Mumbai Metro One (MMOPL) (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar route) unveiled an innovative ticketing system featuring a wearable wristband (TapTap_ for contactless payments. The TapTap band is made from silicone-based material to ensure it is non-allergenic and gentle on the skin. At an introductory offer price of Rs.200, commuters can wear their tickets instead of carrying them. By tapping it at the AFC gates, passengers can embark on their journeys.  

Contact: Mumbai Metro One

Website:www.reliancemumbaimetro.com

Indian Railways, following many complaints from passengers travelling on trains, plans to use technology to resolve the issue. Indian Railways is reportedly planning to use the Internet of Things (IoT), new chemicals and standardised watering systems to solve the problem of dirty and unhygienic train toilets. Various proposals include using Viliso Technologies for odour monitoring, introducing hot water showers in BEML-make sleeper VB trains and examining Clonon concentrate for cleaning. For this technology, a Mumbai-based startup, Viliso Technologies, which specialises in odour monitoring, has been shortlisted. To study the efficacy of the technology, it will be used in some coaches of the Linke Hofmann Busch and Integral Coach Factory variants.

Metro rail commuters can soon travel in a train with an operator’s view as the first driverless trainset may arrive in August. More trainsets, to arrive in subsequent months, will be operated on corridor-4, that may open in 2025. Three-car trainsets have been planned for the 26 km corridor connected by 28 metro stations. Each of the three cars can accommodate around 1,000 passengers and will have a design speed of 90 kmhr and operational speed of 80 kmhr, detectors to detect obstacles and train derailments and regenerative braking system to save electricity. CMRL will require 138 three-car trainsets for the 116.1km phase-2 that will open in stages from 2025 to 2028.

The Kochi Metro Rail (KMRL) has invited expressions of interest (EoI) to operate more e-autorickshaws as feeders from Metro stations. As per the EoI document, it aims to ensure that its commuters have access to seamless, sustainable, safe and affordable connectivity options to and from Metro stations. The service providers will be granted feeder licences to operate from and park on the Metro station premises during the operating hours.

As many as 58 autos will be introduced as part of the project. KMRL is also planning to launch an integrated public transport system interlinking trains, boats and buses.

Contact: Kochi Metro Rail (KMRL)

Tel: 0484-2846700, 0484-2846770

Website: www.kochimetro.org

To prevent rush-hour stampedes of passengers switching corridors, Kolkata Metro officials decided to widen the entrance to the subway connecting the old and new Esplanade stations. Every evening a bottleneck is created at the 9 feet entrance. The ramp for the specially-abled covers most of the width. Peak-hour frequencies of the line is 12 minutes. A six-coach BEML rake can ferry around 2,000 passengers. The rakes are also crammed due to gaps in services. A chunk of these passengers cross over every 12 minutes. Before March 15, the station would register around 38,000 daily footfalls. Now the daily footfalls have risen to around 55,000 to 60,000.

Contact: Kolkata Metro

Website: www.kmrc.in