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31/08/23 13:05 PM IST

Kolkata Metro to join elite club of London, Moscow, Istanbul, says Centre

In News
  • Kolkata Metro Railway, India’s first Metro built by Indian Railways on 24th October 1984, has been serving as a lifeline for Kolkata, the city of Joy for nearly 40 long years.
Significance
  • Kolkata Metro Railway, which has relied on steel Third Rail for four decades, is now upgrading to composite Aluminium Third Rail for all new and existing corridors.
  • This transition will place Kolkata among prestigious metros such as those in London, Moscow, Berlin, Munich, and Istanbul, all of which have made the shift.
  • In Kolkata Metro Railway, the power to Metro Rake is supplied to rolling stock at 750V DC through steel Third Rail.
  • The Third Rail Current Collector (TRCC) made of steel fitted on metro rake collects the current from Third Rail. Kolkata Metro Railway using steel Third Rail for the last 40 years.
  • Kolkata Metro Railway has now decided to use composite Aluminium Third Rail in all the upcoming corridors being undertaken for construction along with retro fitment in existing corridor with steel Third Rail.
  • With this Metro Railway, Kolkata would become the member of elite club of London, Moscow, Berlin, Munich, and Istanbul Metro who have also shifted from steel Third Rail to Aluminium Third Rail.
Third Rail
  • A third rail is a method of providing electric power to trains, trams, and other rail vehicles.
  • It involves placing an additional rail, often located near the ground, alongside or between the two main rails of a railway track.
  • This third rail carries the electrical current that powers the train's electric propulsion system.
Advantages of Aluminium composite
  • Reduction in resistive current loss and improved Traction voltage level as the resistance of steel Third Rail is around six times higher than composite Aluminium Third Rail.
  • On an average, for 10 km corridor with use of Aluminium composite Third Rail would require 01 no. less Traction Substation compared to steel Third Rail i.e. a straight saving of approx.₹210 Crores capital investment for a 35 km of Metro corridor.
  • The reduced voltage drop shall facilitate achieving faster acceleration with the same rake available with Kolkata Metro Railway.
  • Reduced maintenance and life cycle cost. The requirement of painting of Third Rail every 5 years may not be needed anymore. The frequency of measurement of Third Rail dimension may reduce significantly. There may be no possibility of damage due to rusting etc
  • Improvement in the efficiency of train operations.
  • Huge improvement in Energy Efficiency and reduction in carbon footprint.
  • Estimated energy saving using composite Aluminium Third Rail may be approximately 6.7 million units per annum.
Source- PIB

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