HomeLatestMumbai Starts Metro‑4 Trial Runs Using Road‑Transported Rakes Ahead of Depot

Mumbai Starts Metro‑4 Trial Runs Using Road‑Transported Rakes Ahead of Depot

Mumbai’s ambitious Metro Line 4 is set to commence trial runs with an unprecedented logistical manoeuvre: transporting trains by road due to delays in depot construction. This innovative solution, involving the physical movement of rakes across the city, underscores the Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited’s commitment to maintaining project timelines and enhancing urban connectivity. The move highlights adaptive strategies in large-scale infrastructure development.

The much-anticipated 32-kilometre Metro Line 4, designed to link Gaimukh in Thane to Wadala in Mumbai, is a critical artery for the city’s expanding public transport network. However, the ongoing construction of its dedicated Mogharpada depot has presented a significant operational challenge. To prevent further delays in launching the vital corridor, authorities have devised an unusual but pragmatic approach, ensuring that trial runs can proceed without awaiting the depot’s completion.

This unique operational strategy involves the road-based transportation of eight six-coach trains, totalling 48 coaches, from the Mandale depot in Mankhurd to the Metro Line 4 viaduct between Gaimukh and Cadbury Junction. Given the absence of direct track connectivity between Metro Line 2B and Metro Line 4, each individual coach, weighing approximately 40 tonnes, will be carefully loaded onto specialised hydraulic trailers. This complex logistical undertaking has necessitated a dedicated tender, valued at ₹8.28 crore, to manage the intricate process.

The movement of these colossal coaches will primarily occur during night hours to minimise disruption to Mumbai’s already dense daytime traffic. This meticulous planning requires securing multiple permissions from various civic and traffic authorities, highlighting the collaborative effort required for such large-scale urban operations. The comprehensive plan includes provisions for dismantling parts of the coaches if necessary, ensuring their safe transit, arranging transit insurance, and precise unloading at the designated viaduct points.

Officials have emphasised that this inventive solution is a testament to their commitment to optimal resource utilisation, making use of idle rakes from Metro Line 2B to prevent any further postponement of Metro Line 4’s trial runs. Furthermore, authorities are exploring the establishment of temporary inspection facilities beyond Gaimukh station. These facilities will enable basic trials on the elevated tracks, allowing for crucial checks on the trains’ integration with signalling, telecommunication, and power systems, ensuring operational readiness.

Once fully operational, the 32-kilometre Metro Line 4 is expected to significantly ease congestion along the Eastern Express Highway and vastly improve east-west connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. This strategic investment in public transport infrastructure is vital for fostering a zero net carbon, eco-friendly, and sustainable urban environment by promoting a shift away from private vehicle dependency. It also ensures more equitable and gender-neutral access to employment, education, and services, enhancing the overall quality of life for Mumbaikars.

Also Read :Pune Metro connectivity boosts housing prices and demand across city

Mumbai Starts Metro‑4 Trial Runs Using Road‑Transported Rakes Ahead of Depot
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