CII

Author: Er. B. Rajaram M.Tech., FIE., FNAE
Former MD / Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd.,
Why CII is not taking this opportunity in the interest of industry and our country?
Our attitude for infrasrtructure development
It is cosmic reality that humans are a part and parcel of the universe. They neither own exclusively the resources, nor create any, on their own. A trustee at best, but localised in time and space frame, we cause distortions in access rights causing unequal distribution of wealth. Infrastructure development is the instrument through which the humans address the improvement of quality of life, and knowledge in action is the technology, which forms the driving engine to deliver the infrastructure. Intellect is the precious gift to humans, which used properly, can yield development model, which progressively improves quality of life while reducing the costs of services, thus becoming a wealth generator- wrong approaches currently prevailing, lead to financially unviable models, effectively eroding value and wealth of one community to enrich another exploitative community, which in long term is unsustainable and makes all poorer. Through application of knowledge embedded devices and re-engineering known technologies, it is demonstrated how we can change the pace of infrastructure development to create a win-win strategy of self-sustaining & wealth generating infrastructure, ultimately leading to a situation of virtually free travel, food and dwellings! A real life case of development of the Sky Bus Metro technology in our country is shown to be capable of making the urban transport virtually free with vastly improved quality of service! Such paradigm shift in infrastructure-development is unbelievable, but true!


Sky Bus Metro – a paradigm shift in urban transportation:
The model shows how over 5 to 7 years an urban habitat can virtually have free transportation within their community.
Transport requirements of new economy emerging in the new millennium- Improve quality of life while reducing costs:

1. History shows when technologies are outdated they actually become economically un-affordable, typical financial disasters!


2. A society which forces their future progeny to pay for today’s comfort is not sustainable


3. Today’s transport solutions based on last century’s technologies like elevated/underground rail based systems are violating this cardinal principle-we should not rob wealth of our grand children!


4. Human life and quality improvement at reducing costs should be perceived as the focus of the new millennium


5. Infrastructure therefore has to cost less but deliver more to be a value generator: technology innovation alone can help


6. Sky Bus Metro technology is the break-through in transport technology from our country to cause such paradigm shift to make transport costs to fall while quality of life improves for all including handling cargo – providing a holistic transport solution.

9. The Challenge

1. Urban space remains frozen


2. Populations are shifting to urban habitats


3. Mass transit capacity


4. occupying less and less urban space,


5. while being pollution-free


6. affordable by common users


7. with point to point connectivity


8. Be integrated, avoiding inter-modal transfers


9. Safer than existing systems-value human life


10. Better quality of travel


11. Air-conditioned


12. Noise-free


13. Virtually no-wait service

9. Sky Bus technology as offered by Konkan Railway meets the above requirements, and helps us re-define the thinking and planning for urban transport.
9.1 Description: Heavy 52/60 kg /m rails placed at standard gauge floating in elastic medium and damped by inertia of measured mass held in a 8 mX 2m box enclosure, supported over a 1m dia. columns spaced at 15 m and located at 15 m distance from each other, in the divider space in between lanes on a road- way, at a height of 8m above road surface- provides the support and guidance for powered bogies which can run at 100 kmph, with the coach shells suspended below , carry passengers in air conditioned comfort, can follow existing road routes, while existing traffic on roads continue.
9.1 The fixed structure at 8 m height above road level is aesthetically pleasing and there is no concern of claustrophobic feeling for road users.
9.2 Aesthetic and eco-friendly, the Sky Bus can never derail, capsize nor collide- by design as well as by construction, hence is safer than existing rail-based system. At Rs 500 m or US$12m/km in India, the system is noise-free and pollution-free with 18000pphpd, scalable to 72000 pphpd as required. With no signalling and having no points and crossings, it is a unique mass-transit system, which can be put up within two years in any crowded & congested city. In addition to moving people Sky Bus system can carry standard 20ft containers, boosting its capacity utilization to double that of other existing systems.
10. Legal provisions: Sky Bus metro falls under tramway category, under Art 366(20) of Constitution of India, since it operates along existing roadways and within municipal limits, hence excluded from Railway Act. However all technologies are railway based and substantially provisions of Railway Act apply with additional provisions required to operate safely in conjunction with road users, who are sharing the transport zone along with the Sky Buses over-head. So a special Sky Bus metro Act has been drafted to cover the legal requirements.
11. The components of SKY BUS

• Sky way


• Sky bogies


• Sky coaches


• Sky stations


• Traverser arrangements at terminals

11.1 Sky way

1. In the middle of road way pile foundations support 1 m dia column approximately 8 m high, and space at 15 m all along the roadway


2. The sky way consists of a concrete box structure carried over a series of piers at a height of 8 m above existing road level


3. Two rails fixed with appropriate fastenings within the concrete box support and guide the sky bogie


4. There are no points & crossings-

11.2 Sky Bogie

1. Standard two axle bogies used in metros for speeds of 100 kmph are used ( but can have higher speeds, if required up to 160 kmph)- of standard gauge.


2. Linear induction motor technology is incorporated-with 4th rail driving which is above the bogie/or 3 Ph AC motors with regenerative power capability.


3. Third rail is used for current collection


4. Braking-bogie mounted


5. Regenerative


6. Disc brakes


7. Emergency mechanical brakes

11.3 Design loads:
Max axle load 12 tonnes

• Weight of bogie-2 axle motor:5 t


• tare weight of coach: 6.5 t


• weight of equipment:2t


• passenger load: 9 t


• total for a bogie: 24 t


• axle load: 12 t

11.4 Sky Coaches

1. Double walled light shells with wide large windows are suspended from the sky bogies


2. Controlled banking on curves- 100m radius curves can be handled.


3. Air conditioned and with automatic doors


4. Audio visual information to passengers


5. Special 4m wide sliding doors for quick entry and exit of passengers


6. Each pair carries 300 persons and service every one minute or 30 seconds is possible.

11.5 Sky station description

1. Unlike conventional mass transit systems, Sky Bus needs smaller stations


2. Service is every 30 seconds or 1 minute that is virtually no waiting time for passengers


3. Totally automated without drivers or guards-and access control is also electronic by prepaid cards being swiped in


4. Stations act as only access facility, and not as passenger holding area

11.6 Traverser: There are no points and crossings. The traverser is the system which automatically shifts the sky bus units for balancing the loads/ changing routes too as well as shift units to depot lines etc.
Proven technologies and a very simple solution by merely re-engineering
the components constitute Sky Bus:
12. Sky Bus: Performance, Costs & Benefits

1. Passengers per hour in peak period 40,000 to 80,000 on a route


2. Service every minute


3. Grid network covers existing roads-point to point service


4. Rs 500 m per route km of double line capital cost for 40,000 passengers/hour capacity during peak


5. Two years construction period after financial closure.


6. Capital can be recovered in 5 to 7 years


7. Full private funding possible, being financially viable.

12.1 Free travel for life to those who own flats/assets in the city after 7 years:
Once the capital is recovered over 5 to 7 years, the residents/occupants, will be entitled for free life-time free travel, for one time payment of Rs 15000.
For a 10km route approximately, 2 lac users , when they pay, funds collected amount to Rs 3000 m. This is used as equity to expand raising debt of twice the amount, which means Rs 10 b worth additional network, providing annual 15% returns. Floating populations continue to be charged, which will be sufficient to pay for the operating expenses. The result is the urban travel becomes virtually free for life at a mere one time payment of 1% of value of his flat!
13. Network of Sky Bus Metro Mumbai city

1. Any metro can be sufficiently served by a grid network of 100km route length


2. Two routes of 20km length : 40 km


3. Four routes across of 10km : 40 km


4. Four routes feeders of 5km : 20 km


5. About 200 sq.km area can be served!


6. The system can move 100,000 to 200,000 passengers per hour in either direction-with flexible transport transfer capacity


7. At average lead of 7 km , the system can handle more than 6 m commuters every day assuming utilisation of 50% of capacity!


