Wait for Metro a little longer

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) which is supposed to approach the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) for inspection will have to wait a little longer as the Lucknow-based Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) is yet to provide a speed certificate.The Ministry of Railways approved the track structure for standard gauge section of the Bangalore Metro Reach-1 from Byappanahalli to M G Road last week. The RDSO will carry out a four-day long extensive test run from August 1.After the test, the RDSO will prepare a report on the schedule of dimension which will be submitted to the ministry of Railways and only after receiving approval from the ministry, the BMRCL can approach the CRS.“For us, the report submitted by the RDSO is still half complete as they will have to issue fresh speed certificates after approving the schedule of dimension. Until they complete this formality, we cannot approach the CRS for inspection,” BMRCL Engineer and Spokesperson B L Y Chavan said.The RDSO, however, has maintained that it has submitted its complete report to BMRCL and there is no procedural delay on their part. “We have submitted a complete report to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation and if there are any delays, it is not from our part,” a senior official from RDSO informed.BMRCL which has missed three deadlines till now, is now waiting to get all the clearances before announcing a launch date. “Our main priority right now is to get all confirmatory procedures completed and whenever we are ready,the stakeholders (Governments of India and Karnataka) will announce a launch date,” Chavan said.