Citizens waiting for Namma Metro services between Sampige Road station and Yelachanahalli on the North-South corridor can expect them by April 15. According to City Development Minister K.J George, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has instructed the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) to ensure that they meet this deadline.
On Wednesday, Mr. George inspected the underground section between Kempegowda and Sampige Road stations. “If there is any rectification of work to be carried out after the safety inspections, we might see delays, othwise we are confident that BMRCL will meet the deadline,” he said.
Metro officials maintained that a delay is highly unlikely as testing has already started ahead of trials on the underground stretch between Sampige Road and K.R. Market. “Alstom, the company carrying out the tests, has been given possession of the station, trains and other infrastructure. They are checking if there is any shortfall in the construction,” said Pradeep Singh Kharola, Managing Director, BMRCL.
Train trials would begin once infrastructure is tested. “Running trains is only a small part of the entire process. There are around 30 tests to be carried out in total,” he said.
According to a status report by BMRCL, data collection and dynamic tests with trains are scheduled to start by next week.
Tight deadline
At least 17 tests are to be carried out before the Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) is invited to inspect the stretch. While the official position is that it should be possible to begin operations by April 15, sources say that it will be a tight race to the deadline. There is a possibility that tests would be completed by April 15, but operations will not commence for another few days.
Last year around this time, BMRCL had applied for safety clearance for the underground section of the Purple Line between Cubbon Park and City Railway Station. The application was made in the third week of March and was approved in the first week of April. However, BMRCL chose to start services on April 30.
Speaking about the facilities and safety measures built into the section, Mr. Kharola mentioned an anti-derailment device in which a concrete wall would prevent a derailed train from hitting the tunnel wall. “There is also a state-of-the-art fire fighting system to ensure water is supplied all through the tunnels. The Kempegowda station has six electrical substations to ensure power cuts do not affect operations,” he said.
Green Line services to be hit
Namma Metro services between Rajajinagar and Sampige road station are likely be offline for a week as BMRCL prepares to connect Kempegowda station with Sampige Road station.
“We will arrange bus services from Rajajinagar to Kempegowda station for the duration of the shutdown,” said Pradeep Singh Kharola, Managing Director, BMRCL.
Underground section between Sampige Road and National College
Length: 8.6 km
Cables: 1000 km
Tests completed
Ultra-sonic Weld test
Laser Positioning test
Fire Hydrant test
Optical Instrument Gauge test
Smoke Evacuation test
Third Rail Configuration test
Signal Configuration test
Installation Tuning and Regulation test
