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Showing posts with label ‘Metro Superman’ E Sreedharan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ‘Metro Superman’ E Sreedharan. Show all posts

Friday, 10 January 2020

07:32

Special Traffic & Power block at Thane for dismantling of old FOB

Special Traffic & Power block at Thane for dismantling of old FOB
2020/1/11
09-01-2020
Special Traffic & Power block at Thane for dismantling of old FOB
Central Railway Press Release
Special Traffic & Power block at Thane for dismantling of old FOB
Central Railway will operate special traffic and power block for dismantling of old foot over bridge at Thane station (Kalyan end) by using 140 T Railway crane as under:-
On 11/12.01.2020 (Saturday/Sunday Night)Between Mulund and Kalva from 00.15 hrs to 05.15 hrs
Due to this work, the train running pattern will be as under:
Diversion of DN and UP suburban trains:-
During the block period Dn slow locals leaving CSMT after 23.10 hrs will be diverted o­n DN fast line between Mulund and Diva stations and Up slow locals leaving Kalyan after 23.30 hrs will be diverted o­n Up fast line between Diva and Mulund stations. These locals will not halt at Kalva and Mumbra stations in both UP and DN directions.
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Tuesday, 5 March 2019

22:44

AC Train Between Mumbai Central and New Delhi -Western Railway

AC Train Between Mumbai Central and New Delhi -Western Railway

2019/02
26-02-2019
Mumbai

W.RLY TO RUN TEN TRIPS OF HOLI SPECIAL SUPERFAST AC TRAIN BETWEEN MUMBAI CENTRAL & NEW DELHI
To clear the extra rush of passengers during the forthcoming Holi festival and to ensure better convenience to the passengers, Western Railway has decided to run 10 trips of Holi Special Superfast AC train between Mumbai Central and New Delhi o­n special fare. The details of these trains are as under:-
·09005/ 09006  Mumbai Central – New Delhi Superfast AC Special Train o­n Special fare  (10 trips)                                       
Train No. 09005 Mumbai Central – New Delhi Superfast AC Special train will depart from Mumbai Central at 16.00 hrs and will reach New Delhi at 7.55 hrs. the next day. This train will run o­n 1st, 8th, 15th, 19th and 22nd March, 2019.
 Similarly, Train No. 09006 New Delhi – Mumbai Central Superfast AC Special train will depart from New Delhi at 14.50 hrs and arrive Mumbai Central at 6.55 hrs. the next day. This train will run o­n 2nd, 9th, 16th, 20th and 23rd March, 2019.
The train will halt at Vadodara and Kota in both directions.
The train will have AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier coaches and Pantry Car.
The booking of Train No 09005/09006 will open from 28th February, 2019 at all PRS counters and IRCTC website.

Source:Western Railway



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Saturday, 17 June 2017

22:01

List of Kochi Metro stations and parking facilities

List of Kochi Metro stations and parking facilities
Are you looking for the list of Kochi Metro stations with parking facilities? Below is the latest list of stations. Metro stations with parking facilities are mentioned accordingly.
List of Kochi Metro stations
Below is the complete list of metro stations in Kochi. Please note that only the stations between Aluva and Palarivattom are ready for service. Rest of the stretch is still under construction and may take a few more months to become fully operational.
List of Kochi metro stations that are operational in first stage:
1. Aluva (starting point) (parking lots)
2. Pulinchodu
3. Companypadi
4. Ambattukavu
5. Muttam (parking lots)
6. Kalamassery
7. Cochin University
8. Pathadippalam
9. Edappally
10. Changampuzha Park
11. Palarivattom
Kochi Metro Stations which are not ready yet:
The following metro stations are expected to be completed and ready for operation before Dec 2017:
1. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
2. Kaloor
3. Lissie
4. MG Road
5. Maharaja's College
6. Ernakulam South
7. Kadavanthra
8. Elamkulam
9. Vyttila
10. Thaikoodam
11. Petta





