The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro) got its first 3-coach metro train set of Pune Metro Rail Project in Pimpri-Chinchwad. The train was celebrated with a dhol-tasha squad upon its arrival in the industrial city. Mai Dhore, Mayor of Pimpri-Chinchwad also joined the welcome celebration by performing a pooja.
The train was carried on 12 axle trucks from Nagpur to Pune by road. The coaches are made of stainless steel, light-weight and vestibule.
“The three-coach metro train arrived on a 12 axle truck after travelling from Nagpur. Civil work, laying of rail, OHE work and signaling work have been completed in record time and now, the arrival of Metro train is another milestone,” said Pune Metro spokesperson Hemant Sonawane.
Another three-coach train is scheduled to arrive next Monday. These coaches have been acquired from the Nagpur Metro Rail project on a loan basis. However, Titagarh Firema – a subsidiary of Titagarh Wagons Limited, has bagged the contract to supply Rolling Stock for the Pune Metro Rail project.
“The Pune Metro Facebook page has crossed five lakh followers, and members of the Pune Metro Fan Club and Pune Metro Mitra were very excited about the arrival of coaches. Member of both groups were constantly in touch with Metro officials and anxious about the arriving of coaches. They wore the traditional headgear ‘pheta’ and a dhol-tasha band was in place for welcoming the coaches,” said in the statement released.
“The coaches were placed on an elevated track at Sant Tukaram Nagar station. This is a rare coincidence when the metro train will first be seen at Sant Tukaram Nagar station, the only station on Pune Metro named after the great saint. The trial for running the metro train will soon begin after completion of mandatory inspections,” said Sonawane.
A replica of the Pune Metro train coach was also unveiled by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai.
The first phase of the Pune Metro Rail project was approved by the Central government in December 2016 which comprises two corridors – first is 16.6 km long north-south Line 1 from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation area to Swargate and the second is 14.7 km long east-west Line 2 from Vanaz via the main station to Ramwadi. Both the lines will be commissioned in 2021.
