According to a Chennai Metro official, driverless trains will be introduced as part of phase II operations. Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail is moving at great speed. Its primary operating principle will be unattended train operation. The trains will only operate based on information received from signals.
The expansion of Chennai Metro Phase II consists of three corridors:
- Corridor 3 - from Madhavaram to SIPCOT (45.8 km),
- Corridor 4 - from Lighthouse to Poonamalle Bypass (26.1 km),
- Corridor 5 - from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (47 km).
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 63,246 crore.
“It will be an unattended operation and totally based on signals. There will not be any drivers and this is how it will be right from the start,” said systems and operations director of Chennai Metro Rail, Rajesh Chaturvedi, reports India Today.
He also expressed hope that the Chennai Metro Phase II driverless trains will be operational by 2026. Corridor 4 will be extended to Parandur (50 km), Corridor 5 will be extended to Avadi via Thirumangalam and Mogappair (17 km), and Corridor 3 will be extended from Siruseri to Kilambakkam Bus Terminus via Kelambakkam (26 km). The Metro Rail will be extended from the Chennai airport to Kilambakkam, where a bus terminal will soon be built.