8. The investment is of the order of Rs 600 b for this system and can be up and ready within 3 years! Provides integrated solution, handles cargo too!


9. For such service, the current elevated/underground metro systems while being comparatively less safe, cost Rs 1200 b to 2500 b, and also will take not less than 7 to 8 years to construct. Still requires inter-modal transfer costs to be incurred additionally. Pollution of trucks continues in all other transport solutions.

14. Time Scale of developments

1. The innovative concept paper was presented by Mr B. Rajaram at a World Congress on railways at Bolgna University, in the year 1989 titled as ‘ Sky Wheels’.


2. After due engineering, the Sky Bus Metro technology was presented by Mr. B. Rajaram as MD Konkan Railway, to the Government of India in the year 2000-2001.


3. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Scientists like Dr Anil Kakodkar as well as a working Commissioner of Railway Safety affirm technically the system to be feasible and safer than existing systems. (Year-2001)


4. Independent consultants like ICRA/ PwC confirm IRR of 14 to 15% (Yr 2001-02)


5. Private industries expressed confidence by investing their own funds to put up Rs 7 cr worth Sky Bus prototypes- a miracle by itself!(Yr.2003)


6. Then Ministry of Railways authorised Konkan Railway to spend Rs 50 cr to put up 1.6 km test track at Margao-getting ready within the cost to be operated in August 2004.

15. World Potential

1. Market exists all over the world for the financially viable urban transport


2. Even as on date expression of interest cases add up to Rs 500 b- simply based on the concept itself!


3. Our country stands to gain from this market as more than 95% is indigenously manufactured.

16. Implications for India

1. Polluted cities causing wasteful fossil fuel consumption being congested lowering average speeds of vehicles, will become wonderful healthy places to attract more investments


2. Investment of Rs 500 b over next 5 years covering 1000km of Sky Bus metro in 10 cities can save wasted fossil fuel worth Rs 50 b per annum and improve quality of life for all at affordable price.


3. This funding could be fully outside Government resources- private funding possible being financially viable!

16.1 Industries benefit:

1. Cement : 5,500,000 MT Steel:2,800,000 MT


2. Construction : Rs 150 b Manufacture: Rs 50 b


3. Employment :20000 permanent & 200,000 temporary/annum


4. Financial services: Rs 15 b Software/devices:Rs 20 b


5. Consultancy/design supervisory services: Rs 30 b


6. With international market the above figures will be doubled, in 5 years!

This investment of Rs 500 b in India adds annually a surplus cashflow of Rs 100 b recurring only from the fare box collections!
17. Skycon, Skyjet & Skyrail technologies

1. Sky Bus Metro technologies lead to other transport applications


2. Skycon is the application in Ports- the container handling and the Port operations get quantum jump in productivity almost five fold- causes a paradigm shift in designing and operating Ports.


3. Skyjet is another application linking major metros bringing the metropolitan cities at 1000 km within travel times of 7 hours! Delivers containers too with the same speed! Hence high speed travel becomes financially viable in our country at affordable prices.


4. Skyrail is an application for mountainous areas allowing almost vertical lifts and radius of turning less than 20m, with capability to deliver any defence equipment, free from climatic conditions.


5. The scope of all these applications has not been factored in.

18. Safety Certification:

1. Basically the Skybus Metro System is a modified railway improving the safety parameters: the center of gravity of mass carried by wheels is brought closer to the railway wheel-rail guidance support point as compared to railway. Since we use the same railway bogie on the same railway track used for metros in the world, the same rules for dynamic safety will apply while the system is in motion- that is:


2. The peak accelerations in vertical/lateral/longitudinal directions should not exceed the norms fixed for the metro rail systems in the world.


3. The ride index values used by Indian railways for their suburban systems used as the upper limits for performance


4. Since this is coaching stock with 8 wheel configuration, and limits are based on human comfort, automatically the safety requirement of Derailment Coefficient being within safe limits is assured.


5. The above position is confirmed by the Chief Commissioner of Safety for Railways in India.


6. The same rules for opening railways can be effectively used in this case too.


7. The fixed structure dimensions and the moving dimensions permissible are derived by using the existing clearances provided for rolling stock in our own country. Further from the test track these values can be re-confirmed and validated.


8. The principles used for operating and controlling the railways in metro suburban system are used for Skybus too. The apprehension that this may not give through-put , by some railway experts is unfounded. The secret is “train” here is 20m long and because of superior electrical braking the braking distances are of the order of 150 to less than 200m as compared to 5 to 10 times in conventional railway working and hence conventional railway experience of the fearing experts does not have technical basis. Also we carry 300 to 430 persons within 20m length in Skybus, which is not so for conventional railway, which is the Metro rail.


9. Now “Certification” is a legally based document which can be issued by a person / or commission so authorized under the law of the land. If Railway Act is applied, then Commissioner for Railway safety can issue the same, once the laid down norms are satisfied. A third party independent agency takes the measurements for the performance norms, which are compared with standards prescribed by the rules made under the Act , and after completing the work only before opening for public the certificate is issued. Since Ministry of Railways do not want to classify Skybus under Railway Act, then center has no authority on the safety issue- tramway act under the constitution applies and State Govt becomes the rule making authority, even though all the rules are similar to the railway rules only, for the Skybus too- because it is a 100% railway technology based system- only improved to avoid derailments/ and collisions which routinely ocuur on conventional railway systems.

1. Obligation from State Govt:


2. The old central Act but, transferred to States to operate after Independence, the Tramway Act 18XX existing, can be straightaway adopted by the State or The Skybus Metro Act has to be passed, since Ministry of Railway has categorized the Skybus Metro System as “not railway” under Railway Act 1989.


3. Since the test results satisfy the international norms, once the Act is passed by a state, it becomes a state subject , the safety commissioner under the Act will certify to the same norms used for the railway vehicles, either by India or by Europe, with third party test results.


4. Right of Way has to be granted to the BOT operator under the Act- The draft is already prepared by an experienced Supreme court advocate and a former Member law commission.


5. Invitation to discuss and finalise a concession agreement with the BOT operator.


6. It is there for your asking, the Skybus Metro system- this new millennium’s gift of our country to the world, in the words of Bharat Ratna Dr Abdul Kalam.


7. It will be a historic day when the Skybus Metro gets commissioned within 24 months of financial closure, expected to happen in 4 months, and open the new Metro for public use in 2007- touching lives of hundreds thousands of ordinary common struggling people, who will eternally be grateful to the Government!

Konkan Railway Corporation ltd., a Government of India Company,the BOT operator who are funding and the State will have to execute a MOU to make the above a reality.

• 
  

19. Sky Bus Metro – new millennium’s transport solution: affordable by all common citizens on the planet- a gift from India to the world!

1. Sky Bus is the first non-invasive rapid mass transit system giving benefits of rail and flexibility to follow roads.


2. Unlike existing ones, Sky Bus technology carries cargo for city and eliminates trucks too!


3. Urban transport is made financially viable and affordable by the common man today to be within his living means.


4. The utilization of infrastructure created for urban transport of commuters, is doubled because the Sky Bus technology allows cargo also to be handled, providing house keeping functions also to the city- which existing metro technologies cannot render.


