26 April,2013 09:17 PM IST | | Ranjeet Jadhav
Finally, the trail run of the much awaited Versova-Andheri Ghatkopar (VAG) metro line one took place on Friday evening on the 2-2.5 km stretch between the metro car depot at Indian Oil and Azad Nagar Station.
Confirming the same, MMRDA Additional Metropolitan Commissioner SVR Srinivas said, "A lot of leg work has gone into the construction of VAG metro rail corridor and it feels great to announce that the trail run on the 2-2.5 km stretch between the car depot and Azad Nagar which was done on Friday evening was successful. Traveling in the metro was a very good experience and now we are concentrating on completing the work on the entire corridor at the earliest so that people can enjoy the ride."
Sources in MMRDA told this newspaper that there are chances that the official trail run will be conducted on May 1.
Work in progress on the VAG corridor in Andheri
Earlier this month, MiD-DAY had reported that there are plans for the trail run and the official trial run may be conducted on May 1 on the occasion of Maharashtra Day.
It should be noted that already the work on the stations, on the tracks and overhead electrification work between Versova and Azad Nagar station is complete.u00a0
The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) plans to start the inspection of the VAG corridor by July.
The electrification work and the Overhead Equipment (OHE) work is already in progress on the 8-km stretch between Versova and Marol, where the trial run will be conducted. The trial run will go on for about three months, following which the CRS inspection has been scheduled.
The 11.07 km VAG metro corridor, being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 2,356 crore, will be the first metro corridor in the city and will facilitate west-east connectivity.
Number game
Reduced travel time: The entire 11.07 km distance can be covered in 21 minutes as against the present 90 minutes.
Less pollution: The project will ease vehicular traffic and cut down pollution. It will provide rail-based access to MIDC, SEEPZ and other commercial developments.
