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Expanding Footprint Of Metro Rail In India – A Tracker On Ongoing Projects

By
Amit Mishra
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With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to inaugurate Line 2A and 7 of the Mumbai Metro on 19 December, a “metro revolution” is happening in the country with the number of cities having the transport network rising to 20 from five in 2014.

The ubiquitous Metro trains running along the landscape of Indian cities is steadily emerging as one of the best solutions for urban transportation.

Metro Rail started in the early 1970s and the first Metro Rail stretch was commissioned in the Kolkata city in 1984 between Esplanade and Bhowanipur, covering a distance of 3.40 km with five stations under Metro Railway, Kolkata. At Present, 27 cities have either Operational or Under Construction Network.

City-Wise Indicators

Around 810 km of metro lines are operational in 20 cities across the nation. More than 980 km of the metro network are currently under construction in 27 cities, according to Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Puri.

The Delhi Metro which completed 20 years of its operation on 25 December 2022 is the largest operational network in the country. The metro spans a length of 349 Kms with 254 stations spread across 10 lines.

The second largest operational network is Hyderabad Metro which comes a distant second with a length of 69 Km followed by 56 km in Bengaluru, 54 Km in Chennai and 44 Km In Mumbai (once line 2A and 7 are opened).

See the analysis below to understand the spatial distribution of metro network across Indian cities:

New Projects on The Block

Success of Delhi-NCR metro brought enthusiasm in the state governments and they want to replicate the same in the cities with population of over 1 million. Many metro corporations are actively working to bring new areas on the Metro map.

The cities that have lined up their plans include Pune, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Indore, Bhopal, Patna and Hyderabad.

Many State governments are also funding new projects using their own resources since urban transportation is a state subject. The State Government of Rajasthan announced the construction of Phases 1C and 1D while expanding the Jaipur Metro in the budget for the fiscal year 2022–2023.

Similarly, Airport Express Metro in Hyderabad is a Rs 6,250 crore Telangana state government funded project. This 31-km-long metro rail line will start at Mindspace junction – an IT hub in the western Hyderabad and end at the city’s international airport located at Shamshabad in southern Hyderabad.

Metro Lite

Cities with a well spread-out spatial pattern, even if they have a high population, may not have sufficient number of corridors with adequate density to justify investments in a metro. As such State Governments have been requested to adopt Metro Lite as a prime mode of mass transit in smaller cities.

This system which can be constructed at a cost of about 40 per cent of high-capacity metro system is more viable and sustainable due to less capital, operation and maintenance costs.

As of now, four Metro Lite Projects are under various stages of implementation ( see the following table):

Metro Lite Corridors Under Consideration

Metro Neo

MetroNeo which is a rubber-tyred electric coach powered by overhead traction system running on a road slab with an exclusive right of way, is a suitable alternative for tier-2 cities.

It will provide a similar experience and ease of travel in terms of comfort, convenience, safety, reliability and can be developed at a cost of about 25 per cent of conventional metro system.

Currently two MetroNeo projects are under various stages of appraisal and approval. They include:

Metro Neo Corridors Under Consideration

What Lies Ahead

Metro construction has continued in recent years as a response to increasing urbanization, environmental challenges and aspirations to a better quality of life, with most growth concentrated in mega cities of the country.

Indian Cities are expanding at a rapid pace, both in terms of size and number.

From 35 million plus and 5161 towns in 2001, it has grown to 53 million plus and 7933 towns in 2011. As per 2011 census, 31.2 per cent (i.e., 377 million) of India’s population lived in urban areas and by 2050 more than 50 per cent of the country’s population will be urban.

Thus, it is imperative that we should strive to bring newer tier-2 cities on the metro map and extend the coverage in existing cities with adequate provisions foo last-mile connectivity.

Temple-Inspired Redesign Of Rameswaram Station Begins

By
Amit Mishra
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As the new Pamban rail bridge connecting the Indian mainland with Rameswaram island nears completion, Southern Railway (SR) has started work on revamping the Rameswaram railway station.

Southern railways, in September 2022 had awarded the redevelopment work of Rameswaram Railway Station to M/s. SABARI Constructions-M/s URC Constructions Joint Venture at a cost of Rs 90.20 Crores.

Rameswaram railway station features in the list of the nine stations taken up by the Southern Railway zone for redevelopment in the first phase. The Railways have decided to redevelop the station looking at its tourist and religious significance.

The project has been awarded as an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract, with a time frame of 18 months for completion.

The SR zone has completed major preliminary works and handed over the Right of way, which is a legal right to enter and carry out the work, at 11 locations to the EPC contractor for carrying out the work.

Rameswaram

At the very tip of the Indian peninsula lies Rameswaram which is home to the famous Ramanathaswamy Temple, known for its elaborate corridors and splendidly sculpted pillars.

