Increase mobility in peripheral regions

Nagpur, located in the central part of India, known as the “Orange City”, is the thirteenth largest city in India and the third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune. It is recognized as the “Heart of India”. The city is famous for its pilgrimage sites, ‘Deekshabhoomi’ and ‘Dragon Palace’, as well as museums such as the Nagpur Central Museum and the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum.

Nagpur serves as a crucial hub for transportation and trade due to its location and is also considered a fast-growing logistics hub. The city is home to the regional office of the Reserve Bank of India.

According to the 2011 census, Nagpur municipality has a population of 2,405,665. The city is an emerging metropolis and has witnessed strong population growth due to rapid urbanization. In fact, an Oxford economic report states that Nagpur is expected to become the fifth-largest growing city in the world from 2019 to 2035, with an average growth of 8.41%.

Population growth has caused serious problems for the city, such as severe traffic congestion on the streets and environmental concerns. For this reason, the city felt an urgent need to improve the public transport infrastructure.

In response to these challenges, the Nagpur Metro system was introduced. However, traffic congestion issues on Nagpur roads still remained unresolved as Nagpur Metro was capable of providing connectivity in the city but the cities and surrounding regions of the city remained ignored. To address these challenges and improve connectivity in adjacent cities and peripheral areas of the city, The Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro, a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project has been introduced for the city of Nagpur. This commuter rail initiative plans to use the existing tracks of the Central Railway to connect Nagpur with nearby cities.

What is a broad gauge metro?

Broad gauge metro systems, typically designed to serve both urban and regional areas, operate on broad gauge tracks. Wider tracks provide stability for trains operating at high speed and high passenger capacity.

• Track Width: The broad gauge track measures 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in). This width is greater than the standard gauge (1,435 mm).

• Speed: The broad gauge metro will be able to operate at a higher speed, with the potential for even higher speeds based on its design capabilities.

Difference between broad gauge metro and standard metro system

Characteristics	Broad gauge metro system	Standard metro system
Track gauge	Broad gauge (1,676 mm or 5 ft 6 in).	Standard gauge (1,435 mm or 4 feet 8½ inches).
Scope	Designed primarily for regional and urban transit. Improve connectivity between adjacent cities and peripheral areas.	Designed for urban transit. Improve connectivity within cities, focusing on short-distance travel.
Integration with other systems	It can integrate with existing broad gauge railways for regional connectivity.	It typically operates independently of other rail systems, focusing on urban areas.

Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro

Overview

The Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project is a Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) spanning 268.63 km with 4 suburban railway lines proposed in 2018 to connect the city with adjoining towns of Wardha, Katol, Narkhed, Ramtek and Bhandara through a more convenient and advanced railway system.

THE Urban Mass Transit Company (UMTC) prepared the detailed project report (DPR) of Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project. The DPR has estimated an approximate cost of the project Rs. 418 Crorespecifying that half of the cost of the project will be supported by modern rolling stock.

November 2019: The Railway Board approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project.

October 2020: The cabinet of the Maharashtra state government has approved the (DPR) of the project.

Financing mechanism

According to the Presidential Decree, the cost of the project is estimated by value Rs 418 Crore. The DPR of the project has stipulated that 70% of the total project cost will be financed through a loan and 30% will be financed through Maharashtra and Central Government.

Specify key

Authorized authority	Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha Metro).
Speed ​​and track	Maximum speed: 200 kilometers per hourOperating speed:160 kilometers per hourTrack gauge: Broad gauge – 1676 mm
Rolling stock	3 carriages (DT-T-DT)
Capacity	885 passengers

Project cost

Rolling stock	Rs. 200 cr
Deposit	Rs. 80 cr
Integration of the station with Nagpur Metro	Rs. 25 cr
Station updates	Rs 23.12 cr
IT infrastructure	Rs. 15 cr
Automatic fare collection system (AFC).	Rs. 11.64 cr
Pre-operative/administrative expenses	Rs. 11.64 cr
Taxes	Rs 48 cr
Total cost	Rs 418 cr

Routes

Operating	0km
Under construction	0km
Approved	0km
Proposed	268.63 km

Line 1: Nagpur – Wardha

• Length: 78.8 km
• Estimated daily consumption: 5,669
• End-to-end travel time: 70 minutes
• Number of stations: 13
• Station names: Nagpur Junction, Ajni, Khapri, Gumgaon, Bori, Borkhedi, Sindi, Tuljapur, Dahegaon, Seloo Road, Varud, Sewagram, Wardha Junction.

