Call it Mumbai Metro, not Reliance Metro: MMRDA to Rinfra - DNA

Call it Mumbai Metro, not Reliance Metro: MMRDA to Rinfra

Thursday, Jan 2, 2014, 7:11 IST | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

DNA Correspondent
  

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) seems to have put its foot down by asking Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra)-led Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) to change metro rail logo and name from “Reliance Metro” to “Mumbai Metro”.
“On December 31, we have sent a letter to RInfra, asking them to change the logo of metro rail from Reliance Metro to Mumbai Metro,” revealed Dilip Kawathkar, spokesperson for the development authority.
According to MMRDA authorities, the demand is well within the concession agreement signed between the state government and RInfra as the fine print states that the project should be titled as ‘Mumbai Metro’, which the MMOPL has been ignoring.
On May 4, 2013, dna had reported about the dispute over logo and refusal by RInfra to change its name.
When contacted, an MMOPL spokesperson said, “We have not received any such official communication from MMRDA. Display of the brand name of the promoter of the company, which includes Reliance and MMRDA, is well within the contract conditions and industry practice.”
According to RTI activist Anil Galgali, who has been trying for rectification of logo and project name, metro rail is a public-private partnership and like ‘Mumbai Monorail’, this too should be called ‘Mumbai Metro’. The logo has to change to ‘Mumbai Metro’, no other name is acceptable, he maintains.

After lack of interest, three firms close in on metro bid - Times of India

After lack of interest, three firms close in on metro bid

Sanjeev Shivadekar,TNN | Dec 18, 2013, 04.04 AM IST

NAVI MUMBAI: The city's first metro, that was supposed to be flagged off in 2014, has been delayed once again. The City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) is yet to shortlist the company which will be awarded the tender for carrying out its system work, including electrical and mechanical work.

Cidco was set to open tenders for electrical and mechanical work for the 11-km CBD Belapur-Pendhar metro work on October 7, but the town planning authority extended the deadline to October 30 after few firms showed interest.

After a delay of nearly two months, it is still in process of finalizing the contract for laying tracks, signaling and telecommunication work.

"We received six bidders for the system work. Of these only three have qualified. Now the process of technical evaluation is underway, after which the agency will carry out financial evaluation," said Mohan Ninawe, chief public relations officer, Cidco.

"Technical evaluation will be completed by December end. And then the process to evaluate financial bid will begin. Finally, after completing the administrative procedures,the contract will be awarded to the qualifying player."

A Cidco official said only three consortiums have expressed interest in taking up system work. "Larsen & Toubro, Ansaldo and Alstom are the three players who are in the ring to bag the tender," the official added.

The satellite city's first metro railway project was inaugurated by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in May 2011. The CM then had instructed the town planning authority to complete the project within three years, before 2014.

However, Navi Mumbai residents will have to wait for the first metro ride a little longer as the project will not be completed till 2015.

According to the agency, the metro work is done in four stages - viaduct, station building development, construction of depot and last stage is system work.

Unlike Mumbai, where the metro is being built on a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), in Navi Mumbai, the Rs 2,000 crore metro rail project is being undertaken by Cidco. The first phase of metro is from Belapur to Pendhar and the agency plans to construct similar rail network of 106km across the satellite city in phases.

"After the existing metro work, in second phase we plan to connect the proposed Navi Mumbai airport with the metro," another Cidco official said.

"Over 55% of the first phase work is complete, however work for second phase, that plans to connect the airport, is yet to see any concrete development," he added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/navi-mumbai/After-lack-of-interest-three-firms-close-in-on-metro-bid/articleshow/27550936.cms

Chavan admits delay in Metro, monorail - Times of India

Chavan admits delay in Metro, monorail

TNN | Dec 18, 2013, 01.43 AM IST

NAGPUR: It looks tough for Mumbai's Metro to roll out early next year as it is yet receive the approval of the Research Development & Standards Organization (RDSO) of the Indian Railways.

Completion of the city's 20-km monorail will also be delayed by a year and is now expected in 2015.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, in reply to a question in the winter session of the state assembly, said the process to get RDSOcertification for the Metro, which was expected in September, was still on. He, however, said he expected the system to be commissioned by January.

The developer for the second phase (Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd) expressed inability to start construction due to difficulties in getting environmental clearances, he said. There was no proposal to give a floor space index of 4 to buildings in the vicinity of Metro stations, he said.

Chavan said the monorail's Rs 2,800-crore 11-km second phase from Wadala to Jacob Circle will take at least 18 months to complete. The metro's commissioning has already been delayed by two years.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Chavan-admits-delay-in-Metro-monorail/articleshow/27548456.cms

Times OOH bags advertising rights for Mumbai Metro - The Economic Times

Times OOH bags advertising rights for Mumbai Metro

ET Bureau Dec 16, 2013, 04.00AM IST

TIM operates its out-of-home media business under the brand, 

Times Innovative Media (TIM), a subsidiary of Bennett Coleman & Co, has bagged the advertisement rights ofMumbai Metro One for 15 years.

