Lack of skilled engineers: Hyderabad Metro Rail settles for old power supply system at cost of esthetics
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HYDERABAD: Hyderabad Metro Rail project touted to be at global standards being executed under first ever private-public partnership (PPP) model has shunned modern Third Rail technology of power supply for the train, and decided to stick to the age-old overhead line system called AC Traction. Shockingly, the reason given is lack of skilled engineers able to handle the modern technology.
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intention is to adopt a cutting edge technology in every possible aspect of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project. However, when it comes to seamless power supply for the train, we preferred a bit old trend of AC Traction, considering paucity of trained engineers able to handle Third Rail system that is modern trend across the globe. People need to be trained before going for such modern technology, and for now it is safe to settle for overhead line," said a senior official in Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL).
However, in Bangalore the metro rail project has used the Third Rail system successfully, and even in Delhi the latest technology is adopted for the third stage of the metro rail in the stretch between Delhi and Gurgaon without any hitch. Interestingly, L&T that is executing Hyderabad Metro Rail project as the concessionaire is also the builder of Bangalore Metro Rail project. And there is no convincing answer from HMRL authorities on this discrepancy.
Third Rail system is the modern technology wherein the power supply line is placed in between the two track of the rail, and the train gets the seamless power supply as it runs on the tracks, where as the AC traction system supplies the power through an overhead line running along the track. The third line system supplies 750 volt DC voltage (direct current voltage, while the overhead line system provides 25 KV AC (alternative current voltage). And the experts feel, by any standard the third line system is preferred to the age-old overhead line system, as the modern trend call for. The overhead line system is not only deterrent to the aesthetics matching to the modern urban transport system such as metro rail, but also scores negatively in terms of cost effectiveness.
"Any modern metro rail project uses the Third Rail system for power supply, as it is cost effective and minimizes the maintenance issues. The structure cost, and maintenance cost is at higher side for AC Traction system apart from it is being considered as an old trend, across the globe, as far as esthetics is concerned," said Prof. M N Srihari, advisor to the Government of Karnataka on infrastructure and traffic, who is over viewing Bangalore metro rail project.
According to Srihari's estimation, the Third Rail system costs over 25 % less than the AC Traction system. However, authorities at HMRL are looking at it from safety point of view given the engineers are trained in the old overhead line system, and they told TOI that they didn't want take risk.
"The biggest issue here is safety. We feel the overhead lines are safer, as we are well versed with the system. With the Third Rail system, risk involves in evacuation the passengers, when the train trains stops in middle due to any technical snag. And it is riskier near stations, where the movement of the passengers is at its maximum," said the HMRL official.
He said with over head line system, the rolling stock (train set including engines and bogeys) with higher passenger capacity up to 80000 phpdt (peak hour peak direction traffic), while the rolling stock with third rail system could handle just 50000 phpdt. He also said the AC Traction was cost effective in terms of energy consumption, as the third rail system used DC power that is expensive.
The authorities said HMRL had entered an agreement with AP Transco for uninterrupted power supply to the railway traction and also for staion and depots. About 75 MW of power will be required a day for the project. Transco will be supplying 130 KV power, which will be scaled to 25 KV for traction.
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Skywalks to connect metro stations, offices
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The Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMR) is open to the idea of connecting skywalks leading from the overhead metro stations to office, educational institutions, commercial and residential complexes or even to important public buildings.
It will ensure that metro rail users need not get down onto the road and instead can directly walk towards their respective destinations...
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straight from the station after alighting from the train. Of course, such convenience will not come for free.
The HMR is keen that the private buildings bear part of the skywalks construction cost of up to 50 per cent, said Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy. “We are planning for a fishbone concept of skywalks at different layers connecting to the station and the nearby facilities including setting them up under the viaduct,” he explained.
Of the 66 overhead stations proposed alongside the 72 km of elevated metro rail across the three dense traffic corridors of the twin cities, more than 200 such skywalks are expected to be built. These will be in addition to the escalators, lifts and staircases linking to the roads and to the two-level stations – concourse and the platform.
“The skywalks can also be used to crossover the busy road sections near the stations to make it convenient for metro riders. It can help a great deal in cutting down the 30 per cent or so estimated ‘avoidable’ trips made by the citizens daily thereby reducing road traffic too,” he explains.
The skywalks network is modelled on the lines of Bangkok metro rail. The web of skywalks will be part of the pedestrian friendly facilities being planned for the transport system. These works are to be taken up under the Central government funded Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) which could be up to Rs.200 crore.
The IIT (Delhi) has been entrusted with the task of coming up with a report on the pedestrian-friendly measures that can be taken up along with integration of different modes of transport, cycling and other non-motorised transport (NMT) facilities etc., at the stations, Mr. Reddy added.
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Hyundai Rotem accomplished Delhi Metro phrase 1 and 3, and bungalow Metro projects in stages. Hyundai Rotem obtained EMU order (171 cars) of Hyderrabd, 3rd city in India and total number of vehicles are over 800. Now Hyudai Rotem expands India market activily.
Project : India Hyderrabad EMUs
Authority : L&T Metro Rail Limted
Number of vehicles :...
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171
Contract date : 2012. 9. 10
Delivery date : 2014. 6. 11 to 2016. 12. 28
Specifications:
Maximum design speed : 90km/h
Formation : 3 cars per 1 train set
Dimensions (L x W x H) : 22,600 x 2,900 x 3,800 (mm)
Gauge : 1,435mm
Trainset : DM + T + DM
Electric Systems / Power Supply : AV 25,000V (50Hz)
The number of seats : 128
Passenger capacity : 968
Carbody : Stainless steel
Compressive load : 1200kN
Doors : Electric outside sliding doors
Air Conditioner : 71,400Kcal/h/car(in/outside automatic sense)
Brake / Coupler : Pneumatic braking / Automatic coupler(machine+pneumatic system )
Bogie : Bolster less Bogie, Out-board type
Main electrical equipment : Induction motor, VVVF Inventer
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Hyderabad: India’s biggest engineering company Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T) said on Tuesday that it plans to complete the process of signing up vendors for the Rs.16,375 crore Hyderabad Metro rail project by the end of February.
L&T placed orders worth Rs.1,700 crore with South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem Co. for rolling stock in September, and orders worth Rs.700 crore with France-based Thales SA to set up signalling, train control and communication systems in November. The company said it is in the process of finalizing the Rs.180-200 crore contract to supply automated fare collection units within a week, followed by escalator and workshop equipment by February.
L&T...
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is developing the Hyderabad Metro rail project, the biggest urban infrastructure project undertaken as a public-private partnership in India. The elevated rail network will cover 71.16km along three corridors comprising 66 stations.
The company has so far invested around Rs.850 crore on the project, largely met through a short term loan of Rs.600 crore from Yes Bank Ltd at an interest rate of 11%. L&T will make the first drawdown of its debt component this month. This will be in the range of Rs.300-500 crore.
L&T is investing around Rs.4,330 crore as equity—the single-biggest investment so far on any project the firm has executed. The debt component is Rs.10,478 crore. The Union government has provided a Rs.1,458 crore grant as viability gap funding.
The debt was funded by a group of 10 banks with State Bank of India as the lead banker in March 2011 at a floating rate of interest, starting at 10.5%. Since then the interest rate has risen 175 basis points, putting the viability of the project under a cloud. One basis point is equal to one-hundredth of a percentage point.
“Last two years were abnormal, we are hoping interest rates to soften a bit this year,” said V.B. Gadgil, managing director, L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd.
L&T has initiated several measures to contain the interest burden.
It’s in talks with India Infrastructure Finance Co. Ltd (IIFCL) to replace some of its existing debt to the tune of Rs.1,000 crore with cheaper and longer tenure loans.
“We are in discussions with IIFCL,” said Gadgil, refusing to disclose more details.
To insulate itself from exchange-rate fluctuations, L&T’s largest order worth Rs.1,700 crore to South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem for rolling stock is denominated in rupees.
“The company is also negotiating with other vendors to sign up in rupee terms,” said an official of L&T Metro Rail.
Gadgil said L&T is planning to start first trials by the end of 2014. The project is expected to be completed in five years.
The network is to be constructed in five years, with L&T holding the concession for 35 years, extendable by another 25. The company can earn lease rentals from property development and advertising rights before the real estate is returned to the state government.
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L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad, the concessionaire building the elevated public transport project for the city, in an effort to take it closer to the people has decided to choose brand ambassadors from among the general public.
These will be selected among students (school & college), corporates, senior citizens, housewives and others. The process of selection will be announced shortly and a panel of eminent personalities will function as judges to select them, said L&TMRH Chief Executive & Managing Director V.B. Gadgil on Tuesday.
“Hyderabad metro rail is a people’s project so its obvious...
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that we chose citizens as brand ambassadors during the construction stage. We will be choosing eight to 10 persons and they will be featured in all publicity campaigns,” he announced at a press conference.
A second initiative unveiled is to popularise the use of bicycles and linking it with metro rail. Bicycle riding will be conducted across all the three routes where the metro rail is being built. The first ride in the ‘Hyderabad Metro Connects series’ will be the ‘Blue ride’ where several bicycle riders are expected to participate in the Shilparamam to Nagole community ride on Feb.17, 6.30 a.m. to 12 noon. Soon these rides will be taken up on the ‘Red ride’ – L.B.Nagar to Miyapur and the ‘Green ride’ – JBS to Falaknuma. These activities are being taken up in association with Atlanta Foundation, a voluntary organisation working for the underprivileged students. Mr. Gadgil said L&TMRH will be undertaking corporate socially responsible activities for the primary and secondary schools alongside the three routes. “We are entering into an interesting phase of construction . Work will also begin on the Begumpet road in addition to the constructions at Uppal, Miyapur & L.B.Nagar,” he observed.
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L&T may rope in equity partners for Hyderabad Metro
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L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited (LTMRHL) on Tuesday said it may think of roping in equity partners for Hyderabad metro rail project.
Vivek B Gadgil, chief executive and managing director of L&T Metro Rail, said while they were not talking to anybody at the moment, they would sometime definitely look at having equity partners....
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"Immediately we have no idea or plan to go for equity infusion from somebody else. But in a project like this, we may think of it. When this will happen, only the market will tell. The market should be conducive and we should be able to create value out of the project," he told reporters while unveiling the project's emblem and also announcing an initiative to select brand ambassadors from general public.
Gadgil said in infrastructure projects of this size, the equity comes from institutional investors who look for longer horizon.
For the Rs16,375 crore project, the equity will be Rs3,439 crore, a consortium of banks will provide loans of Rs11,478 crore and the government grant in the form of viability gap funding will be Rs1,458 crore.
Gadgil said the company would start drawing debt in a month's time and this would be anywhere between Rs300 crore to Rs500 crore.
Under the agreement for the project, said to be the world's largest Metro project under public private partnership, L&T will exhaust all the equity first and then start drawing the gap funding.
"Present we are meeting all our expenses through our equity. We have so far spent Rs400 to Rs600 crore," he said.
He also revealed that the company has raised a short term loans of Rs.500 crore from Yes Bank, which is not part of the consortium of banks, at an 11 percent interest rate. He said the loan was taken with consent from the consortium and this helped the company not to infuse further equity.
It would re-pay the short-term loan as soon as it draws the debt. He also clarified that this loan is not over and above the loans already tied up.
Gadgil said since the financial closure in April 2011, the project cost has escalated by 12 percent but noted that there was some improvement in the situation over last few months.
Referring to the cost escalation, he said some of the things are factored into while signing the contract.
"Some contingencies provided based on your past experience and some predictions but problems start when some abnormal things happen. The last two years have been very abnormal as far as economic conditions not just in India but globally are concerned. That is where the worry starts," he added.
Asked about the possibility of renegotiating some of the clauses of the agreement with the government, he said that stage has not come yet. He pointed out that even the conditions with the bankers were not renegotiated when the supplementary agreement was signed last month.
Gadgil said they would complete all the procurement process by the middle of next month. Only two procurement contracts are yet to be awarded. The automatic fare collection contract, which is likely to be between Rs180-Rs.200 crore will be awarded in one week. The decision with regard to contract for elevators and escalators will taken in 15 to 20 days.
He said the cost of rolling stock contract was Rs1.700 crore and that of signaling and communications Rs700 crore.
The project on 72-km three high density corridors with 66 elevated Metro stations is expected to be fully operational by July 2017.
He said the trials will start by the end of 2014 but taking approvals from various statutory authorities will take a long time. Gadgil said the project was entering an interesting phase and the pace of the work would gather momentum.
The company will select six to eight brand ambassadors from among school and college students, executives, house wives and other sections of people.
Terming it as a unique feature of metro anywhere in the world, Gadgil said it was aimed at giving the project's ownership to people.
LTMRHL also entered into an agreement with Atlanta Foundation, an NGO, to announce Hyderabad Metro Connects 2013, a cycling event to be held on February 17 on one of the three corridors.
It also plans to have a bike station near Cyber Towers in Hitec City with bicycles donated by Atlanta Foundation for people to commute to metro stations.
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*****
HYDERABAD METRO RAIL INVITES BRAND AMBASSADORS
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YOUR CHANCE TO BE A CELEBRITY
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Busy Begumpet next stop for metro rail work
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Metro rail construction is to pick pace in the coming days with the concessionaire, L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad, slated to start work on foundations for the piers at Varun Motors on the super busy Begumpet road.
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“We...
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will be opening up a new (construction) front on the Sardar Patel Road in addition to the works going on at Uppal, Miyapur and L.B. Nagar. Our challenge will be to improve the speed of construction and open as many fronts as possible,” said Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director V.B. Gadgil in a recent press interaction.
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The period till July-August is considered best for construction before monsoon sets in, for infrastructure projects.
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Land acquisition has been done to a large extent with sites for the viaduct, stations and the depots frozen. “As far as we are concerned, the right of way for the project has been granted,” he affirmed.
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Re-engineering solutions
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Mr. Gadgil pointed out that away from the public eye several “re-engineering” solutions were being worked out during the time of digging for foundations and piers at various construction sites because of the presence of underground utilities in the form of pipelines or cables.
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“It is all to be expected. The entire alignment is complicated as it is being constructed in the heart of the city. It is one of the challenges,” he averred.
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There are going to be issues with regard to vehicular movement during the construction phase and the concessionaire is working closely with the traffic police and the civic departments to minimise inconvenience to commuters.
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Contracts
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The CEO said that only two more major contracts had to be signed, pertaining to the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) and for the escalators/lifts at the stations besides another one for heavy maintenance equipment at the depots. These would be signed within the next one month.
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“Technical discussions have been completed and commercial negotiations are on for both contracts,” he said. L&TMRH had already signed deals with Hyundai Rottem for rolling stock.
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Signalling and train control contracts were awarded to Thales Canada & Thales India and the communications system deal to Thales Portugal.
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Source: click here