Line 2: Nagpur – Narkhed

• Length: 85.53km
• Estimated daily consumption: 2,616
• End-to-end travel time: 75 minutes
• Number of stations: 11
• Station names: Nagpur Junction, Godhani, Bharatwada, Kalmeshwar, Kohali, Sonkhamb, Metpanjra, Katol, Kalambha, Tinkheda, Narkher Junction

Line 3: Nagpur – Ramtek

• Length: 41.6 km
• Estimated daily consumption: 3,929
• End-to-end travel time: 60 minutes
• Number of stations: 7
• Station names: Nagpur Junction, Kalamna, Kamptee, Kanhan Junction, Dumri Khurd, Amdi Halt, Ramtek

Line 4: Nagpur – Bhandara Road

• Length: 62.7 km
• Estimated daily consumption: 2,556
• End-to-end travel time: 55 minutes
• Number of stations: 8
• Station names: Nagpur Junction, Kalamna, Kamptee, Kanhan Junction, Chacher, Rewral, Khat, Bhandara Road

Advantages of Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro

1. Improved Connectivity: The Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro System will improve the connectivity of the city by connecting the peripheral parts of the city to the central urban parts of Nagpur. Through a broad-gauge metro system, the city will be able to provide a comprehensive transportation network to residents of cities and adjacent regions of the city, facilitating more convenient and comfortable travel.

2. Reduction of traffic congestion: Recently, the city of Nagpur witnessed a 20% increase.and in the registrations of private vehicles. Through a broad gauge metro system, the city will be able to get a more reliable and efficient alternative mode of transport, which will reduce traffic congestion on Nagpur roads.

3. Economic growth: Increased connectivity in cities and regions of the city is expected to boost Nagpur’s economic growth by attracting more businesses to the city’s outskirts. This will generate more employment in the city and stimulate local economies.

4. Integration with other modes of transportation: The broad gauge metro system is expected to be integrated with the existing Nagpur metro system. This integration will enable passengers to seamlessly switch between different modes of transport at critical interchanges, including Khapri, Nagpur railway station and Ajni.

Challenges in Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro

1. Financial constraints: According to the DPR, the project will be financed through loans and financing from Maharashtra and the central government. However, securing adequate funding over the life of the project still remains a concern. To make the project sustainable and avoid delays in operation and construction, an adequate financing mechanism is needed.

2. Land Acquisition Issues: Earlier, the Nagpur Metro project faced major challenges related to pending land acquisition approvals which hampered the progress of the Metro project in the city. This raises concerns about land acquisition for the Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project. The lengthy process of acquiring land for the project represents a major challenge that may impact the progress of the project.

3. Concern for passengers: Reaching a high level of users is the most crucial factor to make the project sustainable and successful. For example, in India, no metro system has been able to reach the expected level of ridership, including the Delhi Metro. Furthermore, the level of passengers also depends on several factors such as fare price, service reliability, etc.

4. Integration problem: The Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project plans to use existing railway tracks, which requires close coordination with Central Railway for operational integration. This can complicate the planning and maintenance of the rolling stock.

5. Delay in execution: The Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project has received necessary approvals, but no progress has been made so far. These delays affected the execution and overall progress of the project.

Conclusion

The Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro project is a vital step in connecting the outskirts of Nagpur city with the mainstream. The project will improve regional connectivity and address transportation challenges in Nagpur and surrounding regions. Utilizing the existing rail infrastructure and integrating with the Nagpur Metro system, this initiative will offer a reliable, efficient and sustainable mode of transportation. While the project has the potential to mitigate traffic congestion, spur economic growth and improve the quality of life of Nagpur residents, it also faces hurdles such as financial constraints and land acquisition issues. Strategic planning, regulatory support and stakeholder collaboration will be critical to the success of the project.