Hyderabad Metro Rail , rated among world's 8 most spectacular infra projects

Hyderabad Metro Rail added one more feather in its cap with the ambitious project being awarded the ‘Best Engineering Project of the year’ by the Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum Conference for the year 2013.

The project was reportedly shortlisted out of nearly 100 projects from all around the world. The project would incur a total cost of Rs 17,000 crore for development that is expected to ease travelling for more than 1.7 million people in Hyderabad.

According to the Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum Conference, there are seven other infrastructure projects, which have been chosen, and it is a matter of pride for Hyderabad Metro tail to be listed among these prestigious projects.

The seven other projects are the $5.25 billion project for upgradation of Panama Canal,  Marmaray project in Turkey,  Beijing's new international airport, Etihad Rail Network in the Middle east, the LAPSSET (Lamu Port--South Sudan--Ethiopia Transport Corridor) Project, London Cross rail and NITC Bridge, i.e. New International Trade Crossing Bridge connecting the US and Canada.

It is indeed a testimony to the scale of construction and a host of modern technologies that would be associated with the Hyderabad Metro rail, a world-class infrastructure project envisaged to change the face of public transport system in Hyderabad.

A mass rapid transit system, Hyderabad Metro rail straddles three corridors of the city spanning nearly 72 km with 66 stations. In order to connect the project with other existing transport systems, the Metro is linked with MMTS, major railway hubs and bus terminus along the corridors.

To facilitate switching over from one corridor to the other, there are interchange stations, which offer hassle free transition that can help commuters to travel in the metro rail operating on other routes too.

The project would be a facelift for Hyderabad’s woeful traffic and the burden imposed due to the heavy pollution, traffic hassles and offers a new dimension to the city, exploiting its growth potential.

Hyderabad Metro Rail is touted to be the most important project that can renew the growth potential of the global city that is set to witness a property boom owing to the resurgence of property markets. The project is a win-win for everyone - the government, common man, industry, property developers, working professionals and impacts the life of everyone in the city, positively. In short, the project is a boon for Hyderabad, ushering a complete and new phase of transformation, for the better.

Hyderabad Metro Link, the Growth Engine for Future Decades

In cities with high urban population densities such as Hyderabad, creating a brand new infrastructure is the ground for hope, but is also fraught with many challenges. Hyderabad Metro Rail continues to move past the challenges, fulfilling its commitment towards delivering a world-class project of international scale like the Metro Rail.

Public infrastructure determines the growth of a city, the influx of skilled workforce, more companies and a dynamic spirit that ushers a new phase of growth story. On the contrary, a lackadaisical approach shuns development, which leaves the cities bereft of real development, which is long-term and sustainable.

Hyderabad Metro rail fills this critical gap for a global city like Hyderabad, which is at the cusp of a new growth potential after the end of uncertainties plaguing for last few years. Connecting far away zones of the city, passing through the busy corridors and major arterial links is a feat that is now possible, for one who hopes of a better future, by looking at the massive girders, viaducts and piers, changing Hyderabad’ skyline for the better.

Metro rail creates high development zones that radiates from the stations to the interiors due to easy access to Metro stations, high frequency of operations that is not only hassle-free but also rapid and efficient. A sustainable path of development attracts more industries, talent pool and creates the right value for properties, including the chances of better commercial exploitation, to everyone’s benefit.

Hyderabad Metro Rail is all set to create history with its ambitious three corridors, which connects the South with North and East with the West, serving as a crucial link between the developed and developing regions of the city. This creates balanced development as opposed to haphazard and lopsided development, which is unsustainable in the long-term.

Mass rapid transport system like Hyderabad Metro Rail not only ensures seamless connectivity but also changes the manner in which public transport emerges as a lifeline of business, work place commute, and an ideal transport medium for students, assuring safety for women and other high-end amenities.

Envisaged as the world’s largest Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode ever for a Metro, Hyderabad’s Metro Rail project is all set to redefine growth, public transport, transport efficiency and safety for the denizens of Hyderabad. In short, Metro can be rightly termed as the growth engine for future decades in Hyderabad.

                                         My City My Metro My pride

Metro, the Epitome of Technological Advances

The advanced Signalling & Train Control technology, Communication Based Train Control (CBTC), has been deployed in Hyderabad Metro in order to ensure better control of the trains. Hyderabad Metro would be the first such Metro in India to claim trains controlled by CBTC technology. The trains, which ply on three corridors would be controlled and also monitored from the state-of-the-art Operation Control Centre (OCC) located at Uppal Depot.

This ensures that trains can operate with a headway of 90 Seconds for tackling commuter rush during office peak hours while the overview display panel shows information of all the three corridors, indicating the current locations of all the trains operating on these corridors.

