‘Procuring trains the biggest challenge’

Even if the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) receives the nod to implement the Kochi Metro Rail project, the biggest  challenge it faces is procuring trains for the project. With its complicated body type and the various procedures involved, procuring trains for the Metro is quite difficult.

DMRC Principal Advisor E Sreedharan has said that land acquisition is not a tough process as compared to the acquisition of trains.

“Once the trains are acquired, oscillation trials would be held. These trials will be held to test the durability of the trains on the Metro.

“After this, we need  to receive a safety certificate from the Railways, which is a tough task as well,” said Sreedharan during a seminar on the Metro Rail held here on Tuesday.

Currently, the bogies of the Metro trains are manufactured in Gujarat. Bharat Earth Movers is a prime manufacturer of the bogies.

The various Metros in the country had tie-ups with foreign countries for acquisition of the Metro trains