The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) on Tuesday issued the authorisation to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., (BMRCL) to commission the Peenya Industry-Sampige Road Metro Station line for passenger operation.
With this, one could complete the journey between Peenya and Sampige Road (off Central Talkies) in about 18 minutes after BMRCL commences passenger operations. Travel by road on this stretch takes between 45 minutes to 75 minutes as it is one of the most congested road networks in the city.
CMRS S.K. Mittal told The Hindu that he has permitted maximum speed of 80 km per hour on the section subject to speed limits at curves depending upon the curvature. “BMRCL can commence passenger operation anytime and there is no need for further approval from the Ministry of Railways,” he said.
Asked whether he had recommended any improvement either for the civil infrastructure or for the technical infrastructure, Mr. Mittal said he had made certain minor observations, which BMRCL has to comply before commencing the operations. “Otherwise, everything is fine”, he said.
BMRCL Director (Rolling Stock and Operation) D.D. Pahuja said the Corporation received the authorisation on Tuesday evening and brought the matter to the notice of the government on Wednesday morning. Now it is for the government to take a call on the date for opening the commercial services, he said.
BMRCL is completely prepared to commence the operations, albeit pending of some civil works in a few stations. Still, the facilities are adequate to operate three-car trains on the section and those pending works would be completed at the earliest, he said.
The Corporation expects 70,000 to 90,000 passengers to make use of the facility every day on the 9.9 km track with 10 stations. Fares are being finalised and would be published soon, he said.
(Eom)
