In a bid to enhance commuter safety during power outages, Kolkata Metro Railway will soon install a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Central Station substation, aimed at ensuring smooth operations on the 16 km underground stretch of the Tollygunge-Dumdum route, authorities announced on Monday.
The new system, a combination of inverters and advanced chemistry cell (ACC) batteries, will allow trains to move at 30 km/h in the event of a power cut or grid failure, safely transporting passenger-packed coaches from the middle of a tunnel to the next station.
This initiative, part of the Blue Line corridor (Dakshineswar-New Garia) that spans 28 km, will focus on the 16 km underground section between Tollygunge and Dumdum. This first-of-its-kind technology aims to enhance commuter safety while improving energy management, according to the statement.
The BESS will ensure that passengers are not stranded in tunnels or viaducts due to power disruptions. Instead, the system will provide immediate power backup, allowing commuters to be brought to safety swiftly. Metro engineers have designed the system to supply 4 MW of power from a specific location to stations along the North-South Corridor, using a 33 KV system.
Funded by the Railway Board, the eco-friendly project is expected to be operational by May. Following its installation at the Central station substation, Metro authorities plan to add seven additional BESS units, each with a 1 MW capacity, incorporating Traction Energy Storage System (TESS) in new substations. These upgrades will improve power backup services across the Blue Line and are expected to reduce peak hour demand, potentially saving the Metro Railway up to Rs 7 crore over the system’s lifetime.
Additionally, the BESS will serve as a power reserve at night, storing energy for use during high-demand daytime hours. In the event of a fire, the system will also function as an emergency power source, supporting tunnel ventilation, track exhaust, and platform ventilation.