Bangalore Metro to clock 4,000km before getting safety stamp

Namma Metro trains can be spotted on the elevated tracks in the heart of the city by month-end. Those excited by the possibility of a ride, however, will have to wait.

The metro trains will have to travel a distance of 4,000 km before a safety commissioner issues a certificate.

This certificate is necessary before the train is allowed to open its doors to commuters.

The safety commission comprises a committee of engineers and experts appointed by the Government of India to test whether the train is safe for the public. “The safety commissioner will have to be convinced beyond doubt. Only then will a certificate be issued that will allow us to open to the public. The process will take time,” a source in the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) said.

The standard practice in India is to make the metro train run on a specific track for 4,000 km. In case of the Delhi Metro, the safety certificate was not issued for the track extending from the Commonwealth Games Village to the airport, as the safety commissioner was not convinced during the tests.

The BMRCL is all set to complete its task of running the metro train on the main line track by the end of December 2010. Technical experts from Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Korea and Japan were spotted inspecting the tracks and the MG Road station as well as the Swami Vivekananda station on Old Madras Road, near Byappanahalli.

Meanwhile, the first train brought to the city in October is being tested on the track in the Byappanahalli metro depot. This 800-metre long testing track is electrified. All automatic functions too are being tested in the depot.

The electrification of the third rail has started at the Byappanahalli station. This third rail has two lines, like any other rail track. Either of the lines could supply electricity to both the tracks at the Swami Vivekananda station, as also to the elevated tracks.

Cabling work for this purpose began on Tuesday morning. This makes it unlikely that the tracks will be ready for use before the end of January. However, the BMRCL is also trying to keep its promise to run trial runs of the train between CMH Road station and Vivekananda station by the year-end.