Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad

Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA)
Overview
Native name મેટ્રોલિંક એક્સપ્રેસ ફોર ગાંધીનગર એન્ડ અમદાવાદ (મેગા)
Owner Government of India (50%)
Government of Gujarat (50%)
Locale Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Transit type Rapid transit
Number of lines 2 (Phase–1)
Number of stations 32 (Phase–1)
Daily ridership 2 million (projected, 2020)
4.5 million (projected, 2041)
Chief executive Rajiv Gauba (Chairman)
Operation
Operation will start December 2018
Operator(s) Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) Company Ltd.
Technical
System length 39.259 km (24.394 mi)[1]
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Standard gauge[2]
Electrification 750 V DC Third rail
Average speed 33 km/h (21 mph) E/W Line
32 km/h (20 mph) N/S Line
Top speed 80 km/h (50 mph)

Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad, abbreviated MEGA, or Ahmedabad Metro is an underconstruction mass-transit rail system for the cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar in Gujarat, India. The special purpose vehicle company was established in February 2010 and the Phase–1 of project was approved in October 2014 and is expected to complete by December 2018. The construction started on 14 March 2015.[3][4][5]

History

In 2003, Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board carried out the study for urban transport between Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad. It also carried out the detailed project report through Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and RITES and submitted it in June 2005 and received Central Government's approval in the same year.[6][7] Following the estimated cost of Rs 4295 crores and the study of viability of project, it was abandoned in 2005 to give priority to the Ahmedabad BRTS and Regional Rail system Projects. In 2008, considering the future developments in and around Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, the project was revived and new corridors were designed to make the project viable.

The special purpose vehicle company, Metro Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad (MEGA) Company Ltd, was established by Government of Gujarat on 4 February 2010 with Rs 200 crore. Later in 2014, it was decided that the Central Government will own 50% of the company.[8][9]

On 19 October 2014, Union Cabinet of India approved Rs 10773 crore for the Phase–1.[9] The Central government approved use of unused Western Railways land along the Botad- Sabarmati meter gauge line in November 2014.[10] The original plan of metro along Ashram Road was tweaked and the track was moved westward. The new plan added cost of Rs.500 crore and two more stations. It helped by fewer problems in land acquisition and less congestion on Ashram Road.[11][12] Mumbai-based J Kumar Infraprojects Ltd was allotted the construction of viaducts on the six kilometre-long route from Vastral to Apparel Park in February 2015 at cost of Rs 278.12 crore in 27 months.[4][5] In 2015 budget of Gujarat, Rs 611 crore was further allocated for project.[13] The ground breaking ceremony was held on 14 March 2015 for the construction of 6 km long Vastral – Apparel Park stretch of East-West corridor in presence of Gujarat Chief Minister, Anandiben Patel.[3][14] The 600 metre stretch of it is already constructed.[15] The construction of this stretch is expected to complete by October 2017. The underground stretch of Shahpur-Apparel Park will take 42 months to complete while Shahpur-Thaltej stretch will take 30 months to complete.[15] The North-South corridor is expected to complete in 2019.[16] The construction of Gyaspur-Shreyas stretch of North-South corridor, at the cost of ₹ 374.64 crore, was allocated to IL&FS in December 2015. The work started in March 2016. It is expected to be completed in 120 weeks.[17] The Indian Railways permitted the construction of North-South corridor stretch on its land in June 2016.[15]

Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) agreed to fund ₹ 5968 crore for Phase-1 of the project in November 2015 and the first trench of ₹ 4456 crore will be released in 2016.[18]

Corridors

Map of under construction network (as of December 2015)

Approved phases

Phase–1
North-South Line
Legend
 Motera stadium
 Sabarmati
 AEC
 Sabarmati railway station
 Ranip
 Vadaj
 Vijay Nagar
 Usmanpura
 Old High Court Interchange
 Gandhigram
 Paldi
 Shreyas
 Rajiv Nagar
 Jivraj Park
 APMC
 Gyaspur (depot)
East-West Line
Legend
 Thaltej Gam
 Thaltej
 Doordarshan Kendra
 Gurukul Road
 Gujarat University
 Commerce Six Roads
 Stadium
 Old High Court Interchange
 Shahpur
 Gheekanta
 Kalupur railway station
 Karwan Bazar
 Kankaria East
 Apparel Park (depot)
 Amraiwadi
 Rabari Colony
 Vastral
 Nirant Cross Roads
 Vastral Gam

Proposed phases

Phase-I extension, Phase-II, Phase-III will connect to Gandhinagar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and GIFT City towards North.

Project details

Sr. No. Description Design parameter for Proposed Metro Project Phase
1 Route length Total Planned: ~83 km

(~19 km underground section)

2 Elevated track on viaducts Single, Twin, Triple and Four track viaducts
3 Viaducts Min 5.5m vertical clearance from ROW

Sleek Twin U girder design of 25 to 30m span

Obligatory spans as per site conditions

Monopile foundation predominantly

4 Underground Section Tunnel using Tunnel Boring Machine and Cut & Cover for Station and Approaches
5 Stations 53 nos of total stations

