Alstom Set to Manufacture 32 More Driverless Trains

20 Mar 2025 CW Team

Alstom is poised to secure a contract for the manufacture of 32 additional driverless trains for Chennai Metro Rail’s Phase II project, having emerged as the lowest bidder for the production of 96 coaches (32 three-coach trains).

Alstom had previously bagged the first contract for 36 three-coach driverless trains, of which three have already arrived in Chennai. The second contract was awarded to BEML Limited for the production of 70 three-coach trains.

Passenger Capacity & Features Each three-coach train can accommodate 900 passengers, compared to 1,200 passengers per trip in Phase I. Bid value: Rs 15.38 billion (awaiting final approval from the State government’s high-level committee). New Features: Dynamic route maps (8 per coach, compared to 4 in Phase I). USB charging points (absent in Phase I). 24 CCTV cameras per train, including track, overhead equipment, and platform monitoring. Enhanced Safety & Automation The new trains incorporate obstacle and derailment detection systems to automatically stop the train if an object is detected on the tracks. This aims to prevent incidents like those in Phase I, where maintenance equipment was accidentally left on the tracks.

With Chennai Metro planning to go fully driverless, these enhanced safety features will be monitored from the Operation Control Centre, ensuring seamless and secure operations.

Real Estate

04 Aug 2026

LML Realty Launches Cinema Campaign on Industrial Vision

LML Realty has launched a cinema advertising campaign in partnership with PVR INOX across 81 screens in Gurugram and Faridabad, showcasing the brand’s transformation from a mobility icon to an industrial infrastructure developer.The campaign features a cinematic brand film tracing LML’s journey since 1972, beginning with its iconic scooters and highlighting its evolution into creating infrastructure solutions that support India’s manufacturing growth.The film focuses on LML Industrial Park at Jhirka Valley, the company’s flagship industrial development approved under the Haryana Govern..

IIM Ahmedabad Publishes Case Study on HoABL’s Business Model

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has published a case study on The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL), examining the company’s digital-first consumer journey and business model that created India’s branded land category.Titled “HoABL: Ready for Scaling Up”, the case study has been published by the IIMA Case Centre and co-authored by Sourav Borah, Associate Professor of Marketing at IIMA, and Dr Aparna Kansal of IMT Ghaziabad. IIMA case studies are used across management and executive education programmes to help students and business leaders analyse strategic decision..

Advait Energy and MEIL Partner for Energy Transition Projects

Advait Energy Transitions Limited (AETL) and Manipal Energy Infratech Limited (MEIL), a company of The Manipal Group, have entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on power and energy transition opportunities across India and international markets.The partnership aims to combine AETL’s expertise in innovative energy technologies and manufacturing with MEIL’s EPC execution capabilities and project management experience. The collaboration will focus on opportunities across Power Transmission & Distribution, Renewable Energy, Battery Energy Storage Systems..