Times OOH. The contract includes variousadvertising options available at Mumbai Metro like station corridors, pillars, train wraps, train interiors, sponsorship opportunities and a state-of-theart digital network that will be installed by Times Innovative Media.Sunder Hemrajani, managing director, TIM said "Mumbai Metro Line I is an important project under the public private partnership. It will offer Mumbai citizens a comfortable, reliable and efficient transportation mode. Mumbai will see metro rail system for the first time which will offer state of the art coaches, and passenger convenience systems. We are delighted to be associated with this project as the overall media partner of Mumbai Metro to offer world class media solutions to marketers for engaging with their target segments. We look forward to this long-term association."

Times OOH first won the advertising rights at Mumbai and Delhi Airport in 2007, and went on to win the 20-year contract to manage advertising space in T3 terminal at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport in 2010 and an 11-year contract at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai in 2013.

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-12-16/news/45256228_1_times-ooh-times-innovative-media-sunder-hemrajani

State indecision delays Metro III, holds up funds - Times of India

State indecision delays Metro III, holds up funds

Manthan K Mehta,TNN | Dec 5, 2013, 02.34 AM IST

MUMBAI: Indecisiveness on the part of the state government has upset the schedule of the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro corridor and held up funds from the Centre.

Also known as Metro III, the project may be delayed by at least a year because of dilly-dallying in the formation of a special purpose vehicle and appointment of the board of directors to execute the public transport project.

As these procedures are yet to be fulfilled, the Centre has withheld its share of Rs 160 crore for this financial year. Even the Japan International Cooperation Agency is willing to release funds, but is held back by lack of progress in the project.

The original date of completion for the Rs 23,136 crore project is December 2019.

The state urban development department headed by chief minister Prthiviraj Chavan is blamed for the mess by those familiar with the project processes.

The crux of the problem is the failure to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will transform the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) into a 50:50 joint venture between the state government and the Centre; the joint-venture MMRC will then be the special purpose vehicle to execute the project.

The state is yet to approve the MoU for the joint venture even though the draft was sent on September 30.

"The special purpose vehicle has had neither a managing director nor a full-time board even though the Centre has already nominated its member on July 30," an official said. "In this situation, bids can not be finalized or funds used."

On September 16, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had invited pre-qualification bids for detailed design and construction of underground stations and association tunnels. The process was supposed to be finalized by December so that it would be possible to invite bids by January.

The MMRDA has already extended the last date for submission of bid documents for this stage of the project twice.

"On November 29, the MMRDA extended the due date to accept bids to January 10 as the new board for MMRC has not been constituted," the source said. "The deadline has already been extended by a year and more delays will cause cost overruns."

A source said if things did not move fast, the project would get further delayed as a poll code would be imposed in February or March for polls scheduled in May.

Source said, "The project also has to received the approval of the state cabinet even though the note was sent on Aug 14. Without this, the state cannot release funds. Moreover, issues like acquisition of land and Relief and Rehabilitation cannot be handled effectively. Last heard, the cabinet note was with finance department and will later move to the legal department. At this pace, the project is likely to get further delayed."

Factfile

The funds could have helped start preparatory work by state of next financial year so that the work on the ground could have begun after monsoons in Oct 2014. However, the delay will disrupt the entire time table. Some officials said that government and MMRDA should learn from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation ( DMRC) model, which delivered almost all project on Schedule because the clock starts ticking as soon as the project is approved.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/State-indecision-delays-Metro-III-holds-up-funds/articleshow/26870768.cms

Belapur-Pendhar Metro to miss 2015 deadline as well - Mid Day

Belapur-Pendhar Metro to miss 2015 deadline as well

While Mumbaikars will be able to commute on the first metro rail in the state by coming May, Navi Mumbaikars will have to wait for at least three more years to avail of Belapur-Pendhar metro line service because the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) is bound to miss the 2015 deadline.

November 28, 2013

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on May 1, 2011. Speaking on the occasion, Chavan had asked the authorities to ensure that the line was operational within the next three years — by 2014. 

Work in progress: Labourers doing welding work on the Belapur-Pendhar Metro Corridor. The metro line will miss its 2015 deadline as well. Pic/Sameer Markande

However, thanks to different issues, the project has missed its deadlines. A CIDCO official said the line would witness its first trial run in July 2016. Once operational, there would be eight trains — three coaches each — that would ply on the Belapur-Pendhar corridor.

