Metro | Business Upturn

India’s metro network expands rapidly, connecting more cities and increasing construction speed

Viditha Ganji — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 16:24:21 +0000

India’s metro rail network has witnessed remarkable growth over the past decade, with an exponential increase in the route length, expansion to new cities, and an impressive rise in construction speed. The country has made significant strides in enhancing its public transportation infrastructure, offering more convenient and efficient commuting options to its citizens.

According to data from 2014 to 2022, the metro route length in India has increased fourfold. In 2014, the total metro route length stood at 248 kilometers, and by 2022, it had expanded to an impressive 845 kilometers. This expansion signifies the commitment of Indian cities to invest in modern transportation systems, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion and improve connectivity.

Furthermore, the number of cities covered by metro networks has also seen a substantial rise. In 2014, only five cities in India had metro systems in place. However, fast-forward to 2023, and that number has multiplied by four, with metro services now available in 20 cities across the country. This expansion reflects the growing recognition of the benefits of metro rail systems in terms of efficiency, sustainability, and convenience for commuters.

The growth rate of metro construction in India has been equally remarkable. Between 2004 and 2014, the average construction speed was approximately 0.5 kilometers per month. However, the following decade, from 2014 to 2023, witnessed an exponential increase in construction speed, reaching an average of 6.0 kilometers per month. This significant acceleration, amounting to a twelvefold increase, demonstrates the country’s determination to expedite infrastructure development and meet the increasing demand for efficient urban transportation.

The expansion of the metro network in India has brought numerous benefits to commuters and the cities themselves. Metro systems provide a reliable and time-saving mode of transportation, reducing travel times and offering a sustainable alternative to private vehicles. By easing traffic congestion, metros contribute to a cleaner environment and improved air quality, addressing the challenges of pollution and emissions in urban areas.

The impressive growth of the metro network in India is a testament to the government’s commitment to developing modern infrastructure and fostering sustainable urban development. It not only enhances the quality of life for residents but also stimulates economic growth by improving connectivity and accessibility within cities.

As the metro network continues to expand, efforts are being made to integrate various modes of transportation, such as buses and suburban rail systems, to create a seamless and comprehensive public transportation network. This integrated approach aims to provide citizens with a wide range of options for their daily commute and facilitate easy access to different parts of the city.

The remarkable progress achieved in India’s metro rail development sets a positive precedent for other nations facing similar transportation challenges. The successful implementation and expansion of metro systems demonstrate the potential for transformative change in urban mobility and serve as a model for sustainable transportation solutions worldwide.

As the country looks towards the future, the focus remains on further expanding the metro network, connecting more cities, and enhancing the efficiency and reliability of existing systems. These efforts will continue to revolutionize urban transportation, foster economic growth, and contribute to a greener and more sustainable India.

Reliance Retail acquires the India operations of German retailer Metro AG for Rs 2,850 Crore

News Desk — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 02:59:58 +0000

Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), inked formal agreements on Thursday to acquire a 100% ownership investment in METRO Cash & Carry India Pvt Ltd. (METRO India) for Rs 2,850 crore in cash.

“The acquisition of METRO India aligns with our new commerce strategy of building a unique model of shared prosperity through active collaboration with small merchants and enterprises. METRO India is a pioneer and key player in the Indian B2B market and has built a solid multi-channel platform delivering strong customer experience,” said Isha Ambani, Director, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited in a statement.

RIL’s retail arm will gain access to a large network of METRO India stores in prime locations across key cities, a large base of registered kiranas and other institutional customers, a strong supplier network, and some of the global best practices implemented by METRO in India as a result of the acquisition, the company said in an exchange filing.

By utilizing synergies and economies across the supply chain networks, technological platforms, and sourcing capabilities, the purchase will further expand Reliance Retail’s physical store base and capacity to better serve customers and small merchants. According to the company, the symbiotic connection would increase value for all stakeholders in the retail ecosystem.

Through its retail network and eB2B app, the multi-channel B2B cash & carry wholesaler has access to over 3 million B2B clients in India, 1 million of whom are frequent buyers. METRO India has earned the trust of kiranas, as well as other small enterprises and merchants.

“With METRO India, we are selling a growing and profitable wholesale business in a very dynamic market at the right time. We are convinced that in Reliance we have found a suitable partner who is willing and able to successfully lead METRO India into the future in this market environment,” said Steffen Greubel, CEO of METRO AG in a statement.

METRO India produced sales of Rs 7700 crore (€ 926 million) in fiscal year 2021-22 (FY ending September 2022), its greatest sales performance since entering the Indian market.