HYDERABAD METRO RAIL PROJECT PICKS UP STEAM.
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HYDERABAD: The ambitious metro rail project has entered another key phase with the L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad starting construction of its first station at Uppal. The station is expected to be ready by the end of this year. Work on pillars and erection of girders is going on simultaneously on various stretches of the metro rail in the city.
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The Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) officials said the metro rail stations are designed on 'Spine and Wing' model where the station will be constructed on a single pillar unlike the Bangalore and Delhi metro stations where they are on three pillars. The pre-cast single pillars will not cause traffic congestion during or after the construction of stations. The pillars for the stations are being readied at metro rail casting yards. Of the total 66 stations that will be constructed in all the three corridors of the metro rail, eight will come up between Mettuguda and Nagole stretch which are likely to be completed by the end of this year and become operational by the end of the next year.
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The L&T Metro Rail will construct 27 stations on Corridor I from L B Nagar to Miyapur, 16 on Corridor II from JBS to Falaknuma and 23 stations on Corridor III from Nagole to Shilparamam. Apart from the metro stations, three interchanging stations at Amberpet, MGBS and Parade Grounds will be constructed to facilitate the movement of passengers from one route to another. "Each station will be about 140 metres in length and 20 metres in width. Each station will have three levels, Ground, Ist level (concourse level) and IInd level (platform level). While the first level will have ticket counters, the second will have platforms. All the stations will be provided with staircases, escalators and lifts," HMR managing director NVS Reddy said.
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The metro stations, besides being aesthetically pleasing and energy-efficient, will be environmental and user-friendly. Various facilities for passengers and pedestrians from the road to the concourse or car parking and to the ticket counters and back would be provided apart from regular amenities like toilets, mineral water, first aid medical assistance and telephone facility is being provided at concourse level at all stations.
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L&T Hyderabad Metro awards steel rail supply contract to Tata Corus.
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HYDERABAD, JAN 21: L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd has awarded steel rail supply contract to Tata Corus.
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The supply deal estimated to...
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be worth about Rs 180 crore will be deployed in the Rs 16,000-crore elevated metro rail project spanning 72 km. The project seeks to decongest three busy corridors in the city.
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The first consignment is heading to an Indian port later this month and will be moved to Hyderabad metro yards next month.
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Two other contracts for automatic fare collection and lifts and elevators are expected to be finalised shortly. Some of the best known companies from across the globe are in fray for both these contracts.
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According to L&T, Tata Corus was chosen for its ability to provide quality rails and its metallurgical capabilities. The French unit of Tata Corus will supply the rails for the project, according to L&T Hyderabad Metro Chief Executive V.B. Gadgil.
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Hyderabad Metro Rail Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy said that the work on the project had gathered momentum and efforts are to make this as one of the most aesthetically beautiful projects.
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Gadgil said this is the biggest public private partnership project taken up in urban area in the world and it is being keenly watched from across the world. The Hyderabad metro project has been chosen among three mega projects to watch out by a leading American firm.
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Referring to the recent debate regarding creation of separate statehood of Telangana, Reddy said the project will benefit people irrespective of the outcome.
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Two-year delay on metro PILs.
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The Hyderabad metro rail’s progress is fraught with complexities and doubts, say activists.
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Despite over two years of delay, several public interest litigations (PILs) filed in the AP...
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High Court have not reached the phase of arguments yet. Activists allege that right from the top brass of the bureaucracy, everybody is hand-in-glove with the metro rail and the L&T, to safeguard the project details.
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Since its planning and inception, the metro rail has come under the scanner of media and various civil society groups, who allege that while the project is certainly needed, its feasibility and policies need to be questioned.
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“The budget kept shooting up and the route plans of the rail kept changing. Initially, in 2008, when I asked them for a copy of the detailed project report (DPR), the managing director NVS Reddy said it was alright if I inspected the documents but I cannot take a copy of them with me,” said D Raja Reddy (name changed), an RTI activist.
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Surprisingly, the L&T and the HMRL’s policy on RTI applications changed after the MAYTAS-SATYAM disaster was unmasked in 2009. The issue that remains unsolved is why the judiciary has postponed the case of the two PILs filed by this activist, and why, in one such case, not even a counterfoil was registered. “Furthermore, the entire setup of the metro rail was designed under the AP Municipal Tramways Act of 2008, and as per the Act, a public notice or discussion was to be allowed before the project was taken up. No such thing ever materialised,” he said.
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What stands out is the absence of the GHMC, which has actual and legal responsibility of the HMRL. The GHMC has, however, been forced to give up its properties with no great stand in the massive project.
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The completion of the project will also ring a death note for APSRTC and MMTS, the former already burdened by enormous financial difficulties. Activists say investing and planning on expanding the MMTS would have been far better than the HMRL project. “Even today, a 15 km journey costs `6 in the MMTS. The metro rail will not only deface the City, but is also not a commercially viable project in a crowded City like Hyderabad,” said Rakesh Reddy D, an RTI activist.
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‘Hyderabad Metro Rail phase-I to be completed by 2014’
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Hyderabad: Works related to Hyderabad Metro Rail are progressing at a brisk pace and phase-1 of the project will be completed by 2014 as per schedule despite the "challenges," officials said.
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"Year...
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2012 is a landmark for Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR). Belying doom-sayers' predictions, works on the project are progressing at a brisk pace and we have so far completed construction of 351 piers in three stages. Other major works like workshops and central control room, etc. Are also progressing fast," HMR managing director NVS Reddy and L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited managing director VB Gadgil said.
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They told mediapersons late last night that HMR would have a state-of-the-art Communication-based Train Control System, the first-of-its-kind in India.
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"Structures and systems being used for HMR will also be far, far superior. We will also have aesthetic, linear and beautiful metro stations with cantilever designs," they added.
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Each metro station would be built on a single pier.
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The first consignment of rails for the project would arrive from France in the first week of February.
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"We are quite aware of the challenges in urban infrastructure development. But challenges are like tonic for L&T," Gadgil noted.
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Not only the country but also the world was looking at the HMR project as it was the largest such project taken up in Public-Private Partnership mode.
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"There are differences (between HMR and L&T) but they are issue-based. We are sorting them out. The project will set benchmarks," Gadgil said in reply to a question.
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METRO TO CHUG ON FRENCH RAILS
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The first batch of steel rails for the elevated metro rail sourced from Tata Steel (Corus), France, is expected to reach the city from the Mumbai port by next month end.
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The...
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consignment will be starting from the steel firm on Republic Day (January 26) and it will take four weeks to reach the Indian port, said Hyderabad Metro Rail Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy and L&T Metro Rail Managing Director V.B. Gadgil.
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“These head hardened rails are 10 per cent more expensive than the traditional rails. The ultra wear-resistant rails can cut maintenance costs and are ideal for urban commuting where the trains are likely to run from 5 a.m. to midnight continuously,” they said, during a media interaction.
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The contract with Tata Steel is worth Rs. 180 crore and the maiden consignment will be stocked at the Uppal yard. The first section where the rails are to be laid will be between Nagole and Mettuguda, an eight kilometre stretch, where the viaduct construction is currently on.
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Foundation and piers work is on at two other locations including the Miyapur-S.R. Nagar, L.B. Nagar-MGBS stretch while barricading is being done at Begumpet. Another construction front is set to be opened between Hi-Tec City and Jubilee Hills with barricades soon.
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“Ninety-nine per cent of the contracts are complete. The remaining contract for the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) and another for the escalators/elevators will be signed next month,” they stated. Present status is that 483 foundations, 351 piers and 1,307 segments are ready with 10 segments being made each day at the Uppal casting yard.
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“We have chosen the best vendors in the world and are aware of the challenges ahead. Lot of design engineering has happened in the background whether in piers or stations designs. We believe in engineering combined with architecture for better aesthetics. For instance, our stations will be built on a single pier,” said Mr. Gadgil. “Last year was a glorious year with the works commencing. This is going to be a landmark project among infrastructure works,” exclaimed Mr. Reddy.
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'Half of Hyderabad Metro's revenues will come from property development and rentals'
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Public-private partnership (PPP) projects are not easy to manage. The Delhi Airport Metro may have recommenced operations on January 22 after a six-month shutdown for repairs, but the project's problems are far from over. The two PPP partners, Reliance Infrastructure, part of Anil Ambani's Reliance Group, and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, still have differences that await arbitration. World-over, metro rail projects are a tough business. Of the 200 or so global metro rail systems, only four - Hong Kong,...
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Tokyo, Singapore and Taipei - have been financially viable. But these, too, had active government backing.
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Even though the evidence overwhelmingly indicates otherwise, those at the helm of the Rs 14,132 crore elevated metro rail project in Hyderabad, another PPP, say the project is viable and will be executed on time. L&T is the private sector partner in the project, which is being supplied with railway tracks from a Tata Corus unit in France and coaches from South Korea's Hyundai Rotem. Recently, N.V.S. Reddy, Managing Director of Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd, spoke to E. Kumar Sharma and explained why he believed the project would not meet the fate of other PPPs.
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Q: How is your project different from other metro PPPs and what makes you think it can succeed?
A: The key reason the project will be successful is because of its structure. Half the revenues are to come from passenger fare and the rest from property development and rentals. Of the 269 acres allocated for the Rs 14,132 crore project, 57 acres and 18.5 million sq. ft. of built-up space are available for commercial exploitation. The project could enjoy lease rentals for 30 years, extendable by another 30 years, after which it would have to be handed over to the government.
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Q: What is the scope for commercial exploitation to earn revenue from sources other than passenger fare?
A: The project has 66 stations at 63 locations. Most of the commercial development would be in highly dense corridors as they are in the heart of the city. Real estate earnings will be high and our ridership (traffic) projection is 1.5 million to 2.5 million per day in a 10-year span. But still, it is very likely that the project may suffer losses initially - we may suffer losses in the first five to six years but that is a very small period in the 60 years of the project.
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Q: How prepared are you to handle delays?
A: We do not expect any delays. The right of way is available and almost all the land required for the project has been handed over by the government.
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Q: Any new features in the project that others have not tried?
A: I have a late-comer advantage. We have studied different metro projects and are trying to incorporate some of the features. For instance, we are exploring the idea of connecting skywalks leading from the overhead metro stations to offices, commercial or public establishments. In such cases, a user need not get down onto the road and can directly walk to their destinations straight from the station.
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Metro's ‘Badi’ bump
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Hyderabad Metro Rail works are going on at a brisk pace. In all, 483 foundations and 351 pillars have already come up and works at casting yards in Miyapur and Uppal are in full swing.
Of the 1,400 properties to be acquired in three corridors, 1,000 properties have already been taken over, but the contentious issues along Corridor II...
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(Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma) could pose problems.
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“Only 71 properties out of 358 private properties (upto Kachiguda) are remaining. All others are cleared in corridor II,” A Raghunatha Rao, land acquisition officer for Hyderabad Metro Rail, to The Hans India. Regarding land acquisition in Badi Chowdi, Sultan Bazaar and Old City areas, where several issues have cropped up, he merely said that orders had not been passed to look into those areas.
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Traders at Badi Chowdi are up in arms and have been asking for the Metro Rail to be taken underground right from the beginning.
Kishen Yadav, president, Sultan Bazaar Traders Joint Action Commiittee, says, “We will not budge an inch and will go to any extent to stop work here. It is a matter of livelihood of people. In all, 242 properties will get affected in Badi Chowdi and hundreds will be deprived of their livelihood.”
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Suman Gupta of Kailash Medical Hall is vociferous and questions, “When Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata could have the Metro Rail underground, why not here? We already have MMTS. Why not develop it? Has anyone asked us, spoken to us before deciding our fate? I have proof of how rents were increased four times in three years in Delhi. Where is the security? We are dealing with lives of people and one should not forget that this place has a 200-year-old history. We will not allow the Metro Rail here unless our requests are heard.”
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Suresh Jaiswal, owner of another property at Badi Chowdi, says, “There is a Jain Mandir, Arya Samaj, Anjaneyulu Swamy temple and Hari Masjid. This place is steeped in history and people want to destroy all of it in one stroke.” He goes on to add that there are two historic buildings: Nanubahai Shah building opposite Hanuman temple and the Raja Bhagwan Das building, which were de-notified.”
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Even as traders are bracing themselves, senior officials at Hyderabad Metro Rail said, “Many owners of properties in Badi Chowdi and Sultan Bazaar have approached HMR and are willing to surrender their properties.” Hemanth Kumar, a trader, said that the biggest losers were traders and employees who would lose their livelihood.
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According to sources, when it comes to the 242 properties in Badi Chowdi, the owners of 118 owners of properties are against the metro to be elevated. Tarachand, a resident of Badi Chowdi, said, “Even Heritage Conservation Committee demanded that Metro Rail should go underground where there are heritage structures. Officials at HMR state that none of the heritage structures would be affected, but heritage activists say that it would affect the visual appeal.
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Source: click here

