DMRC and BEL Sign MOU

by Psu Connect
Date: 13-09-23

This groundbreaking partnership is aligned with the 'Make in India' initiative, championed by the Government of India under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop an indigenous Communication Based Train Control system (i-CBTC). With this partnership, DMRC and BEL are set to usher in a new era of rail transportation in India, driving innovation, reducing costs, and fostering self-reliance in the field of train control signalling systems.

In a ceremony attended by Sh. Arun Kumar, Advisor/S&T/Co-ordination of DMRC, and Sh. Manoj Jain, Director (R&D) of BEL, exchanged the MOU in the presence of Dr. Vikas Kumar, Managing Director, DMRC, Sh. B.P. Srivastava, Chairman and Managing Director, BEL and other senior officials.

This groundbreaking partnership is aligned with the 'Make in India' initiative, championed by the Government of India under the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

The i-CBTC project signifies a significant leap forward for the Delhi Metro. By embracing this cutting-edge Communication-Based Train Control System (CBTC), which is widely adopted by leading metros worldwide, DMRC aims to optimize train operations, increase frequency, and enhance passenger services while efficiently utilizing rail infrastructure.

Already showcasing its commitment to innovation, DMRC deployed the indigenous Automatic Train Supervision System (i-ATS) on the Red Line earlier this year, tailored to Indian conditions. The development of i-CBTC is meant to be a monumental stride towards self-reliance in Metro Signalling & Train Control Systems, reducing dependence on foreign vendors and fostering indigenization and standardization.

This endeavour is driven by a dedicated team of 50 engineers from DMRC and BEL, well-versed in Signalling Technology, Software Development, Hardware Development, Safety Processes, RAMS, Testing, and more. The team has commenced work at the i-CBTC lab of DMRC and will soon develop and deploy the Prototype i-CBTC Product on a designated test track within the DMRC network.