Mass Rapid Transit in India

Rohit_K · Post by **Rohit_K** » 20 Feb 2016 09:26

Recent updates:

Trivandrum/Kozhikode
Foundation Stones for Trivandrum & Kozhikode Metros to be Laid Feb 28-29

Kolkata
Afcons Begins Lowering TBM Parts at Howrah Maidan Station

East-West eyes easy route to airport

Metro boosts 5-min cycle

KMRC Invites Bids to Install Platform Screen Doors

Lucknow
5 Firms Qualify for Lucknow Metro’s 3.44 km Underground Contract

130cr loan approved for city Metro

Gurgaon
Gurgaon Metro Receives & Hoists Last 2 New Trains

Gurgaon Metro Receives 2 New Trains

Chennai
Thirumangalam- Shenoy Nagar metro trial run likely by May

JCDecaux Unveils 1st Ad-Wrapped Chennai Metro Train

Phase II metro to reach interiors too

Nagpur
NMRCL Invites Tenders to Procure 69 Coaches for Nagpur Metro

Budget 2016: Nagpur Metro Rail seeks Rs 500 crore each from both Central, Maharashtra govts

Delhi
AAP government gives in-principle nod to Delhi Metro Phase-IV

Last TBM Commissioned for Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line at Chirag Delhi

TBM Makes Breakthrough at Delhi Metro’s Golcha Mid-Shaft

TBM Makes Breakthrough at Delhi Metro’s Lal Qila Station

TBM Makes Breakthrough at Delhi Metro’s Mayapuri Shaft

Patna
Bihar’s Cabinet Approves Rs 16960 cr 30.92 km Patna Metro

Kochi
Kochi Metro to start operations on Kerala Formation Day(Nov 1): Chandy

Piling Work Begins for Kochi Metro’s 220m Cantilever Section

Mumbai
AERA Approves Passenger Fee to Fund Mumbai Airport’s Stations

CMRL’s word of caution to Mumbai Metro

Hyderabad
Hyderabad Metro Rail by June 2: Telangana IT minister KT Rama Rao

Bangalore
<none>
BMRCL has not yet invited CMS for conducting a safety audit of Purple line's underground corridor.

Rohit_K · Post by **Rohit_K** » 22 Feb 2016 20:04

Bangalore

Another miss: Metro journey 60ft under unlikely in March

The March launch was a promise Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) made as recently as in January . But it's “hoping to clear all testsscrutiny by the end of March“.

BMRC officials, however, said civil works are on schedule.Pradeep Singh Kharola, MD, BMRC, says, “We've completed the oscillation trials which are the most crucial part of getting ready . The stations are complete and getting the final touches. We are waiting for a speed test certificate by the Railway Standard and Designs Operation (RDSO) in a week's time, which is the first step to begin the process of seeking clearance, followed by a Schedule of Dimensions (SoD) and a few more certificates expected to be issued by the first week of March. This has to be done before we approach the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) for the certification process.“

BMRC says its concern is safety, rather than deadlines. Kharola added: “Even if it is delayed by some days, the concern is the safety of lakhs of passengers who have so far banked on our ability to take them to their destinations, safe and sound.The safety certification process will take its own time because this is the first time down south that we have underground transportation, and it requires many technical qualifications to pass the test of the CMRS.“

The CMRS had earlier raised issues with BMRC, when it did not complete civil work in stations of the northern corridor between Malleswaram and Peenya, delaying the opening of the line. He had also mandated that BMRC complete work on the technical front in some places on the west corridor, between Magadi Road and Mysuru Road. Typically, it takes about 10 days after the final green signal is given, to throw open the line for passengers, BMRC officials said.

arshyam · Post by **arshyam** » 22 Feb 2016 20:09

Good to see you back Rohit_K, been a while.

Rohit_K wrote:Bangalore
<none>
BMRCL has not yet invited CMS for conducting a safety audit of Purple line's underground corridor.

This part speaks volumes when read along with the other updates. Namma metro seems to be in a mess, perhaps due to the underground issues vsunder sir explained earlier?

member_29267 · Post by **member_29267** » 23 Feb 2016 20:52

arshyam wrote:Good to see you back Rohit_K, been a while.
Rohit_K wrote:Bangalore
<none>
BMRCL has not yet invited CMS for conducting a safety audit of Purple line's underground corridor.
This part speaks volumes when read along with the other updates. Namma metro seems to be in a mess, perhaps due to the underground issues vsunder sir explained earlier?

Actually, not to jinx anything, the tunneling is going somewhat well now. The total remaining tunneling distance is below 1km now. We should see at least 2 TBMs finish their work in another 4-5 months and all tunneling should be done by year end.