Average Station distance: 1200 m to 1500 m

6 Depot Two Mother Depot

Two light inspection depot

7 Project Ridership Metro (driverless) – all cars motorized
8 Train headway Peak: 5 mins (2016), 1.5 mins (2026), 1.5 mins (2041)
9 Rolling stock – type Metro (driverless) – all cars motorized
10 Train composition Initially 3-car sets expandable to 4 car train sets by automatic coupling mechanism
11 Speed Design Speed (110kmph), Max operating speed (100kmph), Average speed 45 kmph
12 Car size Around 3.6m wide with 4 -doors on each side
13 Design loading Crush (design): 8 pax/m2 excluding seating
14 Axle load Maximum Axle load 19.1 tonne
15 Traction power 750 V DC Third Rail with cathodic protection for viaduct structures and station structures
16 Signalling and control Communication Based Train Control specifically designed for metro use with ATP/ ATO and ATS (axle counters as fall back)
17 Telecommunications Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) Communication System and SCADA for support systems control with Gigabit Ethernet network backbone.
18 Track 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge[2]

Viaducts: 60 kg rail with discrete acoustic attenuating rail fastenings set on concrete plinth. Depot: 60 kg ballasted track & concrete sleepers.

19 Minimum radius curvature 300m preferred min, 175m absolute min
20 Gradient Maximum 4%
21 Mainline turnouts 1:12 Turnouts with Curved Switches and CMS crossings,

1:8.5 Turnouts with Curved Switches and CMS crossings as emergency crossovers

22 Depot turnouts 1:8.5 Turnouts with Curved Switches and CMS crossings
23 Ticketing/ Fare collection Automatic Fare Collection System with five (5) levels of system facilities using Smart Card technology
24 Total nos of proposed bridges 03 nos. on Sabarmati River

01 nos. on Narmada Canal

Controversy

Near Thaltej Gam on western side, 300-odd shop owners opposed the land acquisition while the officials said that there is need of huge land for depot and parking for the project.[19] The land acquisition is also opposed by the residents and shop owners of Jivraj Park, Vejalpur area. They have filed a case in Gujarat High Court.[20][21]

Former IAS officer and executive chairman of project Sanjay Gupta and seven of his subordinate officers were accused while two of them were arrested in May 2015 for alleged committed fraud of ₹ 113 crore in procurement and use of ground filling materials for the project in 2012. Another case regarding procurement of 603 tons of TMT steel worth ₹ 2.62 crore which was never delivered is also being investigated.[22][23][24][25]

The Comptroller and Auditor General has pointed out wasteful expenditure of ₹ 373.62 crore on earlier unapproved corridors.[26]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mega. "MEGA Map 2014". MEGA.
  2. 1 2 IRJ (1 February 2014). "Ahmedabad launches metro train tender". IRJ.
  3. 1 2 DeshGujarat (14 March 2015). "First 6 km works of Ahmedabad Metro to complete by September 2016:CM". DeshGujarat. Retrieved 2015-04-12.
  4. 1 2 India (5 February 2015). "Mumbai-based firm wins bid for Ahmedabad metro construction". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  5. 1 2 DeshGujarat (22 October 2014). "MEGA invites tender for Vastral-Apparel Park stretch of Ahmedabad METRO Rail project". DeshGujarat. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  6. ↑ http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_from-2015-ride-metro-from-ahmedabad-to-gandhinagar_1746745
  7. ↑ "Ahmedabad metro rail project put on fast track". Business-standard.com. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  8. ↑ "New firm to speed up Metro in Ahmedabad". dnaindia.com. 2009-05-02. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  9. 1 2 "Ahemedabad Metro project gets green signal". The Times of India. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
  10. ↑ India (5 November 2014). "Modi government clears Railway land for Ahmedabad metro project". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  11. ↑ India (16 November 2014). "Tweak in route-map of Ahmedabad metro to cost additional Rs 500 crore". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  12. ↑ India (19 December 2014). "Builder of world's longest Metro line among suitors for Ahmedabad project". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  13. ↑ DeshGujarat (24 February 2015). "Gujarat Budget:Allocation for Dream City, Smart Cities, Metro rail, River Front". DeshGujarat. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  14. ↑ "Metro station on Podim type structure along Botad track - TOI Mobile". The Times of India Mobile Site. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  15. 1 2 3 "Railways green-lights north-south Metro work in Ahmedabad". The Times of India. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  16. ↑ "Ahmedabad Metro set to roll by October 2017". The Times of India. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  17. ↑ "IL&FS; Engineering Services Bags Rs. 374.64 Cr Metro Rail Contract in Gujarat". The Hans India. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  18. ↑ Bureau, Our (27 November 2015). "Ahmedabad Metro Phase 1 gets ₹5,968-crore Japanese funding". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  19. ↑ "Tenders issued for Metro construction - TOI Mobile". The Times of India Mobile Site. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 2015-02-25.
  20. ↑ "Ahmedabad metro project: MEGA offers relocation option to residents". ETRealty.com. 23 March 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  21. ↑ "Metro rail project: Residents of Vejalpur junk relocation offer". The Indian Express. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  22. ↑ Sports (2015-05-15). "Ahmedabad metro: Top officer held for 'fraud'". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
  23. ↑ TNN (20 May 2015). "Executive chairman of Metrolink Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad seeks ban on media coverage". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  24. ↑ India (8 December 2015). "Former IAS officer involved in Ahmedabad metro scam released on bail". The Indian Express. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  25. ↑ "Metro rail scam: Ex-IAS officer Sanjay Gupta gets bail". The Times of India. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  26. ↑ "CAG finds ₹373-cr 'infructuous spend' in Ahmedabad Metro". The Hindu Business Line. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
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