European Investment Bank to fund €250 million for Agra Metro Rail project: Finance Ministry

Aviyukta Adlakha — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 14:02:11 +0000

The Government of India and European Investment Bank signed a Finance Contract on Wednesday for the first tranche loan of Euro 250 million out of the total 450 million to fund the Agra Metro Rail Project.

‘The document has been signed in Delhi and Brussels by Mr. Edvardas Bumsteinas jointly with Mr. Roger Stuart, Head of Divisions representing European Investment Bank, and Mr. Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance representing the Government of India,” as per reports.

The Agra rail project aims to provide a safe, reliable, affordable, and environment-friendly public Mass Rapid Transit System for Agra city in order to improve mobility and for aid in the planned urban development in Agra apart from providing economic productivity as well as job creation.

The financing from EIB will be used to fund the construction of a 29.4 km metro corridor that comprises Corridor-1 from Sikandara to Taj East Gate and Corridor-2 from Agra Cantt to Kalindi Vihar in Agra City. The line ministry for this project is the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs while the implementing agency is Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.

Haryana government gives ₹1,925 crore to IL&FS for Gurgaon Metro project

Diya S. — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 12:18:15 +0000

On June 25, infrastructure and development and finance company IL&FS (Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services) informed that Haryana Shehari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) has given the company ₹1,925 crore as interim termination payment in the Gurgaon Metro Project case.

As per a company release, the Gurgaon Metro Project, which is two-phased, has been developed through IL&FS subsidiaries as well as special purpose vehicles (SPVs) — Rapid Metro Rail Gurgaon Ltd. (RMGL) and Rapid Metro Rail Gurgaon South Ltd. (RMGSL).

In addition, the apex court’s order had directed HSVP to deposit 80 per cent of total debt due (of more than ₹2,400 crore audit performed by CAG), with an amount of ₹1,925 crore within three months into the escrow accounts of both SPVs.

The company added that if any amount gets appropriated from the said escrow accounts, the appropriation shall be subjected to further orders of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) or any other competent legal authority in accordance with the order.

The lead bank in RMGL is the Andhra Bank in addition to Bank of India, Dena Bank (presently Bank of Baroda), Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sindh Bank and UCO Bank.

The lead bank in RMSGL is Canara Bank as well as Andhra Bank, Central Bank of India, Corporation Bank (presently Union Bank of India), IIFC (UK) Ltd. and Punjab & Sindh Bank.

The release said that resolution of ₹1,925 crore has formed to be a part of the total recovery of ₹61,000 crore estimated by New Board. It stands for the resolution of over 61 oA of overall debt of ₹99,000 crore approximately (both fund and non-fund based) as of October, 2018.

IL&FS had attained the two-phased Gurgaon Metro Project developed through RMGL and RMGSL in the years 2009 and 2013 respectively.

PM Modi inaugurates India’s first-ever driverless train operations in Delhi

Devanshu Singla — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 07:34:02 +0000

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first-ever driverless train operations on Delhi Metro’s Magenta line via video conferencing. He also launched the National Common Mobility Card, an inter-operable transport facility that allows users to pay for travel, toll duties, retail shopping, and withdraw money using one card.

“The inauguration of the first driverless metro train shows how fast India is moving towards smart systems,” said PM Modi speaking at the event. “The first metro in the country was started with the efforts of Atal Ji. When our government was formed in 2014, only 5 cities had metro services and today 18 cities have metro rail service. By 2025, we will take this service to more than 25 cities.”

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also attended the virtual inauguration programme.

Here’s all you need to know about the new technology:

1) The driver-less trains will be fully automated, eliminating the possibility of human error, as per the statement by PMO.

2) The service will be available on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line which connects Janakpuri West in West Delhi to Botanical Garden in Noida. Delhi Metro’s Pink Line (Majlis Park-Shiv Vihar) is expected to have driverless trains by 2022.

3)The extension of this technology to the Pink Line will increase the driverless network on the Delhi Metro to around 94 km, which is nearly 9% of Delhi Metro’s total network.

4) Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will now enter the elite league of 7% of the world’s Metro networks, which can operate without drivers.

5) Driverless train technology has set standards for automation called grades of automation (GoA). In GoA 1, trains are run by one driver and, in GoA 2 and GoA 3, the role of the driver is reduced to operating doors and for taking over in case of emergencies—the starting and halting of trains are automated. Finally, in the GoA 4, trains are on completely unattended operations mode.

6) DMRC has had driverless technology since 2017, but the agency has been conducting rigorous trials before launch. The initial launch was set for May 2020, but this had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

7) The National Common Mobility Card will be fully operationalised on the Airport Express Line and anyone carrying a RuPay-Debit card issued by 23 banks in the last 18 months can make payments.

