With the first phase of the Mumbai monorail project scheduled to take off by the end of this month, Malaysian global infrastructure provider through its Scomi Engineering Bhd is now turning its attention to Delhi and other metro townships of India to provide a smooth alternative as part of their integrated multi-modal transport system strategy.
The Scomi Group has already made presentations to the Delhi Government with regard to certain routes and has been encouraged by the response. The Delhi Government is also understood to be keen on introducing a monorail system to act as a feeder in congested areas at a lower cost.
It is understood that it has finalised three corridors on monorail covering a length of around 47.8 Km in the first phase. “We have made presentations to the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit and other officials in Delhi and are keen on replicating our Mumbai experience here especially when the Maharashtra Government has approved another 100 Km of monorail corridor in Mumbai in addition to the present 45 Km track that is underway. We feel that monorail will provide the necessary integration with the present rail and road transportation system within a shorter time and at a much lesser cost,’’ Scomi International president, Kanesan Vellupillai said here.
The feasibility study for the corridors has been completed and the routes which have been short listed include -- Rohini Sector 21-Red Fort via Wazir Pur-Shakti Nagar-Anand Parbat-Ajmeri Gate-Delhi Gate (28.5 Km); Kalyanpuri - Pul Mithai via Scope Tower-Geeta Colony-Shanti Van-Red Fort-Old Delhi Railway Station (15.5 Km) and Gulabi Bagh- Delhi University via Shakti Nagar-Kamla Nagar-Guru Teg Bahadur Road (3.8 Km).
However, Mr. Kanesan said that all these projects are likely to take shape and get priority only after the Commonwealth games this year. “India has a big depth of expertise to train people, which we are looking to tap into.”
The Group has pitched for monorail project in Bangalore and is also eyeing similar projects in Chennai, Gujarat and Kolkata. “We are in advanced stage of negotiations with these State governments,’’ he added.
Scomi Engineering has tied up with Geodesic Techiques on BOT basis for the monorail project in Bangalore whose first phase of execution will see $2.4 billion investment. Under the agreement, Scomi will be technology partner and systems integrator for monorail system.
