Page 20 - CO April 2017 Full Issue

COVER STORY Powered by METRO RUSH Deeksha’ which involves the denizens of Hyderabad. Individuals, Mumbai — has foated bids to appoint an agency to carry out a detailed survey of the 32-km Wadala-Ghatkopar-Tane-Kasarvadavli Residential Colony Associations, schools, colleges and ofces within corridor (Metro 4) and the 23.5-km DN Nagar-Bandra-Mankhurd the jurisdiction of GHMC area to participate in the tree plantation corridor (Metro 2B) with the help of these drones. drive. Similarly, Hyderabad Metro Rail also initiated another green initiative called ‘Vana Prasadam’ where in plants; mostly native varieties were distributed to enthusiastic individuals, organisations, VERTICAL GARDENS USING HYDROPONICS: and associations free of cost by HMR. Elias George, MD, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd convert metro pillars near Rangoli Art Centre into vertical gardens using hydroponics. Vertical gardens can serve as efective air flters “KMRL initiated to plant more trees in diferent Hydrobloom, a start-up is implementing a project in Bengaluru to areas of Kochi than we cut for the Metro project. and heat regulators, reducing temperature by as much as eight KMRL has taken up green initiatives for the metro degrees outside and can decrease as much as ten decibels of noise project including vertical gardens, Non-motorised pollution. Plus plants grown using the hydroponics method use 90 Transport plans, Solar Panels on Station Roof and per cent less water than the conventionally grown soil-based ones. Water Transport connectivity. Currently 800 plants - including ornamental plants - are already a MAHA-METRO, which is executing the Nagpur Metro project,has part of the vertical garden on the Metro pillar. Hydrobloom is also gone a step further towards making Nagpur the Greenest Metro by looking for sponsors to fund the initiative under corporate social signing a MoU with DRDO (Defence Research and Development responsibility. Organisation) for propagation and installation of “Bio Digester Technology”. MAHA-METRO is the frst Metro in India to adopt WORLD'S LARGEST ELEVATED METRO RAIL: this technology with an objective of keeping eco-friendly clean Once Hyderabad Metro Rail becomes operational, it will be the environment and make use of organic waste and waste water. It world's largest elevated metro rail. A PPP project based on DBFOT has planned to use this technology for its proposed 36 stations, 2 (Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer) basis and covering depots and Metro Bhavan. a distance of 72 kilometers, with stations at every kilometer, HMR is poised to redefne the city's transportation. NVS Reddy, MD, CELEBRATING HERITAGE: Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd says, “Hyderabad Metro is not being While celebrating the historical heritage of Pune, all the 31 built as a simple mass transit system but is being viewed as an stations of the Pune Metro will feature Heritage walks and street urban redesign opportunity to transform an Indian city into a art projects. In the old city, for fve km stretch, the metro will run people friendly green global city. First mile/last mile connectivity underground, so that heritage structures aren't damaged.Dixit adds, with feeder buses, electric vehicles, non-motorised transport, and "We will create beautiful landscapes at most of the vital points pedestrian facilities will ensure seamless travel facility for the through which metro will traverse, especially along and across the commuters.” Mula and Mutha rivers.” THE TRACK AHEAD: DRONES KEEP AN EYE: As India explores mobility solutions, metro rail is fast emerging as The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority the preferred choice for interlinking major urban hubs and feeding (MMRDA) is planning to deploy unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into multi-modal local transport networks. But challenges like or drones for the frst time to plan the city’s upcoming Metro price variations due to geological uncertanities, unstable regulatory rail corridors. “Te drones will help us prepare an framework, high import duties on construction and tunelling accurate map of the area, its topography and the type equipmet to lack of adequate funding and delays in land acquisition and number of trees, which will help us implement play major dampeners on the road ahead. the project. It will also help to identify issues that What is needed is a bold vision and strong will supported by the could arise during the implementation stage. “, said active participation and knowledge sharing by all stakeholders Dilip Kawathkar, Joint Project Director and including citizens, Government and Government subsidiaries like spokesperson, MMRDA. Land Authorities, Trafc Regulators, Utility Providers, NGOs and MMRDA — the implementing agency for the Metro projects in think tanks to engineer a seamless mobility solution for India. u 20 construction opportunities|aPrIL 2017