Though the first phase of Hyderabad Metro Rail is expected to become operational in March 2015, people now have a chance to feel and experience the coach they will be travelling in.
A model coach, which is half the size of the actual coach, is on public display at Necklace Road on the banks of Hussain Sagar in the heart of Hyderabad. It will be kept for a month.
Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Wednesday unveiled the coach built by Hyundai-Rotem consortium in South Korea for the 72-km-long elevated rail project.
He said Rs.14,132 crore project was one of the biggest projects in the world in Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
"Metro Rail will be become one the jewels of Hyderabad and will add value to the city," the chief minister said.
The fully air-conditioned coach has been designed with the advanced Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) system, which will be used for the first time by any metro in the country.
V. B. Gadgil, Chief Executive and Managing Director, L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (LTMRHL), told reporters that "the latest, safe and reliable technology" would enable trains to "talk to each other" by indicating their position.
Though the system is designed to run the trains at 80 km per hour, the actual speed will be 38-40 kmph due to stoppages at stations and curves.
LTMRHL has ordered 171 coaches for the project, which comprises three corridors. "To start with we will run three-car trains. As the ridership improves, we will run six-car trains," said Gadgil.
Using the advanced radio based technology, two trains can be run with a difference of one-and-half minute.
"Initially we will run with the frequency of three to five minutes. Later we will reduce it to two minutes and if required we can reduce it to one-and-half minute," said N.V.S. Reddy, Managing Director, Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL).
Reddy said each six-car train will ferry more than 2,000 people.
"It means 60,000 passengers can travel per direction per hour and 120,000 people on both directions. It is a huge mass rapid transit system," he added.
Gadgil was confident of running the trains on the first stage of the project from March 2015.
Reddy said by launching services on the eight kilometer stretch from Nagole to Mettuguda, they want to give it as a 'Ugadi' gift to people of Hyderabad.
The delivery of the coaches will start in May next year. All 21 coaches required for running seven trains on the eight km stretch will be available before the end of next year.
