BEML inaugurates Prototype manufacturing of Driverless Metro trainsets for BMRCL

by Psu Connect
Date: 31-08-24
Ministry of Defence

Bangalore: BEML Ltd., a leading manufacturer of rail and metro trainsets in India, has inaugurated the prototype manufacturing of driverless metro trainsets 5RS-DM Project dedicated to fulfilling the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation's (BMRCL) project for Lines 2 and 6, including the ambitious Bangalore Airport Line. The inauguration marks a significant milestone in BEML’s contribution to urban mobility solutions.

BEML secured this prestigious order for 53 trainsets during August 2023, amidst stiff global competition. The project, valued at approximately INR 3,177 crores, encompasses the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the trainsets, as well as comprehensive maintenance services for up to 15 years under the Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase 2, 2A, and 2B. BEML, recognized as the first Indian rolling stock manufacturer to design, develop, manufacture, and supply driverless trainsets. The new proto-train manufacturing has been inaugurated in the presence of Shri Maheshwar Rao, Managing Director of BMRCL, Shri Shantanu Roy, Chairman and Managing Director of BEML Ltd., and other functional directors of BEML.

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Sharing his excitement, Shri Shantanu Roy said, "We are privileged to inaugurate this new prototype manufacturing facility in Bangalore, which is rapidly becoming a hub for India’s top metro rail manufacturing. Together with BMRCL, we are committed to delivering the most advanced metro trainsets, providing an enhanced urban mobility experience for Bangalore city’s commuters."

Echoing this sentiment, Shri Maheshwar Rao added, "BEML possesses the most advanced facilities and a dedicated team of engineers capable of delivering this ambitious project, which will soon fulfil the aspirations of metro commuters traveling to the Airport Road and across Bangalore, which is likely to reduce a lot of road congestion in near future.” The trainsets will feature a 6-car formation, entirely designed and developed by BEML's in-house engineering teams in Bangalore. The trainsets will be constructed using high-tensile Austenitic stainless steel, ensuring durability, safety and passenger comfort. Each Metro car would be equipped with two roof-mounted Saloon Air Conditioners to provide effective air conditioning, ensuring passenger comfort.

The trains will also feature an IP-based Passenger Announcement (PA) and Passenger Information System (PIS), along with a Passenger Saloon Surveillance System (PSSS) to provide real-time station information. The system will include an LCD-based Dynamic Route Map display. For passenger safety, the trains will be equipped with electrically driven automatic doors synchronized with Platform Screen Doors. Interior features include aesthetically appealing designs with FRP panels, stainless steel grab poles, and grab rails with strap hangers. Ergonomic stainless-steel seats, designed with lumbar support, will ensure greater comfort for sitting passengers.

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BEML is a leading Metro car manufacturer in India and holds the distinction of being the first company in the country to produce all-steel integral passenger rail coaches and other rolling stock for Indian Railways. The Rail Coach Factory in Bangalore, established in 1948, was India’s first all-steel integrated rail coach factory, having manufactured and supplied over 20,000 mainline passenger coaches and Electrical Multiple Units (EMUs) for Indian Railways. BEML is now poised to flag off the nation’s first prototype of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train in the near future.

Since 2002, BEML has pioneered the manufacture of stainless-steel metro cars and was the first to indigenously design and produce driverless metro cars in India. As of July 2024, BEML has delivered over 2,000 metro coaches to various Indian Metro Corporations, including Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Mumbai.

Special Features of the 5RS-DM Project: