The Hindu Business Line : Railways: Better deal for travelling public

Improving quality of travel: Commuters on one of Mumbai’s crowded suburban trains. The Government is working to bring down overcrowding during peak hours.

Shubhra Tandon

Overcrowded local trains, with perspiring commuters crushed against one another, has for decades been an inseparable part of the Mumbai milieu. Now perhaps, things may change for the better, with the Railways and the Maharashtra Government planning to pump in significant investments to improve the quality of travelling in India’s financial capital.

To don fresh look

The suburban trains, the life-line of Mumbai, is all set to don a fresh new look as the efforts of Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MVRC) take shape. Under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), the railways component has been divided into two phases, involving the tasks of resettlement of over 16,000 families, construction of new lines, procurement of new trains, maintenance facilities and import of new technology.

The total cost of the railway component is Rs 3,125 crore of which Rs 1,613 crore is being funded through the World Bank and Rs 756 crore being put in by the Government of Maharashtra and the Indian Railways jointly.

Overcrowding

The objective is to primarily bring down the overcrowding in peak hour peak direction nine-car train to 3,000 passengers as against the existing 5,000. Second, the idea is to segregate the suburban train operation from the main line passenger and freight services.

The Managing Director of MVRC, Mr P.C. Sehgal, told Business Line, “The phase I of MUTP’s railway component would be completed by December 2009. Around Rs 1,550 crore has been spent till now of the total amount (Rs 3,125 crore) leading to completion of 60 per cent of the work.”

The works completed until now includes, receiving and beginning of trials of two new rakes which are fully computer controlled, laying of 5th and 6th lines between Kurla and Thane and quadrupling of Borivali-Virar section.

“Technical trials for the rakes are going on and are likely to get fully functional by mid-November. In addition, we have provided 216 square feet area of pucca houses to around 17,000 project-affected households in 21 locations across Mumbai spending over Rs 400 crore,” said Mr Sehgal.

He added that the new rakes with the latest technology would be saving 30-35 per cent of energy as they would be free from physical friction. “Currently, we are spending Rs 250 crore per year on energy and with the new technology we would be saving energy of around Rs 80 crore.”

The new rakes would also have air cooling system in place. Blowers installed for the purpose would be pumping in 15,000 cubic metre per hour of fresh air leading to less suffocation and comfortable travel. Also, as the new systems are computerised, the coal burnt to provide energy for running the trains would be reduced significantly and hence less carbon dioxide produced.

Mr Sehgal said the report on carbon emission is required to be submitted to the World Bank, and since the results are environment-friendly, MVRC is likely to get around Rs 10 crore more for the project.

Car rakes

Completion of Phase I entails major infrastructural developments - addition of 93 track km-base figure 790 km (excluding loop lines and yards), 34 km in Thane-Turbhe-Vashi section and 52 km in Borivali-Virar section under MUTP have since been added. Induction of 101 new 9-car rakes, running of 12-car rakes on all lines (excluding Harbour Line) by lengthening of all platforms and other similar developments.

Phase II of the railway infrastructure works costing around Rs 4,509 crore needs final sanctions from Ministry of Railways and Government of Maharashtra. However, according to Mr Sehgal the work should begin within one to one-and-a-half year’s time. Certain railway works have been identified under Phase III too, which are subject to approval.

KONKAN RAILWAYS

While Western Railways is integral part of city life in Mumbai concentrating on passenger traffic, Konkan Railway handles significant amount of freight along with passenger traffic serving a large part of Maharashtra.

“Less freight traffic has been the bane for KRCL for many years. It used to be about 20 per cent and passenger traffic used to be about 80 per cent of total revenue. However, this year we witnessed a turn around with freight revenue of over Rs 206 crore surpassing passenger revenue of Rs 205 crore for the full year,” said Mr Bhanu Tayal, Chief Operating Manager of Konkan Railways.

Freight earnings

According to Mr Tayal, there has been a growth of 38 per cent in freight earnings in the year 2006-07 as compared to previous year. In terms of actuals, the numbers have risen from Rs 149 crore in 2005-06 to Rs 206 crore in 2006-07. Net tonnage carried over Konkan Railway increased by 31 per cent to 2,090 million NTKM last financial year from 1,597 million NTKM carried the previous year. Major commodities moved include iron ore, pig iron, cement, food-grains and fertilizers.

“There has been an increase in the number of freight trains also in the year last financial year as compared to 2005-06. In 2006-07, 3,516 trains were run as compared to 2,984 trains in the previous year, which is 18 per cent more,” he said.

Capacity expansion

Konkan Railway is estimated to need Rs 27 crore to augment capacity through works that would include new crossing stations namely AMBARDE (between Kudai and Sawantwadi), MADURE (between Sawantwadi and Pemem) and LOLIEM (between Canacona and Ashoti).

One additional loop line at Adavali station, one by-pass line between Thokur-Panambur, one additional line at Madgaon station and extention of two dead-ends at Madgaon station are the other developmental works to be undertaken.

Ro-ro service

Another innovation that proved advantageous to Konkan Railways has been the introduction of roll-in and roll-out service, also known as Ro-Ro which started over the line in January 2009. “Introduction of ro-ro service has been a win-win situation for railways and road transporters. One to two hours of terminal detention coupled with 100 per cent load traffic in both directions has resulted in better financial returns for Railways,” said Mr Tayal.

Technology trains

While Western Railways is trying to make daily commuters’ life comfortable with launching latest technology trains, Konkan Railways is also taking such steps. Skybus Metro, the innovative urban transportation system developed and patented by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) once implemented would change the way one travels. This complete hi-tech solution is designed to deal with challenges posed to urban mass transportation system.

As per the technology in the system, light weight coaches are suspended from the electrically powered bogies running overhead inside guide way, a closed concrete box with a bottom slit. The elevated tracks called skyway consists of rails laid at standard gauge (1,435 mm) inside the guideway box, is supported on concrete columns along the median or one side of the road, with minimal footprint clearance of about 6 metre from the ground allows running of normal road traffic.

The Skubus coaches capable of taking 300 passengers in all of two coaches are of modular and lightweight construction made of steel structure with composite material panels. Wide doors provide quick and easy access to passengers.

Coaches are also equipped with audio-visual information to the passengers with arrangement of emergency evacuation through inflated chutes provided at the end of a coach.

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