The tunneling part was a challenge as Bangalore's geology is like no other Indian city with underground Metro. Hopefully, there are some valuable lessons learnt which can help BMRCL deliver the Phase 2 of NM on time.

kvraghav · Post by **kvraghav** » 23 Feb 2016 20:56

And the bmrcl plan to run trains from both the ends on the same tunnel till the parallel tunnel is completed. They were planning on a switch.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 28 Feb 2016 04:23

An early Milestone met for Kochi metro.

Vriksh · Post by **Vriksh** » 28 Feb 2016 18:31

Any news on the use of ropeways (ski lift gondola) for urban transit. Anyone working on this?

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 29 Feb 2016 18:22

cochi should have gone underground to preserve nature as much on the top. jmt

Viv S · Post by **Viv S** » 29 Feb 2016 20:06

Well.. nobody can accuse them of thinking inside-the-box. They cut fares by 50% recently to make it more viable for intracity commuters but I believe the Airport line is still running under-capacity (mostly due to longer wait-times vis a vis the regular lines).

Delhi Metro to ferry cargo on Airport Express Line from March 1

NEW DELHI: In a first, Delhi Metro will ferry cargo on its premium Airport Express Line that connects Indira Gandhi International Airport to New Delhi Railway Station.

The service, that will begin on March 1, will be experimental for three months and if it gets a successful response a tender for a long-term arrangement shall be floated, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials said.

Only non-perishable and merchandise of e-commerce sites will be transported for the purpose of which DMRC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a specialised cargo agency.

"This would be the first-ever occasion, when a Metro system in India would be used for the transportation of cargo. These trials would help in accessing the cargo volumes that could potentially be generated on this route on both directions, especially e-commerce cargo," an official said.

The initiative may also lead to the reduction in cargo vehicles on the streets of the city and subsequently lesser consumption of fossil fuels and lower CO2 emission thus contributing towards an improved air quality, a Delhi Metro statement said.

As per an earlier announcement, Delhi Metro stations will double up as terminals for e-commerce sites, with customers being given the option of getting products delivered at select stations so they can collect them at their convenience.

As trains on the 23-km corridor already have dedicated coaches for luggage, the introduction of the cargo services will not cause any inconvenience to the general commuters, the statement said.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 29 Feb 2016 20:24

SaiK wrote:cochi should have gone underground to preserve nature as much on the top. jmt

Considering that the footprint of the pillars was already polluted by development, I see no reason to dig up underground and deal with perpetual flooding issues. The coastal areas if you dig a meter deep you will see water. Only if they could get rid of those bill boards that block the view, things will look pleasant.

In general for Indian cities, it is not worth while to go underground. It is cheaper to build and maintain overground, and get it done fast. The next step will be to reduce the clutter on either side by proper zoning and stricter implementation going forward.

member_29350 · Post by **member_29350** » 29 Feb 2016 21:10

Viv S wrote:Well.. nobody can accuse them of thinking inside-the-box. They cut fares by 50% recently to make it more viable for intracity commuters but I believe the Airport line is still running under-capacity (mostly due to longer wait-times vis a vis the regular lines).

Delhi Metro to ferry cargo on Airport Express Line from March 1

Well, we will have a security problem on our hands like the Air India Kanishka one except that this is on the ground. While I'm 100% behind this, I don't see how they can ensure security of what's in the boxes

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 29 Feb 2016 21:12

same way they do for air cargo.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 29 Feb 2016 23:37

bade, if space is not a problem, plan ahead for extra wide roads. we are a planet of big population and needs.

and you not allowed to reply to me that "there is no space in kerala".

we have ton! imho under private ownerships

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 01 Mar 2016 00:14

Space available in plenty elsewhere far away from the arteries cannot solve the immediate problem.

Then you need to pay a fair market value price, that is where the bottlenecks are. I saw some piece written by a mantri (Issac ?) where ideas like elevated access controlled expressway along existing corridors which we have discussed before many times in various threads. People can live below those civil structures, at least in India no one seems to mind if they can reach out to a highway from their windows. Who am I to decide what is good for them and their kids health.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 03 Mar 2016 00:30

very similar to people living over the subways. it is a question of how you want to live effectively at EOD.

vsunder · Post by **vsunder** » 26 Mar 2016 18:19

Commissioner Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) has been approached by Namma Metro(Bangalore Metro), 5 days ago for inspection and permission to declare the entire EW Metro line of Bangalore Metro open, (Bypannahalli, near Whitefield to Mysore Rd. at Nayandahalli). RDSO and Railway Board permission and speed certificate has been obtained a few days ago, along with SOD. This will be the first operational UG metro line in South India. The hope is that by end April the line will be inaugurated. Namma Metro has already published a tender for catering for the inaugural ceremony so they seem to be hopeful that CMRS will give them permission with minimal issues that can be rectified soon. All the elevated portions of EW line, Phase I have been commissioned. This is 13.28km. Underground is 4.82km which is awaiting CMRS inspection. Total line length EW is 18.10 km, with 17 stations out of which 5 are underground stations including the major intersection of the EW and NS lines at Majestic.

