Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation cannot begin commercial operations without the safety certificate issued by the commissioner for railway safety.
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) appears ready for an Ugadi launch, on Arpil 4. But there is a hitch.
The BMRCL cannot begin commercial operations without the safety certificate issued by the commissioner for railway safety (CRS). And that certificate has become a matter of some controversy.
BMRCL managing director N Sivasailam said on Thursday, “We had sent an application to the CRS in February this year. Then how can the CRS tell media persons that the commission has not received the application? We are writing to the commissioner for railway safety, south division,” said Sivasailam at the function on Thursday to mark the release of the Namma Metro signature tune.
KJS Naidu, commissioner for railways safety for south division, said, “I still maintain that I have not yet received any application from the BMRCL to inspect or monitor the trial tests or the station works of the metro.”
Sivasailam said, “They (CRS) are yet to receive certain documents like fire, lift and escalator clearances, which will be provided in due course of time.” These inspections are being undertaken by local inspectors, he added.
“We should be perfectly ready with the operations of the metro safely enough by April 4, but they (CRS) should speed up their work. We from BMRCL are working round-the-clock to finish work at all stations,” Sivasailam said.
“One thing we can assure: the chief minister, prime minister, the UDD minister and public can safely have metro rides. We are happy that other institutions like the BMTC will also begin their feeder bus services and metro bus transit passes on the day of the launch. That will enhace the whole experience,” he added.
Sivasailam said the processing of the documentation is taking time since, the Union minister of railways is yet to send guidelines after Metro was included as a Central subject; at the conception stage, the Bangalore metro fell under the purview of the Mysore Tramways Act.
Certain facilities like ATM counters at stations will not be ready at the stations on the day of the launch, Sivasailam said, though these too would be provided in time.
“The Plaza Theatre entrance might not be ready by April 4; we got the land only in July 2010. There were legal hurdles. But that certainly does not mean that entry to the stations will be restricted,” he added. The BMRCL will keep updating its website everyday, beginning Thursday. Maps of all six stations will also be available.
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