Chennai: As a job on the ground begins for the construction of the Phase-2 118.9km project, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) began shopping for 70 new drivers without new drivers who are expected to be sent within five years.
Metro Rail has waved recently to get this train with each of them having three cars or coaches.
At present, the preliminary work to get the site is ready for the Pile Foundation is ongoing in the location between the porter and Poonamallee where the portion of the road is barricled.
The phase-2 61.843CR project is expected to be ready in 2026.
According to a floating tender recently, CMRL is looking for a company that can design, produce, supply, test and commissionless trains and train their personnel.
Officials say 70 new trains will be funded by JICA, which has offered a loan assistance of Rs 20,196 Crore for the construction of a 52km line between Madhavaram and Sholinganlatur in Corridor 3 and Madhavaram to CMBT in the Corridor 5.
“The majority of trains will be Japan made according to loan conditions JICA, “said a Metro Rail official.
“We hope that the first prototype is sent to us in three years from the date of contracting, which can occur around February 2022.
In about 15 months since sending the first prototype, we hope that all trains are delivered, which means every month, we will receive around 4 trains, “Official added.
The 118.9km project will require a total of 138 trainless trains from which CMRL plans to use 42 rental trains and operate.
It has floated tenders to get 25 trains towards the end of 2020.
Officials say according to JICA loan conditions, Metro Rail must get 90% of the components of Japan that include trains, signaling, communication and traction systems.
On the train, 25% can be imported from Japan while the rest can be produced in India either by Indian companies or Japanese companies, but the majority of components must be obtained from Japan.
The train without drivers will only have a small console instead of the driver’s cabin and all operations including the opening and closing of the train door will be controlled from the operating control center through the camera installed inside and on the outside of the train.
The 52 train fleet, made by the French Alstom manufacturer, has a camera inside and not on the outside of the train.
Automatic train operation except for the opening and closure of the door and several announcements made by the train operator.
“At first we can attend the train, because passengers may be afraid of traveling,” said an official.