In a major development, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has received approval from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety for the rolling stock (train sets) that will be used to run services on Metro 2A and 7 in the western suburbs.
Trials for phase I of Metro 2A (Dahisar West-Dahanukarwadi) and 7 (Dahisar East-Aarey along Western Express Highway) were flagged off by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on May 31, 2021. There are two components of the Metro project which require approvals by CRMS one for rolling stock and another for systems, which includes track signalling, traction power and civil works.
Metropolitan commissioner SVR Srinivas confirmed, "We have received approval for rolling stock and as soon as clearance for system arrives, we can introduce commercial operations. "
The first phase spanning20km is between Dahanukarwadi of Line 2A to Aarey of Line 7 (18 stations). Both these Metro lines are expected to reduce vehicular traffic by 25%.
During this dynamic trial run period, the prototype train set of six cars were run at various speeds. Various sub-systems and equipment were tested under dynamic conditions. Performance proving tests besides integration with signalling, platform screen doors, telecom were also tested.
Similarly, emergency brake distance trials were carried out to test braking potential. MMRDA had hoped to open these lines by October 2019. Later, this deadline was revised to December 2020. The pandemic in early 2020 led to a lockdown and fleeing of labourers totheir hometowns, which brought work to a standstill.
Commercial operations were later targeted to commence from October 2021 between Dahanukarwadi; and Aarey via Dahisar on both the lines. The commissioning deadline for the entire stretch of lines 2A and 7 was set for January 1, 2022. MMRDA plans to run services with 11 rakes at a frequency of 15 to 20 minutes initially. As and when rakes get added, the frequency will come down to 5 minutes per train.
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