Latest news with #RITES
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
PGI-Sarangpur traffic chaos: Chandigarh admn offers double-decker fix for Metro-flyover clash
As a solution to the clash between the proposed Metro corridor and a flyover plan on the PGIMER-Sarangpur stretch, the UT engineering department has suggested a double-decker structure — with one level for the Metro track and another for vehicular traffic. The proposal was discussed in a review meeting on Tuesday, chaired by UT chief engineer CB Ojha, where officials from Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) were urged to consider the dual-layer road design for the area, which has been identified by the Road Safety Committee as a major bottleneck. In its latest report, shared in April, the Road Safety Committee stated that traffic jams, lack of footpaths (forcing pedestrians onto roads), roadside parking, encroachments by shops, waterlogging during monsoon, U-turns at junctions and autos halting mid-road to pick up passengers had collectively turned the stretch into a critical chokepoint. According to initial plans prepared by the UT engineering department, the flyover was to be constructed at a cost of around ₹90 crore, running 1.75 km in length, with a 1.3-km elevated stretch. At the Tuesday meeting, Ojha also directed RITES to incorporate observations from the scenario report on the Metro project, which was submitted last month. RITES has now been asked to expedite its work and submit the final report. In its scenario report, RITES stated that the Metro project was financially viable for the tricity, though it may take at least a decade for the system to achieve profitability. The report drew comparisons with Metro systems in Ahmedabad, Kochi, Jaipur and Noida, noting that such projects were typically evaluated over a 30-year operational horizon. Using the Ahmedabad Metro as a case study, the report pointed out that recovering capital investment may take at least five years, and highlighted unforeseen disruptions like the Covid-19 pandemic that delayed business recovery after its launch in 2019. During a committee meeting held in March, former Haryana transport additional chief secretary Ashok Khemka had asked RITES to re-examine its ridership estimate of 11.3 lakh passengers annually. The revised report was subsequently submitted in May. The eight-member expert committee, constituted in November last year, was entrusted with evaluating the financial viability of the Tricity Metro project. The final report is expected to be submitted by mid-July to UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, who will present it before the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), the body responsible for coordinating urban mobility initiatives across the tricity region. Last year in November, Union minister for power, housing and urban affairs Manohar Lal Khattar had expressed concerns over the project's ridership levels. He had warned that inadequate ridership could affect the long-term viability of the Metro system in Chandigarh. 'Ridership in Chandigarh does not appear to meet the threshold required for a viable Metro system,' he noted, urging the consideration of alternative transport solutions such as pod taxis.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Metro project back on track with positive viability report
Chandigarh: Still chugging along in the "planning" stage, the Metro project received a fresh green signal from Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) in its latest, "Scenario Analysis Report" (SSR). In the report, RITES pegged the economic internal rate of return (EIRR) between 14.35% and 32.33%, indicating the economic viability of the metro for the Tricity. The EIRR indicates the financial viability of a project and the economic activity or return on investment it will generate. According to the Centre's, Metro Policy, 2017, "While appraising such project proposals, the economic and social viability may be assessed. The economic internal rate of return for any metro rail project proposal should be 14% and above for consideration of its approval." The financial internal rate of return (FIRR) for all corridors ranges between 1.7% (where corridor 3 is underground) and 4% (where corridor 3 is elevated), according to the figures submitted in the SSR. By 2031, the daily ridership of the metro is estimated to reach 6.5 lakh, and by 2056, it is pegged at 11.30 lakh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo A discussion on the report was held Chandigarh Administration officials and RITES on Tuesday. During the meeting, chaired by UT chief engineer, C B Ojha, the administration sought further clarifications from RITES on aspects of the report, like ridership figures. If satisfied with the RITES responses, the report will be examined at the level of the eight-member committee constituted to examine the financial viability of the metro. The SSR report was submitted to the eight-member committee constituted by the Punjab governor and UT administrator, Gulab Chand Kataria in November, 2024. The committee, which was constituted to assess the financial viability of the Tricity Metro project, met twice earlier this year. In the meeting held in February this year, the committee directed RITES to provide clarifications on ridership, fare revisions, and traffic growth estimates. Earlier, the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA), in January 2024, gave in-principle nod to the proposed metro routes. RITES proposed an 85.65km metro project for the Tricity in phase 1. It will have three corridors. Corridor-1 has been proposed from Paroul, New Chandigarh to Sector 28, Panchkula via Railway Station. Corridor-2 will be from Sukhna Lake to Sector 