As per the current security structure, there is one QRT with commandos at every three stations and a control room at important stations. “Metro is a sensitive installation and we need to be on our toes all the time. QRTs at every station will reduce the reaction time during an emergency. The QRTs will be stationed outside the metro station and commandos posted will be trained to tackle any emergency,” a senior CISF official said. Over 20 lakh commuters travel by Delhi Metro and to track suspicious passengers, CISF staff monitor live CCTV feed from the control room. But control rooms are not present at every station, sometimes this delays the response time.

“In case a passenger forgets his/her baggage or any suspicious passenger is located, the person sitting in the control room can immediately direct someone to swing into action. The purpose is to make every passenger boarding the metro feel safe,” the official added.

The CISF has deployed nearly 5000 personnel for the security of metro stations. CISF conducts audits to identify the most sensitive stations and accordingly the deployment was planned. “There is always a requirement for additional personnel,” he further added.

Source-http://paper.hindustantimes.com

Haryana’s plan to partner with UT administration in the ambitious Metro rail project is likely to be decided in a meeting of the project’s coordination committee in New Delhi on Monday.
UT administration, Punjab, Haryana and the union ministry of urban development (MUD) will take part in the meeting to discuss the project that is expected to cost Rs. 10,900 crore. The Metro, once completed, will cover a distance of 35.75 kilometers and be a mode of rapid public transport for Chandigarh, Panchkula and SAS Nagar. The government of Punjab and Haryana and UT administration will jointly bear the expenses of the project.

Haryana has expressed its intention of becoming a partner with Chandigarh in the project. Punjab government would just bear the cost of the project falling in its jurisdiction. The Punjab cabinet has already approved the link between SAS Nagar and Chandigarh. Chandigarh plans to take a loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency, which also gave the loan for the Delhi Metro project.

Last year, the administration had submitted a detailed project report to the MUD for approval, which is still pending. The ministry is likely to give a nod after deliberation on all issues related to the project.

While corridor 1 of the project, measuring 12.49 km, will stretch from Capitol Complex in Sector 1 of Chandigarh to Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan in Sector 70 of SAS Nagar, the second corridor would stretch from Mullanpur in SAS Nagar district to Grain Market in Sector 20 of Panchkula. UT adviser KK Sharma and UT finance secretary VK Singh will represent Chandigarh in the meeting.

Source –http://www.hindustantimes.com

Amid the brouhaha in India over the border incursions by their troops, Chinese engineers were last week calmly tunneling in the heart of the national capital for the heritage line of the Delhi Metro network, signifying the growing commercial linkages between the two neighbours. Engineers of the

Shanghai Urban Construction Group (SUCG) lowered a massive 300-tonne Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) into a crater that was once a park in the shadows of the city’s main mosque – the 17th century Jama Masjid in old Delhi.

A station will be built here as part of the Delhi Metro’s 9.37 km Central Secretariat- Kashmiri Gate corridor, also called the heritage line because of its proximity to many monuments. “Tunneling this section is quite a difficult and sensitive job because of so many historic monuments here. The task is complicated by the rocky and sandy nature of the soil in this section,” Lu Yuanqiang, chairman, SUCG Infrastructure India, told IANS on location. SUCG has formed a joint venture (JV) with Indian conglomerate L&T that has been awarded different projects by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). With another Indian company, it has already constructed the New Delhi Elevated Subway (viaduct) for the second phase of DMRC’s project. Lu said his company had the expertise required to stabilise the soil in rocky areas where tunneling disturbs stability and increases the risk of subsidence.

On the Mandi House-ITO section of the line, where soil conditions were much better, 500 metres (of the 750-metre long section) of tunnel had been constructed, he said. The JV’s 2009 tunnel section for the Delhi Metro Airport Express – again requiring specialised expertise – was completed well before schedule, Lu said. The heritage line is located nine metres below the existing ramp for the Dwarka-Noida/Vaishali line and runs for 80 metres along the corridor. “The work has to be meticulous as it’s coming up under an operational corridor,” Shen Chenming, the project director, told IANS. Shen, who has been in Delhi for nearly five years, leads the workforce that is largely Chinese. Lu pointed out the difficulties that could arise from externalities in what is otherwise a fruitful collaboration between Indian and Chinese businesses.

“Specifically we face visa problems, delays and uncertainties if the relationship runs into complications for political reasons,” he said. From the business perspective, he had special praise for India, where, he said, public opinion ensures that it is “fair” for those wanting to do business. “India is a very important market for us. The Indian market is open, fair and just, while active public opinion ensures this, at least from our experience in the construction sector,” Lu said. The SUCG-L&T JV also has the contract for constructing the tunnel and stations for the Delhi Metro’s Vasant Vihar-Hauz Khas section.

Source –http://constructionsphere.com

RAJESH KUMAR/HT PHOTO

We have been receiving complaints from women passengers for quite some time. One of the issues they had was people watching them when they were getting frisked. At many stations, there are temporary frisking booths and we have asked the DMRC to replace them,” said a senior CISF official, requesting anonymity.

“At a few stations there is not much space but we are working it out. Now every Metro station will have a booth of similar design unlike the current plan where they have separate booths for separate stations,” he added. Another issue, which was also raised by women commuters, was about their baggage getting stolen while they were being frisked. This too has been addressed.

The booths will have a gap at a place from where women can see their bags getting scanned. “Once the booths are installed, we will change the location of the baggage scanner. The space will be at the eye level and either at the right or left side wall of the booth. We hope women passengers will not have any other issues once the new booths are installed,” the CISF official added.

According to CISF, 50 per cent of Metro stations have this problem where frisking and screening of women passengers and their baggage are done at separate points. Over 20 lakh commuters travel by the Delhi Metro every day and 40 per cent of them are women..

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