Versova-Ghatkopar metro sees first full-route trial

The Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro rail made its first full-route trial on Saturday taking the much-delayed project closer to commissioning than ever before.

The trials for the metro rail started on May 1 this year, though they were mostly between Versova and the airport junction stretch. This is the first time it was tested all the way till Ghatkopar, the last station on the 11km route.

A Mumbai Metro One pvt ltd (MMOPL) spokesperson said, “The trail run was conducted successfully today (Saturday) in confirmation with the world class standard for our Metro system.

The trial run and the Research Design and Standards Organisation’s (RDSO) approval has come right on time for our plan to open the line for the city’s citizens soon.”

The metro project has seen steady progress in the last few months with two very important certifications. One has been from the railway ministry’s RDSO for the signalling and communication system for the entire stretch, and the other from the electrical inspector to the government certifying the electrical systems for mass transportation projects. The only hitch is the duty concession letter that the state Urban Development Department (UDD) has to send to the customs department to clear two rakes that have arrived at Mumbai port. Another three rakes are expected to arrive in the next few weeks.

The delay in getting these rakes could delay the commissioning of the metro, said sources. The cost of the first metro line (Versova-Ghatkopar) has increased from Rs 2,356crore to Rs4,321 crore.