21, Panchkula via Chandigarh Airport and ISBT, Zirakpur. Corridor-3 is proposed to start from Grain Market Chowk to Transport Light Chowk. Revenue and cost estimates Revenue As per the SRR, the metro will earn a total revenue of Rs 1,369 crore by 2031 and Rs 8,182 crore by 2056. The fare box revenue of the metro is estimated to be Rs 1,245 crore by 2031. It will increase to Rs 7,431 crore by 2056. Fare box revenue is the income generated by the metro from fares paid by passengers. The non-fare box revenue will be Rs 124 crore by 2031 and Rs 743 crore by 2056. Costs Completion cost of the metro is pegged at Rs 25,631 crore to Rs 30,498 crore, depending on whether an elevated or underground network is opted for. Operation and maintenance (O&M) cost for the project will range between Rs 631 crore and Rs 697 crore by 2031. By the year 2056, O&M costs will range between Rs 3,787 crore and Rs 4,071 crore. 'Cost is decisive factor' In an exclusive interview with Times of India in May this year, Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, stated, "The key to the effectiveness of the public transport system is its affordability. People will opt for public transport if it is affordable. With a small percentage of the estimated cost of the metro, I can run so many new buses in the city and even run these for free for the public!" MSID:: 121914412 413 |
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Turkish firm axed from contract for Mizoram road tunnel project
Representative image NEW DELHI: NHIDCL, a company under the road transport ministry, has cancelled a construction supervision contract for a road tunnel project in Mizoram awarded to a joint venture (JV) of railway PSU RITES and a Turkish firm, citing failure to submit "national security clearance. " The move comes in the wake of Ankara's support to Pakistan during India's Operation Sindoor . According to an order issued last week by NHIDCL, a contract for consultancy services as authority engineer for supervision of construction of the 2.5-km-long twin-tube Aizawl Bypass tunnel with approaches on NH-6 was awarded to RITES in JV with Tumas Turkish Engineering Consulting and Avok Engineering Consulting & Contracting. The agreement was signed on April 29, just days before Operation Sindoor.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu seesk civil aviation university in Visakhapatnam
1 2 3 Vijayawada: Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has asked the Union civil aviation ministry to explore the possibility of establishing a civil aviation university in Visakhapatnam. In a review meeting with Union civil aviation minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, and senior officials from the depts concerned on Wednesday, Naidu assessed the construction progress of Vijayawada international airport terminal. He directed airport authorities to ensure that the terminal's architectural design is visually striking and unique, and various components like terminal elevation, departure and arrival blocks, and passenger lounges reflect Andhra Pradesh's rich cultural heritage. He called for elements such as Kuchipudi dance, Kondapalli toys, Amaravati emblems, and Lepakshi art to be incorporated into the designs. The CM also reviewed the progress of terminal works at Kadapa and Rajamahendravaram airports. The Union minister informed him that technical feasibility studies are underway for new airports at Dagadarthi, Kuppam, and Palasa. Regarding the proposed Amaravati airport, Ram Mohan Naidu said land surveys are in progress and a RITES team will soon submit a report. Once land pooling is completed, the project could commence within two years, he said. He further stated that operations at Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam airports have grown by nearly 40%, and there is increased interest from operators to expand connectivity from Vijayawada, Tirupati, Rajamahendravaram, and Kurnool airports. He said TruJet is set to launch services from Visakhapatnam to various locations in Oct, and international flights between Vijayawada and Singapore and Tirupati and Muscat will commence soon. Seaplane operations are expected to begin after Sep, he said, adding that Qatar Aviation Fund has expressed interest to invest in Bhogapuram airport project.
Business Standard
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Hilton Metal jumps on successful wagon wheel set manufacturing
Hilton Metal Forging surged 5% to Rs 66.26 after the company announced the successful manufacturing of forged railway wagon wheel sets. These sets have been inspected and approved by RITES, the Indian governments railway inspection agency. Each wagon wheel set includes two forged wheels and one forged axle, with each railway coach or wagon requiring four such sets. As part of the Make in India initiative, Hilton aims to reduce dependence on Chinese imports and cater to the growing domestic demand. The company plans to manufacture over 3,000 wheel sets in FY26, scaling up to more than 12,000 in FY27, with an installed capacity target of 20,000 wheel sets per year. This expansion aligns with the Government of Indias emphasis on increasing the share of freight transport via rail from 27% to 45% by 2030. With 98% rail route electrification and the ongoing Mission Raftaar to boost train speeds, demand for reliable rolling stock components is rising. Hilton Metal Forging is engaged in the business of manufacturing of iron and steel forging, recognized export house, presently catering to the needs of oil and gas, reineries and pharmaceutical industries. On a standalone basis, net profit of Hilton Metal Forging soared 723.64% to Rs 4.53 crore while net sales rose 32.93% to Rs 44.97 crore in Q4 March 2025 over Q4 March 2024.
