Driverless Trains And Real-Time CCTV Monitoring: New Mumbai Metro Coaches Blend Efficiency With Women’s Safety

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is all set to introduce new features for upcoming Metro corridors like real-time monitoring of images for the safety of women passengers, obstruction deflection device (ODD) to clear track of small obstacles etc.

The contract has been awarded to the Bengaluru-based BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Ltd) for purchase of 378 Metro coaches. These are for the corridors of Dahisar-DN Nagar, DN Nagar to Mankhurd via Bandra and Dahisar-Andheri. Each coach costs Rs 7.98 crore or a total of Rs 3,015 crore. The six coaches will accommodate 2400 passengers, as reported by TOI.

RA Rajeev, the Metropolitan commissioner said, “A major milestone has been achieved with placement of rolling stock contract. We are confident our rolling stock will be of world-class standards having latest passenger comfort, safety and energy efficiency features. Our focus will be to ensure speedy delivery now.”

29 IP (internet protocol) based cameras will be installed per train with more in future. A control system with real-time monitoring will monitor the CCTV saloon surveillance system. The trains will have ODD ( Obstruction Deflection Device), a system that will push away any small obstacles on the track. The rakes are also designed for the advanced Unattended Train Operation mode, a driverless system. However, the trains will be operated by operators for the first few years.