Australian-made transport technology is helping modernise one of India’s busiest metro networks, with transport technology company r2p Asia Pacific securing a major contract to upgrade Delhi Metro trains and station systems.
The project, delivered in partnership with Indian government-owned RITES Limited, will see 22 train sets on Delhi Metro’s Blue Line refurbished as part of the first major mid-life overhaul of a metro fleet in India.
Commuters are already experiencing the benefits of the upgrade, which includes refurbished carriage interiors, LCD-based digital route maps, enhanced passenger information systems, modern fire detection systems, upgraded control panels and CCTV cameras.
“r2p’s technology provides robust and modular architecture, ensuring scalability, maintainability and lifecycle efficiency,” said Flemming Kaer, Founder and Member of the Board of r2p Group.
“Commuters in Delhi can already see the benefit.”
Founded in Germany in 2009, r2p has grown into a global provider of intelligent transport technologies, offering train monitoring systems, CCTV surveillance, passenger information systems, public address systems, passenger counting technology and real-time communications platforms.
Its Australian subsidiary has emerged as a key exporter to the Indian market, supported by the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA).
The trade agreement allows Australian-made equipment to enter India tariff-free, providing a significant competitive advantage. Before the agreement, import duties on some equipment could reach as high as 25 per cent.
“Before the trade agreement, we had to pay up to 25 per cent on imports of equipment from Australia,” said Dr Hemant Singh, Managing Director of r2p Technologies India Private Limited.
“This benefit gives us a commercial advantage in India.”
India’s rapidly expanding metro sector presents a significant opportunity for Australian exporters. Metro systems across the country now transport more than 10 million passengers every day, driving demand for smart, secure and reliable transport infrastructure.
According to Singh, technologies proven in Australia’s demanding operating conditions are particularly well suited to Indian environments.
In response to growing demand, r2p established an Indian subsidiary in 2023 and is now developing a manufacturing facility in Dehradun under a knowledge-transfer agreement with its Australian operations.
The company has also established a software development division in India to provide local maintenance support and customised solutions for customers.
“Domestic manufacturing helps meet regulatory requirements in India, but it also enhances cost efficiency and strengthens our supply chain resilience.”
The success of the Delhi Metro contract is expected to open further opportunities as India continues its ambitious expansion of urban rail networks.
r2p plans to introduce additional technologies to the Indian market, including automated passenger-counting systems and live onboard monitoring solutions aimed at improving passenger safety and operational efficiency.
Austrade has supported the company’s expansion by facilitating introductions and helping build relationships across India’s rail sector.
With metro projects planned across multiple Indian cities, the Delhi Metro contract positions the Australian company to play a growing role in one of the world’s fastest-expanding public transport markets.
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