Kolkata Metro has strengthened its urban transit infrastructure by deploying advanced electrification and motion control technologies from ABB. As India’s first metro railway network continues to expand across underground and elevated corridors, the collaboration aims to enhance operational efficiency, reliability, safety, and passenger comfort. Spanning 72 km and serving more than half a million passengers daily through over 300 train trips, Kolkata Metro plays a crucial role in supporting sustainable urban mobility and reducing traffic congestion in the city.
ABB has supplied a comprehensive portfolio of electrification solutions across key stations, tunnels, and operational facilities within the Kolkata Metro network. These include low- and medium-voltage gas-insulated switchgear, lightning protection systems, distribution boards, and variable frequency drives (VFDs), designed to improve energy efficiency, optimize space utilization, and support uninterrupted operations. ABB’s motion control technologies, including HVAC-dedicated drives, also help maintain safe ventilation, passenger comfort, and efficient smoke extraction during emergencies while delivering average energy savings of up to 25 percent.
Kiran Dutt, President – Electrification, ABB India said, “As India accelerates its journey toward low-carbon, smart urban transit, the need for highly efficient and intelligent solutions has never been more urgent. Today, ABB’s broad portfolio of technologies are helping our customers drive efficient operations across 80% of the nation’s metro rail networks. Over the past 25 years, ABB has closely partnered with Kolkata Metro to equip its network with future-ready products & solutions across different corridors. Through local manufacturing and innovations under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, ABB continues to support India’s vision for a modern, sustainable, and future-ready transportation ecosystem.”
Various ABB solutions have been deployed across Kolkata Metro’s network, engineered to the specific infrastructure requirements and operational needs of different locations. These solutions are installed across key metro corridors and facilities, including the Sealdah–Phoolbagan, Joka–Majerhat, Barun Sengupta–Nazrul Tirtha, Airport, Shahid Khudiram station and Blue Line corridors, as well as at Dakshineswar, Baranagar, Metro Railway Bhavan, and India’s largest underground metro station— Jai Hind Bimanbandar. Supporting various aspects of metro infrastructure, right from power distribution and electrification to HVAC applications, these solutions contribute to the efficient operation of the network and support Kolkata Metro’s ongoing infrastructure development efforts.
