Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd and ABB India Ltd have entered into an agreement to jointly develop propulsion systems and enable technology transfer for 25 kV driverless metro projects in India, marking a significant step towards advanced and indigenous metro technologies.

Under the agreement, ABB India will support the design, manufacture, supply, testing, installation supervision and commissioning of propulsion systems. The partnership also includes the transfer of technology for the Train Control and Monitoring System (TCMS) for 25 kV AC metro applications. The TCMS will initially operate at Grade of Automation 2 (GoA2) and will be upgradable to GoA4 standards.

The agreement further provides for the phased transfer of manufacturing and co-production of converters and traction motors for projects awarded by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority. Titagarh had earlier secured a contract to supply 240 metro coaches for Mumbai’s metro network, comprising 132 cars for Line 5 and 108 cars for Line 6.

The scope of the contract covers Line 5, running from Kapurbawadi to Kalyan APMC over 24.52 km with 17 stations, and Line 6, connecting Swami Samarth Nagar and Vikhroli (EEH) over 15.60 km with 13 stations. The order also includes five years of maintenance following a two-year defect liability period.

The latest agreement is a key milestone in Titagarh’s commitment to the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. In 2023, the company had acquired TCMS technology for 750 V metro systems through an earlier agreement with ABB. The current partnership allows Titagarh to complete its TCMS portfolio across traction systems used in Indian metro networks.

Titagarh has also strengthened its in-house capabilities by setting up a TCMS laboratory at its design centre in Bengaluru. The company is already manufacturing traction motors for locomotives and electric multiple units, and under the agreement with ABB, it will progressively co-produce high-precision propulsion systems for metro applications. Titagarh has also recently developed traction converters for EMUs under an earlier manufacturing transfer arrangement with ABB.

Propulsion systems, including TCMS, are critical components of metro trains, responsible for controlling and monitoring overall train operations. For Titagarh, the contract represents a major move towards backward integration and indigenous manufacturing, significantly increasing local content and bringing the project closer to majority localisation.

Shares of Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd closed at Rs 789.00 on the BSE, up by Rs 3.65, or 0.46 per cent.