India’s urban rail sector is witnessing strong growth, driven by the need to improve intra-city connectivity, reduce congestion and promote sustainable mobility. The sector has come a long way, with standards in place for metro systems and their components, as well as minimum local sourcing requirements for promoting indigenisation. Some of the key notable trends in the sector are a growing focus on energy conservation, new modes of transit, innovative funding mechanisms and technology adoption in construction.
Network growth
The pace of project implementation in the urban transport sector has picked up. Currently, over 940 km of metro rail and regional rapid transit system (RRTS) network is operational in the country, registering a CAGR of about 19 per cent over 2002. The network has expanded from two cities in 2006 to 21 cities at present. Delhi Metro has the highest operational network of 352.45 km (excluding Rapid Metro Gurgaon and the Noida Metro), followed by the Bengaluru Metro (73 km) and Hyderabad metro (69 km).
Technological thrust
The latest technologies such as building information modelling (BIM), common data environment (CDE), internet of things (IoT) and digital twins are being used to achieve project optimisation. These technologies empower stakeholders to make informed decisions and enhance governance and control over metro rail networks. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has set up CDE for Delhi Metro Phase IV using Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro. CDE is also being used for the Nagpur Metro to store 3D BIM models and drawings. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has developed in-house competence in utilising OpenTrack simulation software, which takes inputs from tracks, signals and telecommunication, and rolling stock. The Hyderabad Metro is also using artificial intelligence and IoT for predictive maintenance, emphasising financial viability and innovation in science and technology.
Metro corporations are moving towards driverless technology for greater operational flexibility and to reduce human intervention. The Delhi Metro’s magenta line has become the country’s first fully unmanned train network. So far, drivers’ cabins have been removed from 29 trains, creating more space for passengers. However, an attendant is present after a gap of three to four trains, with plans to remove them in a phased manner. Alstom Transport India has commenced production of the driverless metro train sets for the Chennai Metro at its manufacturing facility in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, the first driverless metro train service will be made available for the Bengaluru Metro in a few months.
Indian Railways has recently conducted the first-ever trial run of the Vande Metro train set between Villivakkam and Walajah Road, Chennai, along with senior officers of the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), the Research Design and Standards Organisation and Southern Railway. Manufactured at the ICF, the new metro train set has 12 coaches and is fully air-conditioned, can run at up to 110 km per hour and was designed for inter-city travel of 150-200 km.
Moreover, metro corporations are turning to open-loop ticketing systems to improve the efficiency of metro ticketing. Many transport agencies in the country are accepting/becoming compliant with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC). The entire DMRC network has become NCMC-compliant. Moreover, in 2023, the Chennai Metro launched the Singara Chennai Card (NCMC) while the Bengaluru Metro launched RuPay NCMC. Now, the Reserve Bank of India has allowed such cards to be issued with a limit of Rs 3,000 with no need for any know-your-customer (KYC) process.
Focus on indigenisation
Indigenisation through contract stipulation, knowledge sharing and technology transfers has resulted in creating an industry of metro coach manufacturing that benefits the burgeoning metro sector in India. For instance, the stipulation in contracts whereby less than 25 per cent of the rolling stock can be manufactured outside the country has resulted in foreign infrastructure companies such as Alstom (France) setting up manufacturing units in India. DMRC and Bharat Electronics Limited signed an memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop an indigenous communication-based train control system in September 2023. More recently, the Delhi Metro launched an indigenous crew management system software for its 1,200 train operators and other related activities.
New revenue streams
The public-private partnership (PPP) model for metros in India has not proven successful, as the lack of investment raises questions about its feasibility. Hyderabad Metro Phase I is the only operational PPP project, and Pune Metro Line III is one of the recent under-construction projects under the PPP mode. Now, private participation is being encouraged in the form of unbundled PPPs in areas such as fare collection, production, operations and maintenance (O&M) of rolling stock, provision of signalling and other technology systems and transit-oriented development (TOD). Train wrapping, station branding, advertising, etc., are becoming crucial revenue sources for metro authorities. Growing partnerships with private parties to ensure last-mile connectivity, such as through e-scooters and e-bikes, is also an emerging opportunity for start-ups. Further, there are PPP opportunities in low-capex systems such as MetroNeo and MetroLite.
