Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon

Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon Limited (RMGL)
Overview
Native name रैपिड मेट्रो रेल गुड़गांव
Owner Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon Ltd. (RMGL)
Locale Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Transit type Metro
Number of lines 1
Number of stations 6
Daily ridership 32,000 (2014)[1]
Headquarters Ambience Corporate Towers, Ambience Island, NH 8, Gurgaon
Website www.rapidmetrogurgaon.com
Operation
Began operation 14 November 2013
Number of vehicles 5
Train length 3 coaches
Headway 4 minutes
Technical
System length 5.1 km (3.2 mi)[2]
No. of tracks 2 (1.2 km)
1 (3.7 km)[3]
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (standard gauge)[3]
Electrification 750 V, DC via third rail[4]
Average speed 35 km/h (22 mph)
Top speed 80 km/h (50 mph)

Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon Limited (Raipiḍ Mēţrō Rēl Guḍ.agāṃv) is a metro system in the Indian city of Gurgaon, Haryana, linked with the Delhi Metro system's Yellow Line at Sikandarpur. Built and operated by Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon Limited (RMGL), the system is India's first fully privately financed metro.[5] It was built at a cost of nearly INR11 billion (US$170 million) and construction was completed in 30 months. Originally planned to open in 2012, the first phase of the system opened on 14 November 2013.[6]

The project was initially conceived as a collaborative venture between real estate developer DLF and Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services, or IL&FS (a subsidiary of the Saudi Bin Laden group [7]). But DLF, facing financial problems, pulled out and IL&FS became the sole owner. It is the only privately funded public metro anywhere in the world. The venture thus does not have any investment by the central government, Haryana or any other public sector undertaking. Rapid Metro did not even get the 20 acres of land which it needed for the project at any concessional rate from the state.[8]

The metro system was the first in India to auction naming rights for its stations.[9] Presently, commuters at all 6 stations are provided with free Internet connectivity using WiFi.[10] The free WiFi service is being provided by telecom service provider MTS India. Commuters can get WiFi coupons at kiosks set up by MTS India in all Rapid Metro stations.

History

The line was originally tendered by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) in 2007 as a point-to-point 3.2 km link between Sikanderpur and National Highway 8, but DLF wanted to expand it to provide connectivity to its Cyber City.[5][11] A new tender was issued in July 2008,[12] with the DLF-ILFS consortium emerging as the only bidder.[13] Rapid Metro is the first fully privately financed metro system in India.[14] The project is being implemented as a public-private partnership.[15] While HUDA initially objected to a private company making profit from public transport, an agreement was eventually reached for the consortium to pay HUDA INR7.65 billion (US$121.4 million) over 35 years in "connectivity charges" as well as 5–10% of advertising and property development revenue.[3]

The contract for the INR9 billion (US$142.9 million) project was awarded in July 2009, with completion scheduled in 30 months' time.[3] The foundation stone was laid on 11 August 2009.[16] The line will be built and operated by Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon Limited (RMGL), a consortium of real estate developer DLF and Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS). DLF owns many properties near the stations while IL&FS is the majority stake holder in the JV.[5] On 21 April 2010, Siemens announced that it had been awarded a turnkey contract to build the metro line, including five 3-car metro trains.[17] The project cost INR10.88 billion (US$172.7 million) as at Oct 2012.[18] ILFS has 74% equity and DLF has the remaining 26%.

Phase II

On 28 September 2008, the contract to build the second phase of the project was awarded to IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd and its subsidiary IL&FS Rail Ltd. The southward extension will be 6.5 km long and will extend from Sikanderpur to sector-56 in Gurgaon. There will be 6 stations on the extension and it will take 18 minutes to travel the entire route. Land for the project and right of way will be provided by HUDA.[19] The first phase of the metro was tested between Phase 2 and Phase 3 stations.[20]

Route

Phase I

Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon as part of the Delhi Metro rail network

Rapid Metro covers a distance of 5.1 km. The section between Sikanderpur and Phase 2 is double-tracked, while the remaining stations are served with a single-track loop.[3] Platforms are 75m in length.[21]

Sikanderpur station offers an interchange with Delhi Metro via a 90m x 9m walkway.[22] A depot is located between Micromax Moulsari Avenue and Phase 3 stations.

Stations
# Station Name Opening Connections Layout
1Sikanderpur      Delhi Metro Yellow LineElevated
2Phase 2 14 November 2013 None
3Vodafone Belvedere Towers14 November 2013 None
4IndusInd Bank Cyber City 7 May 2014 None
5Micromax Moulsari Avenue 14 November 2013 None
6Phase 314 November 2013 None

Phase II

Phase II will add seven kilometres of double track stretching south of Sikanderpur station along Golf Course Road, with 6 new stations. The construction work of Phase II will be completed by the end of 2015.[23][24]

Stations
# Station Name Opening Connections Layout
1Phase 1 End 2015[23] None
2Sushant Lok None
3Sec. 42 Crossing None
4Sector 54-53 None
5AIT Chowk None
6Sector 55–56 None

And further extend up to Sohna Road in phase IV (after phase III extension)

Infrastructure

Rolling stock

On 21 April 2010, Siemens was awarded a turnkey contract to build the metro line, including five 3-car metro trains.[17] Siemens sub-contracted CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Works to build the 5 aluminium-bodied air-conditioned trains.[4] Each train with 3 coaches costs INR300 million (US$4.8 million) and is silver and blue in colour.[25] The total length of a 3 coach train is 59.94 metres (196.7 ft). The coaches are 2.8 metres (9.2 ft) wide, have roof-mounted air conditioning and have 4 doors on each side of each coach.

