Metro Rail News Online

Ahmedabad: After the Centre objected to the proposal of extending the Ahmedabad Metro rail deep into the GIFT City campus, the route for phase-II has been shortened by over six kilometers. As per the revised detailed project report (DPR) that has been sent to the Union Ministry of Urban Development for approval, there will now be only two stations on the Metro line linking the main phase-II route with GIFT City, sources said. As per the initial plan for phase-II of the Metro project — which was approved by Gujarat government on October 2017 — the route had a total length of 34.59 km, wherein a separate line was to be built from Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) to GIFT City for providing necessary connectivity to the campus housing the country’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). The plan also included building three metro stations inside the GIFT City campus. “The ministry was against the proposal of taking the metro rail deep ins...

New Delhi : Finally Bullet Train project is getting the much needed impetus. As per Business Standard reports, Japan The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed an agreement with the Indian government to provide an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of 89,547 million Japanese Yen (approximately Rs 5,500 crore) as Tranche 1 on the "Project for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR)" corridor, commonly known as bullet train project. The purpose of MAHSR is to build up a high-frequency mass transportation system. The proposed route for building the High-Speed Rail is between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The project will be made on lines of Japan"s Shinkansen technology (Bullet Train). This will go a long in way in enhancing mobility in India as well as aid in regional economic development. JICA said in a statement that Japanese state-owned funding agency has also signed another agreement to provide ODA loan of 25,903 million Japanese Yen (approxima...

New Delhi: There were media reports doing rounds for some time that Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has stopped financial support for Bullet Train, India"s high speed rail project . National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) has assured that these reports hold not truth. NHSRCL is the nodal agency for execution of the Bullet Train project in India. The agency has rubbished all claims that JICA has stopped funding on the pretext that the government should first resolves impending issues with farmers. Post announcement of the Bullet train project, there have been controversies and problems with farmers refusing to part with their land. The government at the centre in order to resolve the issue has formed committee. Owing to cash crunch and subsequent delay in resolving farmer’s issue is likely to extend project deadline. NHSRCL issued a statement - In fact, the Government of India and JICA have already signed a loan agreement of about 10 billion yen and no paym...

Chennai: Sources with Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) suggests that the metro body will not wait for center’s approval for Phase II work. They are likely to kick-start the project as soon as the first tranche of a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is disbursed. CRML is confident about starting construction work for Phase II. The first tranche loan from JICA will meet the requirement. In case of shortage of fund, the state government will pitch in. As per the procedure, there are two levels of approvals required to begin one. The first level is needed before approaching JICA that permission has already been given by the center. Then there is the second level of approval needed to begin work. The CMRL will not have to wait for this approval once JICA releases the funds. The Metro officials are hopeful that JICA will send in final sanction within a month or two. Once CMRL receives funds from CMRL, they will start the construction work. CMRL will proceed ...

Chennai: Recently the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has appointed two new consultants. Which are Consulting Engineers Group CEG-AECOM consortium and Systra , a France-headquartered company to carry out the detailed design work for Phase II. The companies have been entrusted with preparing the detailed design for the two major corridors in Phase II — Madhavaram to CMBT and Madhavaram to Shollinganallur via Purasawalkam and Mylapore — that will be constructed first, according to official. The official sources releases that in July, the CEG-AECOM consortium was awarded the underground section of Madhavaram Milk Colony-Thousand Lights-Taramani Road and elevated section of Nehru Nagar to Sholinganallur section. The AECOM was a consultant which has also  work on the preliminary design of Hyderabad Metro. Further official data says that Systra, which prepared the design for the Metro Phase, expansion from Washermenpet to Tirvottiyur, has been chosen for the CMBT route. ...

Ahmedabad: Well-known Environment Activists Rohit Prajapti from Gujarat shares his thoughts on the upcoming Bullet Train project and why it is violating JICA"s guidelines. Here is an excerpt he has shared with Metro Rail News: The Japanese Government’s investment agency, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Government for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project (MAHSR), popularly known as the ‘Bullet Train Project’. There are two sets of government norms that the ‘Bullet Train Project’ has to adhere to: one, as per the Indian laws and second, as per the JICA Guideline of the Japanese Government. The JICA Guidelines, April 2010, make clear the principles and procedures, repeatedly stressing on environmental and social impacts, which must be followed for ensuring assistance in the form of technical cooperation, loan, or grant aid for projects that are applicable to ...

New Delhi: Recently Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) has refused to lend money to buy new metro coaches. As per Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) at initial stage there is a need for installation of 156 metro coaches. In order to purchase these metro coaches the total estimated cost is Rs 1,958 crore, as per official record. According to official report when DMRC asked JICA for the loan purchase for 156 metro coaches, JICA did not given any response now it will demand a loan from the NCR Planning Board. In order to have NCR approval, it is necessary to get approval from the DMRC Board and Delhi Government cabinet. When on January 15, 2018, proposal for metro coaches was sent to Delhi Government and Central Housing and Urban Development Ministry for additional 200 metro coaches. When the proposal was reviewed was found that there is need of 120 broad-gauge metro coaches were required to convert the metro trains of line 1, 2, 3 and 4 into those with 8 coaches. And in addi...

