Kochi Metro's first test run on January 23

Kochi, Jan 2  The first test run of the Rs.5,180 crore Kochi Metro project, expected to resolve travel woes in Kerala's commercial capital, will be conducted on January 23, officials said on Saturday.

Officials took possession of the first batch of three coaches from the manufacturers, Alstom India on Saturday morning.

At a function held at the factory complex at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh, union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu handed over the keys of the coaches to a team of Kerala officials led by state Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed, who is looking after the Kochi Metro project.

According to officials, the three coaches will be transported by road, and reach Kochi on January 10.

The first test run of over one kilometre would be flagged by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, and extensive trials will be conducted over a month.

Kochi Metro will initially cover a distance of 25 km from Alwaye to Petta.

The project was first mooted by the Chandy government in 2005. After it went into a limbo duing the V.S. Achuthanandan government, Chandy put it back on track in 2011. He entrusted the project to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) with its former chief E. Sreedharan as the principal advisor.