5. The perennial financial burden that the current urban transport solutions are, will now become history, with the advent of Sky Bus Metro technology. The public administrations will gain and the common citizen is benefited.


6. Skycon will revolutionise the Port working all over the world and the Skyjet systems will redefine the working lifestyles of people and cargo delivery time cycles will be influenced not only for industry but also for agriculture.


7. The automated systems progressively bring down the costs of transport in the goods and services availability.


8. Extensive use of knowledge embedded systems in a network configuration in the technology, lays the foundation for a future of falling costs, as is already happening in the tele-communication sector. The quality of service improves many-fold.

CII to act

Author: Er. B. Rajaram M.Tech., FIE., FNAE
Former MD / Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd.,
Why CII is not taking this opportunity in the interest of industry and our country?
Our attitude for infrasrtructure development
It is cosmic reality that humans are a part and parcel of the universe. They neither own exclusively the resources, nor create any, on their own. A trustee at best, but localised in time and space frame, we cause distortions in access rights causing unequal distribution of wealth. Infrastructure development is the instrument through which the humans address the improvement of quality of life, and knowledge in action is the technology, which forms the driving engine to deliver the infrastructure. Intellect is the precious gift to humans, which used properly, can yield development model, which progressively improves quality of life while reducing the costs of services, thus becoming a wealth generator- wrong approaches currently prevailing, lead to financially unviable models, effectively eroding value and wealth of one community to enrich another exploitative community, which in long term is unsustainable and makes all poorer. Through application of knowledge embedded devices and re-engineering known technologies, it is demonstrated how we can change the pace of infrastructure development to create a win-win strategy of self-sustaining & wealth generating infrastructure, ultimately leading to a situation of virtually free travel, food and dwellings! A real life case of development of the Sky Bus Metro technology in our country is shown to be capable of making the urban transport virtually free with vastly improved quality of service! Such paradigm shift in infrastructure-development is unbelievable, but true!


Sky Bus Metro – a paradigm shift in urban transportation:
The model shows how over 5 to 7 years an urban habitat can virtually have free transportation within their community.
Transport requirements of new economy emerging in the new millennium- Improve quality of life while reducing costs:

1. History shows when technologies are outdated they actually become economically un-affordable, typical financial disasters!


2. A society which forces their future progeny to pay for today’s comfort is not sustainable


3. Today’s transport solutions based on last century’s technologies like elevated/underground rail based systems are violating this cardinal principle-we should not rob wealth of our grand children!


4. Human life and quality improvement at reducing costs should be perceived as the focus of the new millennium


5. Infrastructure therefore has to cost less but deliver more to be a value generator: technology innovation alone can help


6. Sky Bus Metro technology is the break-through in transport technology from our country to cause such paradigm shift to make transport costs to fall while quality of life improves for all including handling cargo – providing a holistic transport solution.

9. The Challenge

1. Urban space remains frozen


2. Populations are shifting to urban habitats


3. Mass transit capacity


4. occupying less and less urban space,


5. while being pollution-free


6. affordable by common users


7. with point to point connectivity


8. Be integrated, avoiding inter-modal transfers


9. Safer than existing systems-value human life


10. Better quality of travel


11. Air-conditioned


12. Noise-free


13. Virtually no-wait service

9. Sky Bus technology as offered by Konkan Railway meets the above requirements, and helps us re-define the thinking and planning for urban transport.
9.1 Description: Heavy 52/60 kg /m rails placed at standard gauge floating in elastic medium and damped by inertia of measured mass held in a 8 mX 2m box enclosure, supported over a 1m dia. columns spaced at 15 m and located at 15 m distance from each other, in the divider space in between lanes on a road- way, at a height of 8m above road surface- provides the support and guidance for powered bogies which can run at 100 kmph, with the coach shells suspended below , carry passengers in air conditioned comfort, can follow existing road routes, while existing traffic on roads continue.
9.1 The fixed structure at 8 m height above road level is aesthetically pleasing and there is no concern of claustrophobic feeling for road users.
9.2 Aesthetic and eco-friendly, the Sky Bus can never derail, capsize nor collide- by design as well as by construction, hence is safer than existing rail-based system. At Rs 500 m or US$12m/km in India, the system is noise-free and pollution-free with 18000pphpd, scalable to 72000 pphpd as required. With no signalling and having no points and crossings, it is a unique mass-transit system, which can be put up within two years in any crowded & congested city. In addition to moving people Sky Bus system can carry standard 20ft containers, boosting its capacity utilization to double that of other existing systems.
10. Legal provisions: Sky Bus metro falls under tramway category, under Art 366(20) of Constitution of India, since it operates along existing roadways and within municipal limits, hence excluded from Railway Act. However all technologies are railway based and substantially provisions of Railway Act apply with additional provisions required to operate safely in conjunction with road users, who are sharing the transport zone along with the Sky Buses over-head. So a special Sky Bus metro Act has been drafted to cover the legal requirements.
11. The components of SKY BUS

• Sky way


• Sky bogies


• Sky coaches


• Sky stations


• Traverser arrangements at terminals

11.1 Sky way

1. In the middle of road way pile foundations support 1 m dia column approximately 8 m high, and space at 15 m all along the roadway


2. The sky way consists of a concrete box structure carried over a series of piers at a height of 8 m above existing road level


3. Two rails fixed with appropriate fastenings within the concrete box support and guide the sky bogie


4. There are no points & crossings-

11.2 Sky Bogie

1. Standard two axle bogies used in metros for speeds of 100 kmph are used ( but can have higher speeds, if required up to 160 kmph)- of standard gauge.


2. Linear induction motor technology is incorporated-with 4th rail driving which is above the bogie/or 3 Ph AC motors with regenerative power capability.


3. Third rail is used for current collection


4. Braking-bogie mounted


5. Regenerative


6. Disc brakes


7. Emergency mechanical brakes

11.3 Design loads:
Max axle load 12 tonnes

• Weight of bogie-2 axle motor:5 t


• tare weight of coach: 6.5 t


• weight of equipment:2t


• passenger load: 9 t


• total for a bogie: 24 t


• axle load: 12 t

11.4 Sky Coaches

1. Double walled light shells with wide large windows are suspended from the sky bogies


2. Controlled banking on curves- 100m radius curves can be handled.


3. Air conditioned and with automatic doors


4. Audio visual information to passengers


5. Special 4m wide sliding doors for quick entry and exit of passengers


6. Each pair carries 300 persons and service every one minute or 30 seconds is possible.

11.5 Sky station description

1. Unlike conventional mass transit systems, Sky Bus needs smaller stations


2. Service is every 30 seconds or 1 minute that is virtually no waiting time for passengers


3. Totally automated without drivers or guards-and access control is also electronic by prepaid cards being swiped in


4. Stations act as only access facility, and not as passenger holding area

11.6 Traverser: There are no points and crossings. The traverser is the system which automatically shifts the sky bus units for balancing the loads/ changing routes too as well as shift units to depot lines etc.
Proven technologies and a very simple solution by merely re-engineering
the components constitute Sky Bus:
12. Sky Bus: Performance, Costs & Benefits

1. Passengers per hour in peak period 40,000 to 80,000 on a route


2. Service every minute


3. Grid network covers existing roads-point to point service


4. Rs 500 m per route km of double line capital cost for 40,000 passengers/hour capacity during peak


5. Two years construction period after financial closure.


6. Capital can be recovered in 5 to 7 years


7. Full private funding possible, being financially viable.

12.1 Free travel for life to those who own flats/assets in the city after 7 years:
Once the capital is recovered over 5 to 7 years, the residents/occupants, will be entitled for free life-time free travel, for one time payment of Rs 15000.
For a 10km route approximately, 2 lac users , when they pay, funds collected amount to Rs 3000 m. This is used as equity to expand raising debt of twice the amount, which means Rs 10 b worth additional network, providing annual 15% returns. Floating populations continue to be charged, which will be sufficient to pay for the operating expenses. The result is the urban travel becomes virtually free for life at a mere one time payment of 1% of value of his flat!
13. Network of Sky Bus Metro Mumbai city

1. Any metro can be sufficiently served by a grid network of 100km route length


2. Two routes of 20km length : 40 km


3. Four routes across of 10km : 40 km


4. Four routes feeders of 5km : 20 km


5. About 200 sq.km area can be served!


6. The system can move 100,000 to 200,000 passengers per hour in either direction-with flexible transport transfer capacity


7. At average lead of 7 km , the system can handle more than 6 m commuters every day assuming utilisation of 50% of capacity!