Though lying separated from the mainland of India in the Pamban Island, Rameswaram is connected to the mainland by the magnificent Pamban Bridge.

Considered one of the holiest places for Hindus in India and one among the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, Rameswaram is also the closest point to Sri Lanka from India. Geological evidences state that once India was connected to Sri Lanka from this point via the Rama Sethu bridge.

This quaint town has from time immemorial been a place of great interest and admiration to travellers. It is believed that Lord Rama, on his return after his war with Ravana, offered a repentance prayer to Lord Shiva to absolve his sins he had to commit during the confrontation.

Rameswaram railway station, which acts as a terminus (an end station) for the Madurai-Rameswaram line, sees an average passenger footfall of 9000 daily. The station is prominently located o­n the Pamban Island and is about 40 km from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka.

Roadmap to Redevelopment

Two terminal buildings are proposed to be constructed, one each at the Eastern and Northern side. The architecture of the terminals will reflect contemporary adaptation of the traditional temple architecture of Rameswaram temple.

Terminal Building of Rameswaram Station

A spacious forecourt, circulating area being redeveloped independently for arrival and departure, in front of the Eastern terminal building will be dedicated for pedestrians and drop off area for vehicles. This will allow seamless movement of passengers and road vehicles.

The station is all set for a world-class makeover and will sport airport-like infrastructure and facilities.

Work-in-Progress on Nine Stations

Southern Railway has taken up station redevelopment as o­ne of the key areas for enhancing the passenger experience. Nine stations in Southern Railway are likely to undergo transformational changes as part of station redevelopment.

These include five in Tamil Nadu – Madurai, Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Chennai Egmore and Katpadi; three in Kerala – Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Kollam and Puducherry.

Southern Railway has awarded tenders for redevelopment of all the nine railway stations and work is progressing at a steady pace.

Maharashtra : Three Firms Submit Bids To Prepare DPR For Nagpur-Goa And Pune-Nashik Expressway

By
Amit Mishra
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Three bidders each are in fray to be appointed as the general consultant for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Nagpur- Goa Expressway and Pune-Nashik Industrial Expressway.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) in October 2022 had floated a tender for the appointment of consultant for the preparation of Feasibility Study Report, DPR and assistance in land acquisition up to the award stage for the two proposed expressways.

For the Nagpur-Goa Expressway, bids have been submitted by L N Malviya Infra Projects Limited, Monarch Surveyors & Engineering Consultants Limited and TPF Engineering Limited.

Similarly, L N Malviya Infra Projects Limited, Monarch Surveyors & Engineering Consultants Limited and SA Infrastructure Consultants Limited have submitted their bids for Pune-Nashik Industrial Expressway.

Nagpur-Goa Expressway

This 760-km-long expressway will connect Pavnar near Wardha in Maharashtra and Patradevi in the Pernem taluk of Goa on the Goa-Maharashtra border.

The greenfield expressway provides an alternate route to Goa from the second capital of the State and is expected to reduce travel time between Nagpur and Goa to about 7 hours from the current 21-hour journey.

It’s been nicknamed Shaktipeeth Expressway as it’ll provide access to pilgrimage sites across Vidarbha, Marathwada, western Maharashtra and Goa. The expressway will promote inter-state trade plus boost cultural ties of Vidarbha with Goa inter-alia with Marathwada, Western Maharashtra and Konkan regions as it would offer faster connectivity.

Nagpur-Goa Expressway will be connected to the partly operational 701-km-long Samruddhi Mahamarg (Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway) in Wardha, just south of Nagpur.

Pune-Nashik Industrial Expressway

This 180-km-long expressway will start from proposed Pune Ring Road near Chimbali and terminate at Shinde on NH-60 in Nashik.

The greenfield expressway traversing through three districts – Pune, Nagar and Nashik, is expected to reduce travel time between Nashik and Pune to 2 hours from the current 4-5 hour journey. It will cross Samruddhi Mahamarg and may connect to the proposed Surat-Chennai expressway.

Lessons From Accident At Bengaluru Namma Metro Construction Site: No To Scaremongering And Yes To Better Safety Standards

By
Amit Mishra
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The risks posed by the metro construction work are amplified many times by the urban environment.

Metro lines are basically located in a complex environment, such as densely populated urban areas surrounded by high-rise buildings and intensive underground pipelines. Some areas still have existing infrastructures with huge traffic volumes. .

A woman and her two-and-half-year-old son were killed after an under-construction pier rebar of the “Namma Metro” (Bengaluru Metro) on Outer Ring Road near Hennur collapsed.

The pier rebar was fixed at the site as part of the under-construction 37 km Metro Phase 2B Outer Ring Road Blue Line project that will run between K. R Puram and Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) in Devanahalli. Engineering firm NCC Ltd was executing the work.

