DMRC gears up to run driverless trains in phase III

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is gearing up to run driverless trains on its new lines being developed under its phase III expansion project, while keeping focus on indigenisation and world class safety measures.

The driverless metro trains will operate on lines seven and eight. DMRC is procuring 504 coaches and trailer plus motor units, out of which 384 will be manufactured by public sector enterprise BEML which is a sub-contractor of South Korean company Rotem, DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal said.

In case of driverless trains, DMRC has put a premium on safety features which include fitting of fire alarms, track cameras to detect breakage, obstruction detection equipment and improved communication between passengers and operation control room, he said.

Metro coaches are designed in a way so that there is no scope for fire, or even if it happens it does not spread. Yet, for the first time, fire detectors will be fitted with RS 10 coaches as further precaution.

In phase-III, round the clock monitoring of tracks through cameras and increased inspections will be in place to prevent accidents due to fracture on tracks. OHE photography, obstruction detection devices, screen doors on platforms, dedicated bandwidth for wifi communication between passengers and operation control room, deployment of attendants inside coaches will be other safety features for driverless trains, a senior DMRC official said.

Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) which manufactures metro coaches and trailer plus motor units has been sourcing locally thereby reducing its dependence on exports.

Almost 70 per cent of a metro coach is indigenous with BEML emphasising on local sourcing. Except for a few critical aggregates like doors, air conditioners, most of the components are manufactured or sourced locally through vendors, a senior BEML official said.

The PSU firm is executing orders for 96 coaches for DMRC which will be used in converting six-coach trains into eight coach ones by the end of the next year.