Monday, October 10, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Techie proposes tram-trains to ease traffic
Sudhindra claims his transport system can serve half a million passengers daily by using the existing railway tracks
Even as Namma Metro is set to chug from October 20,doubts linger on whether it can ease the traffic on Bangalores roads.
Addressing these doubts is N Sudhindra,a city-based architect for data storage and backup,with a proposal to use tram-trains on existing railway tracks to set up a distributed transport system (DTS) in the city.The DTS can cover 75 kilometres in the city using existing railway network and serve approximately half a million passengers every day.His idea is drawn from his stints in the US,Austria,Germany,France and Singapore.
According to Sudhindras proposal,Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and South Western Railway (SWR) can partner to establish tram-train services for DTS.This joint venture can be on the lines of Europe Transport model followed in Austria and Germany.BMTC can avail railway tracks on rental basis for tram services.
For instance,a tram-train operating from Bangalore City Railway Station to Whitefield with six coaches can accommodate 900 passengers at the rate of 150 passengers both sitting and standing per coach.This can decongest traffic by taking off the roads 15 Volvo buses carrying 60 passengers each.The tram-train can approximately cover 30km/hour with limited stops at Cantonment and KR Puram.
The proposed DTS integrates existing railway tracks from Majestic to Whitefield,Yelahanka,Yeshwanthpur,Kengeri and Devanahalli.The BMTC can provide feeder services at end points.The 300 metres distance from Majestic Bus Stand to City Railway Station can be connected by tracks.
BMTC and SWR can jointly procure tram-trains.BMTC can pay rent for railway tracks based on the number of kilometers it runs the tramtrains.This would make the idea feasible and profitable to BMTC,Sudhindra claims.He estimates that the operating costs would be Rs 48 lakh per year,with a tram-train running every 15 minutes.
In the second phase,DTS can be extended to Bidadi,Hosur and Devanahalli.
WHY TRAM-TRAINS
The main advantage of using tramtrains is that existing infrastructure such as city-centre tram lines and disused or freight-only rail alignments can be used.Tram-trains are lightweight compared to conventional trains and dont require costly maintenance work.Tram-trains also offer lower operating costs per kilometer compared to heavy rail.They are sole vehicles using a track,can use line-ofsight signaling to enhance frequencies without expensive signaling upgrades, he said.Energy costs are also less.
WHAT IS A TRAM-TRAIN
Tram-train is a hybrid of a tram and a train.It is able to run on existing rail lines as well as on the street,sharing the route with other road traffic and allowing travel between,around and directly into the heart of towns and cities.Tram-trains are typically powered by overhead electric cables and,less frequently,by diesel.
A file photo of a tram-train in Germany.Sudhindra proposes that BMTC and SWR jointly run the tram-train service in Bangalore
N Sudhindra
Namma Metro phase II requires Rs. 25,000 crore
After securing funds from various sources for the Phase I of Namma Metro project, the officials of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) are in the process of preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for Phase II. The BMRCL will require Rs. 25,000 crore to undertake Phase II of Namma Metro.
Once the detailed project report is prepared, it will be submitted to the State Government in order to seek funds for the project.
“We are yet to submit the DPR to the State Government. The estimated project cost for Phase II is likely to be Rs. 25,000 crore,” said N Sivasailam, Managing Director, BMRCL. He added that the State Government, after going through the project report, will forward the report to the Union Government for approval of funds. He explained that both the State and the Centre are equal stakeholders in the Namma Metro project.
Covering a span of 70 kms, Phase II is an extension of all the four Reaches (Reach 1 to 4). Additionally Phase II will also have two independent lines; one from Jayanagar to Electronic City and the second from Nagavara to IIM-B, which will be an underground route.
While the detailed plan for Phase II is being finalised, there is no consensus on how long it will take for Phase II to be operational.
“Phase II, which is expected to take out about 35 percent of the commuters from the roads, will take about 7 to 8 years for completion,” said Sudhir Chandra, Director, Project and Planning, BMRCL.
On the other hand, U A Vasant Rao, General Manager, Finance, BMRCL believes that Phase II will not take that long. “Phase II will not take longer than 4 years for completion,” he said.
Funding for Phase I
BMRCL recently received Rs. 700 crore from Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and Rs. 250 million from the Asian Development Bank for Phase I. The cost of the 42.3-kilometre long Phase I was estimated to be around Rs. 11,609 crore. Additionally, the BMRCL also received assistance from the Karnataka State Government and Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Once the detailed project report is prepared, it will be submitted to the State Government in order to seek funds for the project.
“We are yet to submit the DPR to the State Government. The estimated project cost for Phase II is likely to be Rs. 25,000 crore,” said N Sivasailam, Managing Director, BMRCL. He added that the State Government, after going through the project report, will forward the report to the Union Government for approval of funds. He explained that both the State and the Centre are equal stakeholders in the Namma Metro project.
