Kochi: The Kochi Metro trial run in the five-km Palarivattom-Maharajas stretch will commence in two days, signaling to early start of metro commercial operations in the 18-km section from Aluva by August end, a month ahead of schedule.
"The works with regard to track, traction, signalling and telecommunication is over. The Electrical Inspector General (EIG) has carried out an inspection and the clearance certificate issued," a senior metro official said.
"The line in the extended section will be energized (power supply) and the metro trial is planned to be conducted by Friday evening or Saturday morning," the official said.
The DMRC officials said construction of metro station buildings in the extended section has been completed. "We've handed over system rooms in many stations to the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) as part of the plan to commission the section by August end instead of October," an official said.
The focus will now be laid on certification works and inspection by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety along with finishing works such as station themes.
On June 17 last, KMRL Managing Director Elias George had said on the sidelines of the Kochi Metro commissioning in the 13 km Aluva-Palarivattom section that the DMRC had informed him that the Palarivattom-Maharajas College station construction works would be finished by October.
Kochi Metro had clocked a record collection of Rs 1.77 crore in the first week after starting commercial operation in the 13-km Aluva-Palarivattom section on June 19.