METRO PIER WORKS TO BE SPEEDED UP.
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The government-constituted special task force traffic sub-committee on the metro rail project has advised the traffic police to permit more sites to be barricaded in consultation with GHMC and Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) Limited to speed up the project.
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government officials, including Principle Secretaries S.P. Singh and B. Sam Bob also directed the concessionaire, L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH), to begin pillars (piers) construction in different parts of the city where the elevated rail system is being built especially in the congested and roads that get water-logged in the current working season itself.
Works reviewed
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The duo along with GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu, Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma, HMR MD N.V.S. Reddy, L&TMRH Project Director M.P. Naidu and other senior officials literally walked most portions of the Begumpet to the Secunderabad Railway Station to check for traffic bottlenecks and seeking solutions on Tuesday.
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With the L&TMRH slated to start piers work from Begumpet main road to Rasoolpura, HMR has offered to fund for laying a new water pipeline for the water board by the L&T under the footpath on the route.
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The pipeline is to be extended by a kilometre as a replacement for the existing pipeline on the road median for an obstruction free construction.
Bypass road
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A temporary bypass will also be created in front of Kochar Apartments for vehicular movement till the pipeline is diverted and few more properties jutting on the road will be demolished. It was also decided to make GHMC and HMR to pursue the process of vacating the stay orders with the help of the advocate general for acquiring Jabbar building and vacant front portion of the Aladdin building.
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HMR will also be funding the shift of storm water drains along the road before the Begumpet airport to the extreme road edge by GHMC to facilitate piers work.
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The sub-committee also appreciated the gesture of industrialist G.V.K. Reddy to allow construction of a new boundary wall on his property for road-widening near the P.G.College, Secunderabad.
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The Police Commissioner gave his consent to allow demolition of an old building beside the DCP (North Zone) office near the Cantonment Board office with expenditure for any additional built-up space for the police to be borne by HMR.
Road-widening works
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Road widening will also be taken up further on both sides of the St. Ann’s School.
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The committee while asking the HMR MD to persuade the railways to allow taking over portions of land near the Oliphant Bridge, also wanted the concessionaire to come up with innovative designs for taking up the metro line from a double elevation of about 50 ft at the site.
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Similarly, designs should be firmed up linking between corridor one and corridor two across two ends of the railway station should be firmed up with continuous skywalks and landings to various platforms.
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GHMC Additional Commissioner (Planning) K. Dhananjaya Reddy, Additional Commissioner of Traffic Police C.V. Anand, HMR Chief General Manager Mohd. Ziauddin and other officials were present.
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Source: click here

