Trial run begins on Delhi Metro’s Heritage Line

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Wednesday kicked off its the phase-III expansion with the trial run on ITO-Kashmere Gate section, also known as the Heritage Line.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Wednesday kicked off its the phase-III expansion with the trial run on ITO-Kashmere Gate section, also known as the Heritage Line.

A Delhi Metro train arrives at the Delhi Gate Metro station during its trial run between ITO and Kashmere Gate on Wednesday.(Ajay Aggarwal/Hindustan Times)

It will be followed by a trial run on the Kalindi Kunj to Kalkaji section of the Janakpuri West-Botanical Garden line on Thursday.

“We are hoping to start trial runs between Janakpuri and Delhi airport by November. We plan to start trial runs between Delhi Cantonment to Moti Bagh (part of the Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar line) in November,” said Anuj Dayal, DMRC spokesperson.

Delhi Metro chief Mangu Singh said the trial run on the ITO-Kashmere Gate section will continue for three months before it is opened for the public. “Ninety-five per cent of the work of on phase-III is done and issues related to land have been resolved,” said Singh.

The 5.17-kilometre ITO-Kashmere Gate section of Delhi Metro’s violet line is an extension of the Escorts Mujesar (Faridabad)–ITO corridor. This underground section will have four stations – Delhi Gate, Jama Masjid, Lal Quila and Kashmere Gate.

With the opening of this section, Kashmere Gate will become first interchange station to link three corridors of the network (violet line with red and yellow lines).

During the trial runs, the officials will check if there are any blockages in the train movement or on the track. The signal system will undergo rigorous testing.

Read: Ride to history: Delhi Metro starts trial run of heritage line

The response of the train at different speeds, brakes and the connection with the Operations Control Centre (OCC) will be monitored during the trials. The track system and the Over Head Electrification (OHE) will also be checked repeatedly during the trials.

The Heritage Line passes through various historical landmarks of the Delhi such as Delhi Gate, Jama Masjid and Red Fort. After the commissioning of this section, residents of Faridabad and various south Delhi areas such as Govindpuri, Kalkaji, Nehru Place and East of Kailash will be able to travel directly to Old Delhi and vice-versa.

Commuters travelling on the yellow line between Central Secretariat and Kashmere Gate will also be able to use the violet line for reaching the same destinations. Officials said this will help decongest the system.

“Since the corridor passes through areas of great historical importance, the stations have been decorated with panels and artworks depicting the glory of the bygone era. During construction also, adequate care was taken to ensure that the monuments were not harmed by metro construction,” said the spokesperson.

Read: Another link to Old Delhi: Jama Masjid Metro station to open later this year

STATUS OF PHASE-3

Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar line:

Trial run between Delhi Cantonment to Moti Bagh to start in November, 2016. Line is likely to be made operational by June 2017.

Janakpuri-west Botanical Garden line:

Trial run between Kalandi Kunj-Kalkaji to start from Thursday.

Trial run already between Kalindi Kunj-Okhla Vihar is already on.

Trial run between Kalindi Kunj and Botanical Garden in October.

Trial run between Janakpuri and airport to begin in November, 2016.

ITO-Kashmere Gate:

Trial run started on Wednesday.

Line will be operational by November 2016.