Metro kickstarts trial run for section of Magenta line

The Delhi Metro, on Monday, set off the trial run process on its 13-km long stretch from Janakpuri West to IGI Airport Terminal 1D, for its upcoming Magenta Line, a statement said.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) started the process by unloading the train coaches on the tracks. The first two coaches of the six-coach train were unloaded at the Sadar Bazar Metro station in Delhi Cantt and lowered near the ramp through a carefully planned operation.

In this part, the Metro goes from elevated to underground. The coaches were positioned on the tracks with the help of special high capacity cranes and trailers.

“ The decision to unload the train was taken to ensure the timely beginning of trial runs on this particular section, where construction work is in finishing stages since the work on the line, connecting to Kalindi Kunj is still in progress,” the DMRC said in a statement.

“To unload the train in such a section without depot connectivity, DMRC had to choose a specific location, where there is no requirement to lift the coaches too high,” the DMRC said in a statement.

While trial runs are going on between Botanical Garden and Kalkaji Mandir, track, OHE and other associated activities, being carried out between Kalkaji Mandir and Munirka, where the tunnelling work finished last week and as a result, this particular section still does not have any connectivity with the depot.

“The process needed absolute precision to avoid any physical damage to the coaches or the civil structure. The remaining four coaches of the train will be positioned on the tracks in the next few days,” it said.

The trial runs will next start on this approximately 13-km long section, it added. The section is part of the 38.23-km stretch from Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden (Magenta Line) that has 25 Metro stations.

The trial run on its elevated section from Kalkaji Mandir to Botanical Garden started in October. Besides keeping in the mind the elevation of the tracks from the ground, the authorities paid special attention not to disrupt the traffic.