Chennai Metro Rail’s second stretch from Little Mount to Chennai airport will witness the final inspection this week before services can begin.
According to sources, though the final inspection by Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) was planned to be held in the second week of July, it had been delayed.
“The officials of CMRS had sent some queries to which we responded. They are likely to conduct the inspection on Thursday and Friday and we may receive the clearance in about a week to ten days,” an official said.
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CMRS officials, during the inspection, check for passenger communication systems, fire safety mechanisms, emergency evacuation procedures, braking and anti-collision functions, besides signalling and telecommunication systems.
Train tests done
This test comes weeks after the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) carried out tests of the trains and subsequently gave approval. Unless the approval from these two organisations comes through, Chennai Metro Rail cannot run services between Little Mount and Chennai airport.
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Though the inspection is likely to happen this week, the construction of all the stations is still not complete, sources said.
For instance, the Meenambakkam station has quite a bit of work still left to be finished, and the interior work is on in a few other stations, sources added.
The first service of Chennai Metro Rail started in June last year between Koyambedu and Alandur, a 10-km stretch.
The 9-km stretch from Little Mount to Chennai airport will be the next to be pressed into service in the last week of August.
On Saturday, the Chief Minister promised that the services on this stretch would begin next month. When this stretch becomes operational, commuters can travel from Koyambedu to Chennai airport directly.