China launches world’s first hydrogen-powered tram in Hebei province.

In the last few decades, China has become a global leader in innovative mass transportations systems. Not just they are known for 20,000km of bullet trains, it’s small cities are developing innovative models for themselves and the world. Changchun city was the first to develop a tram or light rail system. Today, China has more than 15 Trams and light rails systems in the world.

The world’s first hydrogen-powered tram began its commercial operations in Tangshan, one of China's oldest industrial cities not far from the capital, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. It was developed by the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Tangshan Co. Ltd in 2015. This is Made-In-China product is powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which is a superior eco-friendly measure.

With water being its only emission, the tram emits no pollutants. No nitrogen oxides will be produced as the temperature of the reaction inside hydrogen fuel cells is controlled under 100 degrees Celsius. The distance between carriage floor of the tram and the rail is only 35 cm thanks to the latest low-floor technology, which can remove station platforms and thus make boarding easy for passengers.

This modern tram has three carriages with 66 seats and can run for 40 kilometers at a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour consuming 12 kilograms of hydrogen. It can be refueled in just 15 minutes. The four-station line includes a 100kg-capacity hydrogen refilling station.

The launch of hydrogen-powered tram marks a huge step and commitment towards eco-friendly public transportation. The city of Foshan in Guangzhou province have also decided to deploy 8 hydrogen fuel cell powered trams.

Trams are a highly successful and cheap mode of transport across the globe, especially in developed European countries. In comparison, India has currently only 1 tramway operational in Kolkata (operational since 1873). As India urbanises rapidly, at least 100 small cities will require light rail systems in next few decades.

- Chaitanya Kulkarni

Source – China Daily, Global Times.

Welcome FY 2017-18. What it means for you and India

FY 2016-17 was a unique year for Indian financial systems. Breaking the age-old tradition of presenting budget on the last day of February. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, for the first time in the history of India presented the combined rail and general budget on the first day of February. In the era of uncertainty, India stood as a shining star with the tag of ‘Fastest Growing Economy on the planet’. Industry players were sceptical about India’s growth story after the controversial move of demonetisation. The sudden banning of big notes costed India a dip of 0.6% in its GDP but a large section of people supported the move as some referring it to a ‘Surgical Strike on Black Money’. For the very first time, millions of Indians got the chance to use digital payments platforms. PayTM and the government promoted BHIM is now on the ‘Never to delete’ list in our smartphones. Will FY2017-18 be the beginning of the ‘Achhe Din’? Let’s analyse.

India’s role in the Global Economy

The world economic growth for 2016 at 3.1% was the lowest since the 2008 Financial Crisis. The never ending Middle East war, China’s slowdown, low oil prices, Brexit impacted with major cuts in growth estimates. The situation looks slightly better for upcoming year.

India has become the sixth largest manufacturing nation in the world, rising from the previous ninth position. Recognising the strength of strong economic fundamentals and consumer demand, the impact of demonetisation will gradually fade away. The World Bank expects India’s economy to grow at 7.6% in FY2017-18. Here are the key takeaways from Central Statistic Organisation outlook for FY2017-18.

Retail Inflation - 4% to 4.5% | Fiscal Deficit – 3.2% of India’s GDP | INR - ₹64 to ₹66

Among emerging economies, if there is any growth, that is in India. India is among the few bright spots in the global economy – Christine Lagarde, Chief, IMF

Goods and Service Tax

GST is the most anticipated single indirect tax for the entire country, which aims to make India one unified common market. Important bills related to Central GST, State GST, Inter-state GST and UT-GST are currently under consideration in Rajya Sabha. The four tier GST structure of 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28% is likely to be implemented by July 1, 2017. The bill is hailed by industry experts as it likely to lead to ease of doing business, competitiveness and spurring growth. CBEC GST Mitra helpdesk is well equipped to deal with queries related to GST.

The JAM troika

Jan dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile. These three words changed the way we pay. To ensure last mile reach, government encouraged people all from the sections of the society to open a bank account and use RuPay debit card.  With 40 crore Aadhaar linked accounts, more attention was given to ‘the way we pay’. The game changer move of payments bank was quickly adopted by India Post, PayTM, NSDL and others. India Post Payment Banks has plans to create 1.55 lakh access points in 650 districts across the postal networks through-out India. Payments Bank operating in rural India have herculean task to ensure that Rural Bharat and Urban India is on the same page when it comes to digital payments.

