Kolkata Metro Rail Inaugurates Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) In Blue Line.

Kolkata; February 2026: Metro Railway, Kolkata, India’s first Metro, has achieved another feat by commissioning Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Central Metro station of Blue Line today, i.e., on 25.02.2026. This BESS, the first of its kind in Indian Railways and in the eastern part of our country was commissioned in presence of Mr. S.S. Mishra, General Manager and other senior officers of Metro Railway, President and other members of MRWWO.

This system comprises of inverters and Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Batteries, is capable of providing stored power in case of a power outage or grid failure. This 4 MW BESS is conceptualised, as per the National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Storage, approved by the Union Cabinet in the year 2021, is powered by 6.4 MWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery as energy storage element.

This new system has been designed in such a way that the electricity stored by it can be used to haul rakes at 55 km/hour speed from the mid-tunnel to the next station, if stranded in case of any Grid Failure besides providing power supply to tunnel ventilation and environment control system at the underground stations. This system also equipped with green batteries has lifespan of around 14 years and very compact in design. It is also going to reduce carbon footprint with better energy efficiency than conventional Generators.

It will efficiently handle spikes in power demand and improve power factor which will reduce energy bill.

Team Maverick.