The OCC is considered the primary control centre, which would have back-up control centre at Uppal depot to take over the operations in case of an emergency. Local ATS at station and VDU at the interlocking stations also control the train when needed. Axle Counter based Fall-Back system would be deployed as secondary train detection system in across the three corridors as a backup for CBTC operation. The two major depots at Uppal and Miyapur would be controlled and also monitored from the independent control centres based at Uppal and Miyapur. The signalling system at the depots is based on the redundant and high-end Computer Based Interlocking (CBI) system.

The trains of Hyderabad Metro operate on Automatic Train Operation (ATO) that continuously monitors safe train operations and initiates necessary actions in situation where the trains do not perform as desired.  The station equipments such as Computer Based Interlocking (CBI), wayside ATP etc., are critical signalling equipments for ensuring safe and uninterrupted train operations. Passenger Emergency Stop Plungers are also provided at every platform and at Station Control Rooms (SCR) to halt a train immediately during emergency.

Power Supply, Traction and SCADA System

Hyderabad Metro Rail features three elevated corridors with a standard gauge system. For minimizing interference with the main communication lines, Booster Transformers are installed provided across the three corridors at specified locations.  Receiving Substations (RSS) deployed at Uppal, Yusufguda, Miyapur & MGBS receive the power supply.

SCADA System

Hyderabad Metro’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system offers the highest level of support for monitoring, controlling and command. A centralized OCC i.e. Operation Control Centre located at Uppal Depot controls the entire Power Supply and Traction system Equipment by means of SCADA.

Telecom System

The state-of-the-art communication system of Hyderabad Metro continuous communication between the central control, train operators as well as station controllers. These are reliable, redundant modular and proven systems. All communication sub-systems support the IP and integrated through GE (IP) Network i.e. Gigabit Ethernet based IP Backbone System. There are provisions for emergency Call Point/help-point phone at Metro stations to assist passengers in case of any emergency. PoE based and complete IP based CCTV surveillance monitors the entire passenger areas of all stations.

India's First Metro to Use CBTC Technology

L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited aspires and is also striving hard to transform the lives of the people of Hyderabad with the best-in-class mobility, connecting and creating some of the best and vibrant urban spaces. Currently, more than 3 million personalized vehicles ply on Hyderabad’s roads, followed by addition of 0.20 million vehicles each year. It is estimated that 8 million motorized trips are made each day and out of this, only 3.2 million or roughly 40 percent are made by means of Public Transportation System (PTS).  The personal vehicles results in traffic bottlenecks, high levels if pollution levels and a sharp increase in fuel consumption

Hyderabad Metro is designed to cater to a peak volume of 50,000 commuters during peak hours, nearly 17 lakh passengers per day by the year 2017 and 22 lakh by the year 2024. New technologies and equipments have helped the Metro project to include high-end efficiencies. The trains utilize Regenerative Electric Braking, which converts the momentum into electrical energy and feeds back to power supply system during the process of braking. This would reduce the overall energy requirement from the grid. L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited has installed the advanced signaling & train control technology, Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) for Hyderabad’s Metro which is used for advanced control of the trains. Hyderabad Metro is the first such Metro Project in India where the trains would be controlled by CBTC technology.

The automated Communication Based Train Control System (CBTC) technology is considered practically as a step short of driverless mode. Hyderabad Metro is also India’s first two-track elevated city based transit system developed under the public-private participation (PPP) model. The choice of CBTC for Metro is for the purpose of enhanced frequency and safety. Most such technologies accompany ability to even be upgraded to driverless technology in the future.

CBTC represents an automatic train operation where the trains are controlled by means of commands from the central control centre. Due to this, enhanced safety is provided due to applying brakes automatically in case there is any manual mistake by the driver.

The Hyderabad Metro Rail network would be covering a total distance of around 72 km across three corridors, Corridor-I stretches from Miyapur to LB Nagar while Corridor-II is from Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma and Corridor-III is scheduled from Nagole to Shilparamam.

Given the high stakes involved in terms of development for a city like Hyderabad, the Communication Based Train Control System (CBTC) is a welcome addition that can make travel more safer and reliable. L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited leaves no stone unturned to make the Metro rail project, truly world-class, in all technological aspects that offers nothing but the best for the Mass rapid transit system, that is Hyderabad Metro rail project.

Metro Rail, the Right Value Add for Hyderabad

Hyderabad, considered among the fastest growing cities in the world is today teeming with a population of nearly one crore.  The rapid increase in the population of this city shows how it has become a haven for migrants and also as hub of opportunities and growth. The planners of modern Hyderabad have made slight progress but in a globalized world, where technology is the order of the day, there is a need for a smart and intelligent mode of transport that can revolutionize public transport in the city.

Hyderabad’s growth received a boost with the establishment of Central research institutes in different concerns of the city as well as the large public sector enterprises that have changed the landscape of Hyderabad. This was the scenario till mid- 1980s.However, with the city earning the tag of an IT destination and also providing the platform for the growth of bulk drug industry and biotech based companies, the city has witnessed a tremendous growth rate which somehow wasn’t  matched with improvements in public infrastructure.