Aadhaar enabled fingerprint payments are more sophisticated than Apple Pay and Samsung Pay as it rules out the need of internet. Fintech experts are cautious about the security concerns in Aadhaar Pay but ‘When there is will, there is a way’.

Digital India – Internet for everyone.

Last year, Kerala became the first state in India to declare internet as basic necessity. Internet is key for last mile delivery of government services in future. Bharat Net, a massive fibre optic cable laying initiative in all village panchayat across India will complete 2 lakh kilometres by the end of FY2017-18. Nearly 500 railway stations in India will enjoy high speed internet services.

The launch of SWAYAM online platform with over 1500 courses and its tie up with DTH channels is a welcome move to take quality education to the masses. The launch along-side Bharat Net will enable students across India to learn new skills and yield institute approved certificates. The IITs and IIMs of this country will now go online, certainly a great initiative for avid learners of India.

Basic healthcare information on a smart Aadhar Card will be the first step as unique health identifier for the country. This will be critical in identifying beneficiaries for social healthcare insurance programs. E-health through Aadhar would substantially save patient’s time during emergencies.

The way we travel

A great start to a great year. Gurgaon Rapid Metro has commenced operations for its 6.6 km phase II. Kochi Metro (25.1 km), Delhi Metro Magenta Line (38 km) and Lucknow Metro (8.4 km) will commence operations in FY2017-18. Construction of all 9 additional lines ie. Line 2 to Line 10 (approx. 160 km) of Mumbai Metro project will begin after monsoons. The metro rail policy will be introduced with the focus on innovative models of implementation, financing, standardisation and indigenization of metro related hardware and software.

India’s semi-speed initiative, the Tejas express is likely to run between Mumbai – Goa, Mumbai – Surat and Delhi – Amritsar in FY2017-18. Indian Railways plan to redevelop 400 railway stations before 2025. Bids for more than 25 stations will be placed by the end of the year. Indian Railways may become the first railway in the world to run solar enabled trains.

Mumbai becomes the first city in India to implement electric buses on a large scale. BEST will run 25 electric hybrid buses made by Tata Motors on BKC route. 2017 will be the founding year for green mobility in India. Governments plans to implement green mobility projects worth Rs. 70,000 crores in upcoming years. This includes 2,000 kms of Bus Rapid Transport Corridors, hybrid buses, cycle & walk tracks, public cycle sharing schemes and intelligent transport solutions.

In bid to revive regional connectivity via air, Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik (UDAN) scheme will connect to more than 75 small cities under Rs. 2,500. In Phase 1, 43 airports and 5 carriers were selected. It is the largest ever attempt for regional connectivity in the world. The move may attract airline manufacturers to set up plants in India.

Cheers for New India

The world’s fastest growing economy is changing rapidly with the innovative use of technology. The urge to do better and transform the lives of masses fuels the energy for new India. Emerging economies like India are a support system for global economy in the times of slowdown. Cheers for cleaner, greener and better India.

- Chaitanya Kulkarni

India Infrastructure Update - Operational Metro Systems ( August 2016 )

Urban transportation infrastructure in India needs big investment and a massive upgradation. It is estimated by various studies that 60% of Indians will be living in urban areas by 2050. After the success of Delhi Metro, lots of Indian cities are exploring the option to implement metro rail project across the country. As per Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), about 316 kilometres of Metro rail is under operation and more than 500 kms of Metro rail is under construction across the country. This includes metro/mono rail systems promoted by state governments and private bodies under their own arrangements. It is important to note that urban transport is a state subject. Thus, the planning, execution and development of urban transport facilities are done by the states and union territories.

Smart Cities which are under execution of MoUD are incomplete with metro rail systems. China has 20 metro rail systems under operations and additionally investing trillions of Chinese Renminbi on bullet trains and maglev. India's first mono-rail ( Phase 1 ) is operational in Mumbai and final phase is expected to be completed by December 2016. Meanwhile, MoUD and National Highways Authority of India gave final approval to Metrino Pods system in Gurugram. As India mulls innovation in public transport, transport analyst are aware of the fact that Metro is the only viable option for India looking as population and financial constraints.