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Thursday, 11 May 2017

08:47

Kochi Metro:Trial Run begins from Aluva to palarivattom

Kochi Metro:Trial Run begins from Aluva to palarivattom

Kochi Metro begins service trial today, PM Modi’s dates being worked out for inauguration
The metro train project in Kochi is the first in Kerala and will span 13 kilometres in the first phase from Aluva to Palarivattom.
The final service trial run of the Kochi Metro began earlier Wednesday paving way for commercial operations to begin soon. The trials have begun after the Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety gave clearance certificate to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), that helms the project, and considered to be the fastest to get safety clearance compared to other metro projects in the country. The metro’s inauguration has not been announced keeping in mind prime minister Narendra Modi’s dates, said a KMRL official.
The metro train project in Kochi is the first in Kerala and will span 13 kilometres in the first phase from Aluva to Palarivattom. Fourteen more stations will come up in the second phase in which the train will further travel to Thripunithura coursing through some of the busiest intersections in the city. Extensions to the international airport in Nedumbassery, that falls outside city limits, and to Kakkanad, home to several IT firms, are also planned in subsequent phases. The project, which has seen five years to see the light of day, will significantly cut travel time for a commuter within the city and will solve larger traffic and pollution problems in Kochi. The metro will also be an integration platform with the ferry and bus systems to provide seamless travel options for residents.
The metro trial run began at 6 am from Aluva and will conclude at 9:30 pm today. Four rakes of trains will make a total of 142 trips through the day and will stop at every station to test signal and safety limits.
The metro project was expected to be thrown open to the public on November 1 last year, the day of formation of Kerala. But the deadline could not be met. The project, built on a PPP model between the state and the Centre, had DMRC as the implementation agency and E Sreedharan as the principal advisor to the DMRC. The coaches for the train were ‘made in India’ by Alstom, a French company at the Sri City facility in Andhra Pradesh.

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Saturday, 6 May 2017

21:59

Kochi Metro to get safety certificate on Monday

Kochi Metro to get safety certificate on Monday
Prime Minister’s date awaited for commissioning transport system

The apparent quality of work on Kochi Metro stations is better than that of Bengaluru and Chennai metros and the safety certificate to commence commercial operations on its 13.20-km-long Aluva-Palarivattom corridor will be submitted to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) on Monday, Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) K.A. Manoharan has said.
He was addressing reporters here on Friday evening after a five-member team led by him concluded inspection of the elevated rail corridor, 11 stations on the route and the metro’s depot in Muttom.
“Appreciable work has been done on theme-based stations. My team is satisfied with the safety measures and they will be analysed further while submitting the report,” Mr. Manoharan said.
He added that some more CCTV cameras and information boards had to be installed in stations. The KMRL had assured that this would be done in a week. Some improvements were also required in signalling and telecom systems.
“We inspected tracks, interface between signalling and telecommunication systems and trains, stations, fire alarms, CCTV systems and the information/public address system,” he said. Speaking to The Hindu, an elated Managing Director of KMRL Elias George said he was delighted to hear the CMRS appreciating theme-based stations.
“Soon after receiving the safety certificate and inspection report on Monday, we will carry out service trials using ‘dummy’ passengers, while Kudumbasree workers and securitymen will be exposed to managing the crowd that is expected to pour in once the project is commissioned. The date will be decided based on the Prime Minister’s convenience.
He added that uplifting literary quotes from Malayalam, Indian and world literature will be displayed in stations and trains. “We took a cue from the London Tube where poetry verses are displayed in trains,” he said.
Metro sources said the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation would have to carry out suggestions made by the CMRS, following which KMRL would have to give compliance report to the CMRS. The CMRS also verified competency of metro personnel and his recommendations are expected to figure in Monday’s inspection report.
Others who were present included the Deputy Commissioners of Railway Safety, G.P. Garg and E. Srinivas, and KMRL directors .

Source:The Hindu 
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Thursday, 9 March 2017

06:58

Metro -3-Colaba-Bandra-Seepz the most difficukt Metro Project -'Metro Man' E Sreedharan

Metro -3-Colaba-Bandra-Seepz the most difficukt Metro Project -'Metro Man' E Sreedharan

Sreedharan writes to CM Fadnavis for Metro carshed in Aarey 

MUMBAI: Even as the controversy over land acquisition in AareyBSE 2.39 % colony , earmarked for the Metro-3 -Colaba-Bandra-Seepz line continues to rage, `Metro Man' E Sreedharan has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asking him to intervene in clearing the decks for a carshed in Aarey . 

Sreedharan, who has been credited with building the Konkan Railway as well the Delhi Metro system, said the Metro-3 "is the most difficult Metro project undertaken in this country yet".

Seeking the government's final clearance for the Aarey carshed to be built in Goregaon, Sreedharan has written, "Metro projects are environmentally most friendly and setting up a carshed in Aarey is not going to be a threat either to the government or to the eco system.The main objection would be against cutting of trees, for which compensatory afforestation on a liberal scale can be insisted upon." 

Sreedharan had written to Fadnavis in February , arguing that the deadline for completion of the Metro 3 -which is 2020 -can be met only if work commences on the carshed immediately. 