GREEN SIGNAL FOR DESIGNS OF METRO RAIL CROSSINGS.
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The Railways has cleared the General Agreement Drawings (GAD) for all the eight metro rail crossings in a record time giving a big boost to the concessionaire L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH) for expediting the project, said Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy on Wednesday.
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Elevated...
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metro rail viaducts will be crossing SCR tracks at eight locations - Bharat Nagar, Lakdikapul, Malakpet, Begumpet, Alugadda Bavi, Chilkalguda, Olliphanta Bridge & Secunderabad station at heights varying from 35 to 65 feet from the road level. “The viaduct will be built above the overhead power lines too. The first rail crossing viaduct will be taken up at Bharatnagar,” said Mr. Reddy at a function held to hand over the beautified open area in front of the Rail Nilayam developed by HMR to SCR General Manager G.N. Asthana on the eve of the latter’s retirement.
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Designs were finalised after a series of inspections and technical discussions on the heights and span lengths of the viaduct by engineers of SCR, HMR, L&TMRH and other rail experts.
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The bridges are designed to stringent railway safety standards with provision for running of double-decker trains and leaving space for laying additional railway lines in the future. The HMR Managing Director thanked SCR officials for clearing the crossings showing “flexibility and understanding”.
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Rail Nilayam frontage now has a garden and a pedestrian pathway developed over the last couple of months on a request by Mr. Asthana as the portion was in a bad shape with broken sewer lines, vegetation and construction debris strewn around.
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Similar coordinated effort will help take up construction of metro stations adjacent to the rail crossings at Secunderabad, Nampally, Begumpet and Bharat Nagar Railway/MMTS stations, he added. Mr. Asthana appreciating the HMR initiative said it was an indication of its plans to give an aesthetic touch to different parts across the three metro rail corridors with signages, plants, street furniture, etc. Senior SCR and HMR officials were present.
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Source: click here

