Bengaluru Metro's new stations to get platform screen doors; Alstom lowest bidder

Metro corporations in Delhi and Chennai have already implemented PSDs, particularly at underground stations.

Bengaluru Metro's new stations will soon be equipped with platform screen doors.

Alstom Transport India emerged as the lowest bidder for the CBTC signaling and platform screen door (PSD) contract on January 11.

This development was first reported by themetrorailguy.com.

The contract includes stations along the 21 km Pink Line ( Kalena Agrahara - Nagawara) and 56 km Blue Line (Central Silk Board - KR Puram - Kempegowda International Airport Line), which is likely to be awarded to Alstom Transport with a bid of Rs 857 crore. Siemens India and Nippon Signal submitted bids of Rs 912 crore and Rs 944 crore, respectively.

According to the contract, full-height platform screen doors (PSDs) will be installed at 13 underground stations, while half-height platform screen gates (PSGs) will be deployed at 37 elevated or at-grade stations.

The contract covers Phase 2's Pink Line (Nagawara – Kalena Agrahara) with six elevated stations featuring PSGs and 12 underground stations with PSDs, Phase 2 A's Blue Line (Central Silk Board – KR Puram) with 13 elevated stations featuring PSGs, and Phase 2B's Blue Line (KR Puram – Airport) with 17 elevated stations and one at-grade station equipped with PSGs, along with one underground station featuring PSDs.

The contract involves the installation of communications-based train control (CBTC) signaling, train control systems, and platform screen door/gate systems. It also includes personnel training, including annual maintenance for up to five years of two lines.

On January 5, a 23-year-old male passenger jumped in front of an approaching Metro train at Jalahalli Metro station in an alleged suicide bid, disrupting Bengaluru Metro's Green Line ( Nagasandra -Silk Institute) services for nearly 50 minutes on January 5 evening.

On January 2, Metro operations in Bengaluru were halted for 15 minutes after a woman jumped onto a metro track to get her phone back.

These incidents highlighted the necessity for Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) at Metro stations in Bengaluru. Experts say that PSDs, serving as protective barriers between the platform and the tracks, play a major role in preventing incidents such as suicides and accidental falls onto the tracks.

Synchronised with Metro coach doors, PSDs only open after the train comes to a complete halt. Metro corporations in Delhi and Chennai have already implemented PSDs, particularly at underground stations.