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Monday, 23 January 2017

19:27

KOCHI METRO EXPECTED TO OPERATIONAL BY MARCH END

KOCHI METRO EXPECTED TO OPERATIONAL BY MARCH END

World class metro expected to be operational by March end

Kochi, Jan 23 (PTI):A world-class metro system to enhance the quality of life for people living in Greater Kochi area is expected to be operational by the end of this March.
According to officials, E Sreedharan, principal advisor, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) today inspected stations between Aluva and Palarivattom section of the Kochi Metro Rail Project.
Sreedharan, who undertook a motor trolley inspection in the viaduct between Aluva and Palarivattom, had detailed inspections at various stations and instructed the officials to speed up various works connected with civil electrical and signal and telecommunication, a DMRC release said here.
“Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and KMRL are working together to complete the work between Aluva and Palarivattom and to commission the section by the end of March 2017.
He expressed satisfaction about the progress of work,” the release said.
Signal testing trial will continue between Aluva and Palarivattom for the next one month, it added.
This is published unedited from the PTI feed.

Source:India.com



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Wednesday, 24 August 2016

07:17

High-speed rail link more feasible to KIA than metro: Sreedharan

High-speed rail link more feasible to KIA than metro: Sreedharan

Delays have cost Bengaluru a metro project that would have aided in the reduction of traffic congestion within the city, E. Sreedharan, principal adviser to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., who is popularly known as the ‘metro man’, has said.

While the metro was conceptualised a decade ago when Bengaluru’s population was barely 60 lakh, the four-year delay will see the network criss-crossing a city with more than 1.1 crore inhabitants. “There should have been a larger network by now. The only way to tackle the traffic is to aggressively expand the metro network,” he told reporters on Saturday.

Mr. Sreedharan believes bus rapid transport system (BRTS) cannot be managed on the narrow roads of the city.

He was in the city to launch the State chapter of the not-for-profit organisation, Foundation for Restoration of National Values. Among the various objectives of the organisation, including police and administration reforms, is to “highlight” the delays in the implementation of the Phase I metro network by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL). “The terrain or the geology of the city cannot be the excuse for cost escalation. There are rocks and difficult tunnelling conditions in most cities. Metros have more-or-less followed the scheduled inauguration elsewhere. There needs to be somebody to question things,” Mr. Sreedharan said.

Airport link

With the Kempegowda International Airport being nearly 45 km from the city, Mr. Sreedharan said a high-speed rail link, which has been virtually scrapped by the government, was the more feasible option rather than extending the metro network. “Imagine the kind of land required for the metro project and the amount of time it would take to complete it. The best option would be high-speed rail, with check-in facility at the centre of the city itself,” he said.

Source:The Hindu
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Tuesday, 15 March 2016

17:40

Book on Metroman ‘E Sreedharan’ released

Book on Metroman ‘E Sreedharan’ released

A book on E Sreedharan, an extraordinary railways engineer, manager and human being. E. Sreedharan is role model to many he is the much-admired engineer and technocrat . He won many accolades for finishing the Delhi Metro project within budget and on time. He is known for his efficiency and discipline . He is very strict with regard to the productivity standards. It is quiet surprising to find that he never spent more than the eight-hour workday in office. Sreedharan’s years with the Railways, the building of the Kolkata Metro and the Konkan Railway, followed by the Delhi Metro, and the many more is discussed in this issue.

Kochi: In a day and age when all that we read about are delayed infrastructure projects and spiralling costs, it is refreshing to study a man who is known for his project implementation skills in the public infrastructure space.
Karmayogi, a biography of E Sreedharan, which is a translation of MS Ashokan’s Malayalam version by Rajesh Rajamohan, provides an insight into the man behind the legendary technocrat. A career that expanded well beyond 1990, when he retired as Member (Engineering) at the Railway Board, he set new standards in efficiency and integrity.

The author has tried to capture personality traits of the ‘Metroman’ — as Sreedharan is widely known — from various perspectives: a reputation built on his honesty, integrity and his project implementation skills.

A staunch follower of the Bhagvad Gita, Sreedharan’s basic mantra has been to be honest in one’s private and public life in such a way that ‘you don’t need to try hard to convince anybody; stand firm and not cede an inch while discharging your duties with conviction’.

This also means keeping professional skills up-to-date, holding in esteem the downtrodden in society in your plans, being morally upright and following habits that rejuvenate both body and mind.

He practices yoga and would encourage his colleagues to do so. The book is dotted with interesting anecdotes about Sreedharan’s project management skills.

Some of it was outright innovative such as rebuilding of the Pamban bridge, a 2.3 km rail bridge across the sea between Pamban and Rameshwaram, in just about one and half months! The bridge had been washed away in a cyclone in 1964.

A big success

The job involved rebuilding 126 girders that had been washed away. In a business as usual scenario, the girders would have had to be built and brought in from Gujarat and Assam, which would have taken more than six months.

But, after Sreedharan went to ground zero and interacted with locals, he learnt from the fishermen that the girders were still visible under water at a depth 40-50 metres.

So, he had all of them recovered, designed the bridge around the girders, and used the services of f Mappila Khalasis, who were known for their traditional and effective methods of hauling massive objects.

