3rd round of trial run starts for Phase-1 of E-W Metro

Kolkata: The third trial run for the first phase of East West Metro has started, in a bid to ensure technical glitch-free trips.

"The trial run started on November 8 and will continue till November 17," said Kolkata Metro Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Indrani Banerjee.

While the first round of trials for Phase-I of the East-West Metro were held from October 15 to October 17, the second round commenced on October 30 and concluded on October 31.

During the trial run, Metro Railway officials are checking the signaling system, alignment of trains at the platform, synchronisation of platform screen and other technicalities.

The East-West Metro project is being implemented by Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL). However, operations of the service will be handled by Kolkata Metro Railway.

The first phase of the East-West Metro stretches across five kilometres between Salt Lake Sector V and Salt Lake Stadium. It includes six stations, namely Salt Lake Sector V, Karunamoyee, Central Park, City Centre, Bengal Chemical and Salt Lake Stadium.

After completion of the trial run, a report will be prepared by Kolkata Metro Railway. If the review report reveals that all the trains are running properly without any glitches, then the final date of inauguration of the first phase will be decided.

However, the first phase of the East-West corridor of Kolkata Metro was earlier scheduled to see its inauguration in 2012. Due to land acquisition issues, slum relocation and route alignment, the construction work got delayed.

This apart, the tunnel boring work also stopped as the buildings in Bowbazar area developed structural damages following an incident of subsidence.