for traffic jam, which is one of the prominent problems in the city. Though the BMTC is suffering the fuel hike and tax

problem, it is not fair to loot public in such a way. Not only by cutting down the bus ticket rates but also, they should optimize the routes so that it will become convenient for the public and the bus could also earn a normal profit. A strong planning and a good direction is the need of the hour for transportation cooperation. ***

Media Partner

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

www.urbantransportnews.com

INDUSTRY VOICE ◆

FAME II India Scheme Govt. of India approves Rs 10,000 crore FAME II scheme to promote EVs, hybrid vehicles, will effective from April 1, 2019 for three years. The main objective of the scheme is to encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by way of offering upfront incentive on purchase of electric vehicles and also by way of establishing necessary charging infrastructure for EV. ____________________________________________________________

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has welcomed the announcement of the FAME II Scheme that was approved by the Cabinet Committee yesterday, late evening (28th February 2019). This will provide a big fillip to our joint efforts to introduce higher levels of Electric Mobility in the country. As per our understanding, the FAME II will focus on EVs used for commercial applications and two/three wheelers and in creating the necessary infrastructure and ecosystem for EVs, which is a welcome move. While the details of the Scheme will be known shortly, the announcement of the Scheme, in itself, is a major milestone and augurs very positively for ushering clean and sustainable mobility in the country which the industry and SIAM will fully support.  Rajan Wadhera President Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM)

www.urbantransportnews.com

We are thankful to the government for considering our demand for a long-term scheme with substantial fund support. The support would encourage associated industry players to invest in the sector, which will further help in creating an ecosystem, locally. We look forward to seeing the final notification from the concerned ministry, which will give us clarity on the government’s roadmap of emobility.  Sohinder Gill Director General Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV)

The policy will benefit cab aggregators & delivery businesses as they have the largest fleet of passenger cars and supporting them will help increase of EV share much faster. It should also benefit Ashok Leyland, JBM Auto, Tata Motors, M&M, TVS, Atul Auto & ABB India.  Sameer Kalra Equity Research Analyst

Rs 10,000 crore package will give the green fuel the much-needed push in India. This subsidy will make two and three-wheeler electric vehicles very attractive to customers as it would end up bringing down their costs viz-a-viz petrol vehicles. It will also increase sales push, consumer acceptance and help build a customer base. We welcome government has proposed the establishment of charging infrastructure, whereby close to 2700 charging stations will be installed in metros, other million-plus cities, smart cities and cities of hilly states across the country which is going to give a major push to e vehicle user.  Ayush Lohia CEO Lohia Auto

Overall a well-crafted scheme addressing concerns of industry and consumers alike and should provide the initial boost to the EV industry in India  Rohan Rao Partner, KPMG

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

â&#x2014;&#x2020;ď ˇ IN SPOTLIGHT

Dr. Sonia Sethi, IAS takes charge of Addl. Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA

r. Sonia Sethi belongs to the IAS 1994 batch She born in Army family as her father was Army Colonel grown up a very disciplinary manner. Dr. Sethi has many firsts to her credit. She is the 1st lady officer of Maharashtra cadre to hold prestigious portfolios like Joint MD, CIDCO (City & Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd.), Joint MD & MD MSRDC (Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd.) & Transport Commissioner of Maharashtra. The iconic Bandra - Worli Sea Link was

Urban Transport Infrastructure // March 2019

commissioned when Dr. Sethi was MD, MSRDC. As Transport Commissioner she framed the city taxi policy that has been announced by the Government of Maharashtra and also the policy for promoting women drivers for auto rickshaws, taxis & heavy vehicles. On 20th February, 2019, Dr. Sethi took charge as the Additional Metropolitan Commissioner, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), after Mr. Pravin Darade was posted as the Additional Municipal Commissioner, MCGM. She started her career as an Assistant Collector, then CEO, Zila Parishad, followed by District

Collector. She have doctorate in economics from the University of Oxford and Master degree in Management from the Maharashtra. ***

www.urbantransportnews.com

EVENT REPORT ◆

Key Highlights Summit 2019

he recently concluded Global Aviation Summit 2019 witnessed the gathering of aviation experts from across the globe and set the stage for a multidimensional conversation — addressing the challenges the sector faced in the development of proper infrastructure, sustainability as an important facet in air travel and how technology-driven innovations would bridge the gap in aviation. Few highlights from the Global Aviation Summit 2019: - As per the Vision 2040 document released at the summit, India’s air passenger traffic is expected to grow sixfold to 1.1 billion per year by 2040.

www.urbantransportnews.com

From

Global

- With India being one of the fastest growing aviation sectors in the world, the domestic industry has been developing at 20 per cent annually for the last four years. - Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation stressed the need to cultivate all avenues of technology to tackle challenges associated with air travel. Considering the rise in fuel prices, the minister urged the delegates to participate in collective thinking to bring about greater reforms. He promoted safety, sustainability and smoother travel. - Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra announced that the Navi Mumbai airport is expected to be functional by mid-2020. Additionally, around nine more airports in the country are in the pipeline.

