The countdown to the opening of Bengaluru Metro’s Pink Line has taken a step closer with the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) starting a safety inspection of its elevated section between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere.
The inspection covers the 7.5-kilometre stretch between Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere and is conducted over three days by the CMRS team. The inspection is being conducted by V. Venkatasubramanian, the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety for Bengaluru South Zone.
The elevated section under inspection has a total of six metro stations. The safety inspection is a crucial stage before passenger services can begin on the stretch as there must be safety clearance from the CMRS before commercial operations can be opened to the public.
The CMRS team will look at different safety-related aspects of the metro infrastructure. The track, signalling systems, electrical installations and station-related systems will all be examined during the inspection.
The inspection will check whether the infrastructure and associated systems are safe before passenger operations are initiated.
The completion of the CMRS inspection will set the stage for the next steps of operation. After the inspection, the decisions on further operation will be made based on the report of the CMRS and the safety approval given by the authority.
The CMRS clearance is therefore an important milestone for the Pink Line as the metro stretch can be opened for passenger services only after the required safety approval is obtained.
The 7.5-kilometre Kalena Agrahara–Tavarekere section is the first part of the Pink Line. Preparations are now underway for the start of operations on this section, once the safety process has been completed.
The Pink Line, also called Kalena Agrahara–Nagawara corridor, is planned to have a total length of 21.25 kilometres. The first phase includes the 7.5-kilometre stretch of Kalena Agrahara and Tavarekere.
Now that the CMRS safety inspection is in place, we are in a critical phase of the project ahead of the proposed start of passenger services. The inspection will check if the elevated section is ready for commercial metro operation.
Once the inspection is complete and the necessary safety approval is obtained, the authorities can proceed with the next steps necessary to open the section for passenger traffic.
So the start of the CMRS inspection has brought the Pink Line one step closer to receiving passengers on its first 7.5-kilometre stretch of operation.
