BMRCL to get new metro coaches

BMRCL to get new metro coaches


Pictures of the Delhi Metro coaches
Express News Service First Published : 10 Jul 2009 07:44:51 AM ISTLast Updated : 11 Jul 2009 08:44:10 AM IST
BANGALORE: Good news for everyone waiting for signs of movement from the Metro’s end. At least the coaches being built by BEML are on its way. The design of Bangalore Metro Rail Coach is in the final stage of clearance and the BMRCL has zeroed in on a particular design, top officials of defense Public Sector Unit, BEML said here on Thursday.
Speaking to Media, BEML Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) VRS Natarajan, said that BEML has also bagged the order from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to supply intermediate coaches capable of carrying more passengers.
“It is a Rs 52-crore sample order. We are expecting more orders,” he said.
“The Metro and rail work constitutes a major chunk of BEML’s business,” he said. “There are about 12 upcoming metro projects,” he said.
“We have maintained our competitiveness and BEML aims at bagging every alternate metro project that comes up,” he said, replying to a query on if it has lost the edge due to the entry of others into the market and the scrapping of sales tax incentive.
BEML has also tied up with French infrastructure major Alstom for technological assistance for manufacturing rail products including high and medium speed trains, he announced.
According to Natarajan BEML will also act as a sourcing hub for Alstom’s component requirement. The company, he said, has also developed cheapest metro cars in the country.
The BEML cars, which cost about Rs 6 crore per car is about 50 per cent cheaper than the existing ones, he said.
The cost has been cut without compromising on the comforts and safety, he said. “It has been achieved by complete indigenisation of the train and certain design modifications,” he said.
SMOOTH TRAVEL
The coaches will be
● Lightweight and made of stainless steel or aluminium
● Air-conditioned
● Inbuilt Automatic Train Protection System (ATPS) and automation
● Automatic acceleration, coasting, braking, precision stopping and opening of the doors
● Passenger capacity of 1,000 per train (3 coaches)
● Concealed rotating cameras