Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety gave first Metro line its final safety certification yesterday; now, only the clearance of trains is awaited from the railway board
It’s only a matter of time before the much-awaited 11.04-km long Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar (VAG) Metro line opens its doors to the public. After encountering several roadblocks along the way, the first Metro line is just a step away from its inauguration, with the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) giving the mammoth project its final safety certification.
Check: The Metro will be opened only after receiving all the clearances. File pic
Speaking to mid-day, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) chief UPS Madan said, “The CMRS gave his clearance for Metro One on Friday. Clearance of rolling stock (trains) from the railway board, however, is still awaited. The Metro will be opened only after the final nod from the board.”
Getting the CMRS certification is crucial in terms of getting the Metro line up and running. The Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) spokesperson said, “We are happy to announce that CMRS, after carrying out its intensive safety inspection, has given its sanction for the opening of the line. Now, we are only awaiting the approval of the railway board on its rolling stock, for which the required papers have been submitted on April 22 this year. We shall open the line for commercial use within seven days of receipt of the approval.”
The CMRS safety check was the last statutory certification requirement for the VAG line to go live. The commission started the Metro’s inspection from April 18. Since then, it inspected the entire Metro system, including rolling stocks, workshops, depots, corridors, stations and tracks. And after receiving certification from the Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), the MMOPL applied to the CMRS on April 4.
With the line operational, the journey between Versova and Ghatkopar will be reduced to approximately 20 minutes, from the current two hours via other transport.
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