On Monday morning the vehicular traffic on Western Express Highway (WEH) seemed more than usual. This is because the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated the trial run of Metro train at Akurli station (formerly called Bandongri metro station that was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in September 2019), at around 12.30pm. Akurli station comes under Metro 7 Red line.
There was buzz at the station and on WEH since 11am itself or even before as the Chief Minister was supposed to come. The Akurli station premises, escalators, lifts, staircases, ticket counters, platforms and the rake was well decorated with flowers and frills. At around 12 noon or so, there was a protest by BJP against delay in Metro projects in Mumbai. This went on for sometime just as CM Thackeray was about to arrive at around 12.30pm; the protestors were later cleared from the spot.
The concourse area has huge ticketing office, customer care center, Red line station indicators, route map, directions and landmarks on either side of the station premises. This will also be the first time that automatic door closing mechanism has been installed on the platforms. On the outside, there was neat roof lighting falling on the road. The grey and red colour combination on the exterior also stood out.
When the rake was flagged off, it proceeded towards South end of WEH towards Aarey station. Akurli station is at a height and one could see the train moving down the slope as the piers seemed lower in height further south of the station. The rake was moving slowly as it honked couple of times.
The MMRDA will begin testing on the Yellow line 2A and Red line 7 wherein oscillation trials of a prototype 6-Car train will be run at various speeds. The commissioning of both the lines is planned in 2 phases, the first phase of ~20 kms from Charkop depot / Dahanukarwadi to Aarey by Sep’2021 and balance complete line by Jan’2022.
This will cover 18 stations (9 stations of Line 2A {(10.5 kms) & 9 Stations of Line 7 (9.2 kms.)}. The Trial run will start from Aarey Station of Line 7 & end at Charkop Depot via Dahisar (E) station. The Yellow Metro line will have stations of Dahisar (E), Upper Dahisar, Kandarpada, Mandapeshwar, Eksar, Borivali (W), PahadiEksar & Kandivali (W). While the stations falling on Red Metro line are Ovaripada, Rashtriya Udyan, Devipada, Magathane, Poisar, Akurli, Kurar, Dindoshi & Aarey.
The priority stretch shall be commissioned by September this year. And the complete commissioning of 35kms of line 2A & line 7 shall happen by early next year. Over 93% of Civil works for both these lines have been completed and system works are on-going in full swing.
Here's a look at the salient Features
Line 2A –
Corridor –Dahisar East to DN Nagar
Length – 18.6 Kms (Fully Elevated)
Depot –Chakop
Total Stations– 17 Nos (Andheri (West), Lower Oshiwara, Oshiwara, Goregaon
(West), Pahadi Goregaon, Lower Malad, Malad (West), Valnai, Dahanukarwadi,
Kandivali (West), PahadiEksar, Borivali (West), Eksar, Mandapeshwar,
Kandarpada, Upper Dahisar and Dahisar (East))
Interchange Station -Line 1 at DN Nagar Station, Line-6 at Shastri Nagar Station near Lokhandwala& Line 7 at Dahisar Station
Completion Cost – Rs 6410 Crore
Daily Ridership -~ 6.09 lakhs by 2031
Rolling Stock – 6 coaches in each train
Line 7-
Corridor –Andheri to Dahisar
Length – 16.5 Kms (Fully Elevated along Western Express highway)
Depot –Charkop
Total Stations– 13 Nos (Gundavali, Mogra, Jogeshwari (East), Goregaon (East),
Aarey, Dindoshi, Kurar, Akurli, Poisar, Magathane, Devipada, RashtriyaUdyan and Ovaripada)
Interchange Station -Line 1 at Andheri East Station, Line-6 at Jogeshwari East
(JVLR) Station and connect Line 2A at Dahisar Station
Completion Cost – INR 6208 Cores
Daily Ridership -~ 6.68 lakhs by 2031
Rolling Stock – 6 coaches in each train