Operations

System Outline

The system is fully elevated and operated automatically.[26] Because of the features, some articles in railway magazines define the system as Light Metro.[27][28][29]

Capacity and frequency

Trains will run from 06:35am – 12:20am.[30] Three-coach trains will operate at 4-minute intervals,[5] with a capacity of 800 approximately passengers per train.[31] The metro is designed to carry 24,000 passengers per hour.[2]

Speed

The trains will have a maximum speed of 80 km/h, but will operate at an average speed of 30 km/h.[5]

Fares

The metro will have a flat rate of INR 20 for the entire line.[32] Delhi Metro tokens and smart cards are accepted.[33] The automatic fare collection system is supplied by Thales Group.[34]

Security

Security in the Rapid Metro is being handled by Private Agencies, however there would be a dedicated Police Station at Sikanderpur Interchange Station. There would also be Women's Help Desk at every Station, while a Toll Free Helpline +91-124-2800028 for all passengers would be operational for 24 hours. CCTV Cameras would be used to monitor trains and stations.

Safety

For Passengers' Safety, there would be Emergency Stop Plungers at every Platform, while the Blue Light Station Feature would enable them to contact Control Room. A Press to Talk Button inside coaches would enable commuters to talk directly to the Driver.[35]

Expansion plans

There are proposals for a North Extension to Gurgaon Railway Station via udyog vihar and Atul kataria chowk to and an interchange with Maruti Udyog metro station of IGI-IFFCO Chowk airport express line as well as the Another Interchange with Branch line or feeder service line of same IGI-IFFCO Chowk airport express line(which originate from Palam vihar) and Gurgaon Bus Stand and also Gurgaon Railway Station. This line would benefit both old and new Gurgaon. The further expansion of rapid metro will be done in a Well planned manner which bifurcate or developed into a various line like delhi metro to cover the important section of Gurgaon Region like Sohna road(to an interchange with upcoming yellow line extension to manesar), Dwarka expressway(to an interchange with upcoming delhi metro line), Gurgaon-Faridabad road, Pataudi road, Farrukhnagar, Southern Pheripheral Road, Basai chowk, Sector along Dwarka Expressway, Manesar etc [36]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-reliance-s-versova-andheri-mumbai-metro-won-t-come-under-rti-1991211
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Gurgaon metro turnkey contract awarded". Railway Gazette International. 23 April 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Gurgaon's own Metro". Hindustan Times. 15 July 2009.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "CSR Zhuzhou to supply Gurgaon trains". Railway Gazette International. 30 June 2010.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Gurgaon metro link to be completed in 30 months". The Times of India. 16 July 2009.
  6. ↑ http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/india-first-rapid-metro-begins-operations-in-gurgaon/1/200588.html
  7. ↑ "Saudi infra company raises stake in IL&FS Engineering to 32.39%". Business Line. 09 May 2011. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ↑ http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/gurgaon-rapid-metro-blazes-a-new-trail-113112501161_1.html
  9. ↑ http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/after-gurgaon-rapid-metro-mumbai-metro-goes-for-station-branding-114041600482_1.html
  10. ↑ "MTS to provide Free Wi-Fi to Gurgaon Rapid Metro Passengers". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  11. ↑ "From tomorrow, Gurgaon will finally have its Rapid Metro". Times of India. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  12. ↑ "Development of Metro Link" (PDF). Haryan Urban Development Authority, (HUDA). July 2008.
  13. ↑ DLF-led consortium sole bidder for Gurgaon metro project Business Standard, 11 December 2008.
  14. ↑ "Green Signal for India's First Fully Private Railway Project". Forbes India. 17 March 2010.
  15. ↑ "CM nod to phase-II of Rapid Metro Rail project". Times Of India. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  16. ↑ "Gurgaon Metro: Foundation laid, project to be completed by mid-2012". Indian Express. 12 August 2009.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Siemens Mobility to equip additional metro line in Delhi" (Press release). Siemens. 12 August 2009.
  18. ↑ "Gurgaon Rapid Metro begins trial runs". Indian Express. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  19. ↑ "Rapid Metro begins trial runs". Indian Express. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  20. ↑ Ajay Kumar (2 October 2012). "Gurgaon tries out Rapid Metro corridor | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  21. ↑ "Gurgaon Rapid Metro Rail Project". Railway-Technology.com. 15 June 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  22. ↑ http://rapidmetrorail.com/welcome.html[]
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Govt gives green signal to extend Rapid Metro". Hindustan Times. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  24. ↑ "Rapid Metro Gurgaon". Rapid Metro Gurgaon. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  25. ↑ "It's official, Rapid Metro in 6 months". Hindustan Times. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  26. ↑ "Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon Newsletter 1" (PDF). rapidmetrogurgaon.com. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  27. ↑ "Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon opens". Railway Gazette. 2013-11-15. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  28. ↑ Simon Crompton-Reid (2013-11-18). "Rapid MetroRail Gurgaon launched". Total Rail. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  29. ↑ "Gurgaon automated metro". Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  30. ↑ "Rapid Metro's trial run flagged off by Hooda". Business Standard. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  31. ↑ DVV Media Group GmbH. "CSR Zhuzhou to supply Gurgaon trains". Railway Gazette. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  32. ↑ Banerjee, Rumu (6 August 2012). "Delhi Metro to link up with Rapid Rail - The Economic Times". Economictimes.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  33. ↑ TNN 14 Sep 2012, 01.51AM IST (14 September 2012). "Gurgaon rapid Metro ready for trials - Times Of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  34. ↑ "Technology". Rapid Metro Gurgaon. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  35. ↑ "FAQs". Rapid Metro Gurgaon. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  36. ↑ "Haryana plans new Metro line, to invite bids from private operators". Indian Express. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2013.

External links