TUV Rheinland to offer services in Metro Rail segment

BANGALORE, INDIA: Germany headquartered TÃœV Rheinland, a worldwide leader in Testing, Training, Inspection, Consulting and Certification, announced that it is now all set to offer its services in the metro rail segment in India where it sees a major opportunity. One of the company's first projects in India was the association with the Konkan Railways - Sky Bus project.

TUV Rheinland India, the Indian subsidiary with its head-quarters at Bangalore, will offer Independent Safety Assessment Inspection, Auditing, Certification, Training, Consultancy, RAMS and Testing services for products like electrical products, signalling and telecom etc., for the metro rail segment in India.

Enrico Ruhle, MD, TUV Rheinland India, said: "The traffic condition in Metro cities in India has not been so comfortable in terms of frequent traffic jams, narrow roads, heavy number of auto-rickshaws & two wheelers and high parking demands etc. The country aspires to create world-class infrastructure, Mass Rapid Transit System is being developed across Indian metros to render a fast, easy and comfortable commute through high-speed trains.

"Almost around 23 metro rail projects have been planned of which Kolkata, Delhi and Bangalore metros have started operations, yet to complete full phases of construction and operations. Jaipur, Chennai, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Kochi and Hyderabad metro are under construction and the rest are under planning phases.Hence the potential in this sector is huge and we intend to capitalize on this."

Hemant Desai, country head - Mobility Division, TUV Rheinland India, said: "TUV Rheinland has global experience in providing various services in railway segment. Within the region of India and Middle East, we are associated with prestigious projects in Dubai for Independent Safety Assessment of the Airport Automated People Mover, Palm Jumeirah Monorail, Dubai Metro RAMS and Systems study etc.

"Other credentials include, for instance in Brazil we have expertise for the driverless metro for Sao Paulo rail project in conducting safety assessment of specific automatic train control system, assessment of systems such as wayside interlocking, train doors, on-board emergency brake function and safety plan etc.

"In Germany, Airport Frankfurt/Main sky line project is handled for independent safety assessment of all constituents of the system, evacuation and rescue and fire protection concepts, operation and maintenance procedures and performance of safety acceptances in cooperation with the Frankfurt safety authority. In Italy, high- speed lines Torino - Novara is handled for control command & signalling subsystem, safety and quality assessment of switch operation stations, radio block center and Euro-balises.

"We would be leveraging our unmatched global experience and expertise to offer our services to the metro rail segment in India. We are currently empanelled by RDSO ( Railway Design &Standardisation Organisation, Govt. of India) as an ISA Independent Safety Assessor) for Indian Metro and Main line Signalling and ISA for Generic Products in Signalling."

The government is encouraging the private players participation in construction of metro rail projects in India and already few major companies have started and investments expected in metro rail networks in India is US $ 42 billion by 2020. Currents investments made are to the tune of US $ 16.7 billion according to reports.

"The metro rail projects would be beneficial to the business, to environment and in all walks of people. The investment requirement in urban infrastructure area during 2012-31 would be around Rs. 39,186 billion. These huge investments will have to be supported by the private players and hence there could be wide range of opportunities for TUV Rheinland India with the private player's participation," concluded Ruhle.