Challenge 1

Aim :

1)Why is a metro rail needed in countries with developing economy? What is your basic understanding on the differences between a conventional rail system and a metro rail system?

2)The course depicts the data regarding the operational and upcoming metro rail projects of India with reference to the statistics of latest by August 2019. Research and provide the current statistics of metro rail operations in India. At the end you can identify the necessary of metro rail transit system followed by you will be able to resonate/analyze the feasibility of metro rail to one’s own city.

3)Why DMRC is the busiest metro in India. Apart from the points mentioned in the course video. You can find several interesting facts on the internet. Please research and provide your learnings.

4)What are the components of a Metro rail? Explain briefly about the concepts of the components?

5)Elevated metro or Underground metro which metro rail system shall be preferred? Justify your choice of the system.

6)What is a Design Basis Report (DBR)? In which phase of a project a DBR is prepared?

7)What is significance of a DBR of an elevated metro?

8)In the planning of metro project, what are the chronology of activities before the construction?

9)What is topographical survey? Why it is necessary for the metro rail project?

10)What are the hindrances that could be there whilst planning to connect any to two stations in a city during metro construction?

11)What are underground utilities which would be there existing under the ground level. Also mention some other utilities apart from the ones mentioned in the course.

12)Mention in detail about the solutions a designer would be suggesting as the challenges of underground utilities.

13)What is known as feeding of U-girders and how it is launched during construction?

14)What are advantages of precast girders in an elevated metro? Explain in detail about the how it is efficient over the cast in-situ girders?

Introduction: The question summarizes about planning of a Metro line to its execution and problems faced during it starting from survey preparation, DBR, execution of it without disturbing traffic.

Procedure & Result

1)Why is a metro rail needed in countries with developing economy? What is your basic understanding on the differences between a conventional rail system and a metro rail system?

Ans.Mass rapid transit projects are often taken by the government of developing countries. Developing countries undertaking rail based system especially metro as a solution to solve the problems of urban traffic congestion and for meeting rapidly increasing travel demand. This is also targeted for controlling environmental pollution and boosting up economic growth. Along with environmental goal achievement, cities with increasing economic growth planned for rapid transit to make it congestion-free, faster and reliable for the movement of people. developing cities choose metro mainly to meet the high travel demand which often can not reduce congestion.

Metro trains are high-speed trains that are powered by the electricity grid. In general, a metro train has four to five air-conditioned coaches. Actually, the metro trains are the new era transportation concept developed by many countries to control the pollution created by conventional vehicles and traffic caused by them. The metro train is one of the fastest ways to travel within the city for a short distance.

A conventional train is an older mode of transportation used by people to travel from one place to another. Generally, the train is used by the people for the long distance journey such as from one city to another. A casual train runs at a speed of 120 kmph to 150 kmph which is considered as a slow speed. In general, the length of the train is long as it can have 15 to 20 coaches in a single train.

2)The course depicts the data regarding the operational and upcoming metro rail projects of India with reference to the statistics of latest by August 2019. Research and provide the current statistics of metro rail operations in India. At the end you can identify the necessary of metro rail transit system followed by you will be able to resonate/analyze the feasibility of metro rail to one’s own city.

Ans.

Each Indian city and town has a large number of proposed new lines, most of which will never see the light of the day. The following table lists out cities / towns with with serious proposals that could possibly materialize as light rail (Metrolite) and be built in the next 10 years.

Besides the above cities, metro projects are proposed in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Jabalpur, Ranchi, Hubli, Mathura, Dholera, Thane, Gwalior, Bareilly, Dehradun, Bhubaneswar, Mysore, and Mangalore.

Metro provides multiple benefits: reduction in air pollution, time saving to passengers, reduction in accidents, reduction in traffic congestion and fuel savings. There are incremental benefits and costs to a number of economic agents: government, private transporters, passengers, general public and unskilled labour.

3)Why DMRC is the busiest metro in India. Apart from the points mentioned in the course video. You can find several interesting facts on the internet. Please research and provide your learnings.

