Delhi Metro third phase trial run begins Monday

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro on Sunday said the trial run on the first section of the Phase III route between Central Secretariat and Mandi House will begin Monday.

"The opening of the stretch has been advanced by about six months as this stretch will help a lot in decongesting the busy Rajiv Chowk metro station," an official statement said.

"Commuters of the Badarpur-Central Secretariat line bound for Noida and Vaishali will be able to change trains at Mandi House without changing trains twice at Central Secretariat and Rajiv Chowk."

After the trial run for a few months, the Metro line will open for commuters by the end of March 2014, six months ahead of the October 2014 schedule.

Mandi House will be the first interchange station of Phase III and is part of the Central Secretariat-Kashmere Gate line.