Exclusive Interview | 59
Metro Projects
What are your future plans for extending Metro rail in Lucknow ?
In the near future , LMRC will be taking up the 11 km East – West Corridor from Charbagh to Vasant Kunj as part of the Phase 1B of the future Metro Rail Project expansion in Lucknow .
How Lucknow Metro proves itself to be different than the other Metro Systems in the country ?
Lucknow Metro is the fastest ever Metro project implemented in the Country . The 8.5 kms of the ‘ Priority Stretch ’ has been completed and made operational for public in less than three year which is a record in itself . No other Metro Project has even been able to achieve this feat in the past . Even contemporary Metro projects in the country have also not been able to match up with the speed of deliverance in the country as compared with LMRC ’ s strength in project execution within such a stiff target date and the sanctioned budget .
At Awadh Rotary , Lucknow Metro has launched a 60 meter special steel span bridge crossing the rotary over a statue in the middle of the rotary . This bridge which has been built at a height of approximately 13 meters above the ground connects both the ends of the Metro viaduct to provide a special seamless connectivity for Metro train operation .
LMRC has been ensuring from day one of its construction activity that its every endeavour is eco-friendly so as to keep the city green and lively . Lucknow Metro has been ensuring an environment friendly mass rapid transport for the public from the first day of its inception .
Lucknow Metro is taking several energy conservation measures , such as , the use of regenerative braking in the trains which will result in saving of 30 to 35 per cent traction energy , thereby resulting in reduction in emission of Green House Gases ( GHG ), use of 1 % criteria for underground stations in the AC system for the stations , using Variable Voltage Variable Frequency ( VVVF ) drive for all lifts and escalators , provision of LED lights at stations , use of energy efficient equipment for Environmental Control System ( ECS ) and Tunnel Ventilation System ( TVS ) system for the underground station etc .
Currently , 1.5 MW – 2MW of electricity has been planned by Lucknow Metro to be used from the roof mounted photo voltaic cells on train stabling and inspection line sheds under the RESCO model . Because of all these novel measures , society will be able to recover the entire investment cost of the project in 5 years , its Economic Rate of Return ( ERR ) of the Project being 19.46 %.
Once fully operational across Lucknow , do you think Lucknow Metro will provide a boost to the IT development in Uttar Pradesh ?
The Metro project will link the major localities of the city thus reducing commuting time from hours to minutes . It will also ease congestion and encroachment , a problem which has assumed a massive proportion in the recent years . The Metro Project is also expected to reduce the cost of travel . Boosting the transport and infrastructure is expected to attract more companies and services to the city bolstering the employment prospects and thus it is expected to get a boost in IT sector also .
At Mawaiya Railway Crossing , LMRC has constructed a special balanced cantilever span of 255 meters ( central span 105 meters ; end spans of 75 meters each ). This is one of the most challenging and a critical job which has been executed at a height of 21.5 meters above the ground level while passing over 12 railway tracks at a height of 15.2 meters under extremely difficult situations . It is one of the rarest feats achieved for any Metro project in the country . www . railanalysis . com