Chennai Metro one stop short of dream run
CMRL has obtained the statutory RDSO certification for operating the city's first train
By : k. karthikeyan
Update: 2014-09-04 05:49 GMT
Chennai: Chennaiites are just a step away from boarding their dream metro rail in the city. CMRL (Chennai metro rail limited) has obtained the statutory RDSO (research, designs and standard organisation) certification for operating the city’s first train on Koyambedu-Alandur elevated section. The research wing of Indian Railways has issued the interim speed certificate to operate standard gauge metro train on the 10-km stretch.
A senior metro official, who confirmed the issuance of certificate after it was posted on CMRL’s official Facebook page, told Deccan Chronicle that RDSO, which conducted the statutory oscillation and emergency braking distance trials last June, had certified the elevated corridor and four car metro trains as ‘safe’ for commercial operation.
“In simple terms, RDSO has permitted us (CMRL) to operate trains at a maximum speed of 80kmph on the elevated corridor,” said a jubilant CMRL officer, who expressed satisfaction over the obtaining of RDSO certification after just the first trial.
Wasting no time in taking the project to its finality, CMRL has already applied for the statutory CMRS (commissioner of metro rail safety) inspection, which is the last step before the commercial run.
CMRL officials, who admitted to applying for CMRS inspection, said the station works would be completed tentatively in little over a month and CMRS would be invited for the final inspection immediately thereafter.
“CMRS will check the track, train as well as public utilities in all the eight stations on the section. From there, it is a matter of fixing the inauguration date in consultation with the chief minister’s office for launching the commercial run” a senior CMRL officer privy to the development explained, reasoning that the stations would be partially completed to an extent required for the commercial run and it was not mandatory to complete the stations fully.