Ans. Delhi is not a city of lengths. It's not a harbour based hub with the local economy revolving around ports. Majority of its movements depends on roads criss-crossing each other causing traffic jams and pollution. Thus there is a need for an alternative to enable comfortable travel. Delhi is the most densely populated city in the country which leads to extreme traffic in the city hence people prefer travelling in metro for fast & comfortable movement.

5)Elevated metro or Underground metro which metro rail system shall be preferred? Justify your choice of the system.

Ans.

6)What is a Design Basis Report (DBR)? In which phase of a project a DBR is prepared?

Ans.

7)What is significance of a DBR of an elevated metro?

Ans. In an elevated metro the structure below it has to be taken into consideration like may be a flyover or road etc. So before starting to plan the project it is very important to prepare a DBR stating type of superstructure depending on the height and spans. DBR for a elevated metro will have all the aspects starting from site considerations, feasibility, loadings & design parameters

8)In the planning of metro project, what are the chronology of activities before the construction?

Ans.

1. Study on need for Bridge

The decision of having a new bridge in an area is taken as a part of development of the society. This facilitates the feasibility of linking the cities and towns, which gain more importance in the overall growth of a nation. Their need is studied based on the socio-economic viabilities.

2. Traffic Assessment for Bridge Construction

An assessment of the traffic type and its quantum is necessary to decide the following factors:

• Number of lanes on the road or the railway tracks
• The geometric design parameters
• Benefits acquired by the society

The data collection for this must be done carefully so that a proper idea on how the traffic pattern, the growth strategies such as agricultural, industrial as well commercial developments are influenced. The bridge construction has a huge investment at the initial stages. Once completed, a small variation or renovation is not recommended. So, it is advised to bring a design that considers the future capacity requirements and traffic factors. The traffic assessment study should be considered the following factors into consideration. This mainly is carried out with the help of a traffic planner or an Economist.

• The traffic composition, in terms of light and the heavy vehicles
• The maximum and the minimum speed requirements
• The annual growth rate and their variations
• The design life of the bridge

3. Location Study for Bridge Construction

While having a location study and fixing the location of the bridge, it is very essential to consider the need and the location of cross drainage works if any. The cross-drainage work is said to have 15 to 20 % of the overall project cost if it must be implemented. Hence before choosing the alignment for bridge construction, it is necessary to determine all the possible CD works and its effect. The following factors are considered reliable in fixing the location of the bridge.

• Location chosen over a stream with no bends or meanders. It will be straight in reach.
• A stream with no branches or tributaries
• The location being confined with properly defined banks
• If the bridge or the culvert is with the road approach, on either side having maximum extent
• If the crossing is normal to the alignment of the road and angle of skew is necessary, limit it.

Other than the above-specified conditions, the major river crossings of the bridge construction should satisfy the following conditions:

a) River regime

The river upstream must be straight. If there is bend in the downstream, it must be avoided. The river in the reach must be free from whirls, excess current due to eddies. The channel in reach must is narrow and well defined. The river regime should have inerodable banks that are firm. If there are no inerodable banks, over gorging, guide banks in dry locations also must be provided.

b) Approaches

During floods, the approaches must be secure from flood attacks or any major spills. High expensive approach construction must be avoided. It is recommended to pass through built-up areas, or high hills or through major basin or religious structures. The approaches have a reasonable proximity to the main road. It should not let construction of costly connecting link. The ideal approach will avoid the construction under water that is highly costly and uneconomical. They should help in a way to bring lesser maintenance to the whole system, hence increasing the life period of the bridges.

4. Reconnaissance Survey for Bridge Construction

This is a pre-feasibility study, which studies the entire reach of the river, that must be crossed; to find out best and suitable position for bridge location. The factors each site satisfies are taken as lists and each is analyzed individually, from which the best consideration is chosen. The final number of feasible sites must be refined down to three or four, this can be done only by going in detail of each site and refining the most suitable ones. During this stage, maps are used to locate theses feasible sites. The direct assessment of the site is made to understand the location features (local criteria), studying the existing and growth of traffic with the help of surveys, knowing information from the people residing, simple routes and short cuts in the area, river flow and its spread are also studied. A feasibility study on the economy of cost, the duration of construction, the sources of resources are also assessed. Now the whole information is gathered and a comparison is made. Based on the discussion and refinement, the best feasible site for implementation is chosen.