On the all important NS line where tunneling is going on. Situation as on March 21st

TBM Godavari is 147m from breakthrough and under the BMTC bus stand at Majestic. Breakthrough expected in about 45 days.

TBM Kaveri: Crawling under decrepit buildings in the warren of Chikpete and also hitting hard rock, not doing too well, 141m left for breakthrough at Majestic.

TBM Krishna, running parallel to Kaveri and behind it, now reached the zone where Kaveri slowed down, 369m balance for breakthrough at Majestic.

Total tunneling left on Phase I of Namma Metro: 369+ 141+147= 657m

In the meantime Bangalore Metro has made it to the international scene as a case study of how to run or for that matter NOT run a project:

http://www.tunnelcanada.ca/PDFs/TACPres ... eodata.pdf

vsunder · Post by **vsunder** » 27 Mar 2016 20:56

Here is the tender for the caterers for the inauguration of Namma Metro underground and entire East-West line. Polis get "heavy lunch" and curd rice. VIPS's get fruits and nuts, snick, snack, coffee and tea and breakfast and all get laddoos. Prices must hold for 45 days so Namma Metro thinks CRS will inspect soon and line will be open in 45 days.

http://bmrc.co.in/pdf/tenders/catering.pdf

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 28 Mar 2016 13:18

Found a post on Facebook by a Keralite communist

. He talks about the pride he felt when he boarded the Kolkotha Metro in the late 1980s. And he reminds us that the first metro came up in West Bengal, then ruled by the communists and how the Russian government (also communist) provided the technical know-how. He mentions that E.Sreedharan was involved in this project as well, but does not say he was also a communist

. The post seems to be reminding the "bourgeois" and the "capitalists" that they are not the pioneers out here.

vsunder wrote:Commissioner Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) has been approached by Namma Metro(Bangalore Metro), 5 days ago for inspection and permission to declare the entire EW Metro line of Bangalore Metro open, (Bypannahalli, near Whitefield to Mysore Rd. at Nayandahalli).

Correct me if I am wrong. Remember reading that even in the East-West line there have been problems in tunelling and in a short stretch "single line" operations have to be done? That is in that small stretch trains would go in either directions? Also what needs to be watched out is what BMTC and other agencies plan to do now? Are they planning to re-route some of their routes to make it practical to use the Metro?

kvraghav · Post by **kvraghav** » 28 Mar 2016 13:22

^^
The single route plan is for the NS route since one tunnel has only 100m odd left and the other has nearly 600m if i remember correctly.

prashanth · Post by **prashanth** » 28 Mar 2016 15:13

Sachin wrote:Correct me if I am wrong. Remember reading that even in the East-West line there have been problems in tunelling and in a short stretch "single line" operations have to be done? That is in that small stretch trains would go in either directions? Also what needs to be watched out is what BMTC and other agencies plan to do now? Are they planning to re-route some of their routes to make it practical to use the Metro?

EW line is ready for operations, both ways. NS has problems due to poor planning. IIRC, the tunnelling machines Kaveri and Krishna are capable of tunnelling faster but BMRCL lately realized the risk posed to old and decriept buildings above. They are constrained to go slow. EW line is complete and they are planning to open the same for operations in April.

Reg BMTC, they stand to lose revenue along routes operated by metro. If they deploy feeder services to metro stations for providing last mile connectivity, they can minimize losses. They already operate mini buses between Mysore road terminal and Majestic bus station.

