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

21 Feb 2022 CW Team

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.

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Infrastructure Urban

13 Mar 2026

Implementation Status of Jal Jeevan Mission

Since August 2019 the Government has implemented Jal Jeevan Mission to provide assured potable water through household tap connections in rural India. At the start of the mission only 32.3 million (mn) rural households, representing 16.7 per cent, were reported to have tap water connections. States and union territories have reported that 125.8 mn additional rural households have since been provided with tap connections. As a result, of about 193.6 mn rural households roughly 158.2 mn, or 81.71 per cent, are reported to have tap water supply at home.\n\nThe State, district and village level st..

Jal Jeevan Mission Reaches Eighty One Per Cent Rural Coverage

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Empowering Local Governance for Sustainable Rural Water Supply

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