Mumbai Metro line-3 trial run begins

MUMBAI: Trial runs for the first prototype rake for Metro 3 corridor (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz) was flagged off by chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis from Sariput Nagar in Aarey on Tuesday.
Based on successful outcome of these ‘initial design proving train trial runs’, dispatch clearance will be planned for the subsequent trains by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC).
The prototype rake was manufactured at Alstom’s facility in Siri city.
The trials runs are being conducted on 3km stretch between Sariput Nagar and Marol Naka station.
The trials runs will ascertain Higher Design Speed (95 Kmph) and Operating Speed (85 Kmph) for 8-car train.
Speaking on the occasion Shinde said , “We are committed towards completing the phase I by December 2023. We are happy the way the project has picked up pace.”
Fadnavis thanked Shinde for removing “hurdles” from the project, whose carshed work had been stayed be erstwhile Uddhav Thackeray government.
Terming the opposition to the project as political, Fadnavis said, “The work was stayed even though clearance to cut trees was given by Supreme Court.”
He said project is going to bring down air pollution also reduce traffic snarls.
He also said that had the stay not been given, the line could have been ready by March instead of Phase I stretch between Aarey-BKC by December 2023.
Fadnavis also said that shifting of depot at Kanjurmarg would have led to delay in project by 4 years. He further said, “Had the depot been shifted to Kanjurmarg, the land in Aarey would still have been used for setting up 16 stabling lines and a ramp to connect to Line 6 (Lokhandwala-Vikhroli.”
Both Shinde and Fadnavis lauded the effort put in by MMRC team and its managing director Ashwini Bhide.