Govt of India issues standard specifications for MetroNeo Light Rail System

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Govt of India on 5th November 2020 has issued Standard Specifications for MetroNeo suited for Tier-2 cities or outer areas of Tier-1/ megacities with projected Per Hour Per Direction Traffic (PHPDT) for next two decades up to 10,000 today.

According to the Ministry, the proposed MetroLite will cost around 40-50% of the Metro Rail System and much-reduced cost on operations for cities with projected PHPDT up to 15,000 in 2019. This has attracted many tier-1 cities with a population of up to 10 lakh.

"I am sure that MetroNeo will enable several other cities with population up to 5 lakh to aspire to get such viable mass rapid transit system as soon as possible. MetroNeo system will be formally launched by Hon’ble MoS(IC), MoHUA on 9th November 2020 in UMI Conference," said Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary, MoHUA, Govt. of India.

Some salient features of MetroNeo are:

• Elevated or At-grade shared Right of Way (RoW)
• Rubber-tyred bi-articulated electric coaches – quality at par with Metro
• Overhead traction of 750VDC
• Coaches are capable of running on battery in Non-OHE zones.
• Guided coaches for passenger safety and also upgradable to LRT
• Small stations – Entry from footpath to platform through lift/link bridge
• Higher acceleration and deceleration
• Coaches can run very close to each other thus attaining lesser headway
• Telecom network to connect coaches, provide ticketing and smart passenger information system. 
• Superior in terms of vibration, noise, acceleration and cost

The first MetroNeo system has been proposed in Nashik City by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro). The Maha Metro has been appointed as DPR Consultant for the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) for another MetroNeo system for Warangal city in Telangana.

The concept of Metro-Neo was formulated after very extensive and comprehensive technical consultations, interactions, and due diligence with several stakeholders/technical experts. The system is eco-friendly, energy-efficient, cost-effective, and capable of providing an efficient mass public transport system which is ideally suitable for the traffic need of TIER 2/3 cities in India as well as similar cities abroad.

Click here to read standard specifications of MetroNeo Light Rail System