Metro rail to shuttle every 10-15 minutes

Chennai: Chennaiites can expect a metro rail to shuttle between Koyambedu and Alandur for every 10 minutes. That is the maximum frequency CMRL (Chennai metro rail limited) can maintain with the existing fleet at its depot.  Of the 25 trains at the depot, nine have been cleared after necessary tests, which include the mandatory 1,600km run on tracks. However, all trains are run up to 2,500km on the corridor before being cleared for commercial run. With the nine-trains that have met the qualifying conditions, the frequency can be maintained at 10-15minutes for the commercial run, a senior CMRL officer said.

In the initial stages, seven or eight trains might be running on commercial basis as a couple of them will be retained at the depot as standby, highly placed CMRL sources told Deccan Chronicle.  The frequency can be increased further (less than 10 minutes) in future by adding more trains to the fleet after the completion of the tests.

60 CCTV cams per station

All metro stations will be put under intense CCTV surveillance. Each station will have a minimum of 30 cameras. The average number of cameras will be between 50 and 60, CMRL officers said.  The operational control centre at Koyambedu has a 24 grid monitor (video wall) in which all stations, particularly the platforms can be monitored using the CCTV surveillance.

Daily FC for trains

Unlike the EMU and MR TS, each metro train will be issued a mandatory fitness certificate before the train rolls out of the Koyambedu depot to the elevated corridor around 5am daily. The train, which will be washed the previous night when it rolls in after completing the final trip, will go through the stabling and inspection bay where the standard checks will be done and final fitness certificate will be issued, CMRL officials explained.