MMRDA to hold trial run for phase I of metro rail

On May 1, the Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) would hold an official trial of the first metro rail in the city from the Versova car depot. The authority will conduct the trial on May 1 so that it can meet its deadline of August 2013 for opening the first phase of the project for public use. The first phase will be between Versova and Airport Road station in August and second between Airport Road and Ghatkopar by December 2013. The entire route will be ready for public use only by end of December or early next year. The authority began the trial process four days prior to May 1 and the metro rail rolled out of the Versova car depot to run up to Azad Nagar (also known as Indian Oil Junction), reports indicate. But the official trial is scheduled for May 1, which is Maharashtra Day. In the weeks to come, Research Design and Standards Organisation will check rolling stock, followed by other certification, including one from Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS). In February 2008, the Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium Mumbai Metro One Private Limited, began work on the first route and was announced to be completed by December 2010. The cost has shot up from Rs 2,356 crore to around Rs 3,800 crore.