The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) is gearing up to start trial run of the first phase of Metro Line 3 between Aarey and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in November.
This follows the authority’s successful completion of the first long-distance trial from MIDC to Vidyanagari Metro station and back to SEEPZ, covering 17 kilometres.
Earlier in August 2022, the MMRC had conducted the short-distance trial for the first prototype rake on a 3-km stretch between Sariput Nagar in Aarey and Marol Naka.
The 33.5-km long Metro-3 corridor running along Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ is the first underground metro corridor of Mumbai. It will connect Cuffe Parade business district in the extreme south of the city to SEEPZ in the north-central with 26 underground and one at-grade station.
According to MMRC officials, track laying on a short segment remains unfinished. Following this, overhead electrical lines will be energized in both directions so that trial runs of the complete Phase 1 between Aarey to BKC stations can be carried out, writes Indian Express.
The next procedure will be to approach the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS).
The CMRS inspects operational safety, traction and power supply, signalling system, viaduct, tracks and curve, passenger amenities at metro stations, fire fighting system, passenger information systems, and others. Once the CMRS gives safety clearance, the commercial operations can start.
MMRCL had initially planned to start Phase 1 operations by December this year. However, with trial run slated for November, Phase 1 operations will now be delayed till next year.
The second phase between BKC and Colaba that was set to begin after six months of Phase 1 operations, likely by May 2024, will also be delayed.