Metro rail rolls out maiden trial run in 5.7 km stretch between Koyambedu to Ashok Nagar

Chennai:

It was a pleasant surprise for Chennaites on Friday as the metro rail rolled out its maiden trial run between Koyambedu and Ashok Nagar metro stations.

Unaware of such a trial run taking place, Chennaites hardly had time to stretch up their neck to watch the metro rail that was chugging in the 5.7 km stretch at a snail’s pace.

Even the hooting of the train got unnoticed in the busy Koyambedu bus stations as well as at the busy 100 feet road between Koyambedu and Vadapalani signal.

It was only after the alert by some curious bystanders, people climbed the stairs to have the glimpse of metro rail.

“This is the first time I am seeing the metro train. It is really beautiful,” exclaimed Sharfunisa, a final year student of St Peter’s College as she watched the train move above the 100 feet road in the busy Koyambedu-Vadapalani stretch.

“We are waiting eagerly to travel in the train. We like the colour,” exclaimed her other friend.

Interestingly, people walking below the elevated stretch hardly had any inkling that the metro rail was on its maiden test run in the stretch. “I could hardly notice it. It was only after I saw people pointing upwards that I noticed the train,” said Velayutham.

Metro rail officials said they wanted to keep everything under wraps so as to ensure all the mechanism are in place. Interestingly, the train had three trial runs in the same stretch which has five stations. These include Koyambedu, CMBT, Arumbakkam, Vadapalani and Ashok Nagar.

And in the next six months, it would be a regular feature on the elevated stretch. “Initially, the train ran at a speed of 5 km per hour and soon we extended the speed to 25kmph. It would be further increased upto 90kmph, said the official.

“We will be doing the software test, signal test, telecom test and train test after which an integration trial will be conducted. Then we will have to wait for rail safety clearance after which the stretch would be inaugurated,” said the metro rail official.   

Meanwhile, deputy chief representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency Ichiguchi Tomohide said that the entire metro rail stretch, both elevated and underground, would be completed by the end of next year. He said JICA has provided Rs 8,000 crore for the project.