Chennai Metro Phase II: Signaling Contract Likely To Be Awarded To Hitachi

The lowest bidder for the signaling software design and development contract for Chennai Metro Rail Ltd.'s Phase II project is Hitachi Rail Signalling and Transportation System India Pvt. Ltd.

Hitachi was the lowest bidder when the financial bids were opened a few days ago, according to authorities of Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL). Only one other company, Nippon Signal, had submitted a bid.

According to The Hindu, Hitachi provided a quote for the project of roughly Rs 1,600 crore. Before legally granting the contract, there are some procedures and evaluations to be completed. The project management committee must first approve it, and then and only then can the contract be released.

The design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of a signaling and train control system, as well as a video management system, are all included in the scope of this contract.

In Phase II, Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. plans to run driverless trains, for which a reliable signaling system is crucial because it regulates many functions, including announcements in stations and trains and other critical parts of train operations, the authorities said.

The contractor should deliver the software months in advance so that trials can begin because the first link between Poonamallee and Power House is expected to open at the end of 2025 or early in 2026, according to CMRL officials.

Phase II of the project will use a different signaling mechanism than Phase I. Phase-I used the distance-to-go signaling system, whereas Phase-II would use the communications-based train control signaling system, which officials claim is superior and more accurate.

As a result, the Phase I project's trains will not operate in Phase II.

Commuters will have to disembark, travel a short distance, and then board the train wherever there are interchange stops, such as Alandur, Thirumangalam, CMBT, or KMC.

The expansion of Metro Phase II is planned with a network length of 118.9 km with 128 stations. It consists of three corridors, namely Corridor -3 - From Madhavaram to SIPCOT (45.8 km), Corridor - 4 - From Lighthouse to Poonamalle Bypass (26.1 km), Corridor - 5 - From Madhavaram at Sholinganallur (47 km).

The estimated cost of the project is‌‌ Rs 63,246 crore. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.