8. The investment is of the order of Rs 600 b for this system and can be up and ready within 3 years! Provides integrated solution, handles cargo too!


9. For such service, the current elevated/underground metro systems while being comparatively less safe, cost Rs 1200 b to 2500 b, and also will take not less than 7 to 8 years to construct. Still requires inter-modal transfer costs to be incurred additionally. Pollution of trucks continues in all other transport solutions.

14. Time Scale of developments

1. The innovative concept paper was presented by Mr B. Rajaram at a World Congress on railways at Bolgna University, in the year 1989 titled as ‘ Sky Wheels’.


2. After due engineering, the Sky Bus Metro technology was presented by Mr. B. Rajaram as MD Konkan Railway, to the Government of India in the year 2000-2001.


3. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Scientists like Dr Anil Kakodkar as well as a working Commissioner of Railway Safety affirm technically the system to be feasible and safer than existing systems. (Year-2001)


4. Independent consultants like ICRA/ PwC confirm IRR of 14 to 15% (Yr 2001-02)


5. Private industries expressed confidence by investing their own funds to put up Rs 7 cr worth Sky Bus prototypes- a miracle by itself!(Yr.2003)


6. Then Ministry of Railways authorised Konkan Railway to spend Rs 50 cr to put up 1.6 km test track at Margao-getting ready within the cost to be operated in August 2004.

15. World Potential

1. Market exists all over the world for the financially viable urban transport


2. Even as on date expression of interest cases add up to Rs 500 b- simply based on the concept itself!


3. Our country stands to gain from this market as more than 95% is indigenously manufactured.

16. Implications for India

1. Polluted cities causing wasteful fossil fuel consumption being congested lowering average speeds of vehicles, will become wonderful healthy places to attract more investments


2. Investment of Rs 500 b over next 5 years covering 1000km of Sky Bus metro in 10 cities can save wasted fossil fuel worth Rs 50 b per annum and improve quality of life for all at affordable price.


3. This funding could be fully outside Government resources- private funding possible being financially viable!

16.1 Industries benefit:

1. Cement : 5,500,000 MT Steel:2,800,000 MT


2. Construction : Rs 150 b Manufacture: Rs 50 b


3. Employment :20000 permanent & 200,000 temporary/annum


4. Financial services: Rs 15 b Software/devices:Rs 20 b


5. Consultancy/design supervisory services: Rs 30 b


6. With international market the above figures will be doubled, in 5 years!

This investment of Rs 500 b in India adds annually a surplus cashflow of Rs 100 b recurring only from the fare box collections!
17. Skycon, Skyjet & Skyrail technologies

1. Sky Bus Metro technologies lead to other transport applications


2. Skycon is the application in Ports- the container handling and the Port operations get quantum jump in productivity almost five fold- causes a paradigm shift in designing and operating Ports.


3. Skyjet is another application linking major metros bringing the metropolitan cities at 1000 km within travel times of 7 hours! Delivers containers too with the same speed! Hence high speed travel becomes financially viable in our country at affordable prices.


4. Skyrail is an application for mountainous areas allowing almost vertical lifts and radius of turning less than 20m, with capability to deliver any defence equipment, free from climatic conditions.


5. The scope of all these applications has not been factored in.

18. Safety Certification:

1. Basically the Skybus Metro System is a modified railway improving the safety parameters: the center of gravity of mass carried by wheels is brought closer to the railway wheel-rail guidance support point as compared to railway. Since we use the same railway bogie on the same railway track used for metros in the world, the same rules for dynamic safety will apply while the system is in motion- that is:


2. The peak accelerations in vertical/lateral/longitudinal directions should not exceed the norms fixed for the metro rail systems in the world.


3. The ride index values used by Indian railways for their suburban systems used as the upper limits for performance


4. Since this is coaching stock with 8 wheel configuration, and limits are based on human comfort, automatically the safety requirement of Derailment Coefficient being within safe limits is assured.


5. The above position is confirmed by the Chief Commissioner of Safety for Railways in India.


6. The same rules for opening railways can be effectively used in this case too.


7. The fixed structure dimensions and the moving dimensions permissible are derived by using the existing clearances provided for rolling stock in our own country. Further from the test track these values can be re-confirmed and validated.


8. The principles used for operating and controlling the railways in metro suburban system are used for Skybus too. The apprehension that this may not give through-put , by some railway experts is unfounded. The secret is “train” here is 20m long and because of superior electrical braking the braking distances are of the order of 150 to less than 200m as compared to 5 to 10 times in conventional railway working and hence conventional railway experience of the fearing experts does not have technical basis. Also we carry 300 to 430 persons within 20m length in Skybus, which is not so for conventional railway, which is the Metro rail.


9. Now “Certification” is a legally based document which can be issued by a person / or commission so authorized under the law of the land. If Railway Act is applied, then Commissioner for Railway safety can issue the same, once the laid down norms are satisfied. A third party independent agency takes the measurements for the performance norms, which are compared with standards prescribed by the rules made under the Act , and after completing the work only before opening for public the certificate is issued. Since Ministry of Railways do not want to classify Skybus under Railway Act, then center has no authority on the safety issue- tramway act under the constitution applies and State Govt becomes the rule making authority, even though all the rules are similar to the railway rules only, for the Skybus too- because it is a 100% railway technology based system- only improved to avoid derailments/ and collisions which routinely ocuur on conventional railway systems.

1. Obligation from State Govt:


2. The old central Act but, transferred to States to operate after Independence, the Tramway Act 18XX existing, can be straightaway adopted by the State or The Skybus Metro Act has to be passed, since Ministry of Railway has categorized the Skybus Metro System as “not railway” under Railway Act 1989.


3. Since the test results satisfy the international norms, once the Act is passed by a state, it becomes a state subject , the safety commissioner under the Act will certify to the same norms used for the railway vehicles, either by India or by Europe, with third party test results.


4. Right of Way has to be granted to the BOT operator under the Act- The draft is already prepared by an experienced Supreme court advocate and a former Member law commission.


5. Invitation to discuss and finalise a concession agreement with the BOT operator.


6. It is there for your asking, the Skybus Metro system- this new millennium’s gift of our country to the world, in the words of Bharat Ratna Dr Abdul Kalam.


7. It will be a historic day when the Skybus Metro gets commissioned within 24 months of financial closure, expected to happen in 4 months, and open the new Metro for public use in 2007- touching lives of hundreds thousands of ordinary common struggling people, who will eternally be grateful to the Government!

