Safety chief starts inspection on Central-Nehru Park section

CMRS, southern circle, Bengaluru, K A Manoharan, accompanied by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) officials, started his inspection of the short stretch connecting Chennai Central railway station to airport from Shenoy Nagar metro station on Monday, after the Metro obtained the crucial International Safety Assessment Certificate for the section.

Interacting briefly with the media persons at Shenoy Nagar station, Manoharan said the international safety assessment certificate has been obtained for the 5.62km section from Shenoy Nagar to Chennai Central, adding that they expected to receive the same for Saidapet – DMS section by Wednesday. 

Manoharan would travel on a four-car metro train which would be operated at peak speed of 80kmph from Nehru Park to Chennai Central between midnight and 4 am on Tuesday. Similar, inspection runs would be conducted on Saidapet – DMS section on May 18 and 19, after CMRL secures the safety certificate for the stretch. 

Before the safety commissioner commences inspection, the network should obtain third-party safety certificate from an accredited safety audit firm, Arthur D Little from London in this case. 

As a part of the inspection, which includes thorough checking of tracks, calibration of rolling stock, tunnels, signals and communication system besides emergency evacuation plans, the team would also check the fire-fighting mechanism put in place by CMRL. 

If all goes to plan, the two underground sections which connect Chennai Central and Anna Salai to the city’s airport would be ready to be thrown open to the people this month. 

Asked about the tentative date of inauguration on the two underground sections, CMRL managing director, Pankaj Kumar Bansal said the date could be discussed only after getting the authorisation of the CMRS.