Many netizens took to social media to vent their ire, with questions being raised about the quality of the work and alleged negligence by the contractors. Few even advocated the complete stoppage of metro work in the city, which is happening rapidly after years of lackadaisical progress. With over 100 km of metro network likely to be added in the current year and the next couple of years, Namma Metro is set to emerge as a critical mobility pillar for the city’s 15 million residents.

Tuesday’s incident once again highlighted one of the many challenges that will be faced by urban transport authorities given the scale of metro network construction happening in our cities.

In recent years, India has seen significant growth in urban rail, also known as Metro rail. The length of operational metro rail projects has reached 824 km, and work on another 1,039 km is underway. The frequent accidents at metro sites have created fears that safety standards are being compromised in a rush to build new lines.

In such a context, here is an attempt to flag the safety issues involved with Metro construction work and a few measures that can help strike a balance between the speedy rollout of urban transport and the safety of workers, motorists, and pedestrians as work on the metro progresses.

Major Security Hazards

The civil work on any metro project involves four processes: road diversion and barricading, followed by piling, pier construction, and girder erection.

Each stage involves the significant movement of thousands of workers and heavy machinery. As such, safety accidents often occur during metro construction, including high falling, collapse, object strike, vehicle injury, and lifting injury.

The occurrences of accidents are often related to the complex geological conditions of metro engineering, the construction environment, the suboptimal level of safety monitoring at the construction site, and other human factors.

However, two significant risks in metro-related accidents are site workers’ lack of safety awareness and site safety monitoring.

Lack of Safety Consciousness

A significant section of the onsite workforce in metro projects tends to be inter-state migrant workers. While many of them are skilled and work hard in harsh project conditions, imparting a high level of safety consciousness may be an operational challenge, given the lack of formal educational background combined with cultural attitudes towards safety standards.

The lack of safety knowledge and weak safety awareness is reflected in accident statistics, most of which are attributable to unsafe work practices by workers.

Safety Monitoring

The latest incident in Bengaluru is being attributed to alleged negligence on the part of the contractor deputed by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).

Safety monitoring and early warning are of great significance for metro construction projects and are one of the key tasks of the Metro Authorities.

Consider how, following a series of accidents in the early 2010s, the DMRC launched a special campaign to train workers as well as supervisors of all contractors with whom it worked.

The corporation directed all construction companies to organise a three-day crash training program, equivalent to 18 hours of training exposure, for all employees working on construction sites, including subcontractors.

According to a report in the Deccan Herald, the BMRCL “rigorously” follows the method statement, a document that details how every work should be carried out.

“Every stage of the work is checked, first by the contractor’s safety engineers and then by our engineers and an independent agency,” the source explained.

Such incidents are often followed by the usual knee-jerk reaction, in which senior officials are suspended and the contractors are either blacklisted or fined. However, the Metro authorities should see that all checklists are followed to prevent such incidents and conduct safety audits with more diligence.

Environmental Impact

The risks posed by the metro construction work are amplified many times by the urban environment.

Metro lines are located in complex environments, such as densely populated urban areas surrounded by high-rise buildings and intensive underground pipelines. Some areas still have existing infrastructures with huge traffic volumes.

In this case, metro construction is prone to significantly impact the surrounding environment, leading to hidden safety risks.

Experts say there is a need for better safety measures in metro areas as these sites are closer to traffic and houses. Contractors often cite a lack of space to manoeuvre equipment, but that’s hardly a valid excuse.

Is the situation alarming?

According to an RTI reply, 156 people died, and 103 workers were injured in the construction of the Delhi Metro between 2002 and 2018. A separate data also reveals that 198 accidents killed 118 people who were not involved in the construction of the Metro Rail in the same period.

However, the metro’s accident rate across all projects is low compared with similar construction projects worldwide.

China, the country that has built an impressive number of metro network in the last 25 years (46 operational currently), including Shanghai Metro, the world’s longest metro network at 803 kilometres, has witnessed a spate of construction-related accidents.

For instance, Beijing’s metro construction, which will be the world’s most extensive subway network, has been marked with safety concerns. As of December 31, 2021, subways have been in operation in 40 cities in mainland China, covering a total distance of 7,253.73 km (China Association of Metros, 2022). According to the statistics made available by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development of the People’s Republic of China, nearly 80 accidents occurred from 2011 to 2016 during metro construction.

The rushed pace of construction in China resulted in an alarmingly high accident rate—worse than the accidents on Indian metro sites. State-run Chinese media is also growing increasingly critical of the safety standards at construction projects.

“Overly rapid subway construction has derailed quality control,” said the Beijing Review after the infamous Hangzhou accident. “Under loose supervision, subway project contractors have put production safety in the backseat in pursuit of speed and profit, threatening workers’ lives,” the Review stated.

What Next?

