Checks & balances begin for Heritage line

NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, Delhi Metro began trial run on the 5.17 km-long ITO-Kashmere Gate section of the Violet line. This stretch is an extension of the currently-operational Escorts Mujesar-ITO corridor.

After the commissioning of this stretch, the 9.37km-long Central Secretariat-Kashmere Gate section will become a part of the 43.40km-long Escorts Mujesar-Kashmere Gate Violet line corridor. “This corridor is also being extended to Ballabhgarh from Escorts Mujesar (3.2km),“ said a Delhi Metro official. During the trial run, checks will be done to ensure there is no blockage when the line becomes operational.

“The entire signalling system will undergo rigorous testing,“ said Mangu Singh, MD, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, who kicked off the trial run. The response of the train at different speeds, braking and interconnection with the operations control centre (OCC) will also be monitored. The behaviour of the track system and the overhead electrification (OHE) will be checked.

This section of the Violet line consists of Delhi Gate, Jama Masjid, Lal Quila and Kashmere Gate stations. DMRC has tied up with INTACH for installing artworks and panels at the stations.

The Kashmere Gate station will become the first interchange facility to provide interconnectivity between three corridors: Violet, Red and Yellow lines. Officials said this stretch will also help in decongesting interchange stations like Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat. Commuters can switch to the Violet or Yellow line directly from Kashmere Gate.

After the commissioning of this section, residents of Faridabad, Govindpuri, Kalkaji, Nehru Place, East of Kailash, etc., will be able to travel directly to Old Delhi and vice-versa.