The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has not allowed the controversy over the realignment of Namma Metro near Jayadeva Hospital to distract it from the job in hand — getting ready to make presentations for Phase-2 and conducting full-speed trials on Reach 3 and 3-A of Phase-1.
The BMRCL is ready with a presentation it intends to make on Phase-2 of Namma Metro at the crucial meeting of the Public Investment Board (PIB) in New Delhi on June 25.
Besides, it is on its way to beginning full-speed trials on Reach-3 and 3-A of Phase-1.
The PIB meeting will discuss issues pertaining to Phase-2 and if sources are to be believed, approval may not be unlikely.
Namma Metro’s Phase-2 did not find any mention in the Union Budget despite the State government clearing it as early as in January 2011 and a detailed project report (DPR) reaching the Centre in 2012.
According to N Sivasailam, Managing Director, BMRCL, a presentation will be made to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on June 15. “The presentation has nothing to do with the Jayadeva Hospital realignment,” he insisted.
“The decision to make the presentation was taken long ago. It was to be made to the chief minister before the PIB meeting, but as he is busy, it is being made to Reddy.”
The presentation strictly pertains to the PIB meet, which will discuss the clearance of the project,” Sivasailam told Deccan Herald.
The Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance have asked BMRCL to justify the cost of the project. Sivasailam said that the clarifications had been submitted to the Centre. He, however, refused to confirm whether the clearance will be given on June 25.
Full-speed trials
The other important task for BMRC is the commencement of full-speed trials from Peenya to Srirampuram station on Reach-3. The trials, as per a BMRCL communication issued on May 11, were to begin on Monday. But Sivasailam said: “...You will be informed when it begins.”
Sources said that BMRCL was preparing for the full-speed trials and the same would subsequently be extended to Sampige Road station by July 8 or 10.
The 9.9-km Reach 3 and 3-A (Swastik and Peenya) on Phase-1 are scheduled for commissioning next. The BMRCL has already missed several deadlines it had set for itself.
While the BMRCL can conduct full-speed trials, its completion does not mean it is inching towards obtaining the essential clearance from the Railways. It will have to obtain clearance of the schedule of dimensions (SOD), which caused a considerable delay in the commissioning of Namma Metro’s Reach-1 (Baiyappanahalli-MG Road) in 2011.
And, according to BMRCL, the height of walkway from the rail level (minimum and maximum) and the exemption from provision of check rails in the Peenya depot are two clearances on the SOD it is awaiting on the stretch.
These clearances are essential to approaching the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) for an order on conducting the oscillation trials — a critical procedure in the certification process, which will allow BMRCL to commercially operate the trains.
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