On the Right Track: Chennai Metro Rolls Out Driverless Trials on 10-Km Stretch

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has tested a driverless train on a 10-kilometre stretch from the Poonamallee and Porur stations as part of its Phase II expansion project. The test, conducted at a speed of up to 40 km/h, tried major parameters such as acceleration, braking, air conditioning, noise, and performance on sharp curves, including Porur's sharpest curve with a radius of 127.55 metres. This autonomous train, built by Alstom as part of the 'Make in India' project, includes innovative technologies such as Automatic Train Operation (ATO), Automatic Train Protection (ATP), and regenerative braking for efficiency in energy. Phase II will incorporate 118.9 km of metro corridors linking important zones such as Madhavaram, Sholinganallur, and Siruseri, considerably helping commuters of Chennai, particularly the IT corridor. The corridor will open for public use by December 2025. Sources: NDTV, Swarajya, The Hindu Business Line