Trial runs commence on JBS-Falaknuma corridor

Secunderabad: Trial runs in Metro corridor-II (JBS-Falaknuma) commenced on Monday. With a length of 11 km, the corridor has 9 stations: JBS-Parade Grounds; Secunderabad West; Gandhi Hospital; Musheerabad; RTC X Road; Chikkadpally; Narayanaguda; Sultan Bazar; and MGBS. It would take 16 minutes to cover this corridor from JBS to MGBS, as against 45 minutes by road.

During the trial runs, technical specifications, performance criteria and safety standards will be tested that include signalling tests and safe train separation tests, brake test by the signalling and train control system, OHE-Rolling stock (Metro coaches) current collection tests, passenger information announcements and display tests, dummy passenger evacuation tests and degraded mode operation tests.

The data and other inputs in these tests will be sent online to Thales in Canada, which is supplying Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) technology and the signalling and train control software will be fine tuned based on these inputs for safe operation of Metro trains in automatic mode with CBTC technology.

On receipt of satisfactory performance and safety certification from Thales, the Internal Safety Assessor (ISA), Halcrow and other related Indian and international organisations, the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) will be invited for final safety clearance of the corridor. After CMRS safety certification, the corridor will be thrown open for passenger operations.HMRL MD NVS Reddy and L&TMRHL MD KVB Reddy, along with officials, participated in the trial runs and inspections.