Page 22 - CO April 2017 Full Issue

Powered by COVER STORY interaction The country should trust technocrats and give them a free hand to take decisions and keep them accountable While there has been a lot going on the metro front, there is one gentleman who is conspicuous by his presence on almost every major metro project being undertaken in India, our very own Metro Man of India, Dr. Elattuvalapil Sreedharan. Despite his retirement from DMRC, he has been appointed as Principal Advisor for DMRC, Principal Adviser to U.P. Government and Principal Advisor to Govt. of A.P. He advises U.P. Government on Lucknow Metro (the fastest Metro project now going on in the country) Kanpur Metro and a Metro for Varanasi. Maharashtra Government avails his expertise for the longest and most difficult line No.3 project. He assists Kerala Government for the Kochi Metro and Light Metro Projects for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. Dr. E. SREEDHARAN spoke to CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES about his Metro journey, starting with the Delhi metro, its impact and his vision for India’s metro project drive. The Delhi Metro is today called the passengers daily in a safe and comfortable our cities is still a distant dream. While a lifeline of Delhi. Could you give us a brief manner, Delhi Metro has in efect helped country like China is completing almost overview of the project and its scope? to prevent about 200 fatal accidents on the 300 kms of Metro every year, we are still Phase I of Delhi Metro covering 65 kms road every year. struggling to complete even 20 kms. with 57 stations at a cost of `10,500 crores Barring Kolkata Metro, Delhi Metro fares Ideally every city with more than 2 million commenced on 1st October 1998 and was are amongst the lowest in the world and it population needs a Metro system. But the completed in April 2005, in about 6.1/2 has yet proved to be a fnancial success by Central Government’s support to the Metro years’ time. Te 2nd phase of the Delhi being able to service and pay back loans revolution is half-hearted. Government of Metro covering 125 kms with 84 stations comfortably with operational surpluses and India expects State Governments to bear at a cost of `22,000 crores was completed without any government subsidies. the major share of the fnancial burden for in October 2010. While the 3rd phase a Metro system and in our country all State covering 160 kms with 108 stations at a Key learning’s from your experience Governments face resource crunch. How cost of `41,000 crores is now in progress and how they can be applied to the can the Metro revolution then take place? and expected to be completed by December forthcoming projects? A well designed policy to reduce the cost of 2017. Green signal has already been given for The key lesson to the nation from the Metros, ensure their timely completion and the 4th phase of Delhi Metro covering 102 Delhi Metro experience is that if there are provide them sound management to make kms.When the fourth phase is completed no political and bureaucratic interferences, them fnancially sustainable is lacking. A Delhi Metro will be the 5th largest Metro an empowered organisation with an key input for the same is standardisation, system in the world. enlightened leadership can change the face indigenisation and a sound legal framework. of the nation. Te country should trust Te Indian Railway Act is now 130 years Delhi Metro today carries about 30 lakh technocrats and give them a free hand to take old and we yet don’t have a sound Metro Act passengers a day. decisions and at the same time keep them in the country. Tere is still lack of clarity Tis is equivalent to almost 3 lakh vehicles accountable. Another lesson is that our cities whether a Metro is a Central subject or falls of the road, with every commuter on the cannot survive without a modern, world in the concurrent list. Delhi Metro saving about 56 minutes in class public transport system and Metros While finding resources for execution an up and down journey. With the use of continue to remain a leading solution. of Metro projects remains a significant clean energy, itfurther avoids the import of challenge, getting sound managerial about 3 lakh Tons of fossil fuel every year Outlook on the future of the metro and technical expertise to ensure timely and prevents about 180 Tons of pollutants project drive in India - expected long-term completion of the Metro projects and being let into the air every day. It has also impacts and opportunities? ensuring that they remain financially been estimated that by carrying 30 lakh Developing a modern metro rail system in sustainable are more pressing challenges.u 24 construction opportunities|aPrIL 2017