The Hindu : New Delhi News : Gurgaon inches closer to Capital's heart

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Gurgaon inches closer to Capital's heart

Staff Reporter

Delhi Metro begins trial runs on Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar line

There will be 10 stations on this corridor; it will connect the rest of Metro network to Gurgaon
Over one lakh people are expected to use this corridor everyday when it opens in August

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation began the trial runs on the 12.53-kilometre-long Central Secretariat – Qutub Minar Metro corridor on Thursday. During the trials, the trains will run on the entire stretch of the corridor that is expected to open to public in August.

To continue over a few weeks, the trial runs will allow DMRC an opportunity to check the interaction of the Metro train with the civil structure and to ensure that there is no physical blockage during the movement of the train on the track.

“The entire signalling system will be tested. 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. The behaviour of the track system and the Over Head Electrification will be checked repeatedly,” said a DMRC spokesperson.

Over one lakh people are expected to use this corridor everyday. There will be 10 Metro stations -- Saket, Malviya Nagar, Hauz Khas, Green Park, AIIMS, INA, Jor Bagh, Race Course, Udyog Bhawan and Central Secretariat – on this corridor which would connect the rest of the Delhi Metro network to Gurgaon.

“To facilitate the integration process of the Central Secretariat – Qutub Minar section with the Gurgaon section, the DMRC will be starting train services from 7 a.m. on the currently operational Qutub Minar – Gurgaon section only instead of 6 a.m. with effect from Saturday, till the linkage is completed in August. This is necessary to give DMRC's signalling, telecommunication, electrical and track engineers more working time for the linkage and integration at the Qutub Minar station. Presently, there is very low ridership between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on the Qutub Minar-Gurgaon route,” the spokesperson said.

With the opening of the underground corridor, better connectivity will be offered to residents of several South Delhi colonies and Gurgaon.

“The journey from HUDA City Centre in Gurgaon to Central Secretariat will take approximately 52 minutes and the commuters will be able to reach Central Secretariat from Qutub Minar in only 25 minutes once the line is open to the public. This line has been constructed by DMRC in less than four years,” the spokesperson said.

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