As part of the Centre’s metro policy, private companies will install and maintain automatic fare gates and escalators in all Delhi metro stations. It will be a part of the Phase IV project. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporations(DMRC) anticipates related public-private bodies to subsidize about Rs 2000 crore of the Phase IV project.
In order to receive central financial assistance, the Central government’s policy made to all metro rail projects to have private companies partnership. The policy, which was approved by the central cabinet in August 2017, was not applicable to Phase III project of DMRC, which was under construction at that time but its provisions will be applicable for Phase IV, which is still under consideration of the government.
Speaking at a session on innovative financing options at the second UITP Indian Metro seminar on Friday, KK Saberwal, director (finance) of DMRC said that
“It was now mandatory for any metro project to get some public-private-partnership in order to get central assistance”.
Saberwal said that
“One of the avenues that DMRC is looking at for private partnership is the installation and maintenance of AFC gates, elevators, and escalators”.
As part of the partnership, a private player would install AFC gates, escalators, and elevators and in lieu of the cost of these machines and cost of maintenance incurred, the private entity would get advertising rights on these machines, said SD Sharma, director (business development), DMRC.
Saberwal said that all the proposed six corridors of Phase IV would witness similar tie-up with private players. It is also likely that the entire contract is bundled out to one firm.
Apart from involving private players in managing escalators and elevators, one corridor of Phase IV would also see train being taken on the lease. Saberwal said that the proposed 21.7km long Rithala to Narela corridor would see rolling stock taken on lease and might also have a separate depot.
Phase IV, however, would not be the first time DMRC would be taking trains on lease instead of procuring these. DMRC is looking at the leasing of trains for its Green Line (Inderlok-City Park) corridor as a pilot project and to begin with, DMRC will take on lease 150 coaches, which would translate into 25 six-coach train sets. Saberwal said that DMRC has already received 11 bids for the tender it had floated
Article Source: India Times