Metro Railway Kolkata to evacuate stranded rakes from tunnels using battery power. There was a major outcry last year after a rake remained stranded in the tunnel between the Park Street and Maidan stations for nearly two hours before passengers could be rescued. The new system is an amalgamation of inverters and Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Batteries, and can be made operational in case of a sudden power cut or grid failure. It is expected that the battery pack will reach the installation site by mid-March and we plan to make it fully operational in May. The system will gradually be extended to all sub-stations in the network to facilitate rakes moving along the elevated sections. It will be instrumental in playing a key role by providing a power source for tunnel ventilation, Over the Track Exhaust (OTE) and platform ventilation. In fact, it will be an emergencyPower source for all operations. The battery pack of LFP type was ready for inspection in January 2025. The layout plan and manufacturing clearance were issued in the month of September/October 2024. The power converter system is being manufactured in India,\” the CPRO said.
