Mumbai: Metro III trials to start in three months

Trial runs began on Metro line 2A and 7, on May 31. File pic

Locked in a state-centre land dispute for its car depot, the Colaba-Seepz Metro III underground corridor will conduct prototype trial runs in the new year. CM Uddhav Thackeray said this amid projections that the project would be delayed by two years over delay in acquiring an alternative site for the car depot. A stretch between Marol and Maroshi has been chosen for the trial runs.

The CM's office said Thackeray has instructed the Metro agency to not disturb trees in the Aarey area, which has been scrapped as the car shed site, and instead construct a ramp outside the disputed land for trial runs.

The proposed car depot site at Kanjurmarg which is caught in a legal tangle

"The track work between Marol and Maroshi is on. A ramp will be constructed close to this site and no tree will be cut," said the CMO.

The CMO said that the rolling stock maker Alstom has conducted technical trials of 8-coach trains in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. "The trial runs will cover over 10,000 km in Mumbai. Successful trials will pave the way for running 31 trains on the corridor [when completed]," it added.

Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation chief Ranjit Singh Deol said the work to set up a temporary facility (ramp) will begin shortly and may take about two and a half months to complete. "The permission by the state government provides a great impetus to the project. With 97 per cent of tunnelling and about 70 per cent of civil work completed, the start of technical trials of the prototype train is another milestone. Field trials will immediately start post-arrival of the trains," said Deol.

In June, Thackeray had petitioned PM Narendra Modi to end the tussle over the Kanjurmarg land for the Metro 3 car depot. The Sena government had last October shifted the car shed from Aarey on environmental grounds, but the alternative land at Kanjurmarg is mired in legal controversy. The state, the Centre and private parties that claim the ownership are fighting a court case. Early September, Thackeray discussed the issue with Niti Aayog officials as well.

10,000km
Distance that will be covered during the trial runs in city that will begin next year

10k
Distance in km to be covered during trial runs in city