Advanced signalling system in phase III

Delhi Metro’s outgoing Managing Director E Sreedharan says the advanced technology, currently operational in Metro systems abroad, can also be used in the existing phase I and II lines when their signalling system is due for replacement.

Communication-based train control (CBTC), as the technology is known, will allow Delhi Metro to run trains every 1.5 minutes instead of the current frequency of 2.5 minutes. The system would reduce the waiting time of the passengers on all phase III lines.

“We can run trains every 90 seconds, which is not possible with the present signalling system. There (in CBTC) we can go for 90 seconds and that is equivalent of 10-coach trains,” Sreedharan, who retires on December 31, said.

He said this is the first time that the system is being brought to India. Asked whether the CBTC can be integrated into the existing phase I and phase II, he said:

“That is also possible. Because the signalling system’s tenure is 15-20 years. When they are due for replacement, then CBTC can be used there too.

“Delhi Metro’s phase III will bring another 103 km of the capital on the Metro map and the corridors are Kanpur to Lamina Vicar, Jayapura West to Klondiking, Central Secretariat to Kashmere Gate and Jahangirpuri-Badli.

Sreedharan said the Delhi Metro has placed orders for 212 cars from Mitsubishi-Rotem-Mitsubishi electrical and German train maker Bombardier for converting the existing four and six coach trains into eight-coach ones.

“We want more trains on congested routes. We have placed orders for eight coaches already to lengthen the trains on congested routes. They will start coming from September next and year and by the end of next year Line 2 (Gurgaon) and Line 3 (Noida/Vaishali) will have eight-coaches,” he said.