Powering Progress: Kolkata Metro’s Blue Line to Get Seven New Traction Substations

Updated: November 23, 2025 11:38

Kolkata Metro Railway is set to upgrade its 41-year-old Blue Line by installing seven new traction substations at strategic locations. This major enhancement will improve operational efficiency, ensure better train control, boost fire safety, reduce energy consumption, and significantly cut carbon emissions, promising a more reliable and comfortable ride for commuters.

The Kolkata Metro Railway is undertaking a comprehensive modernization project focused on its Blue Line—the North-South corridor connecting Dakshineswar and Sahid Khudiram, India’s oldest metro line in operation for over four decades. A key part of this upgrade is the construction of seven additional traction substations at key stations including Kalighat, Netaji Bhawan, Maidan, Esplanade, MG Road, Sovabazar-Sutanuti, and a midpoint between Belgachia and Shyambazar.

Power and Operational Efficiency

These new substations will bolster the Blue Line’s power distribution, aligning its infrastructure with other lines such as the Purple Line and Orange Line, which already have traction substations at every station. This will enhance train operations, reduce bottlenecks, and minimize delays, particularly in high-traffic zones.

Fire Safety and Ventilation Upgrades

Concurrently, the metro is upgrading tunnel ventilation and station cooling systems. Transitioning to a state-of-the-art Tunnel Ventilation System (TVS) will introduce advanced smoke extraction capabilities, vital for fire safety. Previously using centrifugal fans consuming huge energy, new axial fans capable of operating under extreme heat and smoke scenarios will automatically activate during emergencies.

Energy Savings and Carbon Footprint Reduction

Energy efficiency is another major benefit. The installation of Variable Frequency Drives in recent years has already halved consumption of ventilation energy. With these latest upgrades, the metro plans to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 12,300 metric tonnes annually, supporting Kolkata’s green initiatives and sustainability goals.

Future Passenger Experience

The integrated upgrades promise improved reliability, safer travel, and a more comfortable commuter experience with better air quality control inside tunnels and stations. The involvement of Japanese engineering firms, with experience commissioning systems in Singapore’s metro stations, underscores the project’s commitment to world-class standards.

Sources: The Telegraph India, The Week, Devdiscourse, PTI News, Metro Railway Kolkata official spokesperson.

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