Maha Metro starts installing overhead tubular portals in Pune Metro project

Pune (Urban Transport News): The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro) started the work to install tubular portals for the overhead catenary wire system on the priority section of Pimpri to Swargate of Pune Metro Rail project. On Sunday, the overhead tubular portal was installed on the viaduct at pier number 327 of Pune Metro rail project. the Over Head Equipment work is being executed by Mumbai-based firm, Bright Power Projects India Pvt. Limited and The Galvanised Iron (GI) tubular portals are being manufactured by Transrail India at Silvasa, Dadar and Nagar Haveli. The tubular portal technology is being used for the first time in a metro rail project across the country.

What is Tubular Portal?

The tubular portal is a three-part structure comprising two uprights and one curved boom, connecting the two masts on up track and down track. Maha Metro has installed the tubular portal first time in the country in Nagpur Metro rail project.

Advantage of Tubular Portal

Tubular portals have multiple advantages including - it gives a good aesthetic look to the metro corridors, it is cost-effective as it reduces the overall weight of steel and facilitates the provision of light fitting and surveillance cameras directly over the track which helps to monitor of train operations.

What Officials Say

Addressing to media, Dr. Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director, Maha Metro said,

We are committed to starting the Metro work on priority section between Pimpri and Dapodi as per the schedule and this overhead cable work is a milestone in that direction.

Hemant Sonawane, Spokesperson for Pune Metro rail project said,

The Pune Metro will use 25,000 Volt AC Traction Power Overhead Catenary system. The catenary system is supported through galvanized steel tubular portals of height 9.1 meters from the track level. The portals are very sleek and aesthetic with a life span of over 40 years. Maha Metro is the first in India to use tubular portals for OHE (Over Head Equipment) catenary system. The approximate weight of one portal is 900 kg. The approximate average distance between two portals is 35 and 40 meter.

According to Pune Metro official, there are 30 to 35 portals per km on the Metro line. An official said,

For installing these tubular portals on the viaduct, special concrete pedestals have been provided along the parapet of the viaduct. To install these tubular portals over the viaduct, special cranes of 50 tonne capacity and 34 metre boom length are being used.

Talking about the project deadline, Sonawane said,

For the Pimpri-Dapodi section to be commissioned by December 2019, a total of about 162 portals are to be installed. With the average installation rate of 4 to 5 portals per day, it’s likely to complete the work by October 2019.

The Pune Metro is likely to be flagged off on the 5-km Pimpri-Dapodi stretch in early January 2020.