Govt ropes in DMRC to help run trams

July 31, 2014

Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Atul Mathur

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has decided to rope in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to (DMRC) build and operate trams in the walled city.

Senior PWD engineers said DMRC had the technical expertise to run a modern mass transit system in the Capital and operate it successfully.

“We have written to the Delhi Metro that we will need its help to prepare the detailed project report and execute the project. We will prepare the ground for them,” a senior PWD engineer said.

A DMRC spokesperson, however, said they were yet to receive any official communication.

Senior Delhi government officials said the decision to involve Delhi Metro in the project was taken in a meeting headed by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. Sources said the L-G is taking keen interest in the project and has put it on the fast lane.

Re-introducing trams is a part of Delhi government’s ambitious Shahjahanabad re-development project to bring back the lost glory of the Walled City. Trams were a popular mode of public transport for almost 55 years between 1908 and 1963. The bigger plan is to have a tram network of about 20-kilometers in the walled city – as it did in the first half of the 20th century – with the government planning to run it on a three-kilometre route from Esplanade Road (near Red Fort crossing) to Sadar Bazar in first phase.

“To start with, we have started putting all external cables and wires underground from Fatehpuri to Esplanade Road. Once it is done we will take the second carriageway. We will also build 15-metre wide lane which will have the space for trams and pedestrians. The other side will have two carriageways for local traffic, non-motorised vehicles and emergency vehicles,” a senior PWD engineer said.

Source-http://paper.hindustantimes.com/

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Mobilty

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

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Metro Rail

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

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Metro Rail

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.

Source_http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Metro Rail

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

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Metro Rail

Maharashtra to stand by DMRC’s elevated metro proposal

August 14, 2013

TNN/

PUNE: The state government will stick to the elevated metro plan proposed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for Pune, setting aside all the objections raised by NGOs, civic groups and the state finance department, deputy chief minister AjitPawar said on Saturday.

He was speaking during an interaction with the media at the Pune Union of Working Journalists.

Pawar said, “It is a fact that the metro project has been delayed. We have heard all the suggestions made by NGOs, experts, citizens and political parties. For the last few years the city has debated about (the merits and demerits of) underground and elevated metro. However, the fact is the city cannot afford an underground metro and hence we have decided to go ahead with the original plan (proposed by the DMRC).”

Pawar said, however, the state was not in a position to announce an exact date of completion for the metro project.

He added, “Recently, a delegation from a citizens’ group headed by Vijay Kelkar submitted a memorandum saying Pune should have an underground metro. We need to understand that an underground metro project is unaffordable and the resultant fares will also be high. The motive to have public transport will be defeated if citizens refuse to use metro because of high fares.”

Pawar said the state finance department has raised objections to the financial model for the project. “The state government will overrule objections raised by the finance department and go ahead with the project. The finance department has its own views, which are not binding on the cabinet. (For instance), the proposal of pensions for MLAs was opposed by the finance department, but the cabinet approved it.”

Finance department officials have suggested that the municipal corporation’s share in the total project cost be hiked to 20% from the existing 10%, while the state and central governments should put in 20% each. The rest should be raised by the Special Purpose Vehicle.

Source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Metro Rail

Metro ready with phase 4 report, work to begin soon

July 15, 2013

Subhendu Ray , Hindustan Times New Delhi,

The construction of Metro corridors under the proposed phase 4 may start much before the ongoing phase 3 is completed.

Taking steps in this direction, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is almost on the verge of completing the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed phase 4 corridors (94.24km).

“By August DPR for all the corridors proposed in phase 4 will be ready and submitted to the state government for requisite approvals. After that we will be able to start civil work under phase 4, anytime the government wants us to,” said SD Sharma, director, business development, DMRC.

Delhi Metro has already prepared and submitted the DPR for the Maujpur-Mukundpur corridor to the Delhi government.

It is also almost ready with the DPR for Janakpuri West-RK Ashram corridor and would submit it to the government within a week, said Sharma.

By the end of this month, DMRC will submit DPRs for three other corridors— Tughlakabad-Aerocity, Lajpat Nagar-Saket G Block and Inderlok-Indraprastha —and the DPR for Rithala-Narela via Bawana by August, said DMRC officials.

Before finalising, the DPRs would have to be approved first by the Delhi government and then by the Centre.

“We may have to start construction work for some corridors under phase 4 much before the completion of phase 3 in 2016. We have expedited the process of preparing DPR for phase 4 as the urban development minister wanted early execution of the project,” Sharma said.

Phase 4 is scheduled to be completed by 2021.

