ABB to power Jaipur metro rail project

Bangalore, April 12 (IANS) Global power and automation major ABB has bagged a Rs.75 crore ($15 million) order from state-run Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC) to provide power solutions for the metro rail network at Jaipur in Rajasthan.

"The order envisages setting up 11 auxiliary sub-stations, electrification of overhead lines and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCDA) system to supply power to the Jaipur metro rail project," the company said in a statement here Thursday.

To be built under the public-private-partnership model by the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (JMRC), the 35-km mass rapid transport system will have two corridors from east to west and north to south across the pink city.

The eco-friendly project, estimated to cost about Rs.10,000 crore (Rs.100 billion), is projected to carry about 11,000 commuters per hour on each rail corridor when fully operational, reducing road traffic bottlenecks and lowering carbon emission from vehicles.

"Our extensive technology offerings and experience in rail sector make us a reliable partner. As most of India moves and works out of cities, projects like Jaipur metro will bring relief to millions of local commuters and ease traffic congestion," ABB India managing director Bazmi Husain said.

The turnkey project includes design, supply, installation and commissioning of essential power infrastructure for the stage-one of the 11.5 km east-west corridor, which will have eight stations.

"We are already helping to power the Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore urban rail networks in the country, with energy efficient solutions, facilitating the concept of green mobility," Husain said.

Urbanisation, economic growth and environmental concerns in emerging markets are some of the key trends supporting the expansion of rail networks in many parts of the world.

"We have a wide range of power and automation products and solutions for urban, conventional and high-speed rail applications and have built up an extensive global installed base," Husain noted.