The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) on Wednesday, June 21, began the process by issuing a tender for the procurement of 238 trains of Vande Metro (suburban).
The state government has given a green signal to the project, which was approved by the railway board, and agreed to share 50 per cent of the costs. It will be done under Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) 3 and 3A with a budget of INR 10,945 crores and INR 33,960 crore respectively.
According to reports, 47 rakes of 12 car each will be obtained under MUTP 3 and the rest in MUTP 3A.
Officials stated that timelines will be drawn soon as the tender documents are ready. With this, the Vande Bharat metro will soon become primary mode of transportation in Mumbai.
If all goes according to plan, the first prototype rake will arrive in the city by March 2026. However, it will take nearly seven years to completely replace the Mumbai local trains.
The technology partner will not only manufacture the rakes (2,856 cars in combination of 12/15 cars) but maintain them for 35 years, which is their estimated lifetime.
It includes setting up of new maintenance depots and upgradation of existing maintenance facilities with a completion period of the work 84 months (7 years) for supply of these trains. Moreover, two maintenance depots at Vangaon (Western Railway) and Bhivpuri (Central Railway) are already approved; meanwhile, land acquisition is in process.
Moreover, the rakes promise to be state-of-the-art and hi-tech.
Here are its features:
- Automatic door-closing system and fully vestibuled coaches.
- Separate air-conditioned vendor/luggage compartments at both ends of the train
- No separate first class or second class coaches as in existing non AC locals
- Passenger seating arrangement will be the same as in existing EMU trains.
- Modular ergonomic cushioned seats will be provided.
- Coaches will be earmarked for ladies, passengers with disabilities and senior citizens.
- Efficient LED lights and emergency lights
- Infotainment (news, weather, videos, advertisements, important messages) for passenger with large digital display panels, dynamic route map indication for Enroute stations, destinations, real time clock, door opening side etc.
- Digital destination boards on both sides of car in addition to front and rear of the train.
- Emergency egress system
- CCTV surveillance
- Passenger emergency alarm (talk-back) system
- GPS-based public address system
- USB ports for mobile/laptop charging
- Automatic fire detection and alarm system
- Wider inter-car gangway and higher regenerative braking which will save on energy costs.
- The rakes, made of aluminium alloy or stainless steel, will have a maximum operation speed of 130 km per hour
- Windows and doors shall be designed to allow passengers to have a good vision on the outside, especially on the station information.
- Backup batteries for emergency loads.
- Microprocessor-based fault diagnostics system and Event Recorder.
- Air springs in the secondary Suspension of bogies for improved riding comfort.
- Cyber Security framework to maintain data transmission integrity.
- Design incorporates modern aesthetic approach with considerations to optimize passenger comfort, safety and security as well as to minimize noise in the saloon area
Share
Tweet
