Bengaluru Metro works to be completed by year end

Kochi Metro’s innovative Smart Card based Fare Collection to yield substantial revenue
UD Ministry reviews progress of 6 Metro Projects ; Metros asked to avoid cost and time overruns

Construction work in respect of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project has begun within three months of the project being sanctioned by the central government with the Special Purpose Vehicle for execution of the project, MEGA (Metro –Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad) Company Limited commencing work for construction of 6 km. Viaduct between Vastaral Gaam and Apparel Park. The Rs.10,773 cr project was sanctioned in November last year and the work has commenced in February this year. The project envisages 37.66 km of Metro Rail with and elevated portion of 31.43 km and underground portion of 6.33 km.

Ahmedabad Metro Project will have an East-West corridor of 20.53 km between Thatlej Gaam and Vastrapur Gaam including the underground portion and fully elevated North-South corridor of 17.23 km between APMC and Motera stadium. There will be a total of 32 stations.

During the review of progress of Metro Projects being implemented on 50 : 50 Centre and State Joint Venture basis by the Ministry of Urban Development, CMD of MEGA informed that Design Consultants for Metro Stations and other components of works are being appointed. He said that the underground section will be completed in 27 months time.

Shri Madhusudhan Prasad, Secretary (UD) during the review on Friday last has asked the six Metros being implemented on 50 : 50 basis to ensure that there are no time and cost overruns. He said that infrastructure projects are top priority for the government and they are being monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office.

CMD of Kochi Metro informed in detail about the Smart Card based Automatic Fare Collection system to be introduced resulting in substantial savings in capital expenditure besides additional revenue to the Metro. Axis Bank led consortium which has been selected through international competitive bidding will introduce Smart Cards which can be used for payment of metro fares as well as for other commercial merchandise at various market outlets. Kochi Metro will be paid a royalty of Rs.209 cr over a ten year period besides 0.2 % of transaction value on card transactions for non-metro fare purposes. Through this initiative, Kochi Metro saves Rs.270 cr on capital expenditure on introducing AFC systems besides the expenditure on annual maintenance for 10 years.

Kochi Metro informed that 51% of work has been completed on Reach I from Aluva to Maharajas and 17% of work on Reach II between Maharajas and Petta. 4883 of 5693 Piles, 731 of 1416 Piers and 862 of 2751 Girders have also been completed. Financial progress has been reported to be 34%.

In respect of Bengaluru Metro, physical and financial progress of about 92% has been reported. The entire network of 42.30 kms. in Phase I will be complete in all respects by December this year of which 38.30 km. would be operational for public service and the balance 4 km would be ready for testing and commissioning. This Metro has a North-South corridor of 24.20 km between Puttenahalli and Nagasandra and East – West corridor of 18.10 km between Mysore Road and Baiyyappanahalli. Three Reaches with a total length of 17 km with 16 stations have so far been commissioned.

Regarding Chennai Metro, Stage -1 comprising 7 stations and Viaduct of 10 km is set for revenue operations soon. Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety has carried out Rolling Stock inspection for this stage in the first week of this month. Out of the 42 train sets required, 9 from Brazil and 12 from Sri City, Chittor (AP) have been received. Regarding other four Stages, works are in progress.

Nagpur Metro has reported completion of demarcation of alignment on Airport –MIHAN , Automative Square to Zero Mile and Prajapatinagar – Dosar Vaisya Chowk sections amounting to 55% of total alignment. DMRC has been assigned the Consultancy work of preparation of bid document for appointment of General Consultant and preparation of Design Basis Report. RITES has been tasked with preparation of bid document and bid process management for appointment of execution agency for the priority section between Airport and MIHAN and bid document for appointment of Detailed Design Consultant and for construction of Viaduct between Airport and Sitaburdi.

DMRC reported 70% progress in civil works and overall physical progress of 57% in respect of Phase-III Project and financial progress of 40%. This Phase is scheduled for completion between May, 2015 and December, 2016.