Maha Metro’s Project Management Goes Hi Tech

Setting up an industry benchmark with one of the most innovative uses of Information Technology for infrastructure industry, Maha Metro a joint-venture of the Govt. of India and Govt. of Maharashtra announced ‘Go-Live’ of its Digital project management platform. Maha Metro’s Digital Project Management Platform (5D BIM & ERP) has gone Live exactly as planned. In line with the global best practices, Maha Metro has adopted this pioneering approach of digital project management on 5-Dimensional Building Information Modelling (5D BIM) integrated with SAP ERP supported by Owner’s Support Office (OSO) to complete its Nagpur and Pune Metro Projects with sanctioned cost and time and with highest quality and safety. Maha metro will also have BIM level 3 which is being deployed in advanced countries like UK and Singapore. Mega projects like Cross Rail of UK, Transport London, Sydney Metro and Mass rapid transit Malaysia are managing the projects on such systems. With Go Live the entire ecosystem of Maha Metro including General Consultants (GC), Detailed Design Consultants (DDC’s) and Contractors started carrying out real time transactions on this digital platform.

During Go-Live, Hon. MD-Maha Metro, Mr. Brijesh Dixit carried out the transactions on the system and viewed the project progress visually on 5D BIM platform. There were other transactions carried out in the system by various officials of Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL). A Digital War Room has been set-up on-site at Nagpur, which will provide information on various dimensions of project management using the digital platform enabled by 5D BIM & ERP collectively at central location..

Speaking on the occasion, tech-visionary Honourable Shri. Brijesh Dixit said, “This is for the first time in India, a Mega project like Nagpur Metro has adopted digital platform. 5D BIM integrated with ERP is enabling the project to achieve the next level of project management. High level of integration is done to automate the processes and make it online. It is significant to know that a high level of integration had been done between the globally established project management softwares -RIB, Bentley, Primavera & SAP for the digital platform at Maha Metro. These softwares are otherwise used stand alone for project management in other projects.”

Large infrastructure projects normally take 8-10 years because of procedural formalities, technical and financial requirements. Technology solutions are now making it possible to bring in financial efficiency, time efficiency and reduce spends on such large mega infrastructure projects. With the same vision, Maha Metro adopted this digital platform for efficient execution of Nagpur Metro project.

5D BIM is a specifically helpful tool for analysis and design.  It allows carrying out simulations and ‘what if’ analysis. The Digital platform will enable Nagpur Metro to achieve improved construction quality, reduction in construction costs, better understanding of the project design and optimized operational efficiencies. The system is expected to play a significant role in the asset information management during Operations and Maintenance of Metro. Such initiatives would also benefit the citizens of India as, the large infrastructure public services projects shall achieve project completion as planned within stipulated budgets and duration.

In order to sustain the usage and adoption of 5D BIM technology, another innovative step was taken by Maha Metro. The BIM academy was launched at Nagpur Metro project last month and this will be operational by first week of July 17. BIM academy will be a global collaboration among other such academies in UK, Australia, Malaysia etc. to share the knowledge among the Metro fraternity and focus on the skill up gradation.

Honourable Shri.. Brijesh Dixit congratulated the implementation partners Highbar, Aurionpro and Excelize consortium who had put a dedicated team onsite to make this Go Live happen exactly on schedule within a stipulated duration of 8 months.  “This team of Highbar & other partners have already set benchmark by executing this project efficiently exactly on schedule and taking it to this level.”

Commenting on this remarkable achievement Mr. Mangesh Wadaje, CEO Highbar said, “The Digital project management platform of 5D BIM integrated with SAP ERP is the next level of project management, being leveraged by construction domain expertise from Highbar. The use of 5D BIM integrated with ERP will not only make Nagpur Metro a pioneer to use this technology but would also benefit them with optimised operational efficiencies. Our implementation at Nagpur Metro has set the technology benchmark for other mega construction projects in India & worldwide to follow. It is matter of great satisfaction to spearhead pioneering digital platform in India and take futuristic leap. Great satisfaction for Highbar.”

Mr. Upagupta Patnaik, Engagement Director at Nagpur Metro Project (Delivery Head at Highbar) said, “We are happy to see India’s first digital project management platform for Metro project going live and foresee Nagpur Metro to achieve the next level of project management. The project team had a great experience in implementing Digital Project Management platform for Nagpur Metro rail project which required the highest level of project management expertise. Our teams with other partners have already setup an Owner’s Support Office (OSO) to help NMRCL in the successful & timely implementation of Metro project using this Digital platform.”

Amalgamation of technical & domain expertise from Highbar has enabled infrastructure industry to improve project efficiencies. With ongoing innovation backed by construction domain knowledge and expertise, Highbar is looking at raising the bar for the infrastructure and construction industry project management in India and abroad.