Metro corporations are using new revenue options to further mobile resources for metro rail projects. Some of the new revenue streams are outsourcing O&M activities, asset management, fare collection and integration, commercial/retail activities in and around stations, property development/real estate development, advertisements and TOD.
DMRC has been auctioning naming rights to companies and public sector enterprises. Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has also decided to wrap its trains with advertisements. It will offer semi-naming rights, allowing the sponsor’s name to appear as a prefix to the station name, for existing operational stations. Furthermore, Chennai Metro Rail Limited will begin work to put up advertisements on the pillars of the Phase I network to augment its revenue.
In order to increase development along the transit lines, metropolitan development authorities and municipal corporations are implementing numerous measures. For instance, plans are under way to increase footfall in metro and monorails in Mumbai by introducing a new regulation for TOD zones. The TOD zone will come up within 500 metres of a metro and monorail station. In addition, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority is planning to increase the floor space index for properties along the Chennai Metro corridors from 4.87 to 6.5 in its TOD zones. The Ghaziabad Development Authority is also set to designate 500 metres of TOD zones along metro corridors in the city.
Emerging modes of transit
The RRTS has emerged as an innovative, transformative and strategic regional public transit initiative by the government in the National Capital Region. The Kochi Water Metro has also set a global benchmark for sustainable transport development, with a focus on universal access, safety, efficiency and the green transition. Presently, 34 km of the Delhi Meerut RRTS corridor, and the High Court-Vypin (3.32 km) and Kakkanad-Vytilla (5.1 km) stretches of the Kochi Water Metro are operational.
MetroLite and MetroNeo transit systems are receiving positive feedback from the government and metro corporations. Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited has submitted the final detailed project report (DPR) for the Visakhapatnam MetroLite project to the Andhra Pradesh government. The Noida Metro Rail Corporation has also submitted the revised DPR to the Uttar Pradesh government for the Noida Sector 142–Botanical Garden MetroLite project.
Steps towards sustainability
Metro rail corporations across cities are increasingly integrating renewable and solar energy solutions to drive down operational costs and promote sustainability in urban transport. DMRC has met around 35 per cent of its total energy requirement from renewable sources. It aims to rely on solar energy for 50 per cent of its energy requirements by 2031. BMRCL has also proposed to
install a 20 MWp solar rooftop PV system at identified locations of Phases I and II depots. This is expected to result in savings of Rs 148.1 million per annum with the current energy tariff.
Almost all metro systems in India have started deploying solar rooftop panels. Recently, NCRTC inaugurated state-of-the-art solar power plants at the Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations. Energy generated by waste-to-energy plants has also shown potential as an upcoming alternative to conventional sources. Moreover, energy-saving solutions for lighting/heating, ventilation and air conditioning, lifts and escalators, etc., are being deployed at metro stations.
For instance, DMRC has replaced split ACs with energy-efficient air-cooled chillers at its underground stations.
Growth opportunities
According to projects tracked by India Infrastructure Research, a metro rail network of over 1,700 km is expected to be added by 2030 across the country. This also includes MetroLite, MetroNeo and RRTS corridors. States such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi will significantly contribute to the network addition.
The government’s focus on Make in India coaches and the use of indigenous components will further incentivise foreign players to set up manufacturing units in the country. The sector aims to achieve 100 per cent indigenisation of rolling stock components by 2047. Meanwhile, mobile ticketing is set to increase due to the growing population of smartphone users in the country. Given the strong project pipeline, regulatory backing and increasing focus on technology, the sector has a bright future.
Sidra Siddiquie
