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Maha Metro to Begin Trials on Pune's Aqua Line Extension
07 Sep 2023 CW Team
The Maha Metro intends to commence initial trials of train carriages on the elevated Bund Garden-Ramwadi section by the end of the month. The construction work for the viaduct and signaling in this segment has now reached its final stages, rendering it suitable for testing.
This particular stretch, Bund Garden-Ramwadi, represents the last segment of the Vanaz to Ramwadi Metro route, also known as the Aqua Line, that has not yet been made accessible to the public. Once this section becomes operational, the entire 15.7 km route will be open for public use.
Following the successful launch of two crucial sections in August, Maha Metro is committed to completing the remaining tasks on two metro corridors by the end of this year. The team is diligently working to meet this deadline and ensure a seamless and efficient metro service for the public.
A Maha Metro official has mentioned, "We are planning to complete all the works up to Ramwadi by November. We have already received feedback from commuters requesting an extension of the Metro service to Nagar Road, connecting key areas like Yerawada and Kalyaninagar to the central parts of the city."
Pune's expanding metro network comprises two corridors: the north-south corridor (Purple line) and the east-west corridor (Aqua line), covering a total distance of 33 km with 30 stations. The Aqua line, which is currently operational between Ruby Hall and Ramwadi, is entirely elevated and serves areas such as Yerawada, Kalyaninagar, and parts of Nagar Road, providing convenient transportation to the eastern parts of the city.
Efforts to finalize the remaining section of the project are now in full swing. The viaduct from Bund Garden to Ramwadi is ready, and work is in progress to install overhead traction and signaling systems at the stations.
According to the Maha Metro official, "We are eagerly anticipating commencing track testing and initiating train carriage trials by the end of September. These trials will be conducted in phases, initially on completed sections of the route. The testing and trials will continue into October and will primarily focus on assessing the alignment of the viaduct, curves, gradients, and other technical aspects."
Additionally, the remaining part of the purple line, from Civil Court to Swargate Metro section, is expected to be completed by December. Upon its completion, this will provide a seamless travel experience from Vanaz to Ramwadi and PCMC to Swargate, extending the Metro's total route length from the current 24 km to 33 km.
In addition to the existing network, Line-3 in the city is also under development by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority in partnership with Tata-Siemens. This 23 km fully elevated network will connect the Hinjawadi IT park and various emerging areas, benefiting a substantial number of Pune employees for their daily commutes.
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