Hyderabad Metro gets 9 more coaches.

In addition to the first Hyderabad Metro train received last month which is undergoing different tests at Uppal Metro Rail Depot, 3 more trains (each train consisting of 3 coaches) have now reached Uppal depot.

These 3 trains (9 coaches) which arrived at Chennai port from South Korea about 10 days ago were brought to Hyderabad on special multi-wheeled road trailers.

With this, so far 4 of the 7 trains required for Stage-I Metro operations between Nagole and Mettuguda (8 km) have been received. The remaining 3 trains will be received in the next few months.

This is ahead of schedule and gives sufficient cushion for elaborate tests and trial runs for safety certification by Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety. Commissioner of Railway Safety of S.C. Railway is the CMRS for the Hyderabad Metro project.

Manufacturing of Metro coaches in Hyundai Rotem factory in South Korea for the specific conditions of a city and the prescribed design specifications normally takes 20 to 24 months.

According to MD of HMR, NVS Reddy, the Metro trains have been delivered ahead of schedule,

The Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao advised the metro team to consult experts and take all safety precautions before starting trial runs.

The Concessionaire L&T MRHL earlier placed an order on Hyundai Rotem of South Korea for 171 coaches (57 trains) at a cost of about Rs. 1800 crore for the needs of all the 3 Corridors of the project (72km), which is scheduled for completion by June 2017.

Stage I of the project, Nagole-Mettuguda section (8 km; 7 stations) is scheduled for opening for passenger traffic on Ugadi of next year (March 21, 2015).

Since it is the first section, elaborate safety tests and trial runs will have to be conducted for about 6 months for safety certification.



HBL