MahaMetro invites EoI for ₹2,092-cr Neo-Metro

Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MahaMetro), the implementing agency for the Nashik Neo-Metro, has invited expression of interest (EoI) for the manufacture, supply, commission and maintenance of the rubber-tyred trolleybuses that would be run on the two corridors on electricity drawn from overhead lines for which the interested players must submit their EoIs by May 5. MahaMetro will initially run 50 coaches on the 22-km corridor I — Gangapur Road-Nashik Road railway station — and 14 coaches on the 10km corridor II between Gangapur Road and Mumbai Naka. The carrying capacity of the coaches on corridor I will be 250, while the coaches in corridor II will have 200 capacities. The length of the coaches in corridor I will be 20m, while the coaches in corridor II will be about 15m. The height and width of the coaches will be 3.5m and 2.55m respectively. The coaches will run at a speed of 70km per hour with proper signage within the coaches for passenger safety and information. There will be a separate compartment for coach drivers with several indicators. The ₹2,092 crore Nashik Metro Neo project is a unique model that the Centre has come up with for tier-II and tier-III cities. Metro Neo projects can be taken up at a much lower cost and Nashik is the first city where such a project is being implemented. In fact, proper lighting, air-conditioning, WiFi, CCTV cover, press buttons at the doors, onboard passenger information system (PIS), fire and smoke detection gadgets will be some of the key features of the coaches being planned for the ambitious Nashik Metro Neo project.