The safety parameters to be practised during the construction work on metro projects are relatively better and in sync with local conditions. Achieving the highest level of safety standards tends to be a ‘work-in-progress’ – every mishap presents an opportunity to learn and reset the safety norms to prevent future reoccurrence.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), considered a benchmark for urban transit in the country, has adopted several measures for the smooth and safe construction of a 61.5-km long network under Phase IV.

These include measures like well-planned traffic diversions with marshals to guide motorists, three-layer crash barriers, a dedicated path for road users, and barricade illumination. Apart from the safety of road users, DMRC also considers the safety of its workers at the site. Large vehicles with cushioning on the traffic-facing side are placed some distance from the work area.

All vehicles used in construction work have speed governors to prevent them from breaching a predefined speed. Apart from this, the construction vehicles are also provided with ‘lateral and rear under protection devices’, which prevent any accidental entanglement with other vehicles, preventing serious injuries to the occupants of such vehicles.

Any death is unfortunate, but fatalities do occur. What is essential is that metro authorities and contractors constantly strive to follow the standards, implement best practices, and be actively responsive to lessons learned.

Indian cities are expanding at a rapid pace, both in terms of size and number. Therefore, developing efficient mass transportation systems in cities is imminent to cater to the rapidly increasing urban population.

The aim must be to prioritise urban transport because the more people choose public transport, the better chance we have at saving the environment and the lives of future generations.

Explained : Ship Repair Facility At Pandu Port In Guwahati And Why It Is Important

By
Amit Mishra
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0

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the foundation stone for a ship repair facility at Pandu Multi Modal terminal.

The Ship Repair Facility – also known as the Slipway – is located at Pandu port on the southern bank of river Brahmaputra (National Waterway – 2) in Guwahati in the state of Assam.

The facility which will be the first in north east region of the country will fulfil the repair and maintenance requirement of vessels plying on NW-2.

The facility will cater to the repair of inland waterway vessels from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Government of Assam, Indian Army and other private operators plying on National Waterway 2 and 16 (Barak River).

National Waterway 2

Necessity

Development of ship repair facility at Pandu is beneficial since North Eastern Region (NER) does not have any vessel repair facility with dry docking. At present, the vessels in the NER are taken to Kolkata through Bangladesh for dry dock repair.

The haulage to Kolkata for repairs involves travel over a distance of 2,500 km and 35-40 days voyage period which is extremely costly, inconvenient and time-consuming exercise.

The ship repair facility at Pandu Port will enable repair/dry docking of inland vessels of North Eastern states in the region itself, at less cost and better time management than before. This shall also create a new source of employment for the local people.

The state government of Assam operates a repair center but does not have dry-dock facility. Dry docking of vessel is required for carrying out repairing of bottom hull & stern gear unit etc.

Dry dock is a structured area wherein construction, repairs and maintenance of merchant vessels and boats are carried out. This unique construction or arrangement allows the water to be filled up in an area, also known as a lock so that vessels can be maneuvered in and out of the area.

MoU

Pandu (Guwahati) is the most important location on National Waterways (NW-2) and accordingly Government established a Multi-Modal River port at Pandu. ]

Establishment of a ship repair facility at Pandu is one of the components of the project for development of NW-2 at a cost of Rs. 461 Crore during 2020-21 to 2024-25.

Pursuant to this, the Inland Waterways Authority of India in August 2021 signed a MoU with Hooghly Cochin Shipyard Ltd. for setting up a new ‘Ship Repair Facility’ at Pandu in Guwahati.

The technical support for the facility is being provided by IIT Madras and will be developed on 3.67-acre plot provided by government of Assam and is expected to be completed by August 2023.

Joshimath Crisis : Why This Uttarakhand Town Is Sinking

By
Amit Mishra
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0

The story so far: Due to land subsidence, roads and over 600 houses in Joshimath – the gateway town to the Badrinath temple – developed cracks, causing panic and protests among the local population.

Swarajya explains the events unfolding in Joshimath – India’s ‘sinking town’.

Where is Joshimath located?

Nestled in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, the sacred town of Joshimath is located on the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway (NH-7) at a height of 6150 feet (1875 m).

Joshimath

It is home to one of the four mathas or monasteries established by Adi Shankaracharya in the four cardinal directions – Sringeri in Karnataka, Dwarka in Gujarat, Puri in Odisha and Joshimath near Badrinath in Uttarakhand.

The town of Joshimath is also nicknamed as Jyotirmath and is the winter seat of Lord Badri, whose idol is brought down from Badrinath temple to Vasudeva temple at Joshimath. This holy town is revered by the Hindus for being an important pilgrimage center of the country.

Joshimath is also of great strategic importance to the Indian armed forces and is home to one of the Army’s most important cantonments.

What is unique about geology of Joshimath?

