NOIDA NEXT NEWS- Noida City Centre metro station sinking, experts don’t know why

NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro officials were carrying out routine inspections at the Noida City Centre station on September 16, when they found that a part of the platform had sagged and cracks had appeared in it.

Similar cracks were seen on the other end of the platform. More than a week and rigorous investigations later, Delhi Metro says it is yet to identify the reason for the mysterious sagging.

“Experts from Delhi Metro and construction company Gammon India are investigating the reason for the sagging. Meanwhile, we have started repair work on the platform,” said Jitender Tyagi, director (works), Delhi Metro.

DMRC has now erected support pillars along both sides of the platforms. It is also looking at other stations on the stretch, said Tyagi.

“This station was part of a package constructed by a particular agency. All the stations have been checked for similar problems, but no such problem has surfaced elsewhere yet,” added the DMRC official.

Travel time goes up by 15 minutes

He said the sagging doesn’t impact train operations, though trains have been asked to go slow on the stretch, leading to travel time going up at 5-15 minutes on the line. “The rail track is built on box girders which are constructed on the pillars. This structure is separate from the platform, which is built on beams that come out from the pillars. As a result, the running of trains is not affected at all,” explained Tyagi. To ensure that work on the platform goes on smoothly, trains coming into the station are being run at a speed of 25kmph.

The Noida City Centre station was operationalized in 2009, with constructions being completed by 2008. Gammon India was in charge of construction of the package comprising stations at New Ashok Nagar, Noida sector 15, Noida sector 16, Noida sector 18, Botanical Garden, Golf Course and Noida city centre. A Delhi Metro official said, “The repairs involve strengthening by high grade steel rods (made of steel and titanium).”

The cause for the sagging though is proving elusive for the Delhi Metro. “We are investigating if it’s because of seepage. Pipes are laid along the pillars , which need to be insulated. If this pipe leaks, seepage could affect the structure,” said Tyagi. Neither DMRC nor experts from Gammon India have zoomed in on the reasons for the sagging . Asked how a construction that is only four years old could develop structural problems, Tyagi said that wear and tear was common. “There is a liability clause during construction but that is only for a year. Any serious structural issues would show up within that period,” said the official.

Sag story

The problem

One end of a platform at Noida City Centre Metro station has sagged Cracks visible at both ends of platform The end beam on which platform rests found to be depressed.

Action

Repairs on. Supports put up at both ends of the platform Cause of problem still a mystery. DMRC says investigations still on.

NOIDA NEXT NEWS - Noida Authority asks metro man to join Noida Metro Rail Corporation

NOIDA: If all goes well, 81 year old metro man Elattuvalapil Shreedharan will join Noida Metro Rail Corporation. The Noida Authority has requested to join NMRC as advisor. The authority officials hope that E Sreedharan will not only help in execution but also bring positive sentiments.

Noida and Greater Noida Authority chairman and CEO Rama Raman told TOI that he has verbally requested E Sreedharan to join NMRC. “E Sreedharan recently had visited Noida. During his visit I had requested him to join NMRC as advisor. Soon we will in written will request Sreedharan,” Raman said.

“Since he has vast experience of building and running metro network, his guidance on NMRC will be crucial and valuable for us. E Sreedharan is a big name in the country and especially in terms of metro rail expension. His association will bring positive sentiments and it will also boost our moral,” Raman added.

E Shreedharan hails from Palakkad district in Kerala had served DMRC between 1995 and 2012.

NMRC’s first project will be of building -29 kilometers long metro link to connect Noida’s City Center to Greater Noida’s Bodaki. This 29 km long metro project will require a budget of R 5, 000 crore said officials.

Uttar Pradesh state cabinet is likely give its approval to NMRC in its first upcoming assembly session told officials.

“Once state cabinet approves the proposal pertaining to NMRC formation, it will be sent for further approvals by center. We want an expert like Shreedharan as an advisor so that NMRC’s quality of work reaches to the level of Delhi metro rail corporation (DMRC) that had built Delhi metro,” Raman further said.

“NMRC is likely to start functioning by the end of this year. UP cabinet has given its go ahead to NMRC formation in principal. The proposal will be moved for the Central government approval,” Raman said.

Raman said that the final touch is being given to the proposal. “We are exploring all options to raise fund. Some rules and condition were also discussed and finally incorporated in the final proposal.” Notably the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Jawed Usmani had announced that a 29.5km Metro rail route will come up between Boraki and Noida city centre to link Noida and Greater Noida. Usmani said that it is the need of time to expand the metro route to de-congest the city roads, increase connectivity and smoothen traffic. “Work on the proposed line was likely to be completed by 2017. A total of Rs 5,000 crore would be spent on the ambitious Metro rail link. The project would be developed on the lines of the proposed Metro projects in states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, West Bengal and Kerala.”

Right after the UP government gave its in principle approval to NMRC formation and expedited work 29km metro link, realtors in both Noida and Greater Noida welcomed the decision and hoping that this decision will charge the market.

“This decision will not only enhance the connectivity of the region and strengthen the capital values of real estate. Formation of NMRC will be a bench mark for the development of entire UP because teh NMRC will not only reduce to Noida but it will also cater other cities also. Metro connectivity along Noida Expressway including Greater Noida, will infuse a positive sentiment into real estate market,” said Vijay Gupta of Assocham.

“Expansion of metro rail in Noida and Greater Noida is a very positive step towards adding to the better infrastructure, this region provides. The enhancement is important to make sure the region is future ready. With good connectivity, more and more home aspirants will choose to make their dream home in these two cities,” Brijesh Bhanote, director of the ‘The 3C Company’.

NOIDA NEXT NEWS- Noida Metro station defect: Panel blames contractor, DMRC engineers

A high-level committee constituted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to look into the structural defects of Noida City Centre Metro station has blamed both the contractors as well as DMRC engineers for the defect.

