Gujarat Metro: 26 global majors make track for design consultancy

September 3, 2013

  • Written by  Pooja

 

 

 

 

 

(Global majors are in the race for providing design consultancy services for Ahmedabad leg of Rs 19,000crore)

 

 

Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro project. The Metro-link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) has received huge response from Indian companies and those from the USA, Germany, French, South Korea, Netherlands and Spain. Twentysix companies\consortia have submitted expressions of interest (EOIs) in response to an invitation by MEGA in July. Indian majors like Larsen & Toubro and Tata Consulting Engineers, too, have submitted EOIs, an official said. MEGA is the special purpose vehicle (SPV) floated by the Gujarat government to conceive, design and execute the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar Metro. The EOIs were invited for the preparation of design and other operational and functional information related to construction of elevated (over ground) metro stations. This Metro has been conceived as the most technically advanced metro project undertaken so far in India. The project is being executed on an EPC basis with MEGA itself functioning as the EPC contractor and going forward it will be the operations and maintenance contractor too. Based on CBTC technology it will pioneer driverless trains in India as well as offer Wi-Fi connectivity on the move. The frequency between two trains will be 90 seconds, the lowest in the world. Its core infrastructure work will begin in October 2013.

 

Source-http://constructionsphere.com 

Metro’s service the best, cops’ the worst, Delhiites say

September 2, 2013

TNN |

Metro’s service the best, cops’ the worst, Delhiites say
NEW DELHI:  Delhiites are happiest with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) followed by the electricity department and unhappiest with the Delhi Police and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) among all the public services.This was revealed during focus group discussions done as part of a perception survey done for the Delhi Human Development Report 2013. In the survey, people were asked to rate their dealings with government officials of various departments with whom they came into frequent contact. In this rating, Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and bus services were also given a decent rating.About 79% of respondents rated their interaction with DMRCpersonnel as good. Only about 10% said their interaction was good with Delhi Police and MCD, while over 40% actually rated their interaction with these agencies as poor. While women did not like the city’s transport system in general, they were appreciative of the Delhi metro.

When asked which was the most problematic service or issue, about a third of the respondents across all income categories rated sanitation services as the worst, though the concern was highest in the lower-income settlements. This was followed by water supply, which was rated the worst by a higher proportion of respondents in the three lowest income brackets indicating the problems faced by them with regard to availability of water in their localities. This revealed the wide disparities in the provisioning of basic services in terms of both quality and quantity. A sizeable proportion also rated bad roads and safety as problems in their areas.

Children cited lack of open spaces to play and quality of education and schools as their most pressing problems. For the elderly, the greatest concern was lack of pension and income security. The men surveyed disliked the city’s poor sanitation, open sewers and drains and water supply the most, while women listed safety, alcoholism and transport hassles as the things they disliked the most in Delhi.

The survey revealed that vulnerable sections like women, elderly, scheduled castes and the uneducated are more dissatisfied, which ties in with the survey showing how poorer localities and weaker sections are more deprived of basic services, safety and security.

Don’t give DMRC work outside Delhi: Dikshit to Antony

September 2, 2013

PTI |

NEW DELHI: Insisting that the huge Delhi Metro network needed proper upkeep, chief minister Sheila Dikshit has written to defence minister A K Antony seeking that DMRC not be given work outside the capital at present.

Dikshit had shot off a letter to Antony, who heads the group of ministers (GoM) on Mass Rapid Transit System, after media reports regarding announcements made by Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments related to expansion of Metro network in these states upset her, official sources told .

In her letter to Antony, Dikshit is learnt to have said that the announcements were made without the approval of the GoM and without consulting her government, which has a 50 per cent share in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

She also said Phase I of Delhi Metro was completed about a decade ago and its condition was deteriorating and in need of attention for maintenance and repair, according to sources.

Dikshit also pointed out that the DMRC was already working on the demanding task of executing Phase III of the Metro’s expansion in the capital, along with preparing a Detailed Project Report for Phase IV, they said.

She wrote that a monorail project in the capital will also be entrusted to the DMRC once preliminary studies are done.

In the letter written last month, the chief minister has told Antony that maintaining the huge infrastructure of the Delhi Metro is a demanding task and diverting its resources to neighbouring towns may adversely affect its functioning and maintenance in the capital, they said.

Dikshit has also asked Antony to advise the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana not to make announcements related to expansion of DMRC network in these states without consulting her government, they said.

 

Source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation awarded IMS certification for operation, maintenance

September 2, 2013

PTI|

 

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation(DMRC) has been awarded Integrated Management System certification which is in accordance with international standards.

The certification and audit body from KBS Certifications Services assessed the IMS in Delhi Metro and found it to be in accordance with the requirements of the standards of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Occupation Health and Safety Assessment (OHASAS) series.

