Kochi Metro is the first Indian metro to have communication-based train control (CBTC) signalling system. Our trains are unattended train operation (UTO) compatible.

The project is progressing well. Currently, we are operating North-South and East-West that span over 42.8 km with a ridership of more than four lakh commuters every day.

Mangal Dev, Head of Hitachi Rail Systems Co, India & South Asia Region feels that inadequate attention to planning, availability of funding and the need to expand the availability of skilled manpower are key challenges facing the metro rail projects in India.

Prakash Kumar Chandraker, Vice President & Managing Director, Energy Business, Schneider Electric, says that expansion of digitalisation in the metro rail space will benefit their customer as it would substantially reduce their operation and maintenance (O&M) costs in terms of the quantum of support they need.

The recent TOT bids have shown that this model can be ideal for international institutional investors who have appetite for long-term investments and access to low-cost debts.

About 24,800 km of road projects are to be developed over the next five years between 2017-18 and 2021-22 under the ambitious Bharatmala Programme.

The purpose and objective of this experience centre were to showcase live what is available and to make people understand what we talk about. Because, normally, if you look at a product, say healthcare, you can easily understand what is an X-ray or a CT scan machine.

Utilities will have to take intelligent decisions in terms of providing, managing and sustaining themselves in the wake of copious amounts of data that get generated by smart grids of the future. Analytics will play a fundamental role in grid asset maintenance and optimisation.

Project delays, time and cost overrun in infrastructure projects, delays in regulatory approvals and contractual disputes are some of the challenges faced in implementing a project in India.