Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off India’s first driverless metro train on December 28. The train will run on the 37-km long Magenta Line of the Delhi Metro.
“The driverless trains will be fully automated, which will eliminate the possibility of human error,” Prime Minister’s office said in a statement.
“Hon’ble PM Sh.@narendramodi is going to inaugurate India’s first driverless train operations on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line & the fully operational National Common Mobility Card services on the Airport Express Line via video-conferencing tomorrow at 11 AM,” DMRC tweeted.
The automated train network is spread across the national capital region – Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden.
“With the commencement of driverless trains on the Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line, DMRC will enter the elite league of seven per cent of World’s Metro networks which can operate without drivers,” a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) spokesperson said.
According to reports, the driverless trains will have six coaches and will be equipped with several advanced features such as better regeneration of energy during braking, emergency efficient sub systems like LED lighting and air conditioning systems. They will operate at a speed of 85 kmph to 95 kmph, Delhi Metro had said.
“These trains would be more energy efficient than the earlier trains of Delhi Metro because of improved design features,” an official told news agency PTI.
“These innovations will herald a new era of travelling comfort and enhanced mobility.” the official statement added.
After these automated trains begin operations on the Magenta Line, the Pink Line will also start operations by the mid of 2021.
“After the start of driverless services on the Magenta Line, the Pink Line of Delhi Metro is expected to have driverless operations by the mid of 2021,” Prime Minister’s office said in a statement.
The flagging-off of the driverless trains will be hosted via video conferencing, a senior DMRC official said.
