BMRC mum on new Metro date

BANGALORE: When can we take a ride on the Metro? Post-Ugadi, what was once the buzz in town, has died out silently. No new dates have been announced. Even Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) is tight-lipped about it, considering the list of certification procedures and past experiences with missing deadlines for reasons `beyond its reach'. But here's a realistic estimate. The city's first Metro servicesalong Reach-1, between Byappanahalli and M G Road can become a `sure-shot'reality in all aspects only after June. Safety certification procedures and afinal inspection by the commissioner for railway safety (CRS) is just one partof the many works in progress. According to BMRC's April issue ofits newsletter, depot structures at Byappanahalli, including the operationcontrol centre (OCC), will also be fully complete only by May-end. Quick spotsurveys also reveal that it may take the same time to complete all pending worksat CMH Road and Ulsoor stations.PROCEDURES IN PROGRESSAteam of BMRC engineers are in Lucknow to complete some pending submissions toResearch Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO) to get clearance for theoscillation trials. "We need an important submission related to details of atrack dimension. Once this is submitted, we will clear approval immediately. Weare now meeting for this," confirmed RDSO officials in Lucknow.Afterthis, BMRC will have to decide on its date for the oscillation trials, based onwhich the RDSO will submit its final safety report to the ministry of railwaysthat will be followed by the CRS inspection. As per BMRC's own estimate, allthese procedures will extend till May considering the various nuances involved.Further, BMRC is also waiting for the remaining four rules to be published underthe Metro Act for Bangalore."It's hard to explain our completesafety preparations as it is very technical for the common man. But we have beensafe and careful with every aspect of the preparation and are confident of ourapproach and hard work," BMRC MD N Sivasailam told STOI.