Around 10 companies have submitted Requests for Proposal (RFP) to the government, for the upcoming Chennai Monorail project. The proposals are being evaluated to shortlist firms that can participate in the financial bidding to be held soon. Some of the companies that have expressed interest are of international repute, with experience in executing the project in many cities abroad, besides being part of similar projects in other Indian cities.
The State government-appointed empowered monorail committee will shortlist applicants based on technical competence and financial viability, sources said. The companies would be given time to prepare detailed project reports for implementation of the monorail system along three elevated corridors.
The Rs. 8,500-crore 57-km-long Phase I of Chennai Monorail constitutes a network of three elevated corridors — Vandalur to Velachery via Tambaram East (23 km); Poonamallee to Kathipara via Porur (18 km); and Poonamallee to Vadapalani via Valasarawakkam (16 km). The fourth, proposed from Vandalur to Puzhal via Avadi (54 km), was axed in February. The original 111-km-long Phase I network was cropped to 57 km.
Tenders for executing the project were floated in August 2011, but the Metropolitan Transport Corporation nullified it owing to lack of adequate participation.
Monorail is not a substitute for Metro Rail, but a system that could complement it, according to industry sources. “A single system cannot cater to the needs of passengers in a city like Chennai. Integrating different modes of transport should be at the heart of an urban mobility plan,” said a consultant working in the area of public transportation.
Keywords: Chennai Monorail project
The Urbanaut Monorail Technology proposed for Chennai is an antirely new advanced monorail technology, that can operate at surface, elevated and underground at a considerable more flexibility, less space, and less cost than steel wheel on steel rail, also called "Light Rail," (which is a missleading term.)
The website "Urbanaut.com" and Wolmido Monorail pg, 1 and pg 2 clearly demonstrate why it is a superior tecnology. It does not depend on a massive concrete beamway at surface and underground like Scomi , Hitatchi and other monorails.
Urbanaut with a small central rail, also meet "Light Rail" Specifications, while the 60 year old massive Straddle Beam technology does not. That is the reason Chennai Monorail Authority should avaluate technology as a prime criteria. Urbanaut will allow a technology center to be built there, which could employ thousands of skilled workers and profesionals.
Monorail may be the best bet, not only it having a quick government's go ahead, but also since as seen, a caution from the beach - velachery MRTS not a great success in terms of usage or capacity. These trains have a huge capacity only in morning and evening(certain hours) due to office going people. Further Chennai is a city where 40-50% use their own vehicles and a lot of people love to use road transport than train due to many reasons(not sure of exact data). Thus being a resident of chennai, i slightly differ in view of Mr sreedharan..... Metro is definitely a boon but requires proper maintenance, administration and discipline by the users(like delhi) whereas mono-rail is definitely the rail system of future as far as a City like chennai is considered. I am quite apprehensive about the combination of both metro and mono in a single city due to enggg constraints....... SO let us hope for the best through a good mono rail system in our Singara Chennai.
Monorail has not been successful in big metros. Delhi Metro Sridharan is quite right when he said Chennai should go for underground. While all these big projects are being debated and implemented a lot can be done at the ground level like buiding new foot paths to ensure unobstructed walking. Today no one one can walk even hundred feet before coming across junction boxes, debris,or walkways disappearing suddenly.A good unhindered walkway can help in keeping pedestrians from spilling on to the road thereby causing accidents besides promoting health to reduce obesity.In addition savings in the costly imported resource i.e. oil can save the nation the forign exchange. Time for city planners to keep their feet on the ground!
Good news that expereienced global companies are interested in the Chennai Mono Rail Project. However the global expereince is that Mono Rails can at best be feeders to Metro Rail Projects. Hence the TN Government should come out of its self imposed 'Ego Shell' and go for a full fledged Metro exceeding the 300 km mark inorder to be viable and self sustainable solution.
A city like Chennai with a very high population and a circular naturae of developmental demography, needs an extensive and integrated transport system inclusive of Outer Ring Roads, Inner ring roads, Elevated Express ways (all roads with six lanes), Metro Rail, Mono Rail, Suburban rail system etc. We need to have the foresight to plan this integrated system. If we choose Mono Rail occupying the precious space of the Roads and Elevated Express High ways instead of the Underground Metro, we are committing an irretrewable mistake.
We have the sky train syatem and suburban rail system which needs to be linked with Metro.
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