Joshimath is situated in the middle slopes of the hill bound by Karmanasa and Dhaknala on the west and the east respectively, together with Dhauliganga and Alaknanda on the other sides.

The town lies on an ancient landslide, resting on a deposit of sand and stone, not rock. The rivers Alaknanda and Dhauliganga play their part in triggering landslides, by eroding the river banks and mountain edges.

The subsidence, a gradual settling of the land surface due to the removal or displacement of subsurface materials, has induced structural defects and damage observed in almost all areas of Joshimath, according to the reports.

Why is Joshimath sinking?

A survey by Dehradun-based Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology conducted in 2022 found that gneissic rocks in the area are highly weathered, have low cohesive value, and are prone to high pore pressure when saturated with water, especially during monsoons.

The three main factors behind these landslides are Joshimath’s vulnerable foundations, as it was developed on the rubble of an earthquake-triggered landslide more than a century ago, its location in seismic zone V, which is more prone to earthquakes, plus gradual weathering and water seepage that reduce the cohesive strength of rocks over time, director of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Kalachand Sain told PTI.

However, the ongoing crisis in Joshimath is primarily because of anthropogenic activities.

With manifold increase in population, coupled by the tourist landfall, the town has seen unabated growth of hotels and other such places which have made the slopes highly unstable in the last couple of decades.

What is being done to alleviate the crisis?

According to data provided by the Chamoli district administration, there are a total of 4500 buildings in Joshimath and 610 of these have developed huge cracks.

As such, Joshimath has been declared a landslide-subsidence zone and over 60 families living in uninhabitable houses in the sinking town have been evacuated to temporary relief centers.

Further, the National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad and the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun have been asked to conduct a study of Joshimath through satellite imagery and submit a detailed report with photographs.

The full-fledged commission of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Border Management Secretary is also visiting Joshimath today to advise the State government on short- and long-term actions.

What next?

Incidents of land subsidence in Joshimath were reported in the 1970s too.

A panel set up under the chairmanship of Garhwal Commissioner Mahesh Chandra Mishra had submitted a report in 1978, suggesting some measures –  conservation of the existing trees and plantation of more trees and that boulders on which the town is located should not be touched. However, these measures were never followed.

While the priority at present is to evacuate the affected people to safety, the administration should explore long-term measures to deal with the situation ranging from reconstruction to retrofitting.

Jharkhand: Commercial Operations At State’s Third Airport At Bokaro Likely Soon

By
Amit Mishra
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Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Airport Authority of India (AAI) have signed an Operation and Management (O & M) agreement for facilitating commercial operations from Bokaro Airport in Jharkhand.

The agreement signed before for commercial flights operation at Bokaro airport had expired in March 2021, which now has again been re-established for the next three years.

Presently, Bokaro Airport is an aerodrome owned and handled by Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), SAIL and handles non-scheduled flights operation for SAIL aircraft or VIP movement.

With start of civil operations, the Bokaro airport will connect the steel city to Patna in Bihar and Kolkata in west Bengal.

Significant Delay

In April 2018, SAIL signed a pact with AAI and the Ministry of Civil Aviation for using three of the PSU’s airstrips – Rourkela (Odisha), Bokaro (Jharkhand) and Burnpur (West Bengal) – under the UDAN scheme, for operation of commercial flights.

Soon after, the AAI started work to revamp the Bokaro airport at a cost of Rs 46 crore.

The project included construction of a terminal building with a peak-hour passenger capacity of 300 along with strengthening and re-carpeting the runway, apron and taxi track for ATR-72 aircraft.

The foundation for Bokaro airports was laid down in 2018, almost close to Deoghar airport. However, while Deoghar airport started its operations on 12 July 2022, the Bokaro airport’s expansion project is far from over.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating the Deoghar airport had said that the Centre would soon make Bokaro airport functional.

DGCA License

A three-member team of Airport Authority of India (AAI), has already started Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) survey at Bokaro airport in December 2022. The survey is being done to identify obstacles related to starting of flight services.

This is the final survey required to be done for getting aerodrome license from Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for flight operations.

With SpiceJet already having given its consent to start flight service from Bokaro airport and O&M agreement in place, the commercial operations from the airport are expected to start very soon.

Jharkhand has two functional airports at Ranchi and Deoghar. The number will increase to five once the airports at Bokaro, Dumka, and Jamshedpur are commissioned. The five airports would open up 14 new aviation routes between the state and Kolkata in West Bengal and Patna in Bihar.

SAIL’s Outreach

SAIL, one of the largest steel companies in the country and a ‘Maharatna’ PSU has been actively participating in the development of peripheral areas around its production facilities. This endeavour, in the public interest, is likely to boost economic activities in this region.

