Click it and Unblock the Notifications
Kolkata is set to become one of the few cities in India to operate driverless Metro trains. After Delhi and Bengaluru, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has approved driverless operations for Kolkata Metro's Green Line, East-West Corridor, which runs between Howrah Maidan and Salt Lake Sector V. Similar driverless services are also planned for the Purple Line in the future.
Kolkata Metro to Start Driverless Train Services
Although the approval has been granted, Metro officials have not yet announced the date for starting driverless train services. Kolkata Metro CPRO S.S. Kanon said that the system is currently undergoing internal testing. He added that the technology will be introduced only after completing all safety checks and ensuring that it is ready for passenger operations.
Kolkata will not be the first Indian city to use this technology. Delhi Metro already operates driverless trains on the Magenta and Pink lines using Grade of Automation-4 (GoA-4) technology, which allows trains to run without onboard staff. Bengaluru Metro has also started driverless operations on its Yellow Line.
Driverless Metro systems are equipped with advanced safety features to protect passengers. One of the important systems is Platform Screen Doors (PSDs), which act as glass barriers on station platforms. These doors open only after the train stops completely and aligns properly with the platform, reducing the risk of passengers falling onto the tracks.
The trains also have highly sensitive optical sensors and safety bars at the front. If any object is detected on the track, the system automatically activates emergency brakes to prevent accidents.
Meanwhile, work on Kolkata Metro's Orange Line (Line 6) has reached a major milestone. Engineers from Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) have completed the installation of important girders near Chingrighata on the EM Bypass. The work was delayed for nearly 18 months due to challenges in obtaining traffic clearance on the busy road.
The driverless trains will operate using Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC), an advanced signalling technology that enables automatic train movement. Currently, among Kolkata Metro's operational routes, only the Green Line has the CBTC system required for driverless operations.