5. Preliminary Engineering for Bridge Construction

This stage of planning can be called as a techno-economic feasibility study. Here, the technical details related to the bridge construction is studied in a detailed manner, to bring all possible alternatives to proceed the construction. Mainly it is found that the total cost of the project is plus or minus 15% of the cost that is estimated at this stage of planning. To process the technical study, minimum level of field study and measurements, the location study, and related parameters must be done. This study carried out at the bridge construction site should bring the following tabulated content details:

1. The total length of the bridge
2. The length of approaches
3. If detours are present, their respective savings
4. The anticipated volume of traffic
5. The distance to the nearby city or town from the site
6. Expected bridge project period
7. The nature of stream flowing into the site
8. The nature and behavior of soil strata for foundation
9. The construction problems existing with bridges or approaches
10. Maintenance for the bridges or approaches if any
11. The internal rate of return or the cost benefit ratio
12. The impact on the environment

For each element that is noted, must be assigned with a certain amount of scoring and weightage, that would finally help in choosing the best site.

7. Detailed Project Report of Bridge Construction Planning

This stage is the final stage of planning in the bridge construction, before the commencement of the construction work. Full investigation from the roots is taken and documented. The investigations conducted are:

• Ground survey
• Soil exploration- foundation details
• Hydrological data
• Model studies and analysis

9)What is topographical survey? Why it is necessary for the metro rail project?

Ans. A topographic survey locates all surface features of a site, and depicts all natural features and elevations. In essence it is a 3-dimensional map of a 3-dimensional property showing all natural and man-made features and improvements. Specifically, it shows their location, size, height and any changes in elevation.

In a metro rail project as it is one of the fastest speed rail, the geography around it should be such that people can easily access the stations. Height of rail should also be decided taking into consideration nearby structures.

10)What are the hindrances that could be there whilst planning to connect any to two stations in a city during metro construction?

Ans. Hindrances can be n numbers like the underground utlities and important structures or waterway that obstruct the route between two stations.

11)What are underground utilities which would be there existing under the ground level. Also mention some other utilities apart from the ones mentioned in the course.

Ans. Underground utilities can be telephone lines, water pipe , gas pipes, drainage and sewage lines, electricity pipes

12)Mention in detail about the solutions a designer would be suggesting as the challenges of underground utilities.

Ans.

Utility survey - Although not a practical solution because it requires lot of capital & specialiized agency. When in scope of project this has to be done to know about the utilities.

Change in pile arrangement - Pile arrangement can be changed as per utility arrangement.

Change of alignment - alignment can be changed depending on traffic or obstruction of utlities.

13)What is known as feeding of U-girders and how it is launched during construction?

Ans. U girders will involve casting the entire span of a viaduct between two piers in a single piece, whereas box girders will have many segments between two piers. One U girder between two pillars can be erected overnight, against 6 to 7 days in case of segmental construction. The weight of a complete span of U girder is much lesser than the segmental box girder.

14)What are advantages of precast girders in an elevated metro? Explain in detail about the how it is efficient over the cast in-situ girders?

Ans. The advantage is speed; by utilizing engineered drawings, precast pieces can be set in place as soon as delivered. The precast pieces are cured, reinforced and ready for the next pieces to be installed. To form in place requires difficult skill sets, considerably more onsite labor, steel reinforcement and curing time, engineering is required to verify all components. Precast is pre-engineered. Quality control is higher, due to factory/ plant condition in which members are casted. More assurance of strength achivement. Designers are happy, contractor is stress free and occupants are delighted and safe in case of any unfortunate event of earthquake etc. Time required for project completion is reduced. If all pre cast members are cured in accelerated fashion( 7 days in lieu of 28 days), then a project of one year gets completed in 3 months ( 1/4 of a year time). A loose but compelling comparison. Finishing is higher hence better aesthetics is achieved along with cost can be reduced as plastering may be done away with. Site looks more clean as shuttering items etc and mixer machines are not present and hence site safety is enhanced due to lesser labour engagement at site.