The job was completed so far ahead of time that it led to a funny incident. On the very day that the then Railway Minister replied to a query in Parliament in Delhi that it would take about a week for the bridge to be rebuilt, the All India Radio announced the trial run of a train on the bridge, with the print media celebrating it the next day.

The project implementation was widely acknowledged and Sreedharan was also awarded Rs. 1,000 for the same. His daughter was born during the time, whom he did not go to meet till his task was completed.

Kolkata metro experience

The Kolkata Metro project shows how Sreedharan had to give in for lack of support from several quarters. In this project, Sreedharan was associated as deputy chief engineer-planning and design.

As the metro was a new technology for India, Railway Board got an invite for a meet on metro systems held in Japan.

Kolkata Metro’s Chief Engineer JM Roy declining an offer to go to Japan for an international conference on metro as he had only a couple of years left in service and instead recommended Sreedharan as his replacement.

In early 1970s, when nobody would let go of a chance to go abroad, Roy’s act was a pleasant surprise for Sreedharan. He stayed in Japan for four more days to see the Tokyo closely.

The Indian embassy in Tokyo was also of help and Sreedharan picked up ideas for his model designs from them, which were in Japanese. But he did use them to make a prototype.

That said, the Kolkata metro project became a victim “old bureaucratic malaise of dawdling incompetence,” the book quotes Sreedharan. There was no coordination of the railways’ undertaking with the State government. A 9 km link took 11 years to complete, with another stretch taking another 11 years.

Sreedharan says that “it was a relegation of technology of the modern world to the background and dumbing down of it to an Indian administration’s version.” He moved out of the project after four years, aware of the futility of it.

Sreedharan was also at Cochin Shipyard as its CMD. A decision taken to procure a part of the ship, Rani Padmini, from a Polish maker at much cheaper cost, against the earlier norm of procuring German components, shows his willingness to break away from the beaten path.

Konkan marvel

Then there was the Konkan Railway project, which he took up after retirement, involving multiple States. The book describes in detail how he got political support from across States for the project, managed the land acquisition and rehabilitation process, and used local bikers to create goodwill.

He hired the team for the Konkan Railways’ project by focusing on strength of character and honesty. The team had decided not to micromanage daily activities.

Employees under them too had been given powers relevant to their roles, and make them accountable for the same.

The intent was to empower employees to take decisions and avoid the culture of dependency on superiors in trivial matters, points out the book. He took progress review meetings every month, the minutes of which were not noted as he felt they were a waste of time.

Crowning glory — DMRC

His next successful project was the Delhi Metro. In all his contracts, Sreedharan ensured contractors were paid on time, he took timely decisions to make contractors perform their work. He had promised contractors that no decision would take more than 48 hours.

At times, to not delay the work, he took decisions on spot — such as building another tunnel, though the concerned official had apprehensions about the extra funds.

The leader’s backing in such instances is necessary today when many government officials are simply not willing to take decisions for fear of being hounded by vigilance.

Sreedharan, who is known for his integrity, had also pointed out the perils that vigilance bodies could have had on a construction organisation. There are certain areas where the author touches upon critics’ views, but has not elaborated on them.

Sreedharan never spent over eight hours in his office, did not take files home, and post retirement from DMRC turned down a job that offered him ₹20 lakh a month. He lived out of the pension of Indian Railways, with the DMRC salary going towards charity.

The accounts of how he has resisted politicians and officials, dispels some of the deep cynicism within us.

Metro Man, may your tribe increase.

MEET THE AUTHOR

MS Ashokan is an author and senior journalist with more than 20 years of experience. Based in Kochi, he currently works with the Deshabhimani daily.

Source:RailNews
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Tuesday, 8 December 2015

18:59

Kerala:Nilambur-Nanjangud Rail line: Kerala to sign MOU on Dec 10 with Railways

Kerala:Nilambur-Nanjangud Rail line: Kerala to sign MOU on Dec 10 with Railways

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Union Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu in New Delhi on December 10 for the implementation of the Nilambur- Nanjangud railway line.

The project will be executed on cost-sharing basis (50 per cent each) between the State and the Railways. The line connecting Kerala and Karnataka is expected to reduce travel time between Wayanad and Mysore to one hour and between Wayanad and Bangalore, three hours.

The project had remained in cold storage for over a decade for multiple reasons, including an unscientific survey conducted of 236 km and financial projection of Rs 4,266 crore. However, it was revived following the intervention of Principal Adviser of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) E. Sreedharan recently.

A topo alignment survey had brought down the distance between Nilambur and Nanjangud to 156 km and cost to Rs. 2,200 crore, said T.M. Rasheed, of Nilgris- Wayanad National Highway and Railway Action Committee, which is spearheading the campaign for the project.

