The load testing of the steel bridge for the city metro at Habibganj railway crossing commenced on Friday night, marking a key milestone in the city’s much-awaited metro project.
As part of the testing, two metro trains were stationed on the bridge, loaded with sand-filled sacks representing the weight of 1,800 passengers. This testing phase is crucial as it checks the bridge’s structural integrity.
Designed to bear 600 metric tonnes, the bridge had previously undergone an initial load test. The second phase began on Friday, with engineers closely monitoring the bridge’s performance over the next 24 hours.
Each metro train consists of three coaches, with a capacity of 300 passengers per coach. To simulate real-life conditions, 900 metric tonnes of sand were used to match the weight of standing and seated passengers. The tests also allow for trial runs at speeds of up to 90 km/h.
The final phase of testing will help determine if the bridge can safely support the weight of metro trains and passengers. Engineers will review detailed reports to confirm its readiness. In March, Bhopal’s metro conducted its first trial run between RKMP station and AIIMS, covering 3 km in 12 minutes at speeds of 10-20 km/h.