Metro Systems operational in India 

Delhi Metro

Operational: 213 km | Under Construction: 136 km | Proposed: 105.93 km

Brown Line - Janakpuri West - Botanical Garden will use Hyundai Rotem Driverless train

The 65.1 km Phase 1 was completed in 2006 while the 124.93 km km Phase 2 was completed in 2011. Currently the 159.327  km Phase 3 is under construction of which 23 kms has become operational. The rest 136 km of lines will open in sections one after the other from 2016 – 2018. Phase 4’s initial new lines & extensions have been finalised and construction is expected to begin in 2018. Within the next 3 years, more routes are expected to be added to Phase 4.

Kolkata Metro

Operational: 28.14 km | Under Construction: 63.39 km  | Approved/On Hold: 32.48 km

AC variant of Kolkata Metro coach manufactured by ICF, Ministry of Railways. Kolkata Metro has also ordered 14 new trains from CNR Dalian, China. 

Construction for it started in 1972 and a small 3.40 km section between Esplanade and Netaji Bhavan opened in October 1984, making it the first metro system in the country. Between 1984 and 1995, more sections opened up bringing its total length to 16.45 km. Kolkata metro was extended by 10.94 km to New Garia station which is also known as Kavi Subhash station.

Mumbai Metro

Operational: 11.4 km | Under Construction: 0 km | Approved: 68.2 km | Proposed: 77.3 km

Western Expressway Bridge in Andheri

Operational : Versova – Andheri – Ghatkopar – 11.4 km

Executed & operated by a JV of Reliance Infra (69%), MMRDA (26%) & Veolia Transport (5%)

Approved ( Construction to begin in September/ October 2016)

- Colaba – BKC – SEEPZ –  33.5 km

To be executed & operated by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd – GOI (50%) & GoMH (50%)

- Dahisar – DN Nagar – 18.2 km

This line is part of the larger 40 km line between Dahisar & Mankhurd. To be executed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation

- Dahisar (E) – Andheri (E) – 16.5 km

This line is part of the larger 24 km line between Dahisar (E) & Bandra (E). To be executed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

Namma Metro ( Bengaluru )

Operational: 30.3 km | Under Construction: 27.1 km | Approved: 59.32 km | Proposed: 102 km

Cubbon Park Metro Station on Namma Metro's underground stretch

Construction for the first phase started in April 2007 following which the Baiyyappanahalli – MG Road  section of the Purple line opened in 2011. The 42.3 km Phase 1 is expected to be completed in 2017. After Phase 2 is completed in 2024 (est), the metro network will become 114.4 km long.

Rapid Metro ( Gurugram )

Operational: 5.1 km | Under Construction: 7 km

In Phase 1 of the project which opened on November 14 2013, a 5.1 km line was built to link the Delhi Metro’s Sikanderpur station (Yellow line) with the business district of DLF Cybercity. As part of Phase 2, this line is currently being extended by 7 km on Golf Course Extension Road and is expected to be completed in 2018.

Chennai Metro

Operational: 10 km | Under Construction:  35.1 km | Approved: 9 km | Proposed: 132 km

Construction for the first phase started in April 2009 following which the Koyambedu – Alandur section of the Blue line opened in June 2015. The 45.1 km Phase 1 is expected to be completed in 2019. A further extension of the Blue line as part of Phase 1 to Wimco Nagar is expected to be completed by 2020. Phase 2 of the project is currently in the proposal stage and in its latest avatar has been proposed to be 123 km long.

Jaipur Metro

Operational: 9.63 km (Phase 1A) | Under Construction: 2.35 km (Phase 1B) | Proposed: 23.099 km

Construction for its 9.63 km Pink line under Phase 1A started in 2011 and became operational in June 2015. Construction on Phase 1B, a 2.35 km extension of the Pink line, started in January 2014 and is expected to be operational in 2018. Phase 2 of the project includes a new Orange line which will connect the heart of the city with the Airport and onward to the Sitapura Industrial Area. This line is planned to be built on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and is yet to be approved.

Information Source - themetrorailguy.com

- Chaitanya Kulkarni