NEW DELHI: The production of 52 train sets, each with six cars to be used for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s Phase-IV, started on Friday at the Alstom facility in Sri City in Andhra Pradesh.
These new trains are advanced vehicles, designed for a safe speed of 95 kmph and operational speed of 85 kmph with driverless features. Inspired by tricolours of the national flag, the door pillar for the saloon interior of the trains will sport a mix of saffron, white and green paint.
Awarded in 2022, the total value of the project is 312 million euros, which includes the maintenance of 13 trainsets of the new line for 15 years. It will be the first maintenance project for Delhi Metro outsourced to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
Of the DMRC’s three priority corridors totalling 65 km with 45 stations, Janakpuri West-RK Ashram is the longest with 29km and 22 stations. The Aerocity-Tughlakabad corridor, with 15 stations, will be 23.62km. Majlis Park-Maujpur is the small corridor with 12.32km and eight stations.
The Majlis Park-Maujpur corridor is an extension of the Pink Line, while Janakpuri West-RK Ashram is an extension of the Magenta Line. The Aerocity-Tughlakabad corridor is the new Golden Line.
The front of the train for Golden Line has metallic gold paint, making it the first time for Alstom to use this colour for a metro project in India.
Under the Make in India initiative, these trains have been completely designed in India and will be built at the manufacturing facility in Sri City. The production of these trainsets started with a commemorative ceremony led by officials from DMRC and Alstom India.
Vikas Kumar, DMRC MD, said: “The Delhi metro stands as the lifeline of our city, and the addition of new routes will greatly enhance connectivity in the national capital.”
Olivier Loison, Alstom India MD, said: “We are honoured to be building these modern trains for commuters in Delhi NCR.”