Aviation

- To further strengthen the Make in India initiative, the government is working towards developing an infrastructure for aircraft manufacturing and financing within India. - Adding to the Drone policy launched last year, the government may allow the commercial use of drone as taxis and delivery vehicles. - New air cargo policy was unveiled, that aims at ensuring smooth flow of goods across the country, and encourage code sharing/inter-line agreements between foreign and Indian carriers. ***

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

INDUSTRY EVENTS ď ˇâ&#x2014;&#x2020;

Event Calendar 2019 Dates

Event Name

Location

Mar. 5-7

Rail Live 2019

Bilbao, Spain

Mar. 12-16

India Smart Utility Week 2019

New Delhi, India

Mar. 14

Metro Rail India Summit 2019

New Delhi, India

Mar. 19-20

Asia Pacific Rail 2019

Hong Kong

Apr. 23

Future of Logistics Summit 2019

Mumbai, India

May 22-24

Smart Cities & Transport India Expo 2019

New Delhi, India

May 22-24

International Transport Forum 2019

Leipzig, Germany

May 26-31

World Conference on Transport Research

Mumbai, India

Jun 9-12

Global Public Transport Summit

Stockholm

Jun. 17-20

3rd Transit Oriented Development

Singapore

Jun. 24-25

Impact Mobility 2019

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Sep. 4-6

World Aviation Summit 2019

London, UK

Oct. 16-18

International Railway Equipment Exhibition (IREE)

New Delhi, India

Nov. 15-17

Urban Mobility India Conference & Expo 2019

Lucknow, India

Nov. 26-27

Mobility India 2019

Pune, India

Dec. 3-5

World Rail Festival 2019

Amsterdam, Netherlands

www.urbantransportnews.com

March 2019 // Urban Transport Infrastructure

WWW.URBANTRANSPORTNEWS.COM

READERSHIP PROFILE 108K

Monthly Visitors

169K

Monthly Pageviews

87.1%

New Visitors

PEOPLE & INDUSTRY

AUDIENCE GEOGRAPHY • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

INDIA – 47.11% UAE – 7.52% USA – 6.24% UK – 5.17% CHINA – 4.16% SOUTH KOREA – 3.74% JAPAN – 3.12% RUSSIA – 2.70% GERMANY – 2.22% QATAR – 1.75% CANADA – 1.13% SAUDI ARABIA – 1.01% AUSTRALIA – 0.92% OMAN – 0.83% SINGAPORE – 0.74% KUWAIT – 0.69% NETHERLANDS – 0.61% BANGLADESH – 0.58% HONG KONG – 0.53% MALAYSIA – 0.51% FRANCE – 0.48% SRI LANKA – 0.41% MALDIVES – 0.37% OTHERS – 7.24%

GENDER WISE

Purchasing Decision

85%

METRO & RAILWAYS – 35.25%

of our readers have at some point used URBAN TRANSPORT NEWS to make purchasing decisions based on its editorial and advertising content

ROAD TRANSPORT & E-MOBILITY – 29% AVIATION, AIRLINES & AIRPORTS – 10% MARITIME, SHIPPING & PORTS – 7% ACADEMIC & RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS – 2%

TRAFFIC SOURCE MANUFACTURER & SUPPLIERS – 8.75%

• • • • •

MINISTRY & GOVT. DEPARTMENTS – 3% FREIGHT, CARGO & LOGISTICS – 5%

Direct………………… 11.17% Referrals……………. 14.05% Search………….……..60.02% E-mail………………….. 8.83% Social……………………. 5.93%

URBAN TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE JOURNAL

75.53%

Print Circulation

Digital Circulation

24.47%

2500

49000

Print Copies

E-mail Circulation

AGE GROUP • • • • • •

Decision Makers’ Group, MD/CEO/HODs, Think Tanks, Key Opinion Leaders, Policy Makers from following Industry

18-24……………9.17% 25-34………… 55.14% 35-44………… 16.04% 45-54……………7.93% 55-64…………. 7.83% 65+…………….. 3.89%

500+

Paid Circulation

1.8K Paid Circulation

1800+

47.2K

Complimentary

Urban Transport Infrastructure is an internationally accredited journal with ISSN 2581-8023 and indexed by Indian Citation Index.

INVESTOR FACILITATION CELL Invest India First Floor, Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 110 001, India

Phone:- 011-23048155 E-mail: makeinindia@nic.in

For more details log on to: www.makeinindia.com

Urban Transport Infrastructure | March 2019

Publication Date: 15th March 2019

A great advertising solution to get high quality customers. Promote your business with Urban Transport News (Portal & Magazine) – It’s where people look for reliable information about your industry. Decision Makers’ Choice Exclusive Magazine covering Metro & Railways, Road Transport, E-Mobility, Water Transit, Urban Air Mobility and other allied industries

Book your space Today ! RNI Ref. No. DL/1339452/2018

ISSN 2581-8023

Edited and published by Mrs. Mamta Shah, Managing Editor of Urban Transport News from 8-B/4, Street No.3, Janta Garden, Pandav Nagar, New Delhi-110091, India and printed at Printpack Electrostat, G-2/56, Eros Apartment, Nehru Place, New Delhi - 110019.

E-mail: connect@urbantransportnews.com