PUNE: The preliminary trials of the Metro rake on the elevated Vanaz-Garware stretch are likely to begin next month.
The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MahaMetro) is planning to conduct initial trials on the small stretches near the Vanaz depot.
MahaMetro said the rake that will be used in the trials has arrived at the depot and that the viaduct off the depot is ready.
MahaMetro said currently, the work of laying the tracks and installing overhead traction cables is underway and trials will be held in July if things go as planned.
This would be the second stretch to host trials, after tests were successfully conducted on the elevated Pimpri-Dapodi stretch on the other corridor.
Hemant Sonawane, general manager (public relations) at MahaMetro said work has been sped up.
“We expect the trials to be held next month.
The construction of the depot too has been expedited.
A viaduct connecting the depot and the Vanaz station is nearly ready,” Sonawane said.
“We will check the alignment of the tracks, the gradient, curves and other factors related to the movement of the rake in the initial trials.
The trials will be extended towards Anandnagar in a phased manner,” an official said.
The Vanaz-Garware stretch — part of the fully elevated Vanaz-Ramwadi corridor — is one of two priority stretches in the city.
All infrastructure work pertaining the Metro operations would be completed on priority on this stretch.
Sonawane said that it could take time to conduct rake trials across the entire priority stretch as work is pending in some stretches.
The viaduct is incomplete at two locations — near Paud Phata and near Shivtirthnagar on Paud Road.
“We have installed girder launchers at these locations.
The work at Paud Phata is in its final stages, while the viaduct near Shivtirthnagar should be ready by next month,” Sonawane further said, Of the remaining portion, an official said work on the double decker flyover, coming up at Nal Stop on Karve Road, has progressed significantly.