1% of all stamp duty levied on sale and purchase of property in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur will go towards completion of metro projects

Muskan Jain — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 13:41:34 +0000

One per cent of all stamp duty levied on sale and purchase of property in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur will go towards completion of metro projects in those cities, the government has announced. The decision comes in the middle of a pandemic-induced slowdown, when all major infrastructure projects in the state are struggling to raise funds.

A notification issued by the Urban Development Department on September 10 said as per the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, and Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, 1per cent of the revenue will be collected by the Stamps and Registration Department and given for Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur metro rail projects. The additional charge will be applicable on all property deals from February 8, 2019, it said.

To boost the real estate market hit by COVID-19, the Maharashtra government has reduced stamp duty on properties from five percent to one percent until December 31, 2020. Post-December 2020, the government will levy three percent stamp duty on residential properties until March 31, 2021.

Earlier, the State government had cut stamp duty charges on properties for the next two years in the areas falling under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and municipal corporations of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Nagpur. The government is studying different fundraising models for major infrastructure projects, a department official said. “The stamp duty levied on property will help the projects immediately.

The emphasis will be on continuing the projects and completing them within the deadline.”The stamp duty is the largest revenue earner for the government, after GST and sales tax and VAT. In 2019-20, the state earned Rs 29,500 crore through stamp duty. In 2020-21, it expects to raise only an additional Rs 500 crore.

Kanpur & Agra Metro projects go to Canadian Company Bombardier Inc.

News Desk — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 07:01:26 +0000

Kanpur, Agra Metro projects go to Canadian Company Bombardier Inc. The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Construction (UPMRC), the government body set up for the smooth functioning of the Metro Rail Construction in the state, awarded the contract for testing and commissioning of 201 metro cars, along with other auxiliary aspects of the same such as signalling and train control system to the coveted Canadian rolling stock company Bombardier inc’s Indian operations wing Bombardier India.

According to an official statement procured by the Livemint, Bombardier Transport India has bagged a contract for the supply of 67 trains of three cars each for Kanpur and Agra Metro projects.

This news is of greater importance as the other entities in the fray, bidding for the contract, CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co. Ltd.(A Chinese Company) was disqualified from the process. The CRRC is the largest rolling stock manufacturing company. Which in the world leaving former leader and European companies Alstom and SIEMENS behind.

Metro For The Future

As of now, Uttar Pradesh has Lucknow Metro Rail. Moreover, with one active line in the state. Lucknow Metro which started in 2017. After being under construction for 3 years from 2014 is one of the fastest constructed rapid transit projects in the country.

In a statement to Business Standard. Furthermore, the UPMRC managing director, Kumar Keshav said. “The MRTS (mass rail transit system) in Kanpur and Agra is characterised. By a short inter-station distance of one km between the stations. Since having a maximum design speed of 90 kmph and schedule speed of 80 kmph.”

Bombardier. Which was lowest bidder of all has substantial history with the Indian rail and rapid transit story. Also as the company was initially responsible for providing rolling stocks for Delhi Metro. And has also provided the Mumbai suburban network with Bombardier trains. Which is soon after the Siemens models.

Commuter woes continue as DMRC keeps the shutters on the Delhi Metro Services

News Desk — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 14:16:17 +0000

Keeping up with earnestness and acuteness of the prevailing situation in the country, especially in the National Capital, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the governing body responsible for the functioning of the Delhi Metro Rail Services, has, in an official statement, promulgated via Twitter, has continued to stall the services, as the risk of transmission of the infection, especially with regards to the rising cases in the region is relatively high.

Public Service Announcement

In light of the guidelines issued by the government, Metro services will remain closed for commuters until further notice.

— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) June 30, 2020

This decision to keeping the shutters on the rolling stocks come to light, as the fear of community transmission of the virus, is burgeoning among authorities, although the authorities are yet to categorically acknowledge the same

The crucial services of Delhi Metro for commuters on March 22 when the ‘Janata Curfew’ was observed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, the government announced the nationwide lockdown which came into effect from March 25.

In the wake of ‘Janta Curfew’ to be observed this Sunday i.e, on 22nd March 2020, DMRC has decided to keep its services closed. The move is aimed at encouraging public to stay indoors and maintain social distancing, which is essential in the fight against Covid-19. #JantaCurfew

— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) March 20, 2020

Delhi Metro, due to its greater reach to different places within NCR has a huge impact, and plays a pivotal role in transportation, throughout the metropolitan region.