Metro Rail: Nagole-Mettuguda phase to be complete by 2014.
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HMR ahead of schedule, Governor tells House ahead of budget session
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The Nagole-Mettuguda segment of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project will be completed by...
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2014-end, well ahead of the original schedule, announced Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan.
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In his customary address to the Legislature on the opening day of the budget session on Wednesday, Mr. Narasimhan put the revised cost of the project at Rs. 14,132 crore and said work was “progressing briskly” on all segments of the project, being implemented for a length of 71 km.
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Work was also being expedited for completion of the 158-km long Outer Ring Road project taken up at a cost of Rs. 6,786 crore. Similarly, Phase III of the Krishna Drinking Water Scheme (cost Rs. 1,670 crore) was being speeded up.
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Drinking water scheme
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Likewise, works were progressing on Phase I of the Godavari Drinking Water Supply Scheme taken up to bring 172 million gallons per day to the city.
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An Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) would be developed with the establishment of IT units over an area of 202 sq. km in and around Hyderabad (Urban) and Ranga Reddy districts, the Governor said.
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A steel frame being erected as part of the construction of the Uppal Metro station - Photo: G.Ramakrishna.
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L&T Hyderabad metro non-ticket revenues to contribute 50 %
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HYDERABAD, MARCH 19:
The 72-km L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited project is based on a revenue model of 50 per cent from passenger fares, 45 per cent from property development and 5 per cent from advertisement and other miscellaneous sources.
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The Rs 14,132-crore project, being implemented under the public, private partnership mode by concessionaire L&T, has a viability gap funding from the Central Government to the tune of Rs 1,458 crore while the remaining Rs 12,674 crore is being raised by L&T, which has already achieved financial closure.
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The Andhra Pradesh Government is in the process of spending additional Rs 1,980 crore for acquisition of 204 acres of private land, shifting of utilities, creation of right of way through road widening, relief and rehabilitation and pedestrian facilities.
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According to the Socio-Economic Survey for 2012-13 presented in the Legislative Assembly today, it has been stated that the Metro has been designed in an innovative way to make it financially viable.
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JOB CREATION
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Overall, the project envisages direct investment of Rs 20,000 crore, which includes project cost, property development component, and expenditure being incurred by the State Government and substantial spin off investments, which will be triggered by the project.
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The Government said this will be one of the largest investments in the State with a potential to create about 50,000 jobs and many ancillary industries in Hyderabad and surrounding areas.
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FUND ALLOTMENT
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The project has been allotted Rs 500 crore in the Budget as a part of the State Government contribution of Rs 1,980 crore to be spent over five years. In 2011-12, the State allotted Rs 350 crore and in the current fiscal Rs 600 crore was allotted for the project.
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Source: click here

First lot of French rails for metro arriving.
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The shipment of 5,000 metre rails is on its way to city by road on special trailers of 60 ft length having arrived in Mumbai
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first lot of 5,000 metre rails from Tata Steel, France, for the Hyderabad Metro Rail project is on the way to the capital by road on special trailers of 60 ft length having arrived by ship to Mumbai few days ago.
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These rails which are 18 metres long and weigh about 1,100 kg each will soon be laid down as tracks in the Uppal depotofficials of the L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH) announced on Wednesday.
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The ‘wear resistant head hardened rails’ are being procured to cater to the sharp curves and steep gradients in the project. The rails are more durable and with a life span of double to that of the traditional rails.
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These rails are also used in all major railway projects in the world as well as the country, the officials said.
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“It’s another important milestone for the Hyderabad Metro Rail Project giving an indication about the progress of the works. The track laying work will be commencing soon in the Uppal Depot. It also marks the beginning of the utilisation of international expertise for the project,” said L&TMRH Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director V.B. Gadgil.
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The CEO pointed out that due to the sharp curves across the three corridors where the metro is under construction, check rails are being provided on all curves of less than 190m radius. This is to prevent the trains from derailing while negotiating such sharp curves. Check rails are 18 metres long and weigh about 600 kg each.
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Earlier, L&TMRH head of railway systems, Anil Kumar Saini, personally inspected the first lot of rails at the Tata Steel plant in France before they were shipped to Mumbai from Antwerp. The metro rail project to be built across the 72 km across the three corridors will need a total of 22,500 metric tonnes of rails. The rails will be procured in six lots as per the project schedule, officials said.
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The first lot of rails that arrived at Mumbai from the Tata plant in France.
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Source: click here

Stage I of metro rail to be ready by March 21, 2015.
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State government allocates Rs. 500 crore to the project this year
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The first stage of the elevated metro rail for the...
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city between Nagole and Mettuguda will be thrown open to the commuters on March 21, 2015. It will form part of the Line Three from Nagole to Shilparamam route, according to the socio economic survey 2012-13 submitted by the government to the Legislative Assembly during the budget on Monday.
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About Rs.500 crore was allotted for the project for the year 2013-14 towards the government’s share of Rs.1,980 crore to be spent over five years for land acquisition, road widening (Right of Way), Relief & Rehabilitation (R&R), utilities shifting, etc. Thus far, an amount of Rs. 950 crore was released in the last two years - 2011-12 - Rs.350 crore - and - 2012-13 - Rs.600 crore.
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Senior metro rail officials said the amount allocated for the next financial year was sufficient towards fulfilling the government obligations and maintain the current progress of the project. While the total project cost is Rs.14,132 crore, State’s share is Rs.1,980 crore and Centre’s viability gap funding is Rs.1,458 crore and the concessionaire L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH) will be investing Rs.12,674 crore.
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The survey report stated that the 72-km. long project across the three dense traffic corridors is the world’s largest in the public, private partnership project (PPP) mode. Explaining that the project has been designed in an innovative way to make it financially viable as few urban transit projects are financially successful, the report said that 50 per cent of the revenue will be from passenger fares, 45 per cent from property development and five per cent from advertisements and other miscellaneous sources.
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When fully operational, the system can carry more than 50,000 passengers per hour per direction with a three car coach carrying 1,000 passengers and six car carrying 2,000 passengers. Frequency will be of two to five minutes during peak hours with fares between Rs.8 to Rs.19 in 2014, the survey report said.
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Source: click here

Metro Rail: six key stretches to be barricaded for construction
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The Chief Secretary-led Special Task Force on the Metro Rail project at a high-level meeting on Monday directed the traffic police to allow barricading of six more stretches for the construction of piers.
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are: S.R Nagar-Punjagutta, Moosarambagh-Malakpet, Hitec City-Jubilee Hills Check Post, Mettuguda-Sangeet junction; DCP North office-Parade Grounds, Rasoolpura-HPS Begumpet-Greenlands.
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Minnie Mathew’s appeal
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Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew wanted small stretches having traffic bottlenecks to be left out.
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Paid parking in front of shops where the works were going on should be cancelled and strict traffic enforcement measures should be taken up by the GHMC and the traffic police for better traffic movement.
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While congratulating Metro Rail officials for the project being selected as the world’s best engineering project of the year award at the Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum recently held in New York, she called for a coordinated action by all government departments as construction had reached the core area.
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Hyderabad Metro Rail MD N.V.S. Reddy informed the meeting that 22 km or 30 per cent of the three Metro Rail corridors of the 72 km have been barricaded with works on between Nagole-Mettuguda, Miyapur-SR Nagar, LB Nagar-Moosrambagh and Begumpet.
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About 506 pillars, 626 foundations and 2,276 segments were completed.
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Ms. Mathew called upon Collectors of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts and GHMC to speed up road widening through acquisition of properties.
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The concessionaire -- L&TMRH was asked to furnish stretch-wise construction programme with minimum period of barricading in the core city.
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Principal Secretary (MA&UD) B. Sam Bob, GHMC Commissioner M. T. Krishna Babu, Hyderabad Collector Syed Ali Rizvi, Cyberabad Commissioner of Police Ch. Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, Addl. Commissioner of Police (Traffic) C.V Anand, L&TMRH MD V.B. Gadgil and others participated.
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Source: click here

