Kochi Metro gets ‘Made in India’ Coaches from Alstom
Urban Development Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu flagged off the first train set in the presence of Kerala Minister for Power & Railways, Aryadan Muhammed at an official ceremony held at Alstom’s facility in Sri City SEZ in Andhra Pradesh. Kochiites Hear Metro Coaches’ Chug-chug Sounds Come Closer. DMRC confident to run Kochi metro service will begin in June.
Kochi: Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. (KMRL) on Saturday received the first set of ‘Made in India’ coaches five months ahead of schedule from Alstom Transport. Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu flagged off the first train set in the presence of Kerala Minister for Power & Railways, Aryadan Muhammed at an official ceremony held at Alstom’s facility in Sri City SEZ in Andhra Pradesh.
The order for 25 train sets was placed in August 2014 and the French company delivered the first train set in record time, according to KMRL. As per the contract, Alstom is responsible for the design, manufacturing, supply, installation and commissioning of 25 standard track gauge trains.
“We take pride that Alstom Transport is supplying the very first set of Made in India coaches to Kochi Metro,” Naidu said.
Each KMRL train will be fitted with two air conditioning units per car. Alstom said 25 coaches would run on an elevated metro rail network (25-km long) and 22 stations across Kochi. The line is expected to be open by the end of 2016.
Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu flags off the trailer carrying the first Metro train from Alstom’s manufacturing unit at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday.
Metro Rail projects covering a total distance of 528 km and valued at Rs 1,64,915 crore is set to become operational in the country in a few years. With urban population exploding and transportation in cities increasingly difficult, Union Minister for Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu, extolling the virtues of Metro Rail, said that these projects will ease urban transportation issues considerably.
Naidu while inaugurating the manufacture of the first coach shell for the Kochi Metro Rail project at Alstom Transport’s metro rolling stock facility in Sri City, said, “Traveling in cities has become a nightmare and it is adversely impacting the quality of life. We keep adding more and more vehicles, but what we need are more and more metros,” said Naidu adding that this is at the top of the government of India’s priorities. This dovetails with the government’s aim to establish 100 smart cities with convenient and efficient intra-city travel.
“Right now, we have 259 km of Metro rail operational in the country. 189 km in Delhi and 60 km in four other cities. And another 528 km are set to become operational in the next few years,” he said. Ongoing metro projects include Chennai’s phase one and Bangalore.
Naidu also pointed out that Metro Rail projects were incredibly cost effective in the long run. “The 528 km will take up an estimated Rs 1,64,915 crore. The average cost of a metro project is more Rs 250 crore per km. But the Delhi Metro, which cost Rs 43,000 crore is said to save Rs 10,000 crore every year in terms of fuel costs and environmental impact,” he pointed out.
Construction on Nagpur’s Metro Rail project is set to begin and Metro Rail projects in Pune, Vijayawada, Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Vijayawada will soon initiated. Metro Rail projects in another 9 cities that will involve adding another 223 km at a cost of Rs 83,000 crore are currently under the Union government’s consideration.
The government is also actively encouraging indigenous manufacturing with a current national capacity of 620 coaches a year.
50 pc rail coaches ready in 3 years
Chennai: French manufacturing giant Alstom Transport is looking to ship about 50% of its production at its Metro Rail coach plant in Sri City in the next three years. The plant which currently has plans of extending capacity to around 200-250 cars a year, provides coaches to both the Chennai Metro Rail and the Kochi Metro Rail Projects. “The way we build coaches here will make India very important for the international market. Approximately 50% of our capacity will be exported to overseas markets in Australia, Asia Pacific and the Americas,” said a senior company official.
Kochi metro service will begin in June: DMRC
Delhi Metro Railway Corporation has clarified that there will not be further delay in the opening of Kochi Metro project. The first service will begin in June itself, informed DMRC circles.
The first service will be from Aluva to Palarivattom. Before starting the service, Railway security commissioner will reach Kochi to take stock of security arrangements. The service will be started soon after receiving the commissioner’s nod.
In a function held in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, three of the coaches required for the Metro were handed over to the minister in charge of the Railways in Kerala, Aryadan Muhammed. This will reach Kochi in ten days.
Train will be driven at Muttam yard on January 23 on experimental basis and this will be flagged off by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
900 metre is the length of the test track. Even for the trail run, the train will be fitted with all facilities and driven through the track that rests on pillars.
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