Konkan Railway Corporation ltd., a Government of India Company,the BOT operator who are funding and the State will have to execute a MOU to make the above a reality.

• 
  

19. Sky Bus Metro – new millennium’s transport solution: affordable by all common citizens on the planet- a gift from India to the world!

1. Sky Bus is the first non-invasive rapid mass transit system giving benefits of rail and flexibility to follow roads.


2. Unlike existing ones, Sky Bus technology carries cargo for city and eliminates trucks too!


3. Urban transport is made financially viable and affordable by the common man today to be within his living means.


4. The utilization of infrastructure created for urban transport of commuters, is doubled because the Sky Bus technology allows cargo also to be handled, providing house keeping functions also to the city- which existing metro technologies cannot render.


5. The perennial financial burden that the current urban transport solutions are, will now become history, with the advent of Sky Bus Metro technology. The public administrations will gain and the common citizen is benefited.


6. Skycon will revolutionise the Port working all over the world and the Skyjet systems will redefine the working lifestyles of people and cargo delivery time cycles will be influenced not only for industry but also for agriculture.


7. The automated systems progressively bring down the costs of transport in the goods and services availability.


8. Extensive use of knowledge embedded systems in a network configuration in the technology, lays the foundation for a future of falling costs, as is already happening in the tele-communication sector. The quality of service improves many-fold.

Replies to Times of India

sudip talukdar <sudip_talukdar@hotmail.com> wrote:
Mr B. Rajaram

MD, KRCL
Answers provided underlined.



Why has an indigenously developed technology like the Sky Bus been under sustained attack?

Our country has been conditioned to think that our engineers cannot produce any thing of world class, commenting " if it is so good, America would have done that" , deprecating our indigenous efforts. The Sky Bus technology causes paradigm shift to not only urban transport but also to the way Ports will work, Airports operate and also design of High Speed trains. The Sky Bus Technology is safer, eco-friendly, rapid mass transit system for cities with same capacities as an underground metro, transports cargo too, which others cannot do and takes only two/ three years to complete a net work of 30 to 50 km in a city. More importantly the Sky Bus system costs less than half to one-fourth the cost of existing technologies and for the first time in the world urban transport is made financially viable - at affordable pricing of 50ps per km of airconditioned travel or Rs 500 per family per month to travel 1000 km. The technology is a direct threat to all the well established technology lobbies selling yester year products in our country aggressively. Hence well orchestrated opposition is sustained by the high cost technology proponents to protect their self interest

Why did the prototype develop snags during tests in Madgaon recently. Have you drawn any lessons from the accident.?

The technology of the Sky Bus is so safe that no human life can be lost, by design. The accident occured while partial testing of one sub-element of an automated working, was in progress under expert supervision with facility to abort experiment the if found necessary. In the emergency procedure, power was cutoff disabling the electrical braking , and the mechanical brakes failed to take action, in this case. Even then nothing would have happened except the Sky Buses would have come to a stop over sand bag protected tracks. As some people thought. the speed of 50 kmph over the 100m radius curve, could have caused the Sky Bus coach to hit the central column, is not correct- even at that speed sufficient clearances are provided not to touch the column. But the coach did hit the column. The facts indicate presence grease on top of the rails in the approach and on the curve portion, which was not expected to be present, as the same was removed and cleaned 10 days earlier by the Konkan Railway engineers. The light drizzle coupled with the presence of soft grease , and the curving effect created a combination of factors, causing the Sky Bus to go into a voilent skid behaviour, generating excessive forces in the suspended mass making the coach hit first the column.The behaviour is similar to what one experiences when one steers a truck on a road covered with oil/grease and water, causing severe veering and loss of control of the moving truck.
Lessons are that first, technology having commercial implications should be experimented in a more secure and protected locale, preventing any access to unauthorised persons. We have now totally barricaded area and very strict security screening introduced in experimental area.
Secondly, Sky Bus final design is free from climatic conditions, as the track is protected in a closed box of concrete, unlike the test track where we have used open rib-structure for facility to observe the bogie movements. So rains etc will not affect the Sky Bus in commercial working.
Thirdly, instead of using track with curve of 100m radius, which requires application of grease to the running flange, to reduce curve resistance, for commercial application , we can as well give a 20 m radius of turning using our traverser technology, thus avoiding the sharp track curve. This will make Sky Bus better and safer.
Fourthly on a positive front, ther has been no derailment even at such high speed of travel on a curve fit for 20 kmph only even after impact forces because of hitting an obstruction- normal railway system would have had a derailment for much lower level of obstructions. Further all suspenders held very well and no coach fell down. So unlike in a railway system where hell breaks lose once an obstruction is hit by the train, by losing control capsizing dangerously & killing people, the Sky Bus remained positively attached and all persons inside the coach came out safe, except for the one who fell out of coach.On the front of disaster management, evacuation was complete and medical help was given within 20 minutes of accident.

When other 'tested' mass transit systems are available, what made you conceptualise and design the Sky Bus, for which you also hold a US patent.?

It was in the year 1989, that I presented a paper for a futuristic urban transport system, which should be safer and conserve on the precious urban space. Urbanisation will increase in years to come and the roads and circulating areas remaining virtually invariant in a city, the population will keep on increasing. Road based solutions are bound to fail both on account of relatively low throughpu and with diminishing returns as every attempt to increase vehicles will further clog the roads and congestion leads with low speeds increase pollution. It is difficult to lay railway corridors in built up cities and the railway is not able to follow the roads any way.Elevated and under ground solutions suffer from the basic safety concerns of derailments and capsizing with loss of life and do need a technology improvement. The Sky Bus , by turning the existing railway system up side down, taking the wheels and underframe above and suspending the coaches below, changed the dynamics- now the center of gravity is lowered to the rail level, improving flexibility of rail based system to follow existing roads, and by operating in smaller modules of 20 m long twin coach system forming a train carrying 300 persons normal ( if required can carry 430 nos at current metro standard quality), The design parameters thus make it more economical in structures, stations ( now lower by 2 m as compared to elevated metro), and provides service every minute which cannot be done by the current systems, by avoiding the long turn round times on points and crossings.The economy achieved by the engineering design translates into benefit for commuter- and solution is again with least technology risk, because each element of technology used is time tested well proven in metros all over the world.
Questions are being raised about the viability of the Sky Bus and its unsuitability for Indian conditions. Is the perception correct?
Again, it is pathetic attempt by the lobbies sticking to the 3 to 4 times expensive technologies of yester years, who make such vague unsubstantiated comments. Independent financial evaluation reports and actual construction costs duly verified at test track at Madgaon, clearly indicate that within 7 years of operation , the Sky Bus operator can recover his capital, and the charges collected from floating poulation to the city can meet the operation,depreciation and profit margins- thus making the travel for local residents virtually free after 7 years, for life time, at one time charge of Rs 15000! Sky Bus is not just for India, it will be a gift to to all cities in the world from us to cause a paradigm shift to city’s transport scene. Sky Bus technology alone can eliminate truck movements in a city, by delivering either containers or the truck itself to within a kilometer of it’s destination. No other metro technology can do this.

When do you expect to complete current trials and make the system ready for use and where?

The trials are to be restarted by 15th Dec 2004, and I personally will try my best to complete safety certification by 31st Dec or before I leave my Indian Railway Service of Engineers on super-annuation by 31st Jan 2005. This will be done at Madgaon, Goa, where Konkan Railway has constructed the 1.6 km test track, the World’s First at a cost of Rs 50 cr as approved by the Ministry of Railways.