Rohit_K · Post by **Rohit_K** » 08 Apr 2016 06:57

Lots going on in this sector. Recent updates from metro rail guy

Ahmedabad
MEGA Invites Bids for Ahmedabad Metro’s 6.83 km Underground Section

Bangalore
1. CMRS Gives Clearance to Bangalore Metro’s EW Underground Section
2. [Pics] CMRS Inspects Bangalore Metro’s EW Underground Section

Chennai
1. L&T & Afcons Bid for Chennai Metro’s May Day Park – AG-DMS Section
2. CMRL Looking to Utilize Alandur Ramps for Koyambedu-Airport Services

Delhi
1. 15 Brilliant New Images of Delhi Metro’s Pink Line Trains - must see TFTA trains

2. Delhi Metro: Land Acquisition Completed for Yellow Line’s 3rd Depot
3. 1st Rescue TBM Commissioned for Delhi Metro’s Pink Line
4. DMRC Uploads Alignments of Phase 4’s Proposed Lines

Hyderabad
CMRS Completes Inspection of Hyderabad’s Nagole – Mettuguda Section

Lucknow
1. India – EU Sign Rs. 3381 cr Loan Agreement for Lucknow Metro
2. Tata – Gülermak Emerge as Lowest Bidder for Lucknow’s Underground Section

Kolkata
RITES to Design Kolkata’s 3-Line Interchange at Esplanade

Mumbai
1. MIAL Begins Levying Fee to Finance Mumbai Airport Stations
2. Mumbai Metro to Color Code Lines ; Sreedharan Appointed as Advisor
3. Location of Mumbai Metro’s New Interchange Stations

Nagpur
1. Pile Cap Work Begins for Elevated Section of Nagpur’s Metro
2. FinMin – KfW Sign Rs. 3772 cr Loan Agreement for Nagpur Metro

Vijayawada
Vijayawada Metro’s Contracts Delayed for Flouting JICA Rules

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 08 Apr 2016 07:46

Vriksh wrote:Any news on the use of ropeways (ski lift gondola) for urban transit. Anyone working on this?

Heard something along these lines for a second Potomac crossing in D.C. on the North-west side , but have not followed it up in the news. What throughput can it achieve when compared with regular transit options.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 08 Apr 2016 08:59

very impressed by the delhi metro this week. crowded but still functional in busiest hours.
runs like clockwork with trains separated by 2 mins. 6-8 coaches. stations and trains are all very clean including the busiest connaught place.

it has permitted people to make commutes that would be impossible by bus or car and spread around the real estate.

more new lines and depots are coming up.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 08 Apr 2016 10:39

They will start trial run of remotely controlled train on one line soon.

Human overseer for emergency will be there for one year whenever these trains enter service

sarabpal.s · Post by **sarabpal.s** » 08 Apr 2016 18:35

Singha wrote:very impressed by the delhi metro this week. crowded but still functional in busiest hours.
runs like clockwork with trains separated by 2 mins. 6-8 coaches. stations and trains are all very clean including the busiest connaught place.

it has permitted people to make commutes that would be impossible by bus or car and spread around the real estate.

more new lines and depots are coming up.

Let me clear you few thing
+point Help me lot travel on metro as i don't drive vehicle
Fast
east rider in center Delhi or NCR
_Point
Still unreliable could break down in peak hour
never adhere to 2min schedule never practical as single full load metro need time on each stop
Charge you for over staying in metro (new Rule) even if it is metro fault.
each metro has own AC some work more some near nil.
no feed back from passenger.
Short sighted approached in metro development they removed many flats to make way for metro but now Ph3 is delayed because illegal jhugi colony not removed

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 08 Apr 2016 23:09

Delhi Metro will have some teething troubles. It should be remembered that less than 15 years ago, there wasn't even 1km of Metro in Delhi. Now the network is on schedule to expand to one bigger than London and NYC in the next few years. Those places took far longer to expand so much. So far, its development rate and quality has been astounding.

vsunder · Post by **vsunder** » 14 Apr 2016 07:51

TBM Godavari on Bangalore Metro should breakthrough by next week. With that both tunnels on the North-South line between Mantri Mall and Majestic ( Northern segment of the North-South line) will be completed. That will leave TBM Krishna with about 279 m left to tunnel and Kaveri with 118m left to tunnel( tunneling speed of Kaveri is really poor, 3m a week) to finish Phase I and the entire North South line. Krishna following Kaveri is also bound to slow down as it bores under the decrepit buildings under the warren of Chikpet. Places like Arcot Srinivaschar street, I wonder what happens if there is an emergency that warrants a fire tender to go in to the aforementioned A S Char street?

vsunder · Post by **vsunder** » 19 Apr 2016 20:42

TBM Godavari of Namma Metro broke through at Majestic at 12.20pm local time today. With this all North-South tunnels north of Majestic towards, Mantri Mall/Sampige Rd., Peenya, Yeshwantpur, Rajajinagar, Malleswaram and Jalahalli is complete.

http://i.imgur.com/8kO3jwZ.jpg

Situation of the remaining two TBMs, as of 8.00am local time today, TBM Kaveri 114m from breakthrough at Majestic, has done 4m in last week. TBM Krishna 254m from breakthrough, has done 25m in last week, behind Kaveri by 140m and will slow down like Kaveri in another 40m. 368m of tunneling left to finish all tunneling in Phase I of Namma Metro.