Already the committee had held discussions with the Chief Minister in this regard. The proposed Nanjangud- Sulthan Bathery- Nilambur railway line would not touch the tri-junction of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Another survey is also being carried out by a Chennai-based firm to finalise the alignment, which will focus on the gradient as well. Subsequently, a Detailed Project Report will be prepared and a Special Purpose Vehicle will be formed.
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Friday, 23 October 2015

21:28

Kerala CM meets Venkaiah Naidu over Light Metro projects

Kerala CM meets Venkaiah Naidu over Light Metro projects

New Delhi: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy held discussions with Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu here on Friday for getting the Central Government’s approval for the proposed Light Metro projects in Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram.

At the meeting, Chandy stressed the need for implementing the Light Metro projects in Kochi and Kozhikode urgently, and discussed extension of the Kochi Metro Rail. The Chief Minister, who was accompanied by State Public Works Department Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju and Kochi Metro Rail Project principal advisor E Sreedharan, talked to the Union Minister for more than 40 minutes.

Welcoming the proposal for the Light Metro projects, he said the Ministry would initiate the necessary actions once Kerala submits the report. “If Kerala submits a detailed report on the Light Metro projects, we would take action on it without any delay,” Naidu said after the meeting. Oommen Chandy, meanwhile, assured Naidu that a new report would be submitted within one week.

Venkaiah Naidu has said that the Centre welcomes the Light Metro projects in Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, and will take the necessary action once Kerala submits the report. “If Kerala submits a detailed report on the Light Metro project, an immediate action will be taken,” Naidu said after a meeting with Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy over the Light Metro project.

The Kerala Government had written to the Centre regarding the Light Metro projects on September 11, stating that the twin projects would be taken up on the lines of the Kochi Metro project. The State and the Centre are supposed to bear 20 per cent of the cost each, while the remaining 60 per cent will be raised through borrowings.

The Kerala Government needs mandatory approval from the Centre to kick off the Rs 6,728-crore project. The Chief Minister then assured the minister that the new report will be submitted within a week. He was accompanied to the meeting by PWD minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju and KMRL principal advisor E. Sreedharan.

The Kerala government had written to the Centre regarding the Light Metro projects conveying that the twin projects would be completed on the lines of Kochi Metro Project. The State and the Centre are supposed to bear 20 per cent each of the cost and the remaining 60 per cent is planned to be raised through borrowings.

“During the discussion, Naidu also raised the issue of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan with the Chief Minister,” spokesperson for the Ministry of Urban Development told ‘Express’. The Union Minister told Chandy that though the Kerala Government did a good job in the rural areas under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the same enthusiasm was not seen in the urban pockets, and called for steps to address the issue.
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Thursday, 17 September 2015

08:43

DMRC named Thiruvananthapuram & Kozhikode Light Metro Consultant

DMRC named Thiruvananthapuram & Kozhikode Light Metro Consultant

Thiruvananthapuram: The state government on Tuesday named Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as the consultant for the Light Metro project for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. The letter sent to the Union government by PWD secretary Mohammed Hanish on Tuesday included the details regarding consultancy as well.

Though the state cabinet gave administrative sanction to the detailed project report prepared by DMRC on September 9, the role of DMRC was not mentioned. While announcing the decision, chief minister Oommen Chandy said the government would convey the Centre about the administrative sanction and added that the project would be modelled on Kochi Metro. But Chandy hadn’t clarified the role of DMRC.

Later, KPCC president V M Sudheeran wrote a letter to Chandy asking to clear the air regarding the project. The KPCC executive meeting held here earlier this month also demanded execution of Light Metro project under the supervision of DMRC principal adviser E Sreedharan. CPM also issued a statement seeking the involvement of DMRC and Sreedharan in the project. But senior officials, including chief secretary Jiji Thomson, were against awarding consultancy to DMRC arbitrarily as they believed that awarding consultancy on a nomination basis was a violation of CVC guidelines.

Sources in the government said the CM finally decided to pay heed to the suggestion as he didn’t want to trigger controversies ahead of local body elections.

The government has sought in-principle clearance from the Centre for the project and sharing of cost. The state has mooted a proposal to avail 60% of the project cost as loan and sharing of the rest equally between state and Centre
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Friday, 4 September 2015

19:03

Chandrababu Naidu looks at JICA for investment in Vijayawada Metro project

Chandrababu Naidu looks at JICA for investment in Vijayawada Metro project

Vijayawada: Even as Union Ministry of Urban Development raised doubts over the feasibility of Vijayawada Metro Rail, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu requested E.Sreedharan, former CMD/DMRC and Advisor for various Metro Rail projects in the State, to ensure that it starts taking shape at the earliest.

“Funding is not a problem, he said, as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is keen on extending financial assistance to them”, Mr. Naidu said in a meeting with the Metro Man in Hyderabad on Friday.  On the Viability Gap Analysis, he mentioned that MUD’s report was based on certain parameters.