Now, commuters can travel multi-mode on a single ticket.
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The Metro Automatic Fare Collection to have provision for a combined Metro Rail, MMTS and bus ticket
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Metro Rail’s Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system...
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will also have a provision for a combined metro rail, MMTS and bus ticket to enable seamless travel on all public transport modes, said Hyderabad Metro Rail Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy.
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At a meeting held with the top APSRTC authorities including its Vice-Chairman and Managing Director A.K. Khan on Tuesday at Bus Bhavan, Mr. Reddy assured that all the bus depots and key bus stations will be integrated with overhead metro rail stations through skywalks.
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HMR/L&TMRH will be integrating RTC facilities at Miyapur and JBS depots to take care of bus passengers coming from North Telangana districts; at Dilsukhnagar bus depot for bus passengers coming from Nalgonda, Khammam and coastal districts; and at MGBS for linking up inter-State and inter-district bus services.
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It was decided that the interchange metro station at MGBS serving both Corridor-I (Miyapur-LB Nagar) and Corridor-II (JBS-Falaknuma) will be integrated with MGBS providing easy access for metro rail and bus passengers without disturbing the existing bus operations.
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Joint inspection
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Interchange station designs would be frozen only after a joint inspection with the cost of any relocation of RTC facilities to be borne by HMR. A separate vehicular and pedestrian entry facility would also be built into MGBS for usage of the metro rail commuters from south bank of Musi.At JBS, Dilsukhnagar and Miyapur bus depots, HMR would provide metro rail connectivity through skywalks and landing facilities without any relocation of the existing depot facilities.
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APSRTC’s new depot at Falaknuma would also be integrated with the metro rail services of the Falaknuma terminal station.
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The Hyderabad Metro Rail Managing Director asserted that the metro rail corridors were not going anywhere near the Gowliguda hangar or the depot.
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The APSRTC Managing Director on his part stated that matching technical gadgets would be provided in buses to facilitate the proposed combined ticket.
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Source: click here

APSRTC to provide access to metro rail.
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HYDERABAD: To connect proposed metro rail stations with bus depots for the convenience of citizens, the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR), APSRTC and L&T have decided to work out an inter-modal integration arrangement between metro rail and RTC.
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HMR...
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managing director NVS Reddy and APSRTC managing director AK Khan on Tuesday held a joint coordination meeting at Bus Bhavan and decided to integrate metro rail with RTC facilities in Miyapur and JBS depots to take care of bus passengers coming from North Telangana districts, Dilsukhnagar bus depot for those coming from Nalgonda, Khammam and Coastal Andhra and Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) for linking up inter-state and inter-district bus services. According to an official release issued here by HMR, the interchange metro station at MGBS, which serves both Corridor-I (Miyapur-LB Nagar) and Corridor-II (JBS-Falaknuma), would be integrated with the inter-state MGBS to provide easy access for metro rail and bus passengers without inconveniencing the existing bus operations.
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The plans of metro rail interchange station would be frozen after joint inspection by metro rail and APSRTC officials and the cost of readjustment of APSRTC facilities would be borne by HMR, NVS Reddy said. HMR and L&T would build a separate vehicular and pedestrian entry facility into MGBS for the use of metro rail passengers from the south bank of Musi.
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Further, it has been proposed that the new entry point for buses from Rangamahal road would be pursued during the forthcoming Unified Metropolitan Traffic Authority (UMTA) meeting.
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At JBS, Dilsukhnagar, Miyapur and Moosapet bus depots, HMR would provide metro rail connectivity through skywalks and landing facilities without any readjustment/relocation of existing depot facilities of RTC. "HMR will give clearance for the new bus depot being built by RTC in Falaknuma and integrate metro rail services with a skywalk from the Falaknuma metro terminal station," the release added. On joint ticketing option, NVS Reddy stated that HMR and L&T would keep a provision for combined Metro Rail-Bus-MMTS ticketing option in the sophisticated Metro Rail Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system.
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AK Khan said efforts would be made by APSRTC to provide matching technical gadgets in RTC buses to facilitate the proposed combined ticketing. The HMR managing director dismissed rumours that the RTC hangar at the Gowliguda bus depot would be demolished to accommodate metro rail works.
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Source: click here

Another high for Metro Rail.
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The first girder launcher will start functioning on stage-II of the project between Miyapur and S.R.Nagar, a 12-km stretch
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The Metro Rail construction schedule will be witnessing another...
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significant high point when the first girder launcher will start functioning on the second stage of the project i.e. between Miyapur and S.R.Nagar, a 12-km stretch.
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It will be positioned at a site near the Kukatpally arch in a few days.
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Corridor-I
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The stage is part of the corridor-I between Miyapur and L.B.Nagar for a total length of 29 km with 27 proposed elevated stations en route.
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Once the launch girder is assembled in place atop the installed piers, the segments will be brought to the site by trailers before being mounted one by one.
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Cables
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Once the segments are in place they will be bound together by cables and glued so that the viaduct is in place for the rails to be laid.
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The launch girders are first assembled and simulated at the workshop in Qutbullapur before they are dismantled and again put together at the project site.
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L&T Metro Hyderabad, the concessionaire building the project, has plans to form the viaduct from the site to Miyapur to begin with since most of the piers (350) on the way are up with barricading all along the centre of the road.
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Viaduct
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Once the first launch girder is up and begins to function fully, a second launch girder too is to be installed on the chosen route to speed up the process of forming the viaduct by putting the segments in place. Work on the piers for the first station on this route at Kukatpally Housing Board too has begun.
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Three more soon
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Hyderabad Metro Rail Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy has said that three more launch girders will be ready soon.
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These will be in addition to the six launch girders working on the stage one of the construction schedule between Nagole and Mettuguda where the viaduct formation is rapidly getting formed. Stage one forms part of Corridor-3 from Nagole to Shilparamam.
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Source: click here

FIRST METRO MODEL COACH TO ARRIVE IN CITY IN OCTOBER.
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The first ‘model coach’ of the Hyderabad Metro Rail is likely to arrive in the city by October, officials revealed.
According to them, the spacious coach fitted with state-of-the-art facilities is being designed by Hyundai Rotem, a well-known Korean company.
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“The new coach will be equipped with a number of unique and advanced features,” said HMR officials claiming that it would be “technically far advanced, compared to those being used in metro trains anywhere in the country.” “Initially, there will be three coaches in each metro rail. These coaches will be known as cars and will be able to accommodate about 1,000 people at a time. Later, each metro rail will have six coaches depending on the demand,” said Hyderabad Metro Rail managing director N.V.S. Reddy.
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According to him, each coach is expected to cost approximately `11 crore.
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“Orders have been placed for 171 coaches (57 trains) for a total value of `1,800 crore. The rolling stock will be delivered nine months prior to the commissioning of each stage of construction of the 72-km elevated metro rail project in three corridors,” Mr Reddy said.
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The trial run of the first stage of metro rail, between Nagole and Mettuguda, is expected to commence by December 2014.
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Mr Reddy also cautioned the metro rail job aspirants against the ‘fake job notifications’ issued by some agencies through the Internet and other modes.
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Source: click here

