Titagarh–ABB Partnership Boosts Metro Manufacturing in India

Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems has taken another major step in India’s metro rail journey by signing a strategic agreement with ABB India to deliver propulsion systems for 25kV metro projects. The partnership also includes technology transfer for Train Control and Monitoring Systems (TCMS), further strengthening India’s capabilities in advanced rail technology.

Under the agreement, Titagarh and ABB will work towards the gradual transfer of manufacturing and co-production of converters and traction motors in India, aligned with the government’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. This move will significantly enhance domestic manufacturing capacity for metro propulsion systems, reducing dependence on imports and building long-term self-reliance.

Titagarh had already acquired TCMS technology for 750V metro systems in 2023. With this new agreement, the company completes its TCMS portfolio for both 750V and 25kV traction systems, which together cover the operating requirements of Indian metro networks. To support this capability, Titagarh set up its own TCMS laboratory at its design centre in Bengaluru last year, enabling in-house development, testing, and integration.

The company is no stranger to propulsion and traction manufacturing. Titagarh already produces traction motors for locomotives and EMUs, and under this collaboration with ABB, it will progressively co-produce propulsion systems specifically for metro applications.

Commenting on the development, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Umesh Chowdhary said the agreement marks a significant step towards the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047. He highlighted that Titagarh has consistently worked towards backward integration across the entire train manufacturing value chain, supported by strategic alliances such as this one with ABB.

From becoming the first Indian company to develop aluminium metro trains to setting up state-of-the-art facilities for both stainless steel and aluminium metro coaches, Titagarh Rail Systems continues to put Kolkata on the national and global rail manufacturing map. This partnership with ABB further reinforces the city’s growing role in shaping the future of India’s urban transport infrastructure.