L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited has begun test runs on a small stretch from its Uppal depot to Secunderabad section.
The concessionaire L&T expects to commission first stretch of 8 km of the 72-km elevated metro project by March 2015. Once the trial runs are completed, it will take up detailed tests of the rail network.
The Rs 16,000-crore project seeks to decongest three dense corridors in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The work on various stretches is now underway, including construction of depots and metro stations in the phase one of the project.
The tests were conducted in the evening today. There was no formal announcement. For those who witnessed the tests, it as a pleasant surprise. The project has sourced metro rail coaches from the Hyundai-Rotem consortium.
A metro project of this size and magnitude goes through a number of tests across various parameters. This was for the first time that the metro coaches were rolling out in public on the viaduct, attracting people’s attention. There was no official communication on the test runs.