Title - Metro trial run from Versova to Airport Road successful

MUMBAI: In a significant development for the Versova-AndheriGhatkopar metro rail, a successful trial run was carried out for the first time on the Versova-Airport Road stretch on Monday. This stretch of the metro is slated to open to public by October.
Monday’s trial run was completed in 20 minutes.

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) additional commissioner SVR Srinivas, who was onboard during the trial run, said 7-km stretch was covered in 20 minutes.

“We started the trial run from Versova at 6.45pm and reached Airport Road by 7.05pm. The train was operated at limited speed, however, it attained 50kmph at certain places,” said Srinivas.

This comes a month after chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had flagged off a 2-km long trial run from Versova to Azad Nagar stations on May 1. MMRDA officials said Monday’s trial run meant commencement of the service on the Versova to Airport Road stretch as per deadline.

“Only work pertaining to signaling and auto-fare collection system is yet to be finished. Now, trial runs will be carried everyday. We are expecting a certification from the commissioner of railway safety (CRS),” said an official, close to the development.