Metro Railway Kolkata to Rescue Stranded Rakes Using Battery Power
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Synopsis
Starting May, the underground section of Kolkata's Metro Railway Blue Line will see enhanced safety with a new battery-operated system. This system allows stranded rakes to transport passengers to the nearest station in case of power failures, ensuring improved travel security.
Key Takeaways
- Battery-operated system to rescue passengers.
- System installation scheduled for May.
- Will enhance safety on the Blue Line.
- First of its kind in India’s Metro networks.
- Emergency power source during failures.
Kolkata, Feb 16 (NationPress) Traveling in the underground segment of the Metro Railway's Blue Line in Kolkata is set to become more secure from May this year, as officials are in the process of implementing a battery-operated system. This system will allow a rake carrying passengers, stuck inside a tunnel, to reach the nearest station during a power outage.
Last year, there was significant public concern when a rake was immobilized in the tunnel between Park Street and Maidan stations for almost two hours, forcing passengers to walk along the tracks in pitch darkness to reach Park Street.
"This system will guarantee that such incidents do not happen again. The Blue Line is the oldest and most heavily trafficked line in Metro Railway, Kolkata. It features an extensive underground section from Mahanayak Uttam Kumar (Tollygunge) to Dum Dum. This system has successfully passed inspection at its manufacturing facility in Taiwan and is scheduled for installation in May. It will offer numerous additional advantages," stated a spokesperson for Metro Railway, Kolkata.
He further mentioned that the system, referred to as the Battery Energy Storage System or BESS, will soon be set up at the Central sub-station of the Blue Line.
The new system combines inverters and Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Batteries, and can be activated in the event of an unexpected power outage or grid failure, he added.
"This initiative is part of the National Programme on ACC Battery Storage, which was sanctioned by the Union Cabinet in 2021, with a financial allocation exceeding Rs.18,000 crore. Metro Railway, Kolkata, is the pioneer among all railway zones in the country—and all Metro networks—to initiate such a project. An order was placed with M/s Delta Electronics Pvt Ltd on May 4, 2024, to install a 4 MW BESS featuring a 6.4 MWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery as the energy storage component. The layout plan and manufacturing clearance were granted in September/October 2024. Following rapid processing and manufacturing, the ACC Battery pack of LFP type was ready for inspection by January 2025," he explained.
"The inspection took place in February and dispatch clearance was issued. The battery pack is anticipated to arrive at the installation site by mid-March, and we aim to have it fully operational by May. In alignment with Make in India standards, the power converter system is being produced domestically," the CPRO added.
He asserted that the new system is engineered such that the power it generates can be utilized to transport passenger-laden stranded rakes at a speed of 30 km/hr from mid-tunnel to the next station during any power disruption or even a failure of the National Grid. The system will eventually be extended to all sub-stations across the network to facilitate rake movement in the elevated sections, he noted.
"In the event of a fire, this innovative system will play a crucial role by providing a power source for tunnel ventilation, Over the Track Exhaust (OTE), and platform ventilation. Indeed, it will serve as an emergency power source for all operations," the CPRO concluded.
