There were promises that trial runs would begin by December 2010, and this was a one-day trial run that will make Bangalore Metro proud that it has indeed kept its word.
Quite a lot of afternoon commuters on the Chinmaya Mission Hospital (CMH) Road and Old Madras Road caught a glimpse of the gleaming steel coaches of the Metro gliding along on the elevated tracks, and held their breath.
There was much excitement in the air, as the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) kept its date with Bangalore.
There were promises that trial runs would begin by December 2010, and this was a one-day trial run that will make BMRCL proud that it has indeed kept its word.
However, more extensive trial runs will follow, in January 2011. The train ran between the Byappanahalli depot and CMH Road station two times, between 1.30 pm and 3 pm.
The official spokesperson of BMRCL said, “We wanted to ascertain track and traction systems and rolling stock, and see how they work in tandem. These were technical test runs.” Extensive trial runs are scheduled for the first week of January.
The Commission for Railway Safety will also monitor the runs.
The train will have to cover the full track, from Byapanahalli depot to MG Road station, and complete a satisfactory run of 4,000 km before a safety certification for public usage is issued by the Commission for Railway Safety.
Sources said that the Metro trial run would take about 25 days during Jan 2011. Safety certification itself is likely to take a little while, and indications are that the Byappanahalli-MG Road stretch could be thrown open to the public by February 2011.
There is one other variable that affects the inauguration of the metro — the availability of dignitaries for the inaugural function:
“We are trying our best to start the commercial operation, but safety is the top priority. It depends on when the Commission for Railway Safety gives us the safety certificate. Also, we will have to find a date when all the dignitaries can come for the inauguration,” said the spokesperson of BMRCL.
Meanwhile, fares would be decided and ticketing counters and facilities like the automatic fare collecting gates, surveillance cameras, elevators and escalators and ductile flooring for blind commuters within the stations will all be made ready.
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