Kolkata Metro Adopts ABB’s Electrification and Motion Control Solutions

Kolkata Metro, India’s first metro railway established in 1984, has partnered with ABB to enhance the efficiency, reliability and safety of its expanding urban transit network. Supporting seamless operations across underground and elevated corridors, ABB’s advanced electrification and motion-control solutions have been deployed across key metro infrastructure facilities. Today, the 72-km metro system operates more than 300 train trips daily and serves over half a million passengers, playing a vital role in easing traffic congestion and promoting sustainable mobility in the city.

A wide range of ABB Electrification solutions, including low-voltage and medium voltage gas-insulated switchgear, lightning protection systems, distribution boards, and variable frequency drives (VFDs), have been deployed across various station and tunnels throughout the network. These solutions are designed to optimize space, reduce downtime, support efficient operations, and enable safe ventilation, contributing to operational continuity. ABB Motion's HVAC-dedicated packaged drives help control critical cooling and ventilation infrastructure, supporting passenger comfort and safety during daily operations and smoke extraction functions during emergencies within the metro station, while making noticeable energy savings – on average of 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 percent 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 and 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.