Title - Mumbai Metro first trial run marks Maharashtra Day

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority carried out a metro rail trial run between Versova and Azadnagar in Andheri on the occasion of Maharashtra Day, covering 3 km.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who flagged off the run, announced the trials would continue for the next few months, in order to secure certification from the commissioner, Railway Safety.

Mr Chavan said that “We expect the first phase from Versova to the airport road to start around September, and the second from the airport road to Ghatkopar by the year end.”

The project is being developed under a public-private-partnership by a Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium, Mumbai Metro One.

The 11.4 km elevated tracks will connect the western suburb of Versova to the eastern suburb of Ghatkopar through Andheri. There will be 12 stations, and it will take 21 minutes to cover the distance, compared to the one and a half hours by road.

The capacity of one coach will be 295 passengers, while the capacity of one train, comprising four coaches, is estimated to be 1,178 passengers. The metro is expected to carry 600,000 commuters a day. The fares are expected to be between INR 10 and INR 15.

The project cost was envisaged at INR 2,356 crore and MMRDA had predicted an implementation schedule between 2007 and 2012. However, it has been delayed due to issues relating to clearances from the environment, railways, civil aviation and security agencies. Besides, problems in land acquisition and rehabilitation of project-affected persons also led to revision in the schedule.