Similar to Bokaro, the Rourkela airport is awaiting the nod of the aviation regulator DGCA to start civil operations. The government has focussed on the upgradation of the Rourkela airport in view of the FIH Men’s World Cup scheduled to be held in Odisha in January 2023.

The AAI has spent about Rs 28 crore on the upgradation of the Rourkela airport which is a property of SAIL and also signed an agreement with SAIL on 12 December 2022 with SAIL to operationalize it.

The Burnpur airstrip at SAIL’S Iisco Steel Plant (ISP) in Asansol, West Bengal is being developed by the AAI. The licensing for the airport is under process.

The start of operations at Rourkela, Bokaro and Burnpur airports under the RCS-UDAN would benefit the citizens of these cities through better connectivity and also speed up the development activities in the region.

Feasibility Study To Be Taken Up For 21 Ropeway Projects Under Parvatmala

By
Amit Mishra
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0

The National Highway Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) has invited proposals for carrying out feasibility study for development of 21 ropeway projects across the country.

The 21 projects are part of 256 ropeway projects proposed by various state governments for consideration under Parvatmala Yojana.

The consultant shall carry out detailed feasibility study report for developing ropeway system at each of the locations.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting Union Budget for 2022-23, had announced the National Ropeways Development Programme “Parvatmala”.

The NHLML which is 100 per cent owned Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has been entrusted with the assignment of undertaking development of ropeways projects under Parvatmala Pariyojana in the entire country.

The list of 21 ropeway projects is as:

1. Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh)

2. Light House (Marine Beach) to Besant Nagar (Elliot’s Beach), Tamil Nadu

3. Shankar Viman Mandapam – Triveni Pushp – Ulta Quila, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh

4. Parking to Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

5. Dugdh dhara Falls to Kapil Dhara Falls, Amarkantak (Mandla), Madhya Pradesh

6. Omkareshwar Jyotirling, Madhya Pradesh

7. Statue of Unity (SOU), Kevadia, Gujarat

8. Sabarmati River Front, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

9. Raigad Fort, Mahad, Raigad, Maharashtra

10. Matheran, Maharashtra

11. Baltal – Amarnath Cave, Jammu and Kashmir

12. Nasri Tunnel to Sanasar Ropeway, Jammu and Kashmir

13. Bhaderwah to Seojhdar, Jammu and Kashmir

14. Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab

15. Rishikesh (Barrage) to Neelkanth, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

16. Raithal/Barsu to Barnala, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand

17. Kuteti devi temple-Vishwanath temple, Varunavat Top, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand

18. Kankachori to Kartik Swami Dharmshala, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand

19. Ranibagh to Hanuman temple, Nainital, Uttarakhand

20. Joshimath Auli Garson, Uttarakhand

21. Shirgul Mahadev Temple, Himachal Pradesh

The above list is tentative. The location, origin and destination points and stretch length of the projects are tentative and subject to change during feasibility studies and stakeholder consultations, the tender document said.

The NHAI has already invited bids for the following routes:

  • Sonprayag-Gaurikund-Kedarnath, Uttarakhand
  • Govind Ghat-Ghangaria-Hemkund Sahib, Uttarakhand
  • Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station to Godowlia Chowk, Uttar Pradesh
  • Ujjain Jn Railway Station to Mahakaleshwar Temple, Madhya Pradesh
  • Nature Park (Mohal) to Bijli Mahadev Temple, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh
  • Phool Bagh Square to Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh
  • Ransoo Bus Stand to Shiv Khori Temple, Jammu Kashmir

All these ropeway projects are being executed on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) wherein 60 per cent of the project cost will be paid as a construction support during the construction period and the remaining 40 per cent will be paid as annuity during the operation and maintenance period.

The NHLML has recently awarded the Varanasi ropeway project to an Indian firm, Vishwa Samudra Engineering and its technology partner Bartholet Maschinenbau AG of Switzerland.

Varanasi’s ropeway project is the country’s first “urban ropeway” project which will reduce the travel time between the Cantonment railway station and Godowlia Chowk, one of the most congested stretches, to barely 17 minutes.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for two ropeways in Uttarakhand – Gaurikund to Kedarnath and Govind Ghat to Hemkund – and these will also be awarded soon.

Gujarat : First Phase Of Greenfield Airport At Rajkot To Be Operational By 2023 End

By
Amit Mishra
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0

The work on greenfield airport at Rajkot in Gujarat is in full swing and is expected to be opened by December 2023.

The foundation stone of the new airport at Hirasar was laid down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2017 and was initially scheduled to be opened by March 2023.

More than 95 per cent of earth work along with Runway and other pavement works have been completed. The work for new terminal building and ATC Tower is also in progress. To commission the airport, an interim terminal building of size 60m x 60m capable of handling 300 passengers per hour is also in progress and the airport will be ready for operation by December 2023.

Need For New Airport

Rajkot city is the centre of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat and the fourth largest city in the state.

