Metro Railway Kolkata has introduced a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on the underground section of its Blue Line. The initiative is designed to improve energy efficiency and ensure passenger safety during unexpected power failures.
Enhancing Underground Operations
The underground stretch of the Blue Line covers 17 km, linking Dumdum and Mahanayak Uttam Kumar (Tollygunge). The full corridor runs 27 km, with the Dakshineswar–Dumdum and Mahanayak Uttam Kumar–Sahid Khudiram sections operating on elevated tracks.
Subransu Sekhar Mishra, General Manager of Metro Railway Kolkata, explained the importance of the new system.
“The back-up application will haul passenger-loaded trains in case of any power outage and take the rake to the nearest station for safe evacuation of passengers,” Mishra said.
He further noted,
“Also, if there is a power outage, the tunnel ventilation control system will continue to function, and commuters will not face suffocation.”
Technical Details of the BESS
The 6.4 MWh BESS has been installed at the Central sub-station. It is India’s first microgrid system implemented at a metro station. The system includes:
• 88 battery racks
• Integrated fire suppression systems in each rack
• Capability to support underground operations during outages
Mishra described the project as the beginning of a phased rollout.
“It is a starting phase, and we will slowly proliferate it,” he said.
Speaking about future upgrades, he added,
“We wish to add another power converter component in this BESS so that it can also absorb excess regenerative energy which could not be utilised in the absence of a Metro rake being in the accelerative mode.”
Collaboration with Industry Experts
The power converter for the project was developed by Delta Electronics India.
Niranjan Nayak, Managing Director of Delta Electronics India, said,
“The BESS is capable of transmitting auxiliary power and running any train in the entire tunnel section from Dumdum to Mahanayak Uttam Kumar.”
He added,
“The deployment of BESS will provide energy-efficient power solutions in the Blue Line as part of our commitment to provide critical public infrastructure across India.”
Delta Electronics India is known for providing power management and smart green solutions.
The new BESS system marks a significant step toward safer, more energy-efficient metro operations in Kolkata’s underground network.
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