Pune Metro to get state-of-the-art aluminium coaches

Pune: Billed as the game changer, amongst the Indian Metro rail projects, the Pune Metro is set to get ultra-modern, state-of-the-art aluminium-bodied coaches. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday unveiled the prototype body of the Pune Metro coach at Sahyadri State Guest House in Mumbai.

A consortium formed by Kolkata-based wagon manufacturer, Titagarh Wagons, with its wholly-owned subsidiary Titagarh Firema SPA, has won the international bid to supply 102 aluminum coaches to the Pune Metro Rail Project in the tender issued by the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd for “design, manufacture, supply, testing, commissioning of passenger rolling stock (Electrical Multiple Units – EMUs) and training of personnel” for the Pune Metro, said Maha Metro authorities.

This will be the first time that aluminium-bodied coaches, are said to be lighter in weight, more energy efficient and have better aesthetics, will be manufactured in India, said Dr. Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director of Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (Maha Metro). Up till now, stainless steel bodied coaches are being used by metro rails in the country.

“The company will manufacture 25 per cent of coaches at their plant in Italy and 75 per cent will be produced and commissioned at the Maha-Metro coach manufacturing plant in Nagpur,” said Dr. Dixit, remarking that remarking that that Pune Metro Rail project had crossed “another important milestone” with this order for coach procurement.

Officials at the Pune Metro project said that initially trains in the Pune Metro Rail will consist of three coaches which will subsequently be converted into six as per the traffic requirement. They further said that these coaches would be fully air-conditioned with humidity control provided with digital route and station display and international standard interiors.

“The coaches will have 100 per cent CCTV coverage. Physically challenged passengers will be able to travel seamlessly to and from the station entry to the train with specially earmarked places for wheelchairs. Mobile and laptop charging facility will also be provided on board,” said the spokesperson with the Pune Metro Rail project.

The coaches are to be ergonomically and aerodynamically designed with the coach exterior reflecting the history and cultural heritage of the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad townships. They would have a maximum speed of 95 kmph and the capacity to accommodate more than 925 passengers.

“They are energy efficient and will be equipped with a regenerative braking system. They will also be capable of operating in driverless mode,” said Dr. Dixit. The Pune Metro will begin operations with coaches used by Maha Metro at Nagpur Metro and will be augmented as and when the coaches for the new contract join the fleet.

The Rs.11,420 crore- Pune Metro Rail system has been projected by the BJP-ruled Centre and the State governments as a panacea to burgeoning Pune’s nightmarish traffic woes. In December 2016, Prime Minister Modi had laid the foundation stone for the project just ahead of the crucial civic polls to the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic bodies.

An especially vital section in the project, comprising three lines with a total length of 54.58 km, is the elevated 23.3 km Line 3 that will bridge the city’s bustling Information Technology headquarter in Hinjewadi with the Shivajinagar area.