Coaches of Ahmedabad Metro train arrive at Mundra Port: MEGA to be renamed as GMRC on January 1

Ahmedabad: Much awaited trial run of Ahmedabad Metro train will be conducted in January 2019. Three coaches of metro train have arrived today at Mundra port. They shall arrive at Ahmedabad next week.

IP Gautam, MD of MEGA(Metro-Link Express for Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad) said trial run is possible any day after January 14 on 6 km stretch connecting Vastral to Apparel park in East Ahmedabad. He said regular run of Metro trail will be possible after Safety Commissioner’s approval.

“Trial run will begin after January 15. In first week, it will be tested on one-km test track within depot first. Every system, function and part of train will be tested on test track first,” Gautam said.

It’s worth noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Ahmedabad on January 17 to inaugurate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Medical Science & Research in VS hospital campus. He is likely to flag off trial run of Metro train on same day.

According to Gautam, MEGA will be renamed as Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation from January 1, 2019.

Sharing more details about meto train coaches he said, ‘tenders were floated for procurement of 32 trains for total 40 km route of Ahmedabad metro covering East-West and North-South stretches. Each train will have 3 coaches, expandable to 6 if needed in future due to increased number of passengers. Each coach will accommodate 300 passengers. Thus every train will have capacity of 900 passengers. Estimated cost of each coach is around Rs. 10.5 crore. As per the detail project report(DPR), three-coach train will be enough for estimated number of passengers for ten years period. Stations are built in design to accommodate 6-coach trains as advance preparation for expanded capacity.’

Gautam said the metro rail project in Ahmedabad is planned for city’s estimated needs for next 30-40 years. Each train will be operated at 1.5 minute gap. He said, Detail Project Report was prepared in year 2014. The company was formed in March 2015 in 50:50% joint venture between the State government and the Central government and approval for the project was received in November 2014.

When asked about challenging part of this project, Gautam said construction of overhead metro rail line in narrow roads of East Ahmdabad was challenging. There was an option of underground route, but it would increase the cost by 2.5 to 3 time or Rs. 2,000 crore around. Due to narrow roads and choice of overhead line, people had to be convinced for acquisition on both sides. This took more time in implementation.

Gautam said it was Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s wish to start the operation of Metro train project in Ahmedabad from city’s Easterly direction(Vastral – Apparel Park).

DeshGujarat