Chennai: The dreams of thousands of commuters to travel on metro rail between Koyambedu and Alandur have got a fillip with the Union urban development ministry amending a rule that prohibited single-line operation of metro services.After wide consultations with various agencies, including the Commissioners of Rail and Metrorail safety, the Metro Railway General Rules 2013 have been amended, thereby allowing operations on single-line sections. Due to the previous rule, there were delays in safety clearances for multi-crore metro projects currently being executed in Jaipur, Delhi and Chennai.
“When the concerned authorities came for safety inspection on Koyambedu-Alandur stretch (WHEN), it was done only up to Ashok Nagar. The main issue was single-line operation, with there being no provision for train reversal up to Ashok Nagar station,” a CMRL source said.
He further added there was initial inclination to start single line operations on the 2.88-km section between Ashok Nagar and Alandur segment, however safety authorities had shot down the proposal citing the rule which has now been amended.