It is an established fact across the world that no matter how many development projects are operationalized and how many industries come forward creating a perfect growth momentum, unless the infrastructure doesn’t  complement the growth, then there may a reversal of the growth rate in long-term. Hence, it is imperative for a burgeoning metropolis like Hyderabad to have an excellent infrastructure project like Hyderabad Metro Rail, that can alter the dynamics of growth and infact create the ground for future development, while plugging the gaps in terms of mass rapid transit systems that are seen as an effective solution.

Apart from making travel hassle-free, in an age of combating carbon emissions, an environment friendly transport system that can reduce vehicular traffic and also air and sound pollution is a welcome addition that can only propel the growth engine forward. The Metro rail project executed by L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited brings the best world-class expertise of the renowned engineering company, L&T to Hyderabad. Having created its first iconic building for IT development, Hi-tech city, L&T is a name synonymous with development in Hyderabad.

The tryst with L&T continues for Hyderabad now in the form of this futuristic infrastructure project spanning 71 kms in the first phase covering three dense corridors, criss crossing various corners of the city. Once Metro Rail gets operational, given the impressive construction pace combined with innovative engineering, the city is expected to get a significant growth push, not only as a destination of international companies but also as a city that boasts of sustainable public transport solutions, creating a right value add for the city.

Mobility and Metro Rail, Hand-in-Hand

Increasing consumption of fuel, the resulting pollution and inefficient spread of urban regions due to incessant expansion of private motorized transport make some of the compelling reasons for prioritization of public transport in one of the rapidly growing cities of the world like Hyderabad.

Investments in public transport have now become imperative. This fits in tune with the recently announced Metro Railway Policy by India’s Urban Development Ministry that encourages cities having a population of more two million populations towards planning and implementation of high speed metro rail systems which is now seen as a welcome initiative. Since larger cities are expected for accommodating most of the burgeoning urbanizing populations in future, the time has come to plan for long-term growth and mobility.

The metro rail, which takes years of groundwork for planning and implementation, plays a significant role for shaping the future. The successful progress of Hyderabad Metro in a record time has now strengthened the example of how metro can be an important option for urban transportation and the project is now facing aggressive phase of implementation.  The usefulness of a metro rail depends on how this becomes integrated with the functional and spatial planning of a city like Hyderabad. Urban regions witness high development close to the metro rail corridors leveraging the advantage of the high-capacity mass rapid transit system that could compensate for lopsided urban growth. The intense building activity across the main corridors, which can also enhance ridership during peak hours in a peak direction, could usher the metro rail network as an economically sustainable option.

In order for the metro rail to function well, there is a good feeder bus network for mobility, connecting the pedestrian paths including the feature of seamless modal transfer. It is important for expanding transport options, and along with comprehensive development, that accompanies a Metro rail for a city like Hyderabad, mobility within the city could be efficient and convenient. 

National Geographic's Documentary on Hyderabad Metro, October 19th!

World-class transport project for a city like Hyderabad has been a dream for many years in Hyderabad and today it is getting realized with the Hyderabad Metro Rail project. The Metro Rail is rolling out at an impressive pace with the Metro coaches commencing their trail run as well. Ugadi, 2015 would be witnessing the launch of maiden commercial services for commuters on the Nagole-Mettuguda section of Nagole-Shilparamam corridor. The project is not only making Hyderabad proud, but also ushering an envious position for India.

National geographic Channel is widely known for its popularity as one of the leading international channels dedicated to highlight the beauty of nature and advancements in technology and innovations all over. For the first time ever, NCG would be showcasing an Indian project in the popular series ‘Megastructures’. National Geographic Channel is all set to premiere a film on the Hyderabad metro rail, currently under construction on ‘Megastructures’. This is an initiative of the Corporate Communications Team, L&T Metro Rail and marks the first such documentary involving an unprecedented public interface program undertaken by L&T Metro Rail that has attracted the attention of NGC.

The program titled 'Connecting the city of Nizams: Hyderabad Metro' would be featured on Oct 19 at 6 p.m. This would be first among a series of three films the channel would be telecasting , according to the project developer L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited (LTMRHL), which is executing the Rs.14,132 crore infrastructure project. Such unique public interface programs has been initiated for the first time by any infrastructure company across the globe.

The program is expected to highlight projects, its important stakeholders and also how a complex project that was only a dream is now being brought to reality by some of the best engineers, planners and designers.

This marks a moment of reckoning for Hyderabad’s ambitious Metro rail project and the arrival of Global Hyderabad on a highly popular program in one of the most viewed channels. L&T Hyderabad Metro is now propelling the growth story of Hyderabad with a transportation system that is environment-friendly. The people of Hyderabad now look forward with much anticipation over ‘their’ Metro, which is expected to commence full-fledged operations in the next few years giving an impetus to the development of Hyderabad.