Metro gets green signal for key trials

One of the Namma Metro’s biggest hurdles preventing the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) from beginning the commercial operations on Reach-I (Byappanahalli-MG Road), has been finally overcome.

The Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS) has given the green signal for oscillation and EBD trials on the stretch.

D K Singh, commissioner for rail safety on Monday communicated to the BMRCL his permission to conduct the trials and the same was communicated to the Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) by BMRCL.

The BMRCL had submitted the documents pertaining to the trials to the CRS earlier this month and was waiting for the latter to vet the documents.

B L Y Chavan, BMRCL chief spokesperson, said: “With this sanction, the BMRCL has approached RDSO, Lucknow to conduct the Oscillation and Emergency Brake Distance trials. RDSO is yet to reply.”

“Given that the the sanction from the CRS has come within the expected time, the BMRCL is hoping that all parameters are met to get RDSO’s approval. The project will then be open for the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to inspect,” sources isaid.

Speaking to Deccan Herald,  Singh said: “Once the RDSO completes its trials and the BMRCL is ‘ready’, my inspection won’t take too much time.”

In a separate announcement, the BMRCL said the Government of India through its Gazette numbers  268, 269, 270 and 271 dated May 25 has published the remaining rules and this completed the requirement of rules publication by the Government.

The rules published through the latest Gazette include: The Bangalore Metro Railway (Carriage and Ticket) Rules, 2011, The Bangalore Metro Railway (Procedures for Investigation of Misbehaviour or Incapacity of Claims Commissioner) Rules, 2011, The Bangalore Metro Railway (Procedures for Claims) Rules, 2011 and the Bangalore Metro Railway (Notice of Accidents & Inquiries) Rules, 2011.