Louis Berger: Mass transit systems should be designed pandemic-proof

How has the independent engineers (EI) contributed towards ensure successful execution of the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMRL) Project? What were the key challenges involved and main learnings? And why is it necessary for mass transit systems to be designed to be pandemic-proof in the future? Kshitish Nadgauda, Senior Vice President & Managing Director-Asia, Louis Berger, shares his perspective and experience.

How did you go about effectively addressing the key challenges identified in the DPR and during the construction phase of the Hyderabad Metro Rail Project (HMRL)? Once the DPR was framed, and HMRL had developed with considerable effort and perseverance a high-level Manual of Specification and Standards (MSS) to capture the essential requirements of the DPR but allowing enough leeway for the Concessionaire to modify the design of the Metro System for optimal cost and performance while adapting to changing technological advancements, the Manual was the guiding specification for the project. In any case, the independent engineer had conducted a thorough review and analysis of the DPR against the Manual and the Concession Agreement (CA) soon after being appointed in February 2011 to ensure its compliance in true spirit.