According to officials, Delhi Metro has made certain changes in the initial project layout following suggestions given by the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), an engineering consultancy company, which last year had conducted a traffic survey and found that some changes in the plan would benefit more people.

Source-http://www.hindustantimes.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Uncategorized

DMRC begins preparations to operate airport express line

July 15, 2013

PTI New Delhi, June 29, 2013

A day after Reliance Infra refused to operate the Delhi Airport Metro line beyond June 30, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Saturday said it has started all the necessary arrangements required to take over operations of the 22.7 km long express link.

“DMRC has started all necessary arrangements required for taking over the operations of the airport express link, if any such requirement arises, in the wake of a recent letter by the concessionaire communicating that they (Reliance Infra) will not be able to run the services after the business hours of June 30,” a DMRC spokesperson said.

Reliance Infra owned Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL) had written a letter on June 27 expressing its inability to continue operations from the night of June 30.

Yesterday, in a board meeting the DMRC had rejected the notice given by Reliance Infra, and termed it as a “violation” of the Concessionaire Agreement and the ongoing Arbitration proceedings.

An Operations and Maintenance team of 100 officials has been created under DMRC’s director, operations, Sharat Sharma to handle the operations of the airport line, the spokesperson said.

DMRC’s managing director Mangu Singh has also formed a core committee of seven senior officials to handle extreme emergency situations.

Officers and staff will be deputed for all the strategic departments such as Operations, Traction, Electrical and Maintenance, Civil, Signalling and Communications, Security, Rolling Stock and Finance, he said.

An Operations Control Manager (OCM) will also be appointed with a dedicated team to take over the control of all the important Operations Control Centre (OCC) of the line, from where the Express link operations are monitored.

However, the staff currently employed by the concessionaire in station management and train operations will continue to carry on with their responsibilities under the DMRC’s supervision.

“Senior DMRC officials today had a meeting with the officials of the concessionaire, Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited for the smooth transition of the services. Both the organisations are working together to ensure the continuation of the smooth functioning of the line,” the DMRC spokesperson said.

Source-http://www.hindustantimes.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Metro Rail

Smartphones may replace Metro cards

June 18, 2013

Subhendu Ray, Hindustan Times New Delhi, June 16, 2013

Travelling across the city in Delhi Metro is likely to get more comfortable if you are a smartphone user. You may not even need to carry a Metro smartcard or buy a token because your phone will have everything you need.The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is exploring the possibility of introducing a new system termed near-field communication (NFC), which has the ability to make smartphones act as Metro smartcards. The NFC device in your phone will act as the electronic identity document and keycard.

“We hope to put the system in place soon and reduce the use of physical smartcards within two years before our network expansion under phase 3 is completed. NFC devices are currently at a trial stage,” said a senior engineer of the signalling department of DMRC.

The projected average daily metro ridership in 2016 is projected at nearly 40 lakh once phase 3 expansion is over. DMRC is eyeing at a 30 per cent reduction in manual smartphone transactions through this system.

Many new Samsung smartphones, Nokia Lumia phones, Sony’s Xperia range, HTC’s high-end phones and LG’s Optimus range support NFC. Many other smartphone makers too are reportedly keen on introducing the system.

“An antenna chip will be inserted in the smartphone, which will function as a smartcard. The commuter will have to bring the phone close to the automatic fare collection (AFC) gate to gain entry,” said Anuj Dayal, chief spokesperson of DMRC. The device will establish radio communication with the AFC gate when touched or in close proximity to the phone.

“The new generation phones will let you recharge the chip. The amount of recharge will be reflected in your monthly phone bills “, he added.

The NFC devices are also being tried as alternative to smartcards in Dubai and Singapore metros, he said.

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Metro Rail

More gadgets to power clean Metro stations

May 21, 2013

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times New Delhi,

Come June and the premises of all Delhi Metro stations will remain clean round the clock.

In a bid to ensure world-class cleanliness, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has procured a set of new equipment and machinery – including electrically operated scrubber drier and back pack vacuum cleaners – at all its stations and their surrounding areas in Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad.

Officials said, keeping in view the fact that room for mistakes by cleaning staff would be more considering the proposed expansion of the network under Phase III, the corporation had made arrangements for automated cleaning.

“These new equipment would provide mechanised cleaning operations and ensure dust free sweeping and cleaning. The new system will also dispose waste and garbage in bio-degradable disposal bags,” said Anuj Dayal, spokesperson of DMRC.

http://www.hindustantimes.com

Written by ITW Editor · Filed Under Metro Rail