Elsewhere you have spoken of bureaucratic mindset as coming in the way of implementing cost effective breakthroughs, especially the Sky Bus. Please elaborate?

We have systems manned by persons to govern- decisions will always be done with due “government prudence” – concentrating on pure expenditure control. This mental conditioning makes the mind sets of bureaucrats, for no fault of any individual, to abhor innovation and risk of experiment with some probability of failure. Only Scientists have the mind set for experimentation and see the result not in terms of failure or success, but as a knowledge gain laying steps for further progress of humanity. The Sky Bus, that is why could be understood in better manner by scientists. I only wish our engineers think like engineers and lean towards scientific inquiry and learning to develop technologies for improving human life more cost-effectively, rather than bureaucratize themselves, confusing further efficient project management as technical expertise, to uphold outdated technologies in the name of having been adopted else where, to the detriment of our own initiative to contribute to the world.

As an inventor and innovator with 17 patents, including the Sky Bus and Anti-Collision Devices to your credit, valued at Rs 10,000 crore, which have been assigned to the President of India, what do you think is the solution to the staggering urban transport muddle.

It is not mere problem of transporting people in a city, which seems to be the prime concern today for many, forgetting that goods, municipal services also need simultaneous attention to address the improvement in quality of life. A holistic solution is provided by the Sky Bus technology : .1) Provides air-conditoned travel to all at affordable price for common man without robbing your grand children of their wealth 2) Decongests roads of trucks plying and thus reduces further pollution levels- which current solutions of metros cannot achieve even though costing us more than 3 to 4 times 3) Preserves precious urban space and further adds to usable urban space by way of creating a Sky top space all along the route of 9.5 m width, which can be used for Cyber Cafes/ markets/ jogging tracks/ bicycle paths, hanging gardens – gives opportunity of space for urban thinkers to improve avenues to better urban life 4) Sky Bus during nights can automat the cleaning of the primary roads where it is running and wash too . as well as collect and deliver all the containerized garbage to garbage dumps automatically and hygienically. This is a quite a serious problem that municipal administrations are facing for major cities. In my opinion the muddle is in our minds not to see the right solution , just because it is from our country. It is time we liberate ourselves to launch our country in to the new millennium as a leader to provide cost effective technological solutions.



Sudip Talukdar
Dated: December 7, 004

(image placeholder)
VeriProfile. Now verify your partner's profile on BharatMatrimony.com

Skybus Dynamics:Safety running tests

Skybus causes a paradigm shift to the transport of people and goods!

The railway track is carried in a concrete box over which , inside the box the the railway wheels with electic motors run using the same under-frame used in railway coach, to which the coach you can see suspended, transferring the load to the frame at the same points as done in railway coach. The suspenders travel between the two rails of the track. Positive connection is now provided between the railway track and the running wheels- there is no possibility of the coach going out of control!

Conventional Raiway suffers from lack of positive connection between the railway track and the running bogie- once loses the rail guidance in derailment, loses control dangerously!

Evolution of Skybus railway technology

The railway technology, used in metros suffer from a fundamental technology defect: derailment and separation of traveling coach from the railway track, falling down on the ground killing people.


So long as wheels are on rail, the coach runs. But failure of rails/ obstruction or even heavy wind force can create a dangerous situation…..

But when wheels climb the 25 to 30 mm flange, go over the rail, derailment occurs..

Then there is nothing to hold the coach to the track- coach just topples

Such capsizing can kill people inside the coach as well as those on the road below!

Evolution of Skybus technology- improved railway !




Standard Railway coach running on railway track…






The under-frame with standard railway wheel-set running on railway track..
Evolve into
Skybus-an improved railway!

The under-frame remains same, railway wheels run on the same track, the coach is firmly attached to the under-frame positively


The under-frame with wheels and railway traction motors & railway track enclosed in the concrete box- travel on the railway track , carrying the coach below outside the concrete box- now the coach and the track are positively held together- cannot escape from rails!


Safety Certification Issues:
The same railway elements well proven and used in metro rails are used- at the least it is as safe but, actually safer because of improvements.
World’s leading railway safety experts of TUV, Rheinland, Germany comment on Skybus technology:

The experts will ensure that the commercial Skybus for use of public will satisfy the international safety norms.

A high level Scientists Committee headed by Bharat Ratna Abdul Kalam ( then Principal Scientific Advisor in PMO/ Govt. of India) concluded after examining Mr. B Rajaram’s presentation:
Skybus proposal is technically sound.
On Konkan Railway Skybus test track, Bhaba Atomic Research Centre and RDSO( Ministry of Railways) tested to safety parameters as applicable to metro rail systems, ( prescribed by the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety, Govt. of India) the results are:
Safety


The system is basically a railway with improved suspension systems and patented features. The norms for safety clearance for dynamic behaviour, as per railway rolling stock, are applied and checked if any adverse results come because of suspended coaches below the wheels. The measurements were made by RDSO (Research Designs and Standards Organization, Ministry of Railways) during Jan 2005.




Permissible limits Max.acceleration 0.3g going upto 0.35 g if no resonance is observed. Ride Index (RI): 3.25 normal can go upto 4.0 for EMU and DEMU.

Train control is as per Railway standards and Motorman driven observing Railway General rules.- even with this Sky Bus, a short unit of 20m,yields 1min headway. Structurally the Codes of Practice observed and the Schedule of Dimensions fixed, moving checked to find that design and actual conditions in dynamic conditions are satisfactory.

The performance is much better than the prescribed limits as evident from the figures.

The World's First test track has yielded excellent results showing the superior behaviour of Sky Bus technology.
Implementation with Safety certification-guidelines recommended:
Certification for safety can be done under the existing Tramway Act 18xx, once the State Govt notifies the Skybus under the Act and appoints a Safety Commissioner.
Since the technology breakthrough by our country has made the high speed mass urban transport safer and also financially viable proposition if one adopts the Skybus, it is in public interest that the following guideles are issued for States to follow so that they can implement urban transport project using Skybus technology, requiring NIL funding from the State, with almost no land acquisition and not disturbing any existing habitats.On BOOT basis the projects can be executed, State giving the right of way 6m above road level and right to place in the road divider, columns of width not exceeding (image placeholder).2m. at a spacing of 20m along the road, without disturbing existing utilities.

1. The State Govt shall notify that Skybus shall be governed under the Tramway Act18xx, and special rules made under the Act by the State for safe operation for public use.


2. Based on the dynamic test results and structural compliance with codes of practice, a third party consultant shall give certified information to satisfy laid down norms, along with joint certification by the Heads of concerned technical branches: this forms the basis for the Safety Commissioner appointed by the State under the Tramway Act to issue Safety certificate which is the same procedure followed in case of railway.


3. Since Skybus is fundamentally a railway only, except it is made now derailment proof and collision proof, the same established rules for opening railways are used to prepare the documentation for the Safety Commissioner's inspection.


4. The codes of practice for construction of the concrete/stell structures of the Skybus shall be to Indian standards where available or to existing international standards as applicable.


5. For safety of running, the Indian Rly rules as well as UIC norms will form the basis for certification.


6. For signal and train control, if it is manually operated system, the existing Indian Railway Signal engineering Manual and principles used to locate signals, after taking into account the braking distances and the speed profiles needed. It is noted that additional safety layer of ACDs and speed profile comtrol based on distance required to brake, basis will be also be functional- to step in in case driver fails to observe the signals. The revenue risk of Headways and through put are rntirely taken by the BOOT operator. However, it is noted that calculations indicate even with manual operations, one minute headway is possible, and incase it is more, then instead of one unit two units have to run, in case 2 minute headway is adopted to ensure throuhputs.So public interest is served.


