The apparent quality of work on Kochi Metro stations is better than that of Bengaluru and Chennai metros and the safety certificate to commence commercial operations on its 13.20-km-long Aluva-Palarivattom corridor will be submitted to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) on Monday, Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) K.A. Manoharan has said.
He was addressing reporters here on Friday evening after a five-member team led by him concluded inspection of the elevated rail corridor, 11 stations on the route and the metro’s depot in Muttom.
“Appreciable work has been done on theme-based stations. My team is satisfied with the safety measures and they will be analysed further while submitting the report,” Mr. Manoharan said.
He added that some more CCTV cameras and information boards had to be installed in stations. The KMRL had assured that this would be done in a week. Some improvements were also required in signalling and telecom systems.
“We inspected tracks, interface between signalling and telecommunication systems and trains, stations, fire alarms, CCTV systems and the information/public address system,” he said. Speaking to The Hindu , an elated Managing Director of KMRL Elias George said he was delighted to hear the CMRS appreciating theme-based stations.
“Soon after receiving the safety certificate and inspection report on Monday, we will carry out service trials using ‘dummy’ passengers, while Kudumbasree workers and securitymen will be exposed to managing the crowd that is expected to pour in once the project is commissioned. The date will be decided based on the Prime Minister’s convenience.
He added that uplifting literary quotes from Malayalam, Indian and world literature will be displayed in stations and trains. “We took a cue from the London Tube where poetry verses are displayed in trains,” he said.
Metro sources said the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation would have to carry out suggestions made by the CMRS, following which KMRL would have to give compliance report to the CMRS. The CMRS also verified competency of metro personnel and his recommendations are expected to figure in Monday’s inspection report.
Others who were present included the Deputy Commissioners of Railway Safety, G.P. Garg and E. Srinivas, and KMRL directors .
