AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) Ltd announced that the trial run for its 20-km Phase II stretch from Motera to Gandhinagar will begin in March. The trial run will be between Motera and Sector-I in Gandhinagar via GIFT City.
Metro officials said the entire stretch up to Mahatma Mandir will likely be completed by the end of the year.
A statement from GMRC said train trials are expected to begin in March or April. However, officials said they have been told that the trial run must begin by mid-March as the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha election will likely be implemented after that. “Once the election dates are out, they will not be able to go in for a trail run and thus it has to be done before the election.”
The official confirmed that passenger service will first reach Gandhinagar Sector I after the elections and the rest will be available by the end of this year.
Officials said the cable-stayed extradosed bridge across the Narmada main canal on the section between Narendra Modi Stadium and Gandhinagar is nearing completion.
The cable-stayed bridge has a central span of 145m and end spans of 79m with two 28.1m-high pylons. Work on the pylons and 100 of the 105 segments has been completed in record time and the bridge work will be completed soon, after which the laying of track and installation of the third rail will be completed.
Officials said work on the Thaltej to Thaltej Gam stretch will also be completed by the end of this year. They also expect to open the Sabarmati metro station after the elections.