However once the State Capital starts functioning from Amaravati – the newly announced Capital of Andhra Pradesh, then Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali corridor including the suburbs like Mangalagiri, Nuzivid etc will form part of Amaravathi Capital Region and hence the scope and viability of the Metro Rail project will get scaled up to 10-12 times than the current analysis by MUD, he added.

During a detailed discussion on Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada metro railway projects, Mr.Naidu said that Mr.Sreedharan, who was former MD of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, could visit places like Istanbul where public transportation has been revolutionized by metro rail projects and probably replicate the best practices back home.

Mr.Naidu wanted first phase of Visakhapatnam project to be completed by the end of 2018 and the one planned for Vijayawada launched at the earliest.

Mr.Sreedharan and his team were asked to prepare a process chart for regular monitoring and to take care of logistical issues that might derail the projects.

Since metro rail projects were cost-effective means of transportation in the coming years, A.P. Government attached due priority to them and looked forward to experts like Mr.Sreedharan to chip in with their expertise, Mr.Naidu added.
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10:11

Kerala chooses Kochi Metro model for Thiruvananthapuram Light Metro

Kerala chooses Kochi Metro model for Thiruvananthapuram Light Metro

Sreedharan’s concern over ambiguity in communications

Thiruvananthapuram: Reiterating yet again that the Rs.6,728-crore Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode Light Metro rail projects will be executed (by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) on the lines of the Kochi metro rail project, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Thursday that specifics of the twin projects would be added in the letter sent to the Centre.

He was speaking at the Cochin International Airport here after a meeting to review the Kochi metro project and the way ahead for the Light Metro in the other two cities. Against the backdrop of allegations that key officials and decision-makers in the State were trying to keep the DMRC away from the Light Metro project, Principal Adviser of the agency E.Sreedharan had expressed concern over the ambiguity in communications sent by the State government to the Centre seeking sanction and funds.

Referring to Thursday’s discussions with Mr. Sreedharan, Mr. Chandy said, “We assured him that obstacles in implementing the Light Metro will be removed so that the projects can be completed in a time-bound manner. Mr. Sreedharan sought inclusion of a few specific details (such as the executing agency) in the letter sent to the Centre.

The forthcoming Cabinet will decide on this.” “The outcome of Thursday’s meeting is that the Light Metro will be implemented by the DMRC on a turnkey basis as is being done for the Kochi metro,” sources in the agency said.

Thursday’s developments are critical since there were reports of key officials and people’s representatives in Kerala trying to rope in private players for implementing the Light Metro.
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Thursday, 27 August 2015

08:48

Charge passenger fares correctly, reduce OPEX for IR’s Survival; Borrowings from LIC or World Bank do not help much: says E.Sreedharan

Charge passenger fares correctly, reduce OPEX for IR’s Survival; Borrowings from LIC or World Bank do not help much: says E.Sreedharan

E.Sreedharan is definitely not impressed with the pace of reforms in IR. He feels reforms in IR is not as fast as it should have been, and the Govt is not taking corrective actions in time, instead approaching different ways to fix the issues which will not help IR. He says Madhavrao Scindia’s “computerisation of reservations” is one of the best reforms in the history on IR which has visible impact on the citizens of this country, passengers are actually benefited with drastic reduction in waiting time and longer queues are cut down at Railway Stations due to Computerisation. He suggests that the current dispensation shun non-core activities and charge passenger services “correctly” atleast from now; since it’s a question of survival; argues Sreedharan

He shows no signs of slowing down at 83 and thinks that Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu could do well to increase his pace of work and take some unpopular measures. While the Indian Railways has been working on a high speed train for quite some time now, Sreedharan may just beat them to have the first train to run at 350 kmph in his home state Kerala by 2020. He tells Bhavna Vij-Aurora that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the 550 km line between Thiruvananthpuram and Kannur will be ready by March 2016.

“The reforms in IR are not going as fast as it should,” he said.  He headed a one-man committee recently, to look into the issue of delegating tendering and commercial powers to general managers.

Sreedharan argued for increasing the fare if necessary. “Suresh Prabhu has started well but pace has to be much much faster. Investment is required in Railways but don’t look to borrowings only, look within, reduce expenditure, increase revenue…Why are we so shy of increasing passenger fares?” he told.

“I would suggest charge services correctly; increase fares if necessary; reduce operational costs,” he said adding that costs can come down by 30-35%.

Sreedharan said, “I have suggested all this to the minister.”

He blamed the transporter for sitting on the report of the Anil Kakodkar-headed Safety Committee. “The last Safety Committee I was a member, we had recommended measures and process. None were unpopular suggestions but there’s been no implementation of the recommendations,” he said.