7. (image placeholder)If totally automated. then the appropriate CENELEC standards shall be complied with.


8. With capacities to match the heavy duty metro rail system, States have a choice to improve their urban transport without financial burden.


9. The BOOT operator shall take all the responsibility both financial and technical to build own ,operate and transfer the asset at no cost to the State at the end of concession period.The Govt appointee viz., Skybus Safety Commissioner under the Tramway Act will assure the Public Safety aspects , as laid down in the rules for opening the Skybus system for public use.( the formats prepared for test tracks and used in Goa, to be supplied by Konkan Railway- for guidance.)


10. To cover revenue risk for the operator, the operator may be allowed to exploit the commercial space created at the station and all along the route over the Skytop, over the concession period and in case he puts up a few towers at stations, these towers will be for a longer period of 50 years. It is to be noted that no special land of Govt is required for this purpose, but only marginal short length (50m) and nominally widened foot paths to provide for Staircase access from road has to be given to the BOOT operator.

(image placeholder)Without the aid of central funding or loans , if States want to take up the Skybus projects to solve their urban transport problem, the above guidelines may be followed.
The inventor Mr. B. Rajaram who got patents from countries like USA and others for this innovative technology improving rxisting railway, has assigned the rights to people of our country through Konkan Railway Corporation( Govt of India undertaking). This technology is a real threat to the existing vendors of old metro rail technology from abroad. Skybus technology makes our industry and engineers leaders for the world- it is vastly improved metro rail which also costs less than half of what the outside technology vendors are charging our country. So it is but natural for the vendors and brokers to mount a vilification campaign to belittle and spread disinformation about our own country’s strength “intellect”- Skybus technology is actually, not in competition with any other technology- in fact, Skybus properly understood, makes all others pale into insignificance!


