It is almost hard to visualize Mumbai without thinking about the crowds of people clinging to the local trains’ doors. But that will probably undergo a total revamp since the Vande Metro, an Indian first-of-its-kind rail service, will soon take the place of the lifeblood of the nation’s commercial metropolis.
Mumbai may be the first city to get these Vande Metro trains, according to a previous News18 article from last month. The acquisition and lifetime maintenance of Mumbai’s Vande Metro trains was the first move in this direction made by the ministry of railways. Although the Vande Metro trains’ design has not been made public, it is anticipated that they would be a modernized and opulent EMU that has complete air conditioning.
The purchase of 238 Vande Metro rakes for Mumbai was authorized by the Railway Board in May. The purchase of 2,856 Vande Metro carriages for the city’s suburban network has been put out to foreign bids this week by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC).
According on the route and demand, the trains would either feature 12 or 15 carriages, a ministry official informed News18. At least 250 local trains are now operating in Mumbai, with around 240 of them running regularly and the rest being spare. Vande Metro will eventually take the place of the whole fleet. Around 12 to 15 journeys are made daily by a single local train. Travel convenience and passenger comfort would significantly improve with the Vande Metro trains, the official said on the condition of anonymity.
The announcement states that in addition to the purchase and maintenance of these trains, the tender also covers the construction of new depots and the renovation of current facilities for Vande Metros. Vangaon and Bhivpuri will both have new automobile storage facilities.
The MRVC said that starting on July 4, bid materials will be accessible online. The offers must be submitted by September 29 in order to be considered.
Mumbai may need to wait a few more years.
Mumbai may need to wait a little while, even if the process has already begun, since the whole change may take many years. According to the paper, it will take 84 months, or seven years, to complete the tasks of supplying AC rakes and constructing new carsheds in Vangaon and Bhivpuri. Additionally, these rakes and maintenance depots are to get thorough yearly maintenance throughout a 420-month, or 35-year, period.
According to a government official, it would take at least three to four years to deliver the first Vande Metro. Phases of the replacement will be completed. We will replace the trains as soon as we get the delivery. The Western and Central Railway zones, which make up the local rail network, are free to choose the size of the trains they need for their individual portions, the official said.
The paper states that the bidding will be done via an international open competitive tender utilizing requests for bids that have been created following the normal contract terms for Indian Railway.
