Maharashtra Metro: Enhancing Connectivity with high-end Technology

Excerpts as under:

Would you appraise us of the ongoing projects happening under Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation?

While the Nagpur Metro Rail Project is on the verge of completion and work on the Navi Mumbai project has started, a number of projects are in the pipeline waiting clearance of government agencies. While Nagpur Metro Rail Project Phase I is almost over, Phase II awaits sanction from the Union Government. Maha Metro exemplary record has ensured that it has been assigned with many important tasks Metro Neo Rail Project for Nashik, Broad Gauge Metro Project and preparing Detail Project Report (DPR) for Ring Metro Project at Thane. Following is the summary of the ongoing and upcoming projects:

Technology innovation has been playing a crucial role in determining the state of the art amenities and their affectivity. What modern technologies are getting implemented under the metro rail projects in Nagpur?

Maha Metro has undertaken a number of steps and introduced a number of innovations while implementing the project. Some of the innovations have been introduced for the first time pan-India. Some of the unique aspects of modern technology have been listed below:

Puzzle parking (fully automated system that enable horizontal and vertical movement of parking spots to park and retrieve cars) adopted at Futala.

Spherical bearings having more life span, being used in special Railway Crossing bridges at Gaddigodam and Anand Talkies.

Mass Spring System (MSS) Floating Track Slab at Zero Mile Station for Vibration Mitigation.

The Zero Mile station is a Multi Storied Commercial Building. The building has multi level underground parking with a concourse level below the  Platform level. There is also planning for  Hotel rooms  and guest rooms at various floor levels above platform level. As the track structure is passing through the building structure at Zero Mile station, vibrations generated from the train wheels rolling on the tracks are directly transmitted to the building structure.

As per the recommended criteria, the maximum vibration level allowed for luxury guesthouse is 69 VdB. To mitigate the high levels of vibrations generated, the track structure at Zero Mile station has been specially designed as a Floating slab (30 mm above Station slab) supported on  176 Nos. Chrome alloyed Steel Spring system isolators. This can achieve vibration mitigation of about 25VdB.This type of Floating Track Slab on Viaduct has been executed for the 1st Time in Indian Metro Railway System.

What are the prime challenges that you faced while bringing this major transportation overhaul within the DNA of your city? How have you mitigated these challenges?

Maha Metro has faced a number of challenges while executing the Nagpur Metro Rail Project. The challenges have been multifarious but have been effectively solved by the organization with the firm determination of the Maha Metro officials and coupled with the help offered by the local government. The primary challenge in all the Metro projects across the country is to manage the road traffic. As the project work has to be executed on roads which are essentially heavy on traffic density, vehicle movement and traffic management has been a major challenge. However, Maha Metro did not just overcome these challenges but has an accident ratio of almost zero.

Double decker carrying 4 lane NHAI and metro is being constructed in two stretches of 3.4 km and 5.33 km. Also, a double decker carrying 6 lane NHAI stretch of 1 km with branching off to a 2-lane flyover perpendicular to alignment, is being constructed.

An 80 m span Through Truss Girder, as a part of double decker viaduct carrying 4-lane NHAI traffic at lower chord level and metro rail traffic at top chord level, is proposed across existing Indian Railway line which already has an RUB, making four level traffic movement, near Gaddigodam. The proposed double decker railway crossing will enable road traffic at ground level, Indian Railway movement at next level, 4 lane road traffic at third level and metro traffic at fourth level at the intersection.

Maha Metro encountered almost the same problems alike the one faced at four layer transport system at Gaddigoam, mentioned above. Apart from managing traffic and vehicular movement, getting block from railway has been a major challenge, given ever busy railway lines on which the work has to be executed.

Will you share with us of the finance model for completion of the metro projects in your cities? To what extent is the city metro administration leveraging PPP model for further implementation?

Maha Metro projects have been funded by government agencies, local self-government bodies, and external funding organizations. The government agencies include union and state governments, local self-government incorporates the municipal corporation of the concerned city. Development banks based in France and Germany have offered soft loan to Maha Metro for implementations of its project. Following is the Funding Pattern of Nagpur Metro Phase-I:

(Rs/Crore)

However, some of the works are done on a PPP basis, which are as follows:

• AFC (Automatic Fare Collection) 
• Solar Power Generation: Nagpur Metro has focused on solar power generation on PPP right from inception to meet 65 % of total energy requirements.
• Real Estate Redevelopment at Metro Stations: Maha-Metro is planning to give Large Land Parcels (Stand Alone Plot) available at Dhantoli / Zero Mile / Kasturchand Park on long term lease, on Public Private Partnership (PPP), which is expected to generate Non-Fare Box Revenue in the form of Fixed Upfront Premium and Annual Concession Fee.
• Maha-Metro already awarded the tender for Development of Parking and Commercial on land adjacent to Airport Metro Station on PPP.

Is the ongoing metro project in your city leveraging job scenario in the region? What kind of efforts are being made for enhancing skill development among young crowd who are working in this domain?

Apart from executing Metro rail project in Nagpur and Pune Maha Metro, has also added to the existing employment potential in these two cities. The projects in the twin cities has given jobs and provided direct employment opportunities to around 2,000 people. This apart, the companies engaged by the organization has also provided jobs to the local populace. But that’s not all. Maha Metro has sought howe services of about 300 companies which have directly or indirectly helped in boosting employment to a great extent. Added to this is the fact that many students from local colleges, especially engineering institutions, have been part of internship project at Maha Metro. Thus Maha Mater has not just contributed in terms of providing employment, but also provided academic opportunities to the student fraternity of the two cities.