An underground people mover system to connect Central Vista to Delhi Metro network

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): According to HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt Ltd, the architectural consultant of the Central Vista project, the 10 office complexes of the Central Secretariat will emerge on the two parallel horizontal axes of the Rajpath. Each complex will be interconnected through an underground loop and to the existing Delhi Metro lines (Line 2 and 6).

In the final phase of the project, the 10 office complexes comprising the Central Secretariat will be connected to the existing Delhi Metro Rail network after they are built. According to Central Public Works Department (CPWD) official, the firm(s) that will win the tender for the development will only construct an underground tunnel for this purpose.

“At the underground level, a people mover and an underground loop will connect to the Metro station. You get off the Metro and get inside the people-mover. It will go around in circles of the Secretariat and will be connected to the Metro. Such people-movers are seen in various international airports,” said Dr. Bimal Patel, Director at HCP Design, Planning and Management Pvt Ltd, during a presentation last year. 

In April 2021, CPWD floated a tender for the first three secretariat office complexes – which will emerge in front of the National Archives, where the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts is situated and pre-bid meetings with various firms were also held on April 30, 2021.

A total of 7 firms were participated in the pre-bid meetings for clarification of the various terms, conditions, and build requirements. These are Shapoorji Pallonji & Company, MEP, L&T, JMC Projects, Girdhari Lal Constructions, Montecarlo and PSP Projects. The last date for submission of expression of interests (EoI) is June 15, 2021. The technical bids will open on May 25, 2021.

The work is estimated to cost (composite) Rs 34,08,81,22,602 (Civil & Horticulture component: Rs 21,12,09,34,804; Electrical & Mechanical component: Rs 11,57,18,41,562; Rs 1,39,53,46,236 for operation & maintenance for 5 years). This estimate, however, is given merely as a rough guide.

The finalised plans for the three complexes show they would have two basement parking levels.

“The construction of the TOD will take time as the underground Metro network can be connected only when all Secretariat buildings are completed. This will be taken up in the last phase. Meanwhile, part of the underground tunnel for the Metro falling within the plot for buildings 1, 2 & 3 will be completed to avoid disruption at a later stage as these will be in use by then,” said a CPWD official.