Chennai: The much expected trial run of the city’s first metro rail on the elevated corridÂor is most unlikely to happen in January.
And even if it does in FebÂruary, the city’s metro train might not run all the way up to St Thomas Mount frÂom Koyambedu. There is a good chance of the train ruÂnning between KoyaÂmÂbedu and Ashok Nagar.
InciÂdeÂntally, the track and electrification works have been completed on one line from Koyambedu to Ashok NaÂgar and electrification woÂrks would commence in a few days on the parallel line.
Senior CMRL sources confirmed the work completion and told Deccan Chronicle that some works were pending near Ashok Pillar and Eekaatuthangal.
For instÂance, the linking of two piers over a wing of KatÂhipÂara grade separator using balanced cantilever technology was just about nearing completion. Also, linking another pier to the two piers running over the grÂade separator has not beÂgun yet, CMRL sources said.
Interestingly, the trial run would happen without the signal system being put in place. The signal systems would be required only at a later stage. Initially, the trial run would involve mÂere operation of the trains on the newly laid tracks.
According to senior CMRL sources, each of the 42 trains required for the project would go through 1,600 km-long trial run beÂfore commencing commercial operation.
Each train would make a minimum of 160 trial trips between Koyambedu and St. Thomas Mount before the launch. CMRL, which recruited couple of loco pilots to operate its trains has already sent them to New Delhi along with it’s a few dozen technical staff to be trained by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
The state government has set July as deadline to lauÂnch commercial operations on Koyambedu to St ThoÂmas Mount elevated corridor. CMRL has forecast a definite delay in the launch of its commercial operations as its works have already overshot deadline in several work sites, particularly the station works.
