After Mumbai tragedy, ICF to roll out 2 non-AC EMUs with auto doors by Nov

Roof-mounted vents and louvered doors to address ventilation issue in coaches; to be introduced in Chennai if initiative is a success

- B ANBUSELVAN @Chennai

AFTER remaining only on paper for two decades due to ventilation concerns, Indian Railways has finally decided to study the implementation of automatic doors in non-AC local trains. The move comes close on the heels of the tragic incident in Mumbai on Monday in which six commuters from suburban trains were killed.

The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), which is working on rolling out two non-AC Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains with automatic doors for deployment in Mumbai, will adopt roof-mounted ventilation and louvered doors to overcome the ventilation problem.

Officials said if the initiative proves successful, the railways may scale up production of these rakes in the coming years and introduce them in Chennai's suburban network as well.