Metro Railway is poised to revolutionise its operations with the implementation of the communication-based train control (CBTC) signalling system.
This advanced driverless technology is set to address the current manpower shortages and enable extended service hours. With the CBTC system, motormen will be replaced by train operators, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and flexibility. Presently, Metro Railway operates four lines with 45 stations over a span of 51 kilometres. Expansion plans will add another 50 kilometres in the forthcoming years. The CBTC system is already operational in the East-West Metro corridor and in several other Indian cities, demonstrating its viability and effectiveness.
The CBTC installation is underway on the Joka-Esplanade and New Garia-Airport corridors, with an investment of Rs 800 crore. Additionally, Rs 500 crore has been allocated for the North-South corridor, which is Kolkata’s oldest and most crucial Metro line. Once the CBTC system is fully integrated across all lines within the next five years, it is anticipated that 99.9% of train operations will ban e automated via the automatic train operation (ATO) mode. Train operators will merely need to press buttons to close the doors and initiate train departures from stations.
Despite the ongoing training of 31 motormen and the reassignment of 16 more from Eastern Railway’s Howrah division, alongside the anticipated induction of 10 more from the Bilaspur division, the extension of operational hours hinges on the CBTC rollout. The current operational constraints are stark, with the last train on the old North-South line departing at 9.40 pm. Newer corridors such as Joka-Majerhat (Purple line) and New Garia-Ruby (Orange line) have even more limited hours, running from 8.30 am to 3.35 pm and 9 am to 4.40 pm, respectively. There has been a longstanding demand from passengers for extended service hours. The Calcutta High Court, on May 2, directed Metro Railway to consider a public interest litigation (PIL) that proposed extending the last train’s departure time by 45 minutes. The successful implementation of the CBTC system is expected to address these demands, providing longer service hours and better accommodating passenger needs.
Metro Railway’s strategic shift towards driverless technology underscores its commitment to modernisation and improving urban mobility. This significant technological upgrade promises to enhance operational efficiency, extend service hours, and ultimately deliver a more reliable and passenger-friendly Metro service in Kolkata. “Within the next five years, the entire network will be covered by the CBTC signalling system and operations will be done on the ATO mode. This will allow us to increase metro frequencies,” a Metro spokesperson said.
