CMRS Approves Bangalore Metro’s Green Line with 65 Conditions

The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety, K A Manoharan, on Thursday morning submitted his team’s 9-page safety report to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. which certifies the Green Line’s 12 km Sampige Road – Yelachenahalli stretch fit for commercial operations. This report, compiled after a 4-day inspection towards the end of May, includes a set of 65 conditions (suggestions, rectifications & improvements) which are required to be implemented prior to the line’s launch this month.

Here’s the first page of the report. His authorization is 3/4ths of the way down:

Source: News 9

I have issued a safety certificate to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) but the conditions to complete civil work at KR Market and Chickpet stations stay. They have to send me a compliance report once they finish these minor works to ensure passengers are not inconvenienced. Simultaneously, they can hold the launch, and commission it after full compliance
– K A Manoharan to TOI

A list of all 65 conditions is unavailable at this time, but as per Naveen Menezes at the ET, these conditions are “small” in nature.

A local channel highlights some of the conditions including the BMRCL’s MD’s plan of action:

Some of the conditions mentioned in the video:

1) Max speed in underground section’s stations is restricted to 50 kmph
2) Max speed in elevated section’s stations is restricted to 60 kmph
3) Additional training required for train operators
4) Warning board to be displayed where the line crosses high voltage lines
5) Additional measures required to avoid water leakage
6) Provision of washrooms and drinking water facilities at all stations
7) Barricades to cordon off sections of stations where work is still ongoing
8) Adequate lighting
9) Additional ramps for disabled commuters

Are you aware of any others? Drop a comment below and I’ll add it in.

Snap from 2014 – Photo Copyright: DNA India

Pending section of the Green Line – view Bangalore Metro map & information

A letter issued by the principal secretary to Karnataka’s Chief Minister confirmed that this last stretch of the 42.30 km Phase 1 will be inaugurated by India’s President on June 17 (Saturday) between 6-7 pm. As per the city’s Development Minister, K J George, the line will start commercial services on June 18 (Sunday), but I’m yet to see an official written confirmation on that. Stay tuned!

For more updates, check out the Bangalore section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG

written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

17 Responses to "CMRS Approves Bangalore Metro’s Green Line with 65 Conditions"

  1. Shouqatali says:

    If they can’t start operations on 18th then what is the point of inauguration on 17th???!!! Do I need to google the meaning of inauguration??!!

    They are just pulling it like a tv serial.

    Reply
  2. Parthasarathy MP says:

    Atlast Phase 1 namma metro is coming to end. However this experience should hold better for executing Phase 2 in time bound manner.

    Reply
  3. Rustoo says:

    Any particular reason why they have such a long list of conditions? Do other Metro’s in India as well as abroad have such conditions imposed? 🙂

    Reply
    • Arvind says:

      Yes they do. Infact CMRS has been very lenient in this inspection. The safety of people and passengers is of utmost priority. The trains running at 60kmph and with power of 750VDC around, lot of things can go wrong if adequate safety precautions arent taken

      Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Rustoo – Other metro operators receive a laundry list of suggestions & improvements as well. I try highlighting them wherever possible. Eg. See this post on Kochi Metro

      Reply
  4. Balasubramanian says:

    Having already running one stretch the purple line the experience should have helped BMRCL. How could they leave so many things incomplete after taking so much of time.

    Reply
  5. Vijay Kumar B R says:

    Now that the I phasecis completed, A loop line can be constructed between RAJAJINAGAR & HOSAHALLI
    Stations

    Reply
  6. Raghu says:

    Its all a part n parcel of the …certification..
    But main thing is connect between 2 line, now ppl ll get to know important of metro…
    Now govt should Speed up the airport, n Silkboard kr puram line..

    Reply
  7. sunil says:

    Any idea why the tender for arekere-nagawara line is being held up ?

    Reply
    • sravan says:

      Even I am eager to know the reason why they haven’t started in Bannerghatta road, may be after opening of phase one and two completely to public they will start work .

      Reply
      • shrikanth says:

        People who finance metros are known to release funds only after certain conditions or milestones are met. Maybe, one such condition could be tied with completion of phase 1 before funding certain parts of phase 2. Just guessing, we can never be sure about these things.

        Knowing very well the tardiness of BMRCL, we won’t be surprised if such preconditions and contractual obligations are enforced by the funding agencies. For errant and tardy government bodies like BMRCL, this is the best way to keep them in line.

        Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Sunil – BMRCL is waiting for the European Investment Bank to approve funding and give the go-ahead for inviting bids. Shrikanth’s response above explained the lender’s state of mind very well.

      Reply
  8. Prakash says:

    I feel we need collapsable safety rails in stations to avoid commutters sliping into tracks during rush hours ….as i feel tge crowd is going to get more nd more ….

    Reply
  9. lohit says:

    Interesting that the Commissioner of railway safety is under the Ministry of Civil Aviation ! (See header of the scanned letter).

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Well spotted!

      CMRS is administratively under MoCA due to auditing reasons as you can never have your own guys approve & certify.

      Reply
  10. Ravi says:

    There will be minor pending works – Service Level Agreements (SLA) in any projects. But that does not mean we compromise on Safety. The Speed restrictions inside the Tunnel might be due to following reasons:
    1. Fire & Life Safety (FLS) are still not in place
    2. Minor Leakages/ seepage is still noticed inside the tunnel.
    3. Tunnel Ventilation System (TVS/TVF) are still not 100% working
    4. Switches/ Points might be in place if there is any Interchange stations.
    5. Evacuation Procedure needs to be in place.
    6. Access to Line side from Platform End should be restricted for passengers since I can lead to suicide & security issues.
    and many others. it will take ample time to achieve 100 KPI’s at the initial stages. But I am very sure it will on-going process.

    Reply
  11. Sho says:

    Hi, thank you for this information. Once the green line is complete, what time of the day do you think will be the first train departing Yelachenahalli?

    Reply

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