Trains and the national railway network are meant not only for the physical movement of people and goods but also to enhance the overall quality of life of an average Indian, through innovation and corresponding investments in futuristic technology.

Urban transport and development is a state subject. With the Centre and the State coming together to fight the decade-old urban issue for a few and a century-old issue for many cities, Durga Shankar Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) feels that the Centre providing a helping hand to the State is like a corporate federalism.

Similar to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Kolkata to have driverless trains on the upcoming metro lines, including the East-West corridor for which some of the rakes have arrived.

Along with state-owned Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL), SmartE is in plans to set up charging infrastructure around metro stations.

Seeking to ensure smooth flow of commuters at new interchange stations of the recently-inaugurated corridor of the Magenta Line

Speaking to INFRASTRUCTURE TODAY from Hong Kong, Sandhya Jane said that hiring of capable project managers could significantly contribute to executing public projects in a timely manner, preventing wastage of public money, and improving overall quality of life in India.

Infrastructure growth will be at the core of Indias economic development as the worlds sixth largest economy targets to become the worlds third largest by 2028.

The total length of operational metro projects in India presently stands at about 440 km and is growing. Cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Gurugram, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) where they are already operational, are simultaneously adding on to their existing route networks.

The $1billion US-based engineering and construction management company, Louis Berger, has been active in India for over 20 years. The New Jersey-based corporation is engaged in a slewof projects, including bridges, tunnels, roads, highways, railways, and transit, aviation and smart cities.