Covering a span of 70 kms, Phase II is an extension of all the four Reaches (Reach 1 to 4). Additionally Phase II will also have two independent lines; one from Jayanagar to Electronic City and the second from Nagavara to IIM-B, which will be an underground route.
While the detailed plan for Phase II is being finalised, there is no consensus on how long it will take for Phase II to be operational.
“Phase II, which is expected to take out about 35 percent of the commuters from the roads, will take about 7 to 8 years for completion,” said Sudhir Chandra, Director, Project and Planning, BMRCL.
On the other hand, U A Vasant Rao, General Manager, Finance, BMRCL believes that Phase II will not take that long. “Phase II will not take longer than 4 years for completion,” he said.
Funding for Phase I
BMRCL recently received Rs. 700 crore from Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and Rs. 250 million from the Asian Development Bank for Phase I. The cost of the 42.3-kilometre long Phase I was estimated to be around Rs. 11,609 crore. Additionally, the BMRCL also received assistance from the Karnataka State Government and Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Bengaluru's Metro rollout to be mega show
Marking a milestone in the city's commuting network, Namma Metro will begin its run at 10.30 am on October 20, watched by a crowd of around 15,000 people at the Manekshaw Parade Grounds where it will be formally launched by Union railway minister, Dinesh Trivedi in the presence of Union minister for urban development, Kamal Nath.
Reach-1 will only be the beginning of a future Metro Rail network that will crisscross a city bursting at the seams with people and traffic on its roads.
The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has been working overtime, even on government holidays, to make sure there are no hiccups once the train is flagged off. “BMRCL is making sure that security is tight for the many dignitaries and foreign delegates from Japan and other countries involved in the Namma Metro project , who are expected to arrive in Bengaluru for its launch,”say sources.
The 6.7 km line between M.G. Road and Byapanahalli Terminus, located close to the IT hub of Whitefield, is expected to cater to a commuter traffic of about 25,000 people every day.
“The Metro will be a Diwali gift for the IT- BT employees who will be able to reach their workplaces in Whitefield faster without having to deal with traffic and pollution on the roads.
Once at Byapanahalli they can take a ride on swanky BMTC Volvo buses to Whitefield,” add BMRCL sources.
Each Metro coach will accommodate about 300 passengers who will be free to get off or board it at any of the six stations enroute, with the train scheduled to stop at each for about 30 seconds. They will be guided by continuous announcements warning them to watch out for ‘closing doors’ or about the hazards of getting too close to the tracks as the third rail adjacent to them is energised with 750 V DC.
Who’s who on the launch guest list
The state governament has drawn up a huge list of guests, including VIPs and special invitees for the Metro's launch. Among those expected to attend the event are former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, external affairs minister S.M. Krishna, officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), former Chief Ministers, H.D Kumaraswamy and B.S Yeddyurappa and other political bigwigs. The BMRCL has also extended invitations to members of parliament (MPs), MLAs, MLCs, the mayor, deputy mayor, BBMP corporators and former IAS officers.
A rough estimate of the cost of Reach-1
Reach 1 - Rs 1,225 cr
Average cost per km for Phase-1 - Rs 276 cr
Average cost per km ( elevated) - Rs 175 cr
Average cost per km ( underground) - Rs 375 cr
Schedule of train
Initially, the five trains will run at a frequency of 15 to 20 minutes, but could run at a greater frequency later once passenger demand rises.
Cost of tickets
Commuters can travel from Byappanahalli to MG Road on Namma Metro for fares ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 15. They can also opt for a discounted annual or ''Varshik'' ticket, that costs a minimum of Rs 8.50 and a maximum of Rs 12.75.
Additionally, passengers can choose to buy contactless smart tokens (CST), contactless smart cards (CSC), Varshik and trip tickets, Sanchar group tickets, and integrated Metro-bus tickets. The CST tokens, offering non-discounted fares, will have to be touched on the pad of the station entry gate and dropped into the slot at the exit gate.
Tokens, available at the station’s ticket counters, will be for single journeys alone.
Unfinished business
*Reach-3 (Swastik to Yeshwanthpur): Over 50 percent of the civil work has been completed on this stretch, expected to be launched in December, 2012.
*Reach-2 (Magadi Road to Mysore Road terminus): Around 75 per cent of the viaduct work and 99 per cent of the station foundation work has been completed.
*Reach-4 (KR Market to RV Road): About 70 per cent of the civil work has been completed along this stretch.
*Work on extensions of Reach 3 and Reach 4 has also begun. The lines in question are 3 (A) (Yeshwanthpur to Peenya depot) and 3 (B) (Peenya Village station to Hesserghatta Cross station) and 4 (A) (RV Road to Puttenahalli Cross).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)