Bengaluru: The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) plans to set up automated top-up machines at key places in the city. This moves comes in wake of customers complain regarding long queues at to-up travel card counter. To ease the problem, BMRCL plans to have top-up machines at various places including bus stops. Based on the current data, 60 % commuters use ‘Smart Card’ or ‘Varshik Card’. This card offers 15% discount to rider on each trip. Ajay Seth, BMCRL’s managing director shares that the to-up automated machines to be kept on places with high footfall rates. Seth adds that they plan to put the automated top-up machines at TTMC centres of BMTC, prominent banks as well as metro stations. They are also considering other places where these machines can be placed. The MD however, did not give a time frame as to when these machines will be installed. From February this year, BMCRL had allowed to increase the storage value on the card. At Metro...

Mumbai: Mumbai Metro 4 project is most likely to be funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Earlier talks were on with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for funding the project which is a 32.32km rail network. The Additional Metropolitan Commissioner, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) , Pravin Darade, said that they have received in-principle from JICA. The international funding agency will be funding for Metro 4, 5,6 and Metro 9 corridors respectively. Darade stated that since JICA is offering better interest rate, MMRDA has accepted their proposal over AIIB. The state government is also holding talks with New Development Bank (NDB) for funding other corridors. Darade shared that NDB has also given in-principle approval to fund Metro 8, Metro 10, Metro 11 and Metro 12 projects. With this funding approval, MMRDA has now received funding for all its corridors. The reason for selecting JICA as funding agency is due to the fact that they...

Ahmedabad: The ongoing land row has become a major road block for the ambitious Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train . As per sources Japan has not released second phase of funds with news on land acquisition issues doing rounds. The protest is causing a major hurdle and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has not released latest installment. JICA is funding agency and it has stopped payments with no evident progress in resolving land acquisition controversy. According to sources in Gujarat government, JICA’s funds for last quarter have not been disbursed. The source, a senior state official shared on grounds of anonymity that as per the payment agreement funds will flow if work is going as per plans. With issues arising in Gujarat and Maharashtra over land, things have reached stalemate.  The first instalment of Rs 125 crore was made during Japan’s Prime Minister visit to Gujarat in September last year. The official also added that next instalment will be made whe...

Ahmedabad: Chief representative of Ahmedabad Metro funding agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Takema Sakamoto, on Friday visited several sites of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project. JICA representatives Sakamoto Takema visited Ahmedabad Metro Sakamoto launched a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) at Kalupur on the same day. There is a plan to integrate the upcoming high-speed rail with western railways at Kalupur. He praised the Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad for its efforts and said that the project would put an end to traffic congestion in the area besides bolstering trade and commerce in the city along with catering to transportation needs. Speaking at the Ahmedabad Management Association, he explained the activities of JICA and said the agenda was to progress towards “Sustainable Development”. He pointed out that inclusive development through improvement in infrastructure, policies and human resource development supported by economic development, ...

Ahmedabad: Chief representative of Ahmedabad Metro funding agency Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Takema Sakamoto, on Friday visited several sites of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project. JICA representatives Sakamoto Takema visited Ahmedabad Metro Sakamoto launched a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) at Kalupur on the same day. There is a plan to integrate the upcoming high-speed rail with western railways at Kalupur. He praised the Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad for its efforts and said that the project would put an end to traffic congestion in the area besides bolstering trade and commerce in the city along with catering to transportation needs. Speaking at the Ahmedabad Management Association, he explained the activities of JICA and said the agenda was to progress towards “Sustainable Development”. He pointed out that inclusive development through improvement in infrastructure, policies and human resource development supported by economic development, ...

Chennai: The government of Tamil Nadu has urged the management of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) to streamline its work in the city and complete it as soon as possible, and thus ensure that commuting is easy for the public. The Minister of State Industries, M. C. Sampath, asked the managing director of CMRL, Pankaj Kumar Bansal, to complete the works from Nehru Park to Central and from Saidapet to AG-DMS shortly. The minister, who recently visited the underground sites of the CMRL and inspected the work, expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the work and wanted the passenger services on the routes to begin soon. The stations between AG-DMK and Saidapet are receiving final touches particularly at the point of entry or exit, said the official. CMRL is planning to start the test on the Anna Salai line this week, the sources said. It is likely that the Metro Rail Safety commissioner will be invited for inspection in March. Currently, Chennai Metro Rail Limited is operating se...

Coimbatore: The rural and administrative minister of municipal, SP Velumani, said on Wednesday that talks had been held with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to implement the railway project of metro in the city. According to sources, the first phase of the metro rail project, whose feasibility study has not yet been carried out, is likely to start at Avinashi Road, where an overflight is also approaching. “The work on the Avinashi Road overpass and the metro rail project will be taken simultaneously and working on one will not affect the other,” Velumani said when asked how both projects would be implemented on the same stretch. The minister, who inspected the soil test work for the Avinashi Road overpass here, said the state government has allocated Rs 950 crore for the construction of overpass and sanctioned another Rs 65 lakh for the testing process of soil. ...

New Delhi: The phase IV metro project of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will, in all likelihood, not be funded by Japan. “Delhi will soon have a metro network that is longer than Tokyo,” said a senior official of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency . “It doesn’t make sense for us to keep funding metro projects in India.” When Delhi Metro’s Phase-III is launched in stages over the next few months, the national capital region will have a metro network spanning over 330km. The combined length of Tokyo’s metro lines is 195km. “We also need a very good reason to continue to support,” the JICA official said, who chose not to be named. “When Delhi Metro began in the 1990s, the technology was nascent and support was required. But Japan is no longer able to aggressively involve itself in metro projects. However, the extension of existing lines in Mumbai and Chennai are under active discussion.” “We have an...