It can be unnerving for electric train passengers, to put it mildly, when a power outage occurs. We look out the window but dare not step out the door for fear of electric cables. We may be late for a critical interview but what can we do? If only the train company had emergency battery power, we say to the stranger next to us.
Kolkata Metro Awards Tender for Emergency Battery Power
The Kolkata Metro announced that an emergency battery power backup service would support its oldest ‘Blue Line’ network. This branch was laid down in 1978, and runs across Kolkata from north to south. The modification will allow a fully-laden train to reach the nearest station, and disembark its passengers.
“It would be the first such initiative in the country to further ensure commuter safety,” a Metro spokesperson explained. “While also improving energy consumption too.”
Energy.Economic Times, who shared the story, believe an ‘amalgamation of inverters and advanced chemistry cell batteries’ will power the backup. As we investigated deeper, we learned that the project is part of a broad initiative to implement battery storage systems nationwide.
Broader Backdrop to the Kolkata Metro Blue Line Branch
The Indian Government’s advanced chemistry cell project is regularly bolstered with additional funds. Apparently, as far as we can gather, the scheme aims to rapidly advance electric mobility and battery storage nation-wide.
The plan will include extending India’s ability to manufacture emergency battery power systems locally. And this includes as much local beneficiation of battery materials as possible.
The joint secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries Vijay Mittal told Energy.Economic Times how government financial investment had increased six-fold in the past few years.
“I have seen a consistent rise in financial support to this sector,” he revealed. “Because the Government of India wants to prioritize the growth of a self-sufficient energy ecosystem.”
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Great Western Railway Battery Train Record