Metro’s stage-1 works near completion, 1st coach by Oct.
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Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metro Rail works in stage-I between Nagole and Mettuguda is nearing completion. The laying of pillars and construction of the viaduct is over. Barricades, which were set up in the middle of the road to facilitate Metro Rail works, have been removed with completion of works, enabling smooth flow of traffic along this stretch.
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Works pertaining to construction of elevated stations are going on at a brisk pace. The first metro coach will arrive in the city by October, and a trial run will be conducted within a year.
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“We are removing barricades from the roads as and when works are completed. This is to facilitate smooth flow of traffic along the construction sites of Metro Rail corridors,” said N.V.S. Reddy, managing director, HMR.
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He said that 60 per cent of alignment-related works like piers and viaduct, and about 70 per cent of station works at 63 locations is being done off-site, using the latest precast segmental construction techniques and pre-cast building methods, with an aim to minimise traffic problems for road-users.
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“Only 40 per cent of alignment works and 30 per cent of station works are being taken up onsite. Barricades are set up to complete these works and are being removed as and when the works are over,” Mr Reddy added.
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Source: click here

Hyderabad metro: Chief Secretary directs clearance of utility lines.
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HYDERABAD, APRIL 27: A concerted effort has been initiated to ensure right of way for the elevated L&T Hyderabad metro rail project.
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Andhra...
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Pradesh Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew conducted a Special Task Force (STF) meeting on Saturday and directed early clearance for shifting of utilities.
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Appreciating the speedy progress of metro rail works, she highlighted the need for shifting utilities such as water lines, sewer lines, electrical overhead lines and underground cables, electric poles, street lights and advertisement boards and restoring the roads in a coordinated manner to avoid inconvenience to the general public.
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Making a presentation, N.V.S. Reddy, Managing Director of Hyderabad metro rail, said in the last one year L&T had completed foundations along 17.5 km (665 foundations); pillars (piers) along 14 km (550 pillars); cast viaduct segments sufficient for covering 8 km (2,700 segments) and completed viaduct formation along 3 km (100 spans).
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He said new work fronts had been given to L&T and that barricading was completed in several new locations.
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The Chief Secretary instructed road cutting to be permitted by the NH along with shifting of utilities.
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The Roads and Buildings Department would be directed to allow road cutting in some areas.
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According to a statement, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board would be asked to allow road cutting along 2 km on the rear of Parade grounds to divert the water pipeline.
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Source: click here

GMR throws weight behind Metro link to airport.
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The GMR group, which built and currently maintains the international airport at Shamshabad, seems to have successfully lobbied for a metro rail link to the airport.
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The...
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Centre had sought a preliminary report from the State government on linking the airport with the elevated metro rail similar to the project being built across the three dense corridors in the twin cities and the report has already been sent to New Delhi, senior officials in the know of things revealed.
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Initial details indicate that the infrastructure giant is keen on getting one metro line to be taken to the airport from Falaknuma, a distance of approximately 15 km. And another metro line is to be built from Raidurg to Shamshabad via Gachibowli and the Outer Ring Road, a distance of about 23 km.
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Ongoing metro rail construction by the concessionaire L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH) is on three corridors – L.B. Nagar to Miyapur, Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma and Nagole to Raidurg.
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Technical and financial feasibility as well a detailed project report on these routes are yet to be worked out. The progress on this work front will depend on the Centre’s response from here on and could take up to two years, senior officials, requesting anonymity, averred.
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The GMR group had earlier rejected a proposal to get the airport linked with the on ground rail through the MMTS phase-two project jointly being taken up by the government and the railways.
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Even the railways, perhaps sensing the way things were going, had removed the proposed Umdanagar railway station (on the Falaknuma route) - airport rail link work from the pre-qualification tenders floated by the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for taking up MMTS phase-two works recently.
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Distance between Umdanagar and the airport is six-and-a-half kilometre. The railways had estimated it to cost about Rs. 30 crore two years ago and also sought 37 acres of government land allotted to GMR in the vicinity. “We had proposed the on ground rail link with the airport only after the GMR group had approached us, but they want a metro line now,” said senior officials.
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Common underground duct mooted along three Metro Rail corridors.
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The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, in coordination with the Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited, L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited and other stakeholders, proposes to have a common utility duct for the major utilities along the three corridors of metro rail.
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The...
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metro rail will have three corridors running to a total length of 72 km. Corridor-1: Miyapur to LB Nagar (29 km), Corridor-2: Jubilee Bus Stand to Falaknuma (15 km) and Corridor-3: Nagole to Shilparamam (28 km).
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According to municipal commissioner MT Krishna Babu, the common duct will eliminate the need for digging roads for laying pipelines and underground cables on the three corridors. The GHMC has submitted proposals to the HMRL in this regard.
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Due to lack of coordination among the government departments and private companies, digging of roads is taking place in the city. ‘’we want to avoid this hassle at least on the three metro rail corridors where works are underway’’ he said.
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When contacted, HMRL managing sirector NVS Reddy said that they received the proposals from the GHMC. ‘’It is too early to say anything on the matter since the proposals are only in the conceptual stage and we have to discuss it with various stakeholders such as Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Company Ltd (APCPDCL), Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL),’’ he said.
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If HMR is ready to lay a common underground duct for all the utilities, the GHMC is willing to bear the cost. A GHMC official said that there were many advantages in having a common duct such as maximising the usage of underground space, reducing the costs of maintenance of utilities, minimising above-ground constructions which may disrupt traffic and creating an area for easy access to repairs. Furthermore, protection of the utilities during natural disasters will be easier if they are all placed together in a single duct.
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Dangling and criss-crossing electrical and telephone cables is not only an eyesore on the city roads but can also hamper laying of the metro rail lines, the official added.
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Hyderabad Metro Rail all fired up for smooth ride.
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The Hyderabad Metro Rail project’s stations and buildings under construction will be fully compliant with the provisions of the National Building Code (NBC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
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Automatic...
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fire detection and alarm systems, automatic sprinkler systems, portable fire extinguishers, gas separation systems etc., will be placed at strategic locations in all metro stations, depots and other buildings, informed officials of HMR and the concessionaire L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad on Monday.
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At a meeting held with Director General of Fire Services S.V. Ramana Murthy and senior fire department officials, the metro rail officials discussed fire safety arrangements with regard to protection, prevention, control and detection systems for the project. Smoke detectors and heat detectors which will automatically activate hooters and public announcement systems for early warning and evacuation in the event of fire will also be in place.
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Metro stations are being constructed as open stations to allow smoke and heat dissipation. Platforms, stations, staircases etc., are being designed for quick evacuation even under fully loaded and crowded conditions.
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Fare collection gates and other closed entries will automatically open up and will remain open in the event of fire, they said.
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Every station will have one lakh litres capacity water sumps and pump rooms with sophisticated gadgets for fire control. Fire suppression hydrants and hose reel systems will be located at both ends on each station.
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High quality and fire retardant building materials, insulation of electrical wiring and instruments, built-in safety mechanisms, etc., are also being undertaken.
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HMR Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy also agreed to facilitate construction of dedicated fire service stations at Uppal and Miyapur depots while Mr. Ramana Murthy said special teams would be constituted for quick examination and fire safety clearance of metro stations, depots and other commercial buildings.
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L&TMRHL Managing Director V. B. Gadgil, Director of Fire Services P. Venkateshwar Rao and other senior officers of the department were present.
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World Bank all for an eco-friendly Hyderabad.
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World Bank country head Barjor E. Mehta hails the innovative features, multi-modal integration and the urban redesign approach of the HMR project; terms it a very promising one
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World Bank has promised all support to the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project and the plans to transform the capital into an eco-friendly global city.
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Appreciating the innovative features, multi-modal integration and the urban redesign approach of the project, Barjor E. Mehta, World Bank country head, had mentioned that the Hyderabad model was a very promising one. He was speaking at a joint workshop conducted by the World Bank and HMR on “land value capture for Transit Oriented Development (TOD)” in the Metro Rail Bhavan on Thursday.
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Tracing out the development of cities like Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, Hiroaki Suzuki, Lead Urban Specialist, World Bank, explained how they had achieved prosperity and development, apart from addressing traffic problems through the TOD approach.
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Metro rail projects in these cities made them global centres of economic activity with planned densification along metro corridors and large-scale development of areas around stations through land pooling and incentives like higher FSI to accommodate the increasing urban population, he said.
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Loss-making metro projects are cross subsidised through revenues from property development in and around stations. TOD strategies has to involve the government, city administration, private sector and other stake holders for sustainability of urban areas.
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HMR Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy highlighted the main features of “Transit + ” model of the Hyderabad project like the inter-modal integration with the railway stations of Secunderabad, Nampally and Begumpet; bus depots/stations at Miyapur, JBS, MGBS, Dilsukhnagar, Koti, Lakdi-ka-pul and Falaknuma and six MMTS stations.
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The operation of merry-go-round feeder buses in colonies and business areas around Metro stations, skywalks, footpaths, bicycle stations and pedestrian facilities etc are being planned to avoid personalised vehicles, he said.
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Stations are to have shopping complexes, multiplexes, food courts, clinics and retail stores to cater to the day-to-day needs of people, thereby reducing congestion on roads.
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Urban Development Principal Secretary B. Sam Bob highlighted the need to finance more urban infrastructure projects by capturing enhanced land values through the TOD mechanism.
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Another girder launcher has been put in place above the piers to put the segments together for the Hyderabad Metro Rail project at Hyderguda crossroads on the Miyapur-Kukatpally stretch. PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

