BEML Secures ₹3,658 Crore Contract for Chennai Metro Rolling Stock and Maintenance

BEML Ltd, a Mini Ratna Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Defence, has secured a ₹3,658 crore contract from Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) for the design, manufacture, supply, testing, and commissioning of advanced Standard Gauge Metro Rolling Stock and Depot Machinery & Plant. The deal also includes a 15-year comprehensive maintenance contract.

BEML will deliver 210 metro cars, which will be configured into 70 three-car trainsets (DMC + TC + DMC). These cutting-edge trains will be designed for Unattended Train Operation (UTO) mode (GoA4), ensuring the highest level of automation. The trains will operate across three key corridors of Chennai Metro: Corridor 3 (Madhavaram to Sipcot – 45.8 km), Corridor 4 (Lighthouse to Poonamallee – 26.1 km), and Corridor 5 (Madhavaram to Sholinganallur – 47 km). The total network spans 118.9 km, consisting of 76.3 km of elevated tracks and 42.6 km of underground lines.

The project’s timeline includes the delivery of the first trainset by January 2027, which will undergo rigorous testing at the Madhavaram Depot for 14 months, including integration and service trials. The final trainset will be delivered by April 2029. Maintenance services will begin once the 70th trainset enters revenue operations and will continue for 15 years, ensuring long-term operational efficiency.

This achievement follows BEML’s success in delivering India’s first indigenously designed and manufactured Vande Bharat sleeper trainset to the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and its involvement in the High-Speed Rail project. As a pioneer in manufacturing driverless trains, BEML has previously supplied metro systems to major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore.

This contract further establishes BEML’s role as a key player in India’s metro rail development and aligns with the government’s push for self-reliant infrastructure advancements. By securing this prestigious project, BEML continues to contribute to modernizing urban transport systems across India, particularly in Chennai, which is set to benefit from advanced metro technologies.