Mumbai: MMRDA to open 20-km stretch of two lines in October giving people access to 18 stations

An OHE tower wagon at work on Metro Line 7, near Dahisar East. Pic/Satej Shinde

Come October, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) will throw open a 20-km stretch of Yellow Line 2A and Red Line 7, giving people access to 18 stations. The launch is being done phase-wise and more stretches will open up later. In an interview with mid-day, MMRDA Commissioner RA Rajeev said trains will sport the respective line's colour bands and 10 trains shall arrive in the city by August.

RA Rajeev, MMRDA commissioner

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While Yellow Line 2A is between Dahisar and DN Nagar, the Red Line 7 is between Dahisar East and Andheri along the Western Express Highway (WEH). The stretches that will open are between Kamraj Nagar and Dahisar on Line 2A and between Dahisar and Aarey Colony on Line 7. Excerpts:

What is the status of Yellow Line 2A (18.58 km) and Red Line 7 (33.5 km)?
Work of overhead wires and control centre is ready for phase 1 section (Kamraj Nagar to Dahisar on Line 2A and Dahisar to Aarey on line 7). Phase 2 will be ready by year-end.

It is said that the car-shed for both lines will be common. Where has it been built and what is its status?
The car shed (depot) for Line 2A and Line 7 will be common initially. It has been made at Charkop near Kamraj Metro station. However, an independent depot is planned at Dahisar for Line 7.

What are the stages ahead now? Once the internal trials are over, when would the safety trials start?
The stretch from Kamraj Nagar (near Charkop Depot) to Aarey (via Dahisar) is almost ready. The prototype train set is also ready at Charkop depot for dynamic trials on the mainline. The first mainline trial - run of the prototype train set - is planned for May 31 on Up direction between Charkop depot and Aarey station (via Dahisar). The dynamic testing and trial-runs by the BEML team will continue for about two months after which the prototype rake will be offered to RDSO for mandatory performance and safety testing, which will take about two months. Meanwhile, station works and signalling and telecom works will be completed. The train set will then be offered to the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) for inspection and certification. Commercial public operations are planned in October on this stretch (Kamraj Nagar to Aarey via Dahisar) on both lines with all passenger facilities such as lifts, escalators, Passenger Information System, Platform Screen Doors and AFC gates.

Mumbai Metro Line 7 at Dahisar East. Pic/Satej Shinde

What will be the highlights of the internal train trials ?
The prototype train is of six cars and will be run at various speeds. Various sub-systems and equipment will be tested in dynamic conditions. Performance-proving tests and trials will be carried out. Integration with signalling, telecom and platform screen doors will be tested. Safety tests will also be conducted.

As of now, we have just one train set in Mumbai. Will that be enough? Any update about more trains?
A total of 10 trains will be available from BEML, Bangalore by August at the rate of two trains per month, before commissioning happens.

Mumbaikars have been curious about this - will the trains sport their respective line's colour?
The colour scheme provided on the prototype train sets will continue with certain improvements. Line 2A trains will have yellow colour bands and Line 7 trains will have red colour bands.

When should Mumbaikars expect to use the lines?
Commercial public operations are planned on the phase 1 section (Kamaraj Nagar to Aarey via Dahisar) in October and complete operations should begin by year-end.