The eight trains are expected to ferry 385 passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD).  Officials said if there was a considerable rise in number of commuters, then the coaches would be doubled.

Reason for delay 
Superintending Engineer (Metro) CIDCO V C Kamble said, “The project has suffered a nine-month delay because the tender quoted by the Delhi Metro Rail Construction (DMRC) was in accordance with coaches that were 2.9-metre-wide.

Labourers doing welding work on the Belapur-Pendhar Metro Corridor. The metro line will miss its 2015 deadline as well. Pic/Sameer Markande

These coaches have lesser carrying capacity. We increased the width to 3.2 metres. So we had to revise the cost. But we are trying our best to finish the work and make the metro line operational for public at the earliest.”

Special sensors
The fully automatic metro train would be equipped with a signalling system with sensors that would eliminate possibilities of head-on collision.

Work done till date
The CIDCO has completed 60 per cent of civil work and 30 per cent of station work till date. It should also be noted that a few international companies have shown keen interest in the mechanical work tenders and have placed their bids, for which the last day of submission was October 30. The CIDCO is expected to finalise one of the bidders by January 2014, following which the firm will be awarded a 30-month contract. The company would then be responsible for completion of trains, including interiors and exteriors, till the time they are pressed into action for public use. 

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2013/nov/281113-navi-mumbai-belapur-pendhar-metro-to-miss-2015-deadline-as-well.htm

Lax state fails to notify Act, may delay Metro-I - Times of India

Lax state fails to notify Act, may delay Metro-I

Clara Lewis,TNN | Oct 28, 2013, 06.50 AM IST

MUMBAI: The state government's failure to notify the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metrounder the Metro Railways (Operations & Maintenance) Act 2002, may delay the commissioning of the project. 

The state has promised that the entire 11.4-km route will be commissioned by Decemberend . But the Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd (MMOPL) is constantly maintaining that it will commission the project this fiscal ; it is not committing to the December deadline. 

In 2004, the urban development department had issued a government resolution for implementation of a tramway/ mass rapid transport system in the VAG Metro project through public-private participation and appointed MMRDA as the implementing agency. In 2007, the state had authorized the construction and maintenance of the project under the Tramways Act, 1886. But in 2009, the Centre, through a gazette notification , extended the Metro Act to all other metropolitan cities, including the MMR. 

MMOPL sources said since March 2010, they have been writing to the MMRDA for clarity as to which Act is now applicable to the project. "Without this, no approvals can be obtained. Without an Act, the functioning of the concessionaire is illegal, and if this issue is not clarified soon it will delay the project," said a source. 

Sources said that owing to the lack of clarity, MMOPL can't invite the Research and Design Standard Operations (RDSO) to inspect the Metro for safety features. "Unless the RDSO passes its remarks, the commissioner of metro railway safety inspect and certify it for operation," said a source. 

In August, MMOPL had written to the MMRDA saying that it would not be responsible for any delay in "achieving the commercial operations date due to non-resolution of the issue by the MMRDA" . It also said the MMRDA will have to pay compensation for the "time and cost implication arising from the issue" . Sources said MMOPL has been pushing for the shift as it wants the state to change the fare structure and pay for the cost escalation. 

But MMRDA chief U P S Madan said, "The Metro will become operational by December-end . The RDSO has given approval to a number of safety features ." The delay in notifying the project under the Metro Act was because the state has been studying the legal implications of the shift on the concession agreement, he said, adding that one of the key issues were changes in the fare structure. "The fare structure has now been notified, but there are other issues. We don't want the agreement to be superseded by the Metro Act. These should soon be resolved and we shall notify the project under the Act." On cost escalation, Madan said it would be sorted out after the Metro was commissioned. 

Fine print issues 

In 2006, PM Manmohan Singh had inaugurated the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar Metro. In 2007, the project was passed under the Tramways Act, 1886, as then there was no Act to deal with Metros. In 2009, the Centre by a gazette notification extended the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance Act) 2002, to all metropolitan cities, including MMR. 

The 11.4-km VAG Metro has missed several deadlines since December 2010 till last month. Both the MMRDA and the state insist that it will be commissioned in December 2013, but MMOPL is not committing itself to this date; it said that the VAG will be completed this fiscal MMOPL said that as the project has not been notified under the Metro Acts, it cannot invite the Research Design and Standards Organisation to carry out inspections. Unless the inspection is done the commissioner for metro railway safety cannot issue a certificate, without which the Metro cannot be commissioned MMRDA says that the delay in shifting from the Tramways Act to the Metro Act is because the state government has been closely studying the legal implications on the concession agreement, especially the fare structure. 

The project cost has shot up from Rs 2,356 crore to Rs 4,291 crore over the years.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Lax-state-fails-to-notify-Act-may-delay-Metro-I/articleshow/24796163.cms