A metro ride on the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) Metro-1 corridor is set to get shorter as the Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MPOL) in accordance to pursuant has got sanction from Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) to increase its speed limit from the current 50-kmph to 65-kmph from March 24, 2016.
“CMRS has also asked MMOPL to gradually increase the metro’s speed to maximum 80 kilometres per hour. We plan to increase the speed from 65 kilometres per hour in about three months,” said a MMOPL spokesperson, requesting not to be named.
The Metro-1 corridor services were started in 2014 when the Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) had recommended a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour. However, it had also stated that from time to time the speed limit could be increased.
According to the Metro Act, in case a new technology is implemented in urban transport, it needs safety clearance from the Railways. RDSO is also one of the advisors to the Railway Board and gives technical examination of proposals suggested by various authorities.
The MMOPL spokesperson further added, “After the approval of CMRS commissioner for increasing the speed to 80 kilometre per hour, the Railway Board gave its clearance for plying the metro services at a higher speed on November 18, 2015.”
He also added, “Following the mandatory clearances, Metro pilots were trained rigorously for the next few months for running the trains at higher speed. The increase in the metro’s speed will result in very minor reduction in commute time as the trains stop at approximately at every kilometre.”
The development will, however, be beneficial for the 150 million passengers that use the Metro-1 services. It has also has a punctuality record comparable with the best in the world with 99.99 per cent trains arriving on time.
A Right to Information (RTI) query had last revealed that the metro services had witnessed an increase in the number of passengers even after the inaugural fares of the services were increased.