The present airport is in the heart of the city and is suffering from considerable capacity restraints due to residential and commercial buildings which have been built around it. The present air strip is incapable of serving aircraft larger than Airbus 320 family/Boeing 737-800.

Rajkot Urban Development Authority and Rajkot Municipal Corporation had proposed a plan to extend the existing airport runway to accommodate larger aircrafts so as to provide better connectivity to major cities besides Mumbai and to cater to a large demand from the manufacturing companies located in Rajkot.

However, the plan could not materialize due to land acquisition issues, which, necessitated the construction of an altogether new greenfield airport for the city of Rajkot.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation granted ‘in principle’ approval to Gujarat Government for setting up of the greenfield airport at Hirasar in Rajkot district in October 2017. The project is being developed under BO (Build & Operate) by Airports Authority of India (AAI).

For the new airport coming up between Rajkot and Surendranagar districts, 96 per cent of the land used was barren land of the state government of Gujarat.

Greenfield Airport at Hirasar

Spread over 2534 acres, the new greenfield airport is located next to the Rajkot-Ahmadabad National Highway (NH 47) and is approximately 30 kms from Rajkot city.

With a 3040-metre-long runway, the airport will be capable to serve Airbus321 type of aircraft and the apron will be suitable for parking of 14 planes.

With total built-up area of 23,000 sqm excluding basement, the terminal building of this new airport will be capable to handle 1800 passengers during peak hours.

The terminal will be equipped with state-of-the-art passenger facilities, four passenger boarding bridges, three conveyor belts and 20 check-in counters along with modern firefighting and fire alarm system.

The city side area of the airport is also being developed for adequate parking facilities for car, taxi and buses along with landscaping.

Significance

It has been decided that the AAI shall take up development works in a phased manner.

With an estimated cost of Rs 1405 Crore for the first phase of development, the new airport is envisioned to be a transportation hub for people traveling abroad from the state.

This new airport will cater to the commercial, religious and general aviation needs of the people of Rajkot, Surendranagar and will provide a boost to the local economy.  It will offer employment opportunities to the people of the region too and will be capable of handling both domestic and international operations together.

Being located on Rajkot-Ahmadabad highway, this airport will aim to reduce time and cost related to logistics for multiple industries in the region. More Importantly, the ceramic industry of Morbi and other industries of Jamnagar also depend on Rajkot for air connectivity.

Ten Infrastructure Projects In India To Watch Out For In 2023

By
Amit Mishra
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0

It’s been an eventful year for infrastructure sector in India with many successes including opening of two greenfield airports and inauguration of five new Vande Bharat Trains.

2023 is set to be another busy year. Here are some of the most exciting infra projects to watch out for.

1. Delhi-Mumbai Expressway

The new year, will finally set the ball rolling for commissioning of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (DME).

At nearly 1390 kms, it will be India’s longest expressway and will reduce travel time between Delhi and Mumbai from 24 hours to 13 hours.

The new highway being built at an estimated cost of Rs 103,000 crore originates near Gurugram at Sohna and terminates at Mumbai, traversing through five states, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

According to the latest package level status, construction of 738 kms of the greenfield expressway is complete.

The Sohna (Haryana)-Dausa (Rajasthan) stretch of the DME is all set to be inaugurated in January 2023 with the complete project likely to finish by the first quarter of 2024.

2. Ganga Expressway

Traversing through 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh, the six-lane (expandable to eight lane) access-controlled expressway would connect the eastern and western parts of Uttar Pradesh.

Being the largest expressway planned in the state, the Ganga expressway is expected to play a key role in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s plan to make Uttar Pradesh into a USD one trillion economy state.

The Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) which is executing the project has already selected two developers- IRB Infrastructure Developers and Adani Enterprises Ltd for the expressway’s development.

The preparatory work on the greenfield expressway is gaining pace, with clearing and grubbing work completed on 500 km out of the total 593.94 km as of December 2022. The expressway is expected to be completed and opened in April 2024.

Once commissioned, the Ganga Expressway, will complete the expressway grid in the state, with interconnection to four operational expressways – Yamuna, Agra-Lucknow, Purvanchal and Bundelkhand.

3. Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs)

Indian Railways has undertaken a mega-infrastructure project of two dedicated freight corridors namely Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors (EDFC & WDFC) to facilitate faster evacuation of freight traffic.

The 1506-km-long WDFC runs from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Maharashtra, whereas, the 1337-km-long EDFC runs from Ludhiana in Punjab to Sonnagar in West Bengal.

A total route length of 1610 Km (799 Km of EDFC and 811 Km of WDFC) has been commissioned out of total 2843 Km till October, 2022.

Three out of six stretches on EDFC are already operational, with the remaining stretches scheduled to be commissioned in phases by 30 June 2023. For WDFC, the target date of completion has been set at June 2024.

