Metro trains should start running up to Dakshineswar by the end of February, an official said on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, a train undertook a trial run on the Noapara-Dakshineswar stretch of the north-south Metro line for the first time.

Once operational, the new Metro link will benefit thousands of office-goers, students and others from Dunlop, Bonhooghly, Belghoria and other areas on the northern fringes. Ever since the Tallah bridge was closed last year (it has since been demolished), a large section of these commuters has been accessing Metro through Noapara station, which cannot be easily reached.

Because of the diversions following the closure of the bridge, the bus routes to Dum Dum from BT Road have become more congested. It will take more than three years for the new Tallah bridge to come up.

The 4.1km Noapara-Dakshineswar stretch on elevated tracks goes via Baranagar station.

An air-conditioned rake left Noapara station around 10.30am on Wednesday. It made one round trip, reaching Dakshineswar station and coming back to Noapara. Metro general manager Manoj Josh and other senior officials of the carrier and represen-tatives of RVNL, the agency building the new stretch, were on the train.

Joshi examined the stretch from the motorman’s cabin.

“The trial run was smooth. We will conduct more trial runs as required. A final clearance from the CRS (commission of railway safety) will be needed before commercial services start on the route,” Metro spokesperson Indrani Banerjee said.

A section of Metro officials had been eying a January launch of the Dakshineswar link. But a senior official of the carrier said commercial runs till Dakshineswar were likely to start in February.

“Today was the first trial. Some last-mile work is being completed on the stretch. The signalling system is also being tested. Once the stretch is ready, we will invite the commissioner of railway safety for an inspection. The entire process should take a couple of months,” said the official.