“It has been found that DMRC is in accordance with the ISO 9001:2008, ISO 14001:2004 & OHSAS 18001:2007 standards,” a DMRC spokesperson said.

The scope of this certification entails Operation & Maintenance of Line 2 comprising 34 Metro Stations from Jahangirpuri – HUDA City Centre Metro corridor.

This also includes the Khyber Pass and Sultanpur depots catering to the operational and maintenance requirements of the Rolling Stock (Metro Trains) on the line.

ISO certification implies fulfilment of Quality Management System (QMS) in achieving customer satisfaction for passenger service while OHSAS demonstrates the conscious determination of the organisation to safeguard its employees and the environment from harmful incidents and potential hazards within an organisation.

Earlier this year, the O&M Wing of Delhi Metro had adopted ISO 50001-2011 Energy Management System (EnMS) which provided a framework for developing strategies that help organisations to effectively manage their energy use.

 

 

Source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation likely to clear UP, Haryana plans

September 2, 2013

Dipak Kumar Dash, TNN |

 

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) board is likely to clear extension of two Metro lines -one in Noida and another in Faridabad – on Friday. Government sources said extensions of the Metro line from Noida City Center to Sector 62 and YMCA Chowk in Faridabad to Ballabhgarh have been included in the board’s agenda.The two projects are on the table a few weeks after Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit objected to DMRC taking up new projects outside the national capital claiming that the agency has a lot of work to finish within the city.

Early this week, a sub-committee had cleared both the Noida and Faridabad projects. “Once the board clears them, work will start. Extension of Metro is essential for the entire NCR. Centre has already made this clear,” a Union urban development ministry official said.

Though DMRC officials did not divulge estimated costs of the two projects, ministry sources said in these cases, 80% of the investment will come from state governments – Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

The 6.7km Noida City Centre-Sector 62 link would be completely elevated. The route will have six stations at sectors 34, 52, 59, 61, 62 and Electronic City (NH-24, Ghaziabad border).

The authority had also proposed another extension route – 3.9km stretch between Kalindi Kunj and Botanical Garden having two stations.

In the case of Faridabad, Haryana has pushed for extension of the Metro track by 3.2km from YMCA Chowk to Ballabhgarh for better connectivity. At present, the work on 14km Badarpur-YMCA Chowk stretch is on and it is likely to be operational by 2016 when Delhi Metro’s Phase-III will be completed.

“Our endeavour has been to improve connectivity of our cities with Delhi for greater economic activity. Smart and seamless connectivity pushes development across the region, which is our focus of taking up the case for extending Metro link to Ballabhgarh,” said Haryana CM’s son Deepender Singh Hooda, who is also the MP from Rohtak.

 

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation takes over Airport Express

September 2, 2013

TNN |

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation took charge of Airport Express Metro on Monday. Even though DMRC is responsible for the management of the airport line hereafter, Reliance Infra staff will continue to provide technical support. Around 500 employees from Reliance will now work for DMRC until a new plan is rolled out to make the IGI line financially viable.DMRC officials said the project is running at a loss of about Rs 4 crore. “Balance sheets of Reliance Infra show the Metro line is being run at a cost of Rs 7 crore monthly but the income from it is only about Rs 3 crore,” Sharat Sharma, DMRC director (operations), said.

On Monday, DMRC showcased the Metro line to media by taking reporters on a ride from Shivaji Stadium to Dwarka Sector 21. Most stations on the line were deserted. “We are happy DMRC has taken over. This is our second ride on this line and it’s very comfortable. We don’t even mind the high fares,” said Manju V, an accountant who boarded the train from the airport. Other passengers, too, said that the line should continue but more stations should be added.

While DMRC will have an equally tough time running the 22.7km line at a loss of about Rs 4 crore, officials said they are brainstorming ideas to help make it profitable. “We have not arrived at a decision. We have just taken over operations so that there is less inconvenience to commuters,” added Sharma. He said it’s too early to comment on if there will be a change in fares.

The line, which is the nation’s first public-private partnership in the Metro sector, has been beset by controversy ever since it began operations in February 2011. Services were suspended from July 7, 2012, to January 22, 2013, due to technical problems and, after reopening, the speed was cut to 50kmph, resulting in a fall in ridership from anything between 20,000 and 21,000 per day to about 10,000.

 

Rainwater harvested at 63 stations: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation

September 2, 2013

TNN |

NEW DELHI: In response to allegations that it was not carrying out rainwater harvesting at (RWH) its elevated stations, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation submitted an affidavit to the National Green Tribunal on Friday claiming that it was carrying out RWH at 63 of its 105 elevated stations. At stations where no RWH was being carried out, such structures were not feasible it claimed.