4. Kochi Water Metro

The much-awaited launch of the Kochi Water Metro, the first-of-its-kind in the country, is likely to happen in 2023.

Kochi, often referred as the commercial capital of Kerala, is one of the most densely populated districts in the state of Kerala. The Kochi water metro project envisages the development of 15 identified routes, connecting 10 islands along a network of routes that span 78 kms.

The water metro will cater to a daily ridership of more than 100,000 people and will revive the traditional water train and travel routes once ubiquitous in the city.

The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) which is executing the project is expected to begin commercial operation on the High Court-Vypeen and Vyttila-Kakkanad routes soon within a month, with Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) delivering the first batch of five boats.

5. Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL)

Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), the longest sea bridge in India, is expected to open in December 2023.

Connecting Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, the sea link reduces the travel time between South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to just 20 minutes from the present two hours.

Popularly known as the Sewri Nhava Sheva Harbour Link, the MTHL is a 22-km-long 6-lane bridge, 16.5km of which would be over the sea and about 5.5kms viaduct on land on either side.

As of December 2022, 91 per cent of MTHL’s construction work had been completed. Financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the project is being implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

6. Mumbai Metro

The new year will bring much respite to Mumbaikars, as two new metro lines, 2A and 7, color-coded as yellow and red line, are expected to be fully commissioned in January this year.

Metro Line 2A will run from Dahisar to DN Nagar, Andheri West, and Metro Line 7 from Dahisar East to Andheri East. These two new lines will cater to offices and residential areas located at Western Express Highway (WEH) and Link Road in the suburbs of the city.

Apart from this, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) is all set to operationalize the first phase – Aarey to BKC – of Metro Line 3 in 2023.

Metro Line 3 is a 33.5-km-long underground corridor along Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ and would connect Mumbai’s key financial hubs, such as Nariman Point, BKC, Lower Parel, Airport, SEEPZ and MIDC.

Also, the commercial operations on Navi Mumbai Metro (NMM) Line 1 between Pendhar and Belapur is expected to start by January 2023. The NMM Line 1 project is a 11-km-elevated stretch between CBD Belapur and Pendhar in Taloja.

7. Bengaluru Metro

2023 could see a major milestone in the commercial operations of Namma Metro.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is likely to commission 40 km of lines under Phase II, thus bringing two major IT corridors – Whitefield and Electronics City on the metro map.

The extended Purple Line from Baiyappanahalli to Whitfield (15 km) and the new Yellow Line from R.V. Road to Bommasandra (19 km) will be opened to the public by mid-2023.

Apart from this Kengeri to Challaghatta of the Purple Line and Hesarghatta Cross to Madavara on the Green Line are also expected to open this year.

8. Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA)

The NMIA is an international airport project being executed by City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and planned to cater to the growing air travel demand of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The project scope includes development of an international airport (in phases) with a capacity to handle minimum 60 million passengers per annum (MPPA) and 1.5 million tonnes cargo per annum.

Work on the Navi Mumbai airport site is in full swing to meet the December 2024 target.

Land acquisition and rehabilitation for the project-affected have been completed. Land development work and diversion of the Ulwe river and shifting of 220 KV and 110 KV high voltage transmission lines passing through the airport area is also complete.

The project located in Raigad district of Maharashtra will ease the load on the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai.

9. Noida International Airport (NIA)

NIA is the upcoming greenfield airport at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh. It will enhance domestic as well as international connectivity to and from Delhi-NCR, Noida and Western Uttar Pradesh.

The airport, billed to be India’s largest upon completion, will be developed in four phases, after which it would have an annual passenger capacity of 70 million and two terminal buildings, spread across an area of 5,000 acres.

Phase I of the airport which will cater to 12 million passengers annually, has reached 20 per cent progress with the work completed on the aerodrome. As per the concession agreement, the first phase is to be completed and made operational by September 2024.

The airport is being developed by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a subsidiary of the Swiss firm Zurich Airport International AG (ZAIA), in close partnership with Government of Uttar Pradesh and Government of India.

10. Delhi-Meerut RRTS

2023 is the year when the country’s first Rapid Rail becomes a reality. The track that will open – 17km from Sahibabad to Duhai – will be 20 per cent of the 82km corridor from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Meerut.

The RRTS project is proposed to link the three cities of Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut through high-speed trains, having a design speed of 180 kmph with 160 kmph of operational speed and an average of 100 kmph running speed.

It will be connecting Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, with 25 stations en route of which 22 are in the jurisdiction of the state of Uttar Pradesh and three in Delhi.

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is building the RRTS, is set to start the trial run on the ‘priority section’ which has four stations — Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar and Duhai.

Once the priority section is completed, NCRTC will keep adding new sections in a phased opening of the corridor till 2025.

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