Title - Airport line effect: Metro can't use track fastening tech

The Ministry of Railways has rejected Delhi Metro's plan to use a particular fastening system (fixes rails to the steel plates, rubber pads and clips of the concrete pads) for its tracks in the 140-km Phase 3. Delhi Metro wanted to use RHEDA system for ballastless track with Vossloh 300 fastening system, which was used in the airport Metro track. But major damages in the track of the high-speed airport Metro corridor have reportedly derailed Metro's plan. Patil Vossloh Rail System Pvt Ltd is a global player in rail infrastructure and rail technology markets and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had used track systems by the company in phase 1 and 2.DMRC wrote several letters to the railway ministry, seeking approval for RHEDA track form with Vossloh 300 fastening system for phase 3. In a letter to the ministry on December 28, former MD E Sreedharan wrote: "In view of the highly satisfactory performance of the system, DMRC expressed its intention…to use this RHEDA system for Delhi Metro tracks of phase 3 standard gauge corridors both in underground and elevated sections…"Damages in the track system in the airport Metro line were first identified in December. Following failure in the track system in the airport line, the ministry has shot down the proposal."The recent occurrences in the airport express line of Delhi Metro observed from beginning of December 2011 have shown that this track structure with this fastening system is performing in a manner which is less than satisfactory," wrote Rajiv Chaudhry, executive director works (planning), ministry of railways, in a letter issued to the DMRC recently.

"Initially, we had plans to put RHEDA fastening system in tracks. But since the Railway ministry disapproved this, we will now go for tendering process to finalise the technology for Phase 3," said Jitendra Tyagi, director (works), DMRC.

The DMRC will now invite tenders within three weeks and is likely to open the bid in a couple of months, Tyagi said.

DMRC's understanding with Vossloh had recently come under scanner after track clips on the airport Metro line started developing cracks.