 

“Out of 105 elevated stations constructed up to Phase Il, RWH system has been installed on 63 stations. Since many of the stations are situated over main roads and congested areas, it was not possible to construct underground tank for storage of rain water,” said the affidavit. It added that some stations were close to the Yamuna where the water table in monsoon is less than 8 m. At such places no RWH has been done.Petitioner Vikrant Kumar Tongad claims RWH is not installed at most places and at the places where it does exist, it is not maintained. “In an RTI response DMRC said ‘proper soak pit are provided in median of metro line from Shahdara to Dilshad Garden and Janakpuri West- Dwarka Sec-9.’ I visited the Sector 11 and Sector 14 Dwarka stations and found that RWH systems were not working. At other stations no rooftop RWH was in place,” said Tongad.

 

Source_http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Metro Phase III to go over rail tracks, flyover

September 2, 2013

TNN |

NEW DELHI: DMRC, in Phase III, will attempt to construct over a railway line as well as two loops of a flyover. The elevated corridor (or viaduct) of the under-construction Janakpuri West-Botanical Garden section of Delhi Metro will pass over the Delhi-Mumbai railway tracks as well as the Modi Mill flyover. The flyover is located between the turning to Okhla Phase III and Ishwar Nagar Metro stations.The challenge, says Delhi Metro spokesman Anuj Dayal, is the acute lack of space for construction at this location. “Between these two Metro stations, which will be located about 1km from each other, our engineers are going to encounter two major construction-related challenges: crossing the busy Delhi-Mumbai railway corridor and the two important loops of the Modi Mill flyover,” said Dayal.

The DMRC is planning to install a steel bridge to cross the railway corridor, which has five tracks. “The installation of a steel bridge will cause minimal disruption to the railway operations below. This bridge will cross the tracks at a height of about 17m,” said Dayal, adding that the Delhi Metro is still awaiting permissions for starting the construction over the railway lines.

After crossing the rail tracks, the viaduct will pass over two loops of the Modi Mill flyover which lead to the two sides of the Mathura Road below — towards Ashram and Badarpur. “The construction work over both these crucial loops will be carried out without causing any disruption to the traffic below,” said Dayal. While the length of the span crossing over the first loop towards Ashram will be 34m, the length over the second loop towards Badarpur will be 37m.

“The construction of this portion of the viaduct has already started. This stretch of the viaduct — over the two loops of the Modi Mill flyover — is expected to be completed by the end of October,” Dayal added.

Delhi Metro launches mobile application

September 2, 2013

Indo-Asian News Service |

New Delhi: Delhi Metro today said its commuters using smartphones can get to know fares and train timings with the help of a new mobile application that can be downloaded from its web site.”The application will provide information about nearest metro station, fare, timings of last and first train at stations, travel time, route information, metro map and parking availability on the station premises,” Delhi Metro managing director Mangu Singh said.

The mobile application can be downloaded by commuters who have iPhone and android phone. The users can also find tourist spots near metro stations.

Source_http://www.ndtv.com

Metro rail to reduce pollution level in Lucknow

August 19, 2013

Priyanka Singh, TNN |

 

LUCKNOW: The much ambitious project of state government may prove beneficial in improving the air quality of the city. Once started, metro would become an efficient and most popular medium of public transport surpassing all other public transport means so far. The environment which was getting polluted due to harmful emissions from private vehicles would reduce once metro rail becomes operational.According to the survey done by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the dangerous gases which were destroying and polluting the environment would get reduced by almost 41 thousand and 430 tonnes. Experts believe that this would help in improving the air quality of the city by making atmosphere cleaner. The DMRC has even recommended this report in its DPR (detailed project report) submitted to the metro cell of Lucknow last month.

It is believed that once metro rail starts functioning, it would decrease the number of autos, tempos, buses and cars running on city roads considerably. It is estimated that on the North-South corridor (from Amausi airport to Munshipulia) alone, about 62 thousand trips of private and commercial vehicles would come to an end. people riding on cars, autos, tempos would start preferring metro instead as it is a faster and cheaper means of transport to far off places. This route is to be constructed in the first phase only beginning from December this year.

Different types of pollutants causing harm to the environment are Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxide, Sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide etc. Out of all these, carbon monoxide is found in abundance and hence, much attention has to be given to reduce this pollutant from the environment. The smoke that was released from private and commercial vehicles would get reduced to a great extent post metro becomes operational. In 2019, when the entire train starts moving on North-South corridor, it shall be bale to curtail about 1498.33 tonne of carbon monoxide in one year itself.

Most significantly, the carbon dioxide level would decrease by about 38 thousand 579 tonnes in the first year of operation. The levels of pollutants would subsequently decrease in the years 2020 and 2021 in a gradual manner.

 

Source- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

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