Skywalk to link Khairatabad Metro station, Secretariat.
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‘Merry-go-round’ buses planned from Lakdikapul and Khairatabad stations to Secretariat, BRKR Bhavan, GHMC head office and other offices
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A skywalk will be built from the Khairatabad...
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metro station over the railway tracks landing near the Prasad’s IMAX for providing elevated metro rail access to the Secretariat, according to Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMR) Managing Director N.V.S.Reddy on Monday.
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The overhead Lakdikapul metro station was going to be another one closer to the Secretariat and hence, ‘merry-go-round’ buses would be operated from both Khairatabad and Lakdikapul overhead stations to the Secretariat, BRKR Bhavan, GHMC head office and other government offices located near the Secretariat, he said.
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At a meeting convened by Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development M. Maheedhar Reddy, he pointed out that the skywalk and bus service would provide comfortable transport facility to employees and visitors to the Secretariat and other government offices in the area.
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The MD said that the metro rail construction was proceeding at a brisk pace though the presence of hard rocks, flyovers, high volumes of traffic and shifting of huge water pipelines, sewer lines, electrical cables etc., were posing several challenges in the core area. Both HMR and L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad have been devising site specific engineering solutions to tackle these problems, he said.
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Government departments such as GHMC, Water Board, Traffic Police, APTransco, APCPDCL and other utility organisations were also extending cooperation in successfully tackling the challenges cropping up during the current construction phase.
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The Minister was also told that the metro rail alignment was not affecting any lake or heritage structure.
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With careful engineering solutions, the alignment was being kept about 80 to 300 feet away from the 10 heritage structures located alongside the three rail corridors.
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Old City properties to be bulldozed for metro.
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HYDERABAD: Nearly 1,000 properties will be brought down, either partially or completely, for widening the three-kms stretch between Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and Falaknuma to 100 feet on the metro rail corridor-II (JBS-Falaknuma) route.
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said that while a major portion of the carriageway was 60 ft wide at present, at some stretches the road narrowed down to 40 to 50 ft. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) town planning has already completed survey of properties and a road development plan (RDP) was being finalized. "Once the RDP is okayed, we will begin marking properties to be taken over for widening and then the land acquisition process will begin," they said.
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"The road from MGBS to Falaknuma via Darushifa, Mir Alam Mandi, Haribowli, Shah Ali Banda and Falaknuma is 100 ft in the master plan. However, the road was not widened due to resistance from locals. Now, for the metro rail project, the road expansion will be taken up. The entire process of finalising RDP and marking will take another month," GHMC circle 4 (Charminar) assistant city planner RE Nageshwara Rao told TOI on Monday.
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The officials admit the number of properties likely to be affected due to widening could be more as the road is very narrow and majority of the properties were in just 50 to 100 sq yards each. The exact number of properties would be known only after the marking process gets over.
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The Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) had initially finalised the 15-km corridor from JBS to Falaknuma via Darulshifa, Haribowli, Shah Ali Banda and Falaknuma. Representatives from the Old City, especially MIM leaders, asked the HMR to avoid the route as many properties, religious structures and heritage buildings will be affected in the road widening. Then, an alternative route was proposed via Salar Jung Museum, the AP high court along the Musi, Bahadurpura, Nehru Zoological Park, Shamsheergunj and Falaknuma.
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As the length of the corridor would increase to 18 km from the planned 15 km if it takes the alternate route, the HMR sent the proposal to the municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD) department for examination. Sources said the MA&UD has not yet conveyed its decision on the alternative route. "The metro rail project developer L&T has begun works on the JBS-Falaknuma corridor and land acquisition process is progressing at a brisk pace on the Musheerabad-Narayanguda stretch. Except the Sultan Bazaar stretch, land acquisition has almost been completed at most places and demolitions are taking place. Now, the right of way has to be given to the remaining portion of the corridor i.e., in the Old City," an official of the HMR explained.
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Hyderabad Metro Rail touches another milestone.
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Hyderabad: The ambitious Hyderabad Metro Rail project works, which is going at a fast pace, has touched another milestone by embarking the stage of laying rails. The rails have already been placed at the Uppal Metro Rail depot, where the Metro Rail will finally descend from the elevated tracks.
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to media persons, V B Gadgil, Chief Executive and Managing Director of Larson and Turbo Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd (LTMRHL), said the laying of rails was almost near completion at the Uppal depot which was going to be the model depot of the Metro Rail.
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'Laying of rails on the viaduct (the platform for the rails on the long piers) will be taken up in a full fledged manner between June and July at the Nagole-Mettuguda stretch and simultaneously in other stretches where the erection of piers (pillars) and viaduct is completed,' explained Gadgil.
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Clearing the general doubt among the denizens about how could two trains run on the same platform that appears it could not accommodate, Gadgil said the size of the metro rail was of 'Standard Guage' but not 'broad Guage'.
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He said though the platform on pier might look not wide enough to fit two trains from the ground, its platform is width is eight meters long and would increase to 10 meters with parapet on the either side
make it to 10 meters and easily fit two trains that run to and fro.
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The specification for standard gauge rolling stock is based on light weight stainless steel bodied threecar formation, After procuring the first lot of rail in March from France, the second lot of rails has started arriving in the city.
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About 22,500 tonnes of rails required for the Hyderabad metro project will be procured in six lots as per the project schedule.
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The rails are 18 meters long and weigh about 1,100 kg each. To cater for the sharp curves and steep gradients in the project, it is decided to provide 'wear resistant head hardened' rails for the complete main line and normal rails for the depots.
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Of the total 72.6 kms of metro rail stretch, foundation had been laid up to 20 kms, piers up to 16.2 kms length had been erected and viaduct up to a line of 3.2 kms had been placed.
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Currently, the main work of metro rail is being carried on six areas Nagole-Mettuguda, Miyapur -SR Nagar, LB Nagar-Victoria Memorial line, Begumpet and Ameerpet and recently the works have entered Jubilee Hills and Banjara Hills, as part of corridor-I and corridor-III.
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While in the corridor ' II, JBS-Falaknuma line, the soil testing is completed and engineering working drawing and planning are underway. Works along Parade Ground might start any time, said Gadgil.
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