delhi

Updated: Jun 23, 2017 13:13 IST

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) started the trial run on the 6.5 km stretch between Shakurpur and Mayapuri elevated section of the upcoming 59 km-long Majlis Park-Shiv Vihar corridor.

However, it will take at least six months to start the line for commercial operations as new trains and signalling system needs rigorous testing.

The line is also important as Delhi Metro’s new UTO (Unattended Train Operations) enabled trains will operate on this corridor. The new trains, with high levels of automation, will now undergo rigorous trials between these stations to ensure that they are ready for smooth operations after the commissioning of the corridor. Initially, train operators will run the trains, but gradually, driverless operations (on the UTO mode) will be possible.

“During these trials, the interface of the Metro train will be checked to ensure that there is no physical infringement with civil infrastructure during the movement of the train on the track and also testing of various subsystems of coaches shall be done,” a DMRC official said.

Officials said new signalling technology known as Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) will be implemented on this corridor and will undergo rigorous testing in stages. The response of the train at different speeds, braking of the train and the interconnection with the Operations Control Centre (OCC) will also be monitored during the trials.

This section has one interchange station at Rajouri Garden with Line 3/4 (Dwarka Sector 21 – Noida City Centre / Vaishali). Since both the stations are elevated, it will be connected through a foot over bridge and it will have travelators.

The construction of this section caused heavy traffic at various points on the ring road which had to be managed. Besides construction challenges, land acquisition at Mayapuri and Punjabi Bagh also posed a bottleneck during construction. Major utility diversions also had to be carried out between Shakurpur to Mayapuri, like relocation of a box drain near Mayapuri.

The metro alignment on this section crosses beneath two existing metro lines at Punjabi Bagh and Rajouri Garden. The steel span at Punjabi Bagh is also crossing over the PWD underpass.

This also passes above two major Jhuggi clusters.

In 2012, DMRC requested Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement (DUSIB) for rehabilitation of these Jhuggis but it were handed over to DMRC after DUSIB had relocated all the Jhuggis by mid 2016.