The War Room Concept: An innovative monitoring philosophy

Hyderabad Metro Rail is the world's largest elevated metro-rail system developed in the PPP format operating in Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, the youngest and among the most progressive states of the country. Developed by L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) (L&TMRHL), a subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro, it was mandated to implement the project on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. The company signed the concession agreement with the then Andhra Pradesh government (now Telangana government) on September 4, 2010, through which L&TMRHL has been granted exclusive rights, license and authority to undertake the development of an integrated Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) Project comprising a rail system and transit-orient project, developed over 69.2 km across three elevated corridors, with 57 stations and two depots. The metro system was integrated with intramodal and intermodal transport systems, making seamless commuting a reality.

An engineering marvel and transformational project, the Hyderabad Metro Rail is also noted for being the longest rapid transit metro line to be opened in one go in India.Construction was completed within city limits with minimal obstruction to moving traffic. This was possible owing to innovative station design as a balanced cantilever on a spine-and-wing concept and the use of significant precast concrete construction to minimise right-of-way (RoW) issues. The cantilever type design has the metro station resting on just 10 central pillars, a spine and wings and no side-pillars– the first such design in India. This design avoids portal structures and tunnel effect on the road under themetro stations and gives a clear, open view of the road below.The largest precast yard in India was established in the project to manage the enormous precast activity of viaduct and station works and to avoid any construction bottlenecks.

Hyderabad Metro Rail has been a highly complicated project with thousands of component suppliers, systems and subsystems. This project involved mobilisation of a huge workforce and resources for construction, which ranged from over 15,000 workers, 1,500 engineers, 30 launching gantries, five concrete plants, 100 cranes and various other machinery all over the city.

To meet this complex requirement, L&TMRHL adopted theWar Room concept –an innovative monitoring philosophy for effective project management. Various software tools were used for planning, monitoring and generation of reports for the War Room.

KVB Reddy, Managing Director & CEO, L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) talks in detail about the unique War Room concept adopted for the project.