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 20 Apr 2016 12:04

Metro projects in Kolkata stuck due to non-cooperation of SG are slowly getting resolved one knot at a time. Suresh Prabhu seems to be patiently trying to make the SG co-operate on one issue at a time. TBM to start working on Howrah side of EW metro soon. Joka-BBDBag metro station at Mominpur stuck for several years is getting resolved.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 21 Apr 2016 00:06

I think something unique we can try.. but this requires local politics taken into account. For example, interstate KL(PGT) and TN (CBE) can be fantastic metro project. Amma is behind monorail for CBE. sacrosanct derived outta stupidity at helm.

The number of people travelling is terrific.. trade will bloom! tam-mall bros business exchanges will grow!

---

another twin cities metro crossing states would be Bangalore - Hosur

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 21 Apr 2016 20:14

sarabpal.s wrote:
Singha wrote:very impressed by the delhi metro this week. crowded but still functional in busiest hours.
runs like clockwork with trains separated by 2 mins. 6-8 coaches. stations and trains are all very clean including the busiest connaught place.

it has permitted people to make commutes that would be impossible by bus or car and spread around the real estate.

more new lines and depots are coming up.
Let me clear you few thing
+point Help me lot travel on metro as i don't drive vehicle
Fast
east rider in center Delhi or NCR
_Point
Still unreliable could break down in peak hour
never adhere to 2min schedule never practical as single full load metro need time on each stop
Charge you for over staying in metro (new Rule) even if it is metro fault.
each metro has own AC some work more some near nil.
no feed back from passenger.
Short sighted approached in metro development they removed many flats to make way for metro but now Ph3 is delayed because illegal jhugi colony not removed

I remember the pollution of 1987 era. Had to take a jugad from ISBT to CP. What you have now is out of dream. Use this and enjoy.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 21 Apr 2016 20:57

For example, interstate KL(PGT) and TN (CBE) can be fantastic metro project.

This will happen in the HSR era. Right now, better connectivity by semi-high speed rail or HSR is the need of the day for TRV-Kollam-Allepey-Kochi-Trichur-Kozhikode-Kannur at least. Maybe those Talgo coaches can be put to use in this sector too, before a HSR gets built.

arshyam · Post by **arshyam** » 22 Apr 2016 03:30

^^ The biggest stumbling block is that the overall permitted speed in the TVC railway division is capped at 80kmph due to various factors (tight curves, bridges, highly urbanised area with frequent halts, congestion, etc.). Increasing speed will require addressing some or all of the above, for which land is first needed. Then something has to be done about the line congestion - won't be easy to reduce the #halts, for example. Given these issues, I am not sure how much Talgo coaches by themselves can improve things.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 22 Apr 2016 07:57

High speed is all about the wheel and assembly design for various fizzical forces. no? [of course track quality is a priority].

bade is the man to guide us thru all the curves and hair pins

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 22 Apr 2016 10:29

Bade wrote:
For example, interstate KL(PGT) and TN (CBE) can be fantastic metro project.
This will happen in the HSR era. Right now, better connectivity by semi-high speed rail or HSR is the need of the day for TRV-Kollam-Allepey-Kochi-Trichur-Kozhikode-Kannur at least.

KL had plans to tie up with IR to start a suburban/commuter rail system between TVC and ERS (for a start). They plan to use the existing rail infrastructure, but plan to introduce automatic block working, which allows more trains to be run on the route. And MEMUs were to be used. Heard of it some six months back, but don't know if any thing has got started on it.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 28 Apr 2016 09:12

Any updates on the East-West Namma Metro line opening for general traffic on 30th April? Any thing about the inaugural functions etc.

A Nandy · Post by **A Nandy** » 28 Apr 2016 22:24

There was a report in the Hindu that work near the City Railway entry, near some escalators, which is expected to see heavy footfall, is still not complete.

A Nandy · Post by **A Nandy** » 30 Apr 2016 09:57

The inaugration has in fact happened today

http://themetrorailguy.com/2016/04/29/b ... uguration/

Rohit_K · Post by **Rohit_K** » 30 Apr 2016 10:00

^^ inauguration images from April 29: http://themetrorailguy.com/2016/04/30/p ... augurated/

Commercial operations started today at 6 am.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 30 Apr 2016 19:48

Video clipping of the Namma Metro - East West line
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EFx956E1YA[/youtube]