FAQ:
From: <bojjiatri@yahoo.com>To: <sky_bus_metro@yahoogroups.com>Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2003 8:52 AMSubject: [sky_bus_metro] Some FAQ> with refereence to ncfi digest 714, can u please educate the group> about following matters?>> 1. what are the dimentions of each bus?>> Each bus coachis 9.25m long and 3.2m wide and a Sky Bus unit> comprises two such bus coaches, with total length of 18.5m
>>> Ie each bus has a clean floor area of 29.6 sq.m, not counting seats, passages, entry and exit space requirements. So what is the effective available space for passengers>effectively 27 sq m is provided- no seats except for disabled at edges- 151 is capacity for each . Pls see file reg PPHPD and headways file.> 2. what is the passenger carrying capacity of each car.>> Each twin unit carry 300 passengers- at 5.6 persons per sq.m loading -
> which is much better than 6 to 7 persons/sq.m adopted internationally.
>>> Per coach, 29.6 sq.m * 5.6 persons is 166 persons, if the bus is standees only, present overcrowded BEST buses have capacity of around 19 standees, >50 seats>> 3. what are the economics vis-a-vis rail, diesel bus>> Sky Bus has to be compared with mass rail based ransport- compared to> elevated metro costs half and compared to underground metro, costs> one-fourth for a capacity of 40000 passengers per hour.
>>> Compared on what basis, construction, or per coach or propulsion system, or what? total capital costs are compared.>
> Does not require land but follows roads. Stations are maximum 50 m> long and access is from the footpath.
>>> If one rake is 18.5 m long, plus coupling length, why have more than double length station, which will allow unnecessary loafing by non passengers, and sight seeing types, as happened at New Delhi Metro. Also, how wide are the platforms, how much foot print on the footpath / road will these stations occupy ? The structural system, safety to passengers boarding, alighting ?>The design is based on rate of flow of passengers 300 persons per 15 seconds- minimum holding space is provided- entry is only for bonafide commuter having smart card. The length of platform is only 38m –enough to handle traffic for next century. Compare this length with existing railway platforms!The floor levels and the coach foor match. The presentations in the Files may be seen.> Fare box collection alone can sustain the system and can give 15%> FIRR at ridership of 2 lacs per day per 10 km route at Re 1 per km.
>>> Over what time period (what is FiRR?) >Over 20 years debt services at 15% and FIRR is financial IRR.The template is posted at site for sensitivity analysis> 4. what makes skybus more safe compared to rail.>> Sky Bus is rail based and safer because it cannot derail as the> bogies have derailment arresters and the coaches cannot capsize on to> ground because of the positive hold provided between the rails and> the coach. Also no collision is possible for the coaches which are> suspended, as the steel beam inside the concrete box takes the impact> protection the coach units and passengers inside. An expert committee> after examining the features concluded that the Sky Bus technology is> safer than existing sytems.
>>> What about getting stranded in the mid route, how is the emergency access and exit done
>100% redundancy in driving motors is provided, and the normal railway operational procedures of clearance of stock disabled are followed. The traverser allows the stock to be taken off the route.> 5. at what height the sky bus will operate.
>> The sky rail guidance is about 9.5 m above road level and the> suspended coach bottom abot 6 m above road level, providing National> Highway clearances for road vehicles to ply unhindered.
>>> Does it take into account flyovers crossings and other such obstructions >yes- Sky Bus can fly over fly-overs and can have spans of 50 to 100m- as cable stayed bridge.> 6. how does one climb up and down - stairs or lifts.>> The access is by staircase near footpath- virtually itis like bus> station of city bus- the station is also at 5.5 m above ground level> and from the foot path one climbs stairs to access.
>>> Does it take into account barrier free access, ramps, etc. What is the foot print for these stations
>For spastics provisions exist-pls go through the presentation posted at site- arrangements for spastics will explain> 7. what is the max speed achieved by sky bus.>> Maximumspeed of Sky Bus in a city is 100kmph.
>>> Assuming this speed is ever reached, what is the acceleration time, and decceleration time. For a 10 km section, including, say, 8 stations at 1 km distances, what will be the travel speed. For 100 kmph, it means 1.6 km a minute, so what about distances travelled to attain then braking speed ? Will it ever reach 30 kmph or what ?
>The average speed for 1 km stops at stations is 45 kmph and for alternate services stopping at alternate stations average speed is 55kmph to 60 kmph.
The specifications also are available at site and calculations are standard assuming peak accelerations and limiting the power of driving motors to 85/110KW> 8. how are the breakdowns handled.>> Sky Bus is exactly like a railway line- same standards of operation,> except the "train", in our case is only 38m long! Redundancy in> driving motors is provided-even if 50% motrs fail, the Sky Bus units> can haul themselves and clear at the traverser. If all fail, then> fellow Sky Bus unit has extra power to push it and take it out at the> traverser.
>>> Ideal conditions. But I think I have misunderstood, if in 1 above, each Sky Bus unit is two coaches, ie 18.5 m, how in this case, the train is 38 m long ? Is it then actuallyu 4 coaches ? >One unit is only 18.5m. The train length in Sky Bus is only 18.5m for first 10 years- and may be go upto 38m if extraordinary loads have to be handles.
Nothing ideal- we do day in day out in running and handling breakdowns of trains!> 9. what is the type of engine and how much pollution it can> generate>> The driving bogies are exactly like our suburban driving bogies-> electrical motors driving the axles- similar to normal railway metro.> Infact the same proven 3 phase AC motors of metro are used.>> 10. how will the loing done for different directions at> junctions.>> In Sky Bus we do not use points and crossings. There is a traverser> every 10 km , which transfers the Sky Bus unit from one track to> another/ or shift to a depot the excess buses/ or turn them back in> reverse or another direction.
>>> Where are these traversing points, depots, planned for and located in say, Andheri, Ghatkopar, and how much area is required for these
>At the terminals the traversers are located. Both at Andheri and Ghatkopar two traverser are present. But the depot will be at Andheri-the traverser is a 3/4 line type.the movie shows how it works.>> 11. what is the average life of bus.> The life is same as that of a stainless steel railway coach!
>>> And that is ?
>not less than 20 years.
> 12. what are the safety measures in the system.
> Compared to conventional railway systems, the centre of gravity of the mass being carried on the wheels is brought down to be closer to the wheel support- hence dynamic safety is many time improved>> In conventional railway wind can topple the trains and in Kerala once, an express train went into river by being toppled by wind!!> In Sky Bus wind cannot topple- there is positive link between the rail guidance system and the Bus Coaches- with 400% safety factor built into multiple suspenders.>> The railway bogies in conventional system have propensity to lose control on derailment, but additional safety in Sky Bus bogie is that we have derailment arresters, which prevents the wheel from jumping off the rails. So we are ensuring that there is no derailment.>> In normal railway systems, when collision takes place, derailment also occurs, and carriages capsize killing people. But in Sky Bus no collision can take place between the coaches- even after the 3 levels of braking fail and the Sky Bus units hit each other in a collision, the Sky Coaches in which people are travelling, will only swing to and fro- but will not collide with each other nor capsize.>> 13. are there stations? how do people change buses for their> way.> The stations are available every 1 km. It is a natural foot bridge across the road. From upline to down line the station provides natural access which is easy. At sky top one can change to different bus routes too!
>>> This establishes that the Sky Bus will never reach 100 kmph, but will be more or less 25 to 30 kmph, slower than suburban trains, whose stations are around 3 km or more apart
>Not correct. With two km stations the sky bus reaches 100 kmph speeds. The train control system in Sky Bus is different-from existing 100 year old technologies. The moving block system without any fixed colour light sytem, but controlled thru microprocessors- is at the cutting edge of technology.> 14. how many sky buses will be needed for a city’s transportation needs.>> For a city 100 km route can be designed Approximately> initially about 400 units will suffice to provide for moving 5> million commuters a day.>> 15. besides passengers, can they handle luggages and baggages.>> Yes- Sky Bus units going to Airports and Rly stations can carry> luggage. In addition during off peak period containers can be> transported, as well as trucks as in RO-RO service. So pollution due to trucks can be eliminated.>> 16. are the engines silent.>> The electrically run system is quiet and there is no pollutants. The noise of steel wheels running on the steel rails, railway sound as you hear also is trapped in the concrete box, and the noise levels will be much less than what you get in elevated metros like DMRC/Delhi or Hongkong.>> 17. how much time it will take to carry passenger from point to point?>> In peak period the speed will be 55 to 60 kmph, with stops at 2 km,> skipping alternate stations, by alternate service.> Otherwise 45 kmph is the average speed. So you can calculate the time> of journey. You will never wait for more than one minute for the> service at a station.
>>> These figures are not commensurate with actual calculations and previous statements. If the time for waiting is no more than 1 minute, does that mean travel time between stations is 1 minute. If so, we need calculations to show how far the Sky Bus will go before it reaches 50 kmph, then, reduce to a full stop. Then, calculate the average speed.
>Please understand moving block sytem is different from what you know from current suburban sytems you know.I suggest pls read calculations in the file Pphpdheadways posted at site. The length of train and train control systems have impact.> 18. where will the ticket windows, cloak room facilities, police help.> Smart card contact-less systems are used, where the machines validate> the card and add value when you pay the money to the ATM like> machine. These will be available not only at stations but also in many other places.> Every Sky Bus unit will have webcam surveillance and there is> continuous security monitoring of the Sky Bus during travel. Instant communication with central control is also provided from every Sky Bus Manned by Sky Man , who is technically trained to take care of any hitches in the driverless Sky Bus, he also acts as Sky marshal.>> 19. who are likely to travel by this system. will the car owners switch.>> Air-conditioned no-wait travel and at average price of Re1 per km or with monthly pass at Rs 500 per 1000 km travel per month, will attract our urbanites, who value time and money,
>>> What about intermodal changeover points, where does one park to get onto Sky Bus, descend at destination, get into ring route public transport, or whatever, what are the plans for this type of transportation 'interconnectivity', or is it that all systems are working entirely in isolation ?>Sky Bus is an intermodal integrator! It eliminates the problems you face now trying to marry railway and road. In this case rail and road are synonymous.Outside the CBD the Sky Bus station towers provide for car parks too. Wish you see the full presentation.The concept of terminus generated by conventional railway working like a huge pipeline is modified to a grid- in Sky Bus, you get down on road where you want to get down.as you do in your own car.
> 20. will the insurance companies insure passengers.> Safer than railway systems, then with international standard certification, same group insurance charges will be> paid as part of ticket.>> 21 will there be monthly pass. will there be classes of Ist and IInd.> There can be Executive class for a few trains- matter of choice. The executive class charge will be 4 times the economy class.>> 22. what about privacy and security of flats exposed to bus route against antisocial elements, house breakers etc?>> The Sky Bus coaches are totally sealed and not possible to get out in between. The privacy is ensured because the lighting inside and outside are matched in such a way that visibility close to flats etc is restricted for the travellers.>> 23. what are the expansion options availabe for growing future> needs?> Sky Bus units can provide modular growth. For next century needs are met with. Can expand from 40000 passengers per hour to 80000 per hour per route km.
And if no rise and landing, then where will the depots for the coaches be, where will they be cleaned, maintained, overhauled on the height of the supports.
Depots also are at the same level -these are located outside city limits.
Also, at what point will there be the 'smooth' changeover between different modes of transport.
Transfer points are as easy to provide as providing for normal bus stands. Much smoother than one imagines in present mindsets dictated rigidly by current transport technology like conventional railway.
Not to criticise, but to caution, that however good the technology, the practical implementation is most important.
No arguments on that. If a single rail in mono-rail suspended slow speed system working for more than 100 years, is replaced by two rails and coned wheel having single flange guidance , working for 100 years at high speeds- it becomes Sky Bus! It is not a fragile cable car! Nor a difficult one to maintain like monorail Malasian system! It is modified railway as good as suburban railway- only center of gravity is brought down. Follows the same Newton’s laws- fortunately mr Newton was born before us! Even the current railway engineers are running the railway, born before them! Very few understand physics of the same, but use them, and gain comfort with use. But if the physics are understood, there is little of miracle in nature!

Sorry for my ignorance as usual, because I have not read the relevant links, because apart from figures, the reports do not have anything tangible.
The various files at site do give substantial info- both technical and financial-

For the present, reorganising the traffic flow, absolutely strict and disciplined enforcement, and clearing all obstructions, such as multiple and haphazard parking, encroachments, installing correct lighting, and such, will radically improve flow.

For my personal reasons I believe regimentation and disciplining is symptom of slavish attitudes we inherited- I believe we should create sytems by their merit influence choices of people in terms of convemience to them! Choice shall not be denied.
Incidentally, any study on reintroducing electric trams and trollies, single and double decker ? Equally non polluting, quiet, comfortable.

They have served their purpose. Any solution you design occupying the precious urnam land is a lose-lose strategy. It is not only a requirement to be non-polluting, but also high speed mass transit system, we need. For next century you should not need any other solution- but what you invest should be such that progressively the travel cost should come down!