Driverless Metros being tested in Delhi.

Delhi metro is going through various tests the for past few months at the Mukundpur depot. The speciality of these trains being that they are driverless " The trains procured for phase 3 are driverless trains, which will initially have staff deputed for operations but gradually, they will be withdrawn to move to unattended train operations," said Anuj Dayal, spokesman for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The testing started in December last year when first set of five trains arrived at Mukundpur Depot from South Korea. Another set is expected to reach by February this year. "The trains are under commissioning that is testing, electrical fitting, etc are going on," added Dayal. Many of such trains are also being maunfactured in Bengaluru . Only 20 trains will bes shipped whereas the remaining . 61 trains  are being built in BEML factory in Bengaluru as a part of tie-up between two firms. 

"The prototype came on June 4, 2015. Since then manufacturing of 61 trains has been going on in the Indian Factory. "he added. In fact two of the "made-in India" trains have already arrived at Mukundpur depot and they are being tested. Apart from being driverless train these trains are technologically more evolved than existing trains. "These trains will be more colourful and more spacious ," said Dayal. He also said," These train are directly operated by operation control centres of the Delhi Metro system." Because these trains are driverless, DMRC is also installing platforms screen doors at all station in phase 3. Each train can accommodate a maximum of 380 passengers and can accommodate 40 more passengers as driver cabin is no longer required. 

A live feed will be available inside the train through 37-inch LCD display. The new train will have four motorised cars and two trailer cars. This will help in improving speed and offer better acceleration and de-acceleration. The speed of train also increases to 35kmph from 32kmph thus saving 12 mins on 56km on the long route said Dayal.

This will be a major leap in technology for India as these will be the first set of 'Made In India' driverless trains !