The Metroman argued that railways should withdraw from the non-core activities which have impact on its finances. He questioned why the transporter is running a college for mechanical engineers for railways when there are hundreds of colleges educating mechanical engineers.

“It was an old system started during the British when there were no mechanical engineering colleges, it should stop now,” he said. Sreedharan added, “Also, don’t run schools. Education is a state subject and is being offered by all states.”

Arguing that productivity needs to be increased, he said, “The most important is to change the work culture like several PSUs have shown…turn around the way IR works.”

“Indian Railways are behind by 20-25 years to the rest of the world. Railways is an excellent government department…..but change work culture, instill a love for the organization in the people……privatization can’t be the answer to everything,” he said.

Sreedharan says Railways is over staffed and some tough decisions needed to be taken. “Take unions into confidence, it’s a question of survival. We can’t depend on World Bank all the time. Passenger services should be profitable, charge it correctly.”

The advantage of increasing passenger fare is that it doesn’t lead to inflation while an increase in freight fares will immediately increase prices, argued the former DMRC chief. He also said that the current alignment of Kashmir rail link will not work. “The alignment will not work, my report said so. If Kashmir has to continue to be a part of India, the line has to open…why not implement it properly? Take criticism and make changes,” Sreedharan said.

Here are some of the excerpts of the conversation with E.Sreedharan:

Q: What do you think of the railways’ performance under the NDA regime?
A: There were high expectations from the new government. Railways do not seem to be taking off. The steps that were needed have not been taken.

Q: Can you name some?
A: Railways cannot survive on borrowings. That is the tendency right now. Borrow from LIC. Borrow from World Bank. They have to return this money. The railways should mobilise resources and generate income. Passenger fares have to be increased and operating expenses reduced. Expenses can be brought down by as much as 35%.

Q: How can it reduce operation costs?
A: Why should the railways be running an engineering institute like the one in Jamalpur? There are IITs and other institutes doing that job. Similarly, they should not be running schools either. Most importantly, the work culture in railways must change to improve productivity.

Q: What do you think is preventing railways from doing unpopular things like increasing fares?
A: The political will to change is required. Nothing big has been done in railways since Madhavrao Scindia’s computerisation of reservations. That was the last big thing in railways, the last big idea.

Q: What do you think of Suresh Prabhu’s efforts at garnering resources and funds?
A: He has started well but the pace has to increase. Borrowings are okay for the short term but there has to be a proper strategy to pay them back. The system cannot survive on that. Unpopular measures have to be taken. Fares need to be increased. Staff strength needs to be reduced. Railways are over-staffed. These are unpopular measures but it is a question of survival of the system. They cannot depend uponWorld Bank all the time for money. Passenger service has to be profitable. They cannot subsidise anymore.

Q: Do you think enough safety measures are in place?
A: Money is definitely needed to make railways safer. But there are reports of various committees, the last one being the Kakodkar committeeof which I was a member. We gave concrete suggestions about improving safety measures and also doing away with all railway crossings where accidents happen frequently. It again comes down to work culture. Overbridges have to be made to eliminate railway crossings and permissions and approvals are needed from the railways, and they take months and years to come.

Q: What is the status of the high-speed train project in Kerala?
A: It is being executed by DMRC and a feasibility report is ready. A DPR is being prepared with the help of Korean and Japanese experts. It will be ready in March 2016. The distance of 550 km, between Thiruvananthpuram and Kannur, will be covered in two-and-half hours.

Q: How do you think the Delhi Metro is doing now?
A: Expanding the metro network is good but the government has to take steps to stop proliferation of private vehicles. I don’t understand why the government is not taking any initiative. It should improve public transport and allow private operators to run bus services. There should be low floor, narrow, fuel efficient buses running on Indian roads, especially in the NCR. The government should allow private parties to ply buses, give them incentives and make it profitable for them. As incentives, the government can do away with registration tax and road tax which together account for 25% of the cost. Public transport scenario can change in one year in the Capital.
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Tuesday, 25 August 2015

22:35

Lucknow Metro Rail plans to include 3 more phases in the city

Lucknow Metro Rail plans to include 3 more phases in the city

Lucknow (LKO): With Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation planning to include East-West (E-W) corridor in phase I of the project, some more phases of metro rail are likely to come up in the city over the next 15 years. Phase I comprises a 35km metro-track from Amausi Airport to Munshipulia under North-South corridor (about 23 km) and from Vasantkunj (on way to Malihabad) to Charbagh railway station (about 12 km) under E-W line.


Metroman E Sreedharan said, considering rapid development and population growth in state capital, it would be imperative to have at least 150km total metro-route in city to fulfill most of the commuting needs in the next 15-20 years.

