Towards digital delivery of metro-rail projects in India

Abstract

There is a large programme of metro-rail construction in India, upgrading public transportation systems to provide rapid transit to millions of people in major Indian cities. The scale of this development makes it important to innovate as improvements in design, construction and operations can have a significant impact on built asset sustainability. As integrated digital delivery approaches are becoming used internationally in infrastructure projects, new questions arise about their application and suitability in these Indian metrorail projects. This paper is based on a research collaboration involving desk-based study, site visits, and a hosted workshop with 40 participants including client representatives of six major Indian metro-rail projects along with technology providers and delivery teams. Findings are that - while Nagpur Metro project is most advanced in implemented Building Information Modelling (BIM) in its planning and design phase, translating practices from Crossrail in London into the Indian context - there are significant challenges in adopting digital practices in the delivery of new transportation schemes in Indian cities. These challenges include stakeholder awareness and education; integration and interoperability; standardization; cost implications and BIM strategy. The paper concludes with some potential directions for future research and discusses the potential for India to ‘leapfrog’ a generation of technology to implement low-cost effective digital solutions.