Rail Analysis India: Please inform us more about the progress of Lucknow Metro project and what is the current status?
Mr. Kumar Keshav : The 8.5 km “Priority Corridor” of the North-South Corridor (Phase 1A) is already operational for public services with effect from 6th September, 2017. The civil work of the remaining stretch of 15.5 km is going at a rapid pace to finish the job well ahead of the target.
Out of this, the civil work for the 3.5 km underground section comprising the Hussainganj, Sachivalaya and Hazratganj route is almost complete. Work for the Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport underground Metro station is also progressing at a fast pace. LMRC has started laying tracks and the work of the Over Head Electrification (OHE) for providing power supply to the Metro trains for the balanced elevated corridor from KD Singh Babu Stadium to Munshipulia. Civil work for the Amausi Metro station is complete with the finishing and the Electrical & Mechanical works going at present.
Lucknow Metro is slated to commission the whole North-South corridor (Phase 1A) from Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport to Munshipulia by April, 2019.
Rail Analysis India: What has been the response of the passengers of using the system & what are the amenities for their convenience available?
Image Credit: LMRC
Mr. Kumar Keshav : The response of the people of Lucknow has been immensely encouraging ever since the start of Metro services in their city. On the inaugural day of the commercial services (i.e. 6th September, 2017), they welcomed their ‘Metro’ with their both hands wide open. Such was their eagerness that everyone wanted to be the ‘first’ among themselves to travel by Metro, enjoy the journey and immortalise their name in the history on the fateful day. Lucknow Metro is the first Metro in the country which has tied up with Radio City 91.1 FM and launched its very own FM Radio. It is now providing specialised content, public announcements, jingles and melodious music at all Metro stations for the commuters of Lucknow Metro. In order to provide a push to government’s ‘Digital India’ campaign and an extended benefit for the Metro commuters, Lucknow Metro started providing free Wi-Fi facility to its ‘GoSmart’ card users at
Image Credit: LMRC
all its operational Metro stations. The facility is available for the GoSmart card holders who register their card on Lucknow Metro’s website. Fare-Chart/ Operation & Maintenance (O&M) leaflets regarding the safe use of Metro (i.e. How to use GoSmart Card & Tokens and its benefits, Do’s and Don’ts in Metro, Emergency evacuation, facilities provided by LMRC for commuters, offences within Metro premises & corresponding Penalties etc.) distributed to the commuters at all Metro stations for the convenient journey of the Metro train.
Rail Analysis India: What are your future plans for extending Metro rail in Lucknow?
Mr. Kumar Keshav : In the near future, LMRC will be taking up the 11 km East – West Corridor from Charbagh to Vasant Kunj as part of the Phase 1B of the future Metro Rail Project expansion in Lucknow.
Rail Analysis India: How Lucknow Metro proves itself to be different than the other Metro Systems in the country?
Mr. Kumar Keshav : Lucknow Metro is the fastest ever Metro project implemented in the Country. The 8.5 kms of the ‘Priority Stretch’ has been completed and made operational for public in less than three year which is a record in itself. No other Metro Project has even been able to achieve this feat in the past. Even contemporary Metro projects in the country have also not been able to match up with the speed of deliverance in the country as compared with LMRC’s strength in project execution within such a stiff target date and the sanctioned budget. At Mawaiya Railway Crossing, LMRC has constructed a special balanced cantilever span of 255 meters (central span 105 meters; end spans of 75 meters each). This is one of the most challenging and a critical job which has been executed at a height of 21.5 meters above the ground level while passing over 12 railway tracks at a height of 15.2 meters under extremely difficult situations. It is one of the rarest feats achieved for any Metro project in the country. At Awadh Rotary, Lucknow Metro has launched a 60 meter special steel span bridge crossing the rotary over a statue in the middle of the rotary. This bridge which has been built at a height of approximately 13 meters above the ground connects both the ends of the Metro viaduct to provide a special seamless connectivity for Metro train operation. LMRC has been ensuring from day one of its construction activity that its every endeavour is eco-friendly so as to keep the city green and lively. Lucknow Metro has been ensuring an environment friendly mass rapid transport for the public from the first day of its inception. Lucknow Metro is taking several energy conservation measures, such as, the use of regenerative braking in the trains which will result in saving of 30 to 35 per cent traction energy, thereby resulting in reduction in emission of Green House Gases (GHG), use of 1% criteria for underground stations in the AC system for the stations, using Variable Voltage Variable Frequency (VVVF) drive for all lifts and escalators, provision of LED lights at stations, use of energy efficient equipment for Environmental Control System (ECS) and Tunnel Ventilation System (TVS) system for the underground station etc. Currently, 1.5 MW – 2MW of electricity has been planned by Lucknow Metro to be used from the roof mounted photo voltaic cells on train stabling and inspection line sheds under the RESCO model. Because of all these novel measures, society will be able to recover the entire investment cost of the project in 5 years, its Economic Rate of Return (ERR) of the Project being 19.46%.
Rail Analysis India: Once fully operational across Lucknow, do you think Lucknow Metro will provide a boost to the IT development in Uttar Pradesh?
Mr. Kumar Keshav : The Metro project will link the major localities of the city thus reducing commuting time from hours to minutes. It will also ease congestion and encroachment, a problem which has assumed a massive proportion in the recent years. The Metro Project is also expected to reduce the cost of travel. Boosting the transport and infrastructure is expected to attract more companies and services to the city bolstering the employment prospects and thus it is expected to get a boost in IT sector also.
Image Credit: LMRC
Rail Analysis India: Can you please tell us about the role of LMRC (Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation) in the upcoming Metro projects in the state such as Kanpur, Meerut etc.?
Mr. Kumar Keshav : The Uttar Pradesh Government has also appointed LMRC as the ‘Interim Consultant’ for the upcoming Metro Rail Projects in Kanpur, Varanasi, Agra and Meerut. LMRC has coordinated for preparation of the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of all these upcoming Metro Rail Projects in important cities of Uttar Pradesh. LMRC’s “Centre of Excellence for Training” (CoET) situated at the Transport Nagar Metro Depot, Lucknow is the only one of its kind in Uttar Pradesh – imparting specialised training on Metro technology. The fresh recruits to LMRC are given rigorous training at this training centre. It will be the mother Metro Training Centre in Uttar Pradesh for all Metro recruits who will be joining the Metro Rail Projects in Kanpur, Varanasi, Meerut, Agra, Allahabad and Gorakhpur in near future. Lucknow Metro has ushered a revolution in bringing Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in important cities of Uttar Pradesh. It is now a role model for other Metros that shall be coming up in various cities of Uttar Pradesh.
Image Credit: LMRC
Rail Analysis India: What are the expected tenders and projects scheduled for bidding this year for the vendors?
Mr. Kumar Keshav : By the end of this year, tenders for Lucknow Metro’s East – West Metro Corridor (Phase 1B) is expected to be floated for bidding in the open market. Apart from this, the tender for civil construction of the first corridor to be undertaken for the Kanpur Metro Rail Project has also been floated. We hope this Project also to start soon
after getting the project approved.
Rail Analysis India: Any suggestions for us?
Mr. Kumar Keshav : Rail Analysis is already doing a good job in disseminating information related to Metro and Railways Project across the Country and the Globe. I wish it continues its journey like this and spreads knowledge and awareness on different subjects related with the industry in a prolific way.
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