Sreedharan said, “We believe Lucknow metro would need more link routes in future to cover most localities. Hence, we need to launch more phases of metro over time to cater to maximum people.” LMRC managing director Kumar Keshav said at least three phases of metro need to be launched in city to cover the population.

Earlier too there were talks about constructing some link routes to the two main corridors. A link route was planned up to Shaheed Path along which many housing projects are mushrooming and the area is considered highly pristine. The same route was to cover localities of Gomtinagar and its extension. Another plan was to run metro from Awadh Hospital Chouraha on Kanpur Road up to Sitapur bypass near IIM, Lucknow.
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Tuesday, 28 July 2015

18:35

Andra Pradesh Metro Rail Detail Project Report Submitted

The Detailed Project Report for Metro Rail for the city being prepared the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is almost ready. The report is now given final vetting by the DMRC.

After a final look by Advisor to the Andhra Pradesh Government E. Sreedharan, it will be submitted to the State government, probably in the next couple of weeks, say sources. Work on preparation of DPRs and the related surveys began in the second week of January.

Metro Rail is proposed on three corridors totalling 42 km. The longest corridor, proposed from Madhurawada to Gajuwaka, runs 31.2 km. Though initially the corridor was proposed from Madhurawada to NAD, the Gajuwaka stretch was included later, adding another 8.2 km.

The other corridors are from Gurudwara junction to One Town (5.5 km) and Tatichetlapalem to Park Hotel via University Road (7 km).

The DPRs include details of properties to be affected and widening of roads, if required, say sources. The cost per km of Metro Rail is estimated at Rs.206 crore, the sources add.

 Source :The Hindu
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Tuesday, 21 July 2015

16:16

Kochi Metro to become Symbol of Modern Kochi

Kochi Metro to become Symbol of Modern Kochi

Kochi: Welcome to Kochi Metro that is changing the landscape of the city beyond recognition led by ‘Metro Superman’ E Sreedharan, 83,  Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Kochi Metro Rail Limited and the Kerala government. Till three years ago, Kochi was identified with Chinese nets and placid backwaters, but now it has a new icon:  the Metro corridor running high above the citizens’ heads along the 18-km first reach from Aluva to Maharaja’s college ground through which trains are scheduled to roll along from June 2016. When the French-built gleaming coaches make their appearance finally, they are guaranteed to provide a world-class travelling experience for Kochiites, nay the entire Keralites in fact.

This will be in contrast to their experiences so far, which  have been very local and almost brutal: the red killer buses driven by the most undisciplined drivers in the world  through  potholed roads and  causing a high number of accidents; unwary passengers being robbed of their valuables by pickpockets in the huge rush; women subjected to harassment; bikes and cars going on the rampage through congested roads; pedestrians getting knocked down  and  autorickshaws running  without meters and overcharging. All these would hopefully be a thing of the past by June next year when, as promised by Sreedharan, Kochi Metro trains will run, bringing in comfort,  convenience and reliability. When the rigs started digging deep into the Kochi soil for pile foundations in June 2013,  Kochiites couldn’t have imagined such dramatic changes so rapidly in their surroundings. Sreedharan and Kochi Metro are set to rewrite the national record by finishing the work within three years after its launch, the fastest for any metro. The Chennai Metro took six years to complete the 10-km stretch, Delhi Metro four years for the 8.5-km stretch and Bangalore six years for the first six-km route.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had entrusted the work with Sreedharan and the DMRC against all opposition, just like he has done in the case of Vizhinjam port project now, which will be executed by  Modi-friend Adani.

Neither hartals and rains nor other umpteen hurdles, including land acquisition issues, prevented the Metro from racing ahead. The old landmarks have given way to new ones, roads have been widened, new bridges built and obstructing buildings pulled down to pave way for the metro corridor. The Metro has actually become a people’s movement and the citizens have  put up with all the inconveniences of rebuilding and reconstruction, traffic jams and diversions in the wake of the 25-km, Rs 5,200-crore mega project going full steam. Also, even the militant local labour have abandoned their negative attitude, though there are scarcely any Malayali workers carrying out the work. They gaze at the tall and mighty pillars coming up fast and the huge piers and girders being mounted overnight with effortless ease by contract companies’ men who go about their work with military precision and discipline alien to the Malayali work culture.

 Those who have travelled in metros in major cities like Dubai, London or Delhi know what make them world-class.  The spotlessly clean and air-conditioned  coaches are inviting and there is no feeling of rush or exhaustion. Most city dwellers prefer the metro, which in  Dubai presents a colourful microcosm of the world with different nationalities rubbing shoulders with each other.   There are no hassles involved in buying tickets, boarding or alighting,  and checking is automated at the entry itself with no conductors and cleaners breathing down your neck, like in Kochi buses.

That Kochiites have already imbibed the Metro spirit is quite evident from a poster that appeared on the sidewall of the north overbridge built
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