JOIN USUgadi run unlikely for Metro
Although there is no official word on the postponement of the date for commercial operations of Reach-I (Byappanahalli-MG Road) of the project, information from within the Vidhana Soudha is that of another disappointment for Bangaloreans.
“The commercial operations will begin only by April-end,” sources said.
The move might fail to cheer up the City, but citizens will appreciate that “safety” has rightly taken precedence over keeping Yeddyurappa happy by speeding up the procedure to meet his promise.
The Railway Board, Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS) and the Research Designs and Standard Organisation (RDSO) are all unanimous on the safety aspect.
‘Concern over safety’
According to sources in the Vidhana Soudha, the RDSO, the Lucknow-based government agency that issues affiliation certificates to projects of such nature, the CRS and the Railway Board have raised serious concerns over safety aspects.
Two of the major contentions delaying the operations of the Metro are the schedule of dimensions and track structure. Deccan Herald had reported on March 25 that these will be major hurdles for the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) if it were to meet the Ugadi deadline.
The Corporation is yet to overcome these hurdles and there are just five days left for Ugadi.
BMRCL Managing Director N Sivasailam, admitting to the same problem, had said last week: “If we manage to obtain clearances on these, then there will be nothing stopping the Metro from chugging along the stretch on April 4.”
Also, Commissioner for Railway Safety, K J S Naidu, who will inspect the Metro project before certifying it, still maintains that the application that the BMRCL has sent to him cannot be processed as there are a lot of clarifications to be made.
Problems
Sources in the Railways told Deccan Herald that some of these issues have also come up in earlier meetings between the Railway Board and the BMRCL.
Further, the Corporation also has problems like fire clearance among others before the safety certification, as reported by this newspaper last week.
“The RDSO and Railways have made it clear that safety and affiliation certificates cannot be issued without the problems being sorted out. Which means Metro won’t run on April 4, as there is not much time left,” sources said.
Ashoka confident
Transport Minister R Ashoka refuses to buy arguments that the commercial operations of Namma Metro are derailed.
“According to our assessment, we should be able to start the commercial operations on April 4,” Ashoka told Deccan Herald, exuding confidence of a Ugadi flag-off.