The committee submitted its report to the DMRC on Saturday, following which two DMRC engineers were suspended.

A cantilever arm of one of the platforms, which supports the elevated platform, was found to be deflected during a routine inspection check on September 16. This had resulted in the sagging of a part of the platform.

Since then, only one of the platforms at the station is functional and the waiting time between trains has increased by 5 to 6 minutes.

The report stated that the reinforcement of the cantilever arm was not done by the contractor concerned in accordance with the approved drawing.

“Responsibility for ensuring work in accordance with the drawing is with design and building contractor — M/s Gammon India Ltd – JMC JV in this case — and with M/S Arch Consultant, the design consultant. Action against contractor will be as per the terms of contract since liability lies with the contractor,” an official said.

Incidentally, Gammon India was also the contractor responsible for installing a launching girder in Zamrudpur, which had collapsed in 2009, leaving eight people dead.

Officials also said the faulty reinforcement of the cantilever was not spotted by engineers of the DMRC.

“This was not verified by the DMRC engineers who failed to detect the lapses before allowing further casting. Based upon the findings, the Chairman and Managing Director of Delhi Metro Mangu Singh has ordered the suspension of two DMRC engineers (one Junior Engineer and one Assistant Engineer, now working as Executive Engineer) with immediate effect. The DMRC will be take action against them in accordance with the organisation’s disciplinary and appeal procedures,” the official said.

“To ensure that this type of failure doesn’t happen again in the monitoring methodology adopted by DMRC, it has been ordered that in future, photographic evidence of material used should be kept on record as part of the checking process,” the official said.

NOIDA NEXT NEWS- Decongestion plan for Noida e-way on anvil

NOIDA: The increase in population in sectors along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway has prompted the Noida Authority in preparing a plan to decongest the 25km route. The plan includes construction of two foot-overbridges (FOB), introducing public transportation in the area, and construction of two additional exit points at places where MNCs, BPOs and other educational institutions are located along the expressway. Also, the Authority has decided to cancel the contracts of those who run parking facilities on roadsides.

Noida Authority chairman Rama Raman said that the area along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway is getting populous and it’s high time that infrastructure is improved. “We have prepared the decongestion plan as people living or working in MNCs, BPOs, educational institutes and other offices along the expressway face problems due to heavy traffic during peak hours,” Raman said. “The changes will be visible in the next couple of months,” he added.

The decision was taken in a high-level meeting conducted between Noida Authority and representatives of several leading IT firms, BPOs and universities. Rama Raman has directed the Authority’s traffic cell to prepare a comprehensive decongestion plan.

“One foot-overbridge along the expressway is about to get completed and will be operational soon. Work on another FOB in front of Sectors 126/127 will start by November end and will be operational by January. This FOB will cost Rs 5 crore and have an escalator so that pedestrians use it more. We will also build three more FOBs later,” said Manoj Kumar Rai, officer on special duty, Noida Authority.

Apart from this, the Authority will introduce air-conditioned GPS-fitted buses which will run from Botanical Garden Metro station to Sectors 126, 127 and 125. Another route for buses will be from Greater Noida to Noida’s Sectors 125, 126, and 127, which are located along Noida Expressway and are a hub for several MNCs and BPOs, apart from other corporate offices. “Over 50% of traffic congestion will be removed by the FOB, two exit points and removal of parking. The remaining 50% will be curbed by public transport which will help people avoid using private vehicles,” Rai said.

“We have also issued notices to a few IT companies, BPOs and educational institutes for illegally parking vehicles on the roads,” Rai added.

NOIDA NEXT NEWS- हिंडन किनारे दो सौ एकड़ जमीन का अधिग्रहण जल्द

नोएडा (ब्यूरो)। हिंडन किनारे रिवर फ्रंट कॉरिडोर विकसित करने के लिए प्राधिकरण ने जमीन अधिग्रहण की प्रक्रिया तेज कर दी है। इसके लिए किसानों की सूची प्राधिकरण ने जिला प्रशासन को भेज दी है। मुआवजे व पांच फीसदी आवासीय भूखंड का भुगतान प्राधिकरण करेगा।
प्राधिकरण से प्राप्त जानकारी के मुताबिक हिंडन किनारे मौजूदा समय में करीब छह सौ एकड़ जमीन है, जिसमें से पहले चरण में दो सौ एकड़ जमीन अधिग्रहीत की जाएगी। इस जमीन पर अवैध कब्जा भी नहीं है।
यह आसानी से मिल सकती है। जमीन को लेकर हो चुके विवादों से सबक लेते हुए प्राधिकरण इस प्रोजेक्ट में बाधा नहीं चाहता। इसके लिए कंसलटेंट नियुक्त किया जा चुका है। करीब सौ करोड़ रुपये के इस प्रोजेक्ट में फुटपाथ, साइकिल व जॉगिंग ट्रैक, पार्क, योगा सेंटर आदि होंगे। लोग यहां आकर पिकनिक मना सकेंगे।
•प्राधिकरण ने एडीएम को भेजी किसानों की सूची
•रिवर फ्रंट कॉरिडोर योजना पर काम तेज

NOIDA NEXT NEWS- 36 booth level officers booked for being absent from poll duty in Noida

Thirty-six booth level officers were on Sunday booked for allegedly being absent during a special voters' registration drive in the district.

The booth level officers -- five in Sadar subdivision, 10 in Jewar subdivision and 21 in Dadri -- were to be present at their respective polling booths today and receive voters registration forms and answer voters' queries, an official said.

"Beside lodging of FIRs, orders have been issued for deduction of their salary. If they do not report for election duty in future strong action will be taken," Gautam Buddha Nagar district magistrate Hira Lal Gupta said.