Trial tracks till Lulu by February end

Kochi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has directed its contractors Ircon, a sister concern of the railways, to double the pace of rail laying works so that the trial could be held in the eight-km Muttom-Lulu Mall section by this month-end.

“We are looking at February 29 to conduct the test trial though the final confirmation is yet to come. We have brought the movable structure gauge and mobile jacket from Bangalore to start preparations for the trial,” metro sources said.

Ircon, which was laying an average 100 metres of rail per day, was asked to double its output and the Alstom team is ready to lay the third traction as and when the track laying works gets over in section after section.

Currently the wiring and roofing works are progressing at the CUSAT station, Kalamassery. “Earlier the plan was to conduct the first test trial on tracks upto Pathadipalam. However, the target was revised as part of speeding up of the entire project and all players have been directed to enhance construction activities,” they said.

The second metro rake, with three coaches, will be delivered by April and thereafter every 15 days, a metro rake will be delivered by Alstom.

Kochi Metro Rail Ltd had placed an order for 25 train sets in August 2014. Works like linking the coaches will be done at the Muttom yard once the train set is brought here.

A total of 250 people can travel in a coach and the trains are designed for a minimum 35 years of service life.