Navi Mumbai Metro trials to start this week

Trials will also be conducted for braking and tracks between Pendhar and Central Park stations

Finally, after years of delay, the Navi Mumbai Metro appears to be on track. The oscillation trials will be conducted by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) to check the trains in different conditions starting this Saturday. The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) received a formal letter in this regard recently.

"CIDCO has received a letter from the RDSO regarding the commencement of detailed oscillation and breaking response trials of Phase 1 Line 1 of Navi Mumbai Metro. The trials are scheduled to start on August 28. This is an important step towards phased commissioning of Line 1 of Navi Mumbai Metro. We are confident that CIDCO along with Maha Metro shall be able to take the Navi Mumbai Metro towards its commissioning as soon as possible," Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, vice-chairman and managing director of CIDCO said.

The RDSO is the research wing and technical consultant for the Indian Railways.

Also read: Mumbai: Metro, local trains all set to get linked

Trials will be conducted for braking and tracks, too, on the section between Pendhar and Central Park stations covering a distance of 5.14 km. Earlier this year, after appointing the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, or Maha Metro, for engineering assistance on Line 1, CIDCO also appointed it to operate and maintain services on Line 1. Divided into four phases, the Navi Mumbai Metro's first phase (now under implementation) begins from Belapur railway station and ends at Pendhar station near Taloja. The total length of this route is 11.10 km. The route has eleven stations and a depot-cum-workshop which is being developed at Taloja.
A senior official said that once the various kinds of trials and tests are done, the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety will be approached for clearances, which will take a few months. The Metro can open after these approvals.

The second phase has been planned between Khandeshwar and Taloja MIDC. The third phase will connect Pendhar and Taloja MIDC and the fourth phase offers connectivity between Khandeshwar and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) near Panvel.

11.10km
Length of the phase 1 of the Navi Mumbai Metro