Bangalore Metro: Minister flags green but CRS flashes red

It appears that KH Muniyappa, Union minister of state for railways, is not aware that the opening of Namma Metro hinged on the approval from the Commissioner of Railway Safety which comes under the civil aviation ministry.

That probably explains why he said in Delhi on Tuesday that Namma Metro had cleared all hurdles from railways and was ready for commercial operations.

He also said metro would be opened by the prime minister anytime by this month-end on a convenient date suitable for him. But when DNA checked with the certification authority himself, he gave a different story.

Dinesh Kumar Singh, commissioner of railway safety (CRS), South Central Railways, who also holds charge of Bangalore Metro, said the safety certificate had not been issued yet. “I have not issued any safety certificate to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) till now. I have given them (Bangalore Metro) some points and I am waiting for their compliance on those,” he said.

He spoke after reports came in the media about Muniyappa’s statement in Delhi.

However, Singh did not reveal the recommendations he made to BMRCL before giving them the safety certificate.

When DNA asked him how many days it would take to process the safety certification, he said: “It depends on when the BMRCL finishes complying with the suggestions and how much time they take to finish those off.”

The CRS completed the inspections of Reach 1 between September 6 and 8. On September 6, he went through the paper works and certifications already obtained by the BMRCL. 

During the next two days, he checked all the systems - operation, maintenance, passenger amenities at stations and tractions and signalling systems of the stretch.

After completing the first day of his physical inspections last Wednesday, he said that BMRCL could improve the operations. On September 8, after finishing his physical inspections, he sought more documents from the BMRCL but did not speak about specific recommendations or advices he gave to Bangalore metro. However, Muniyappa was not wrong in saying that the metro has got the all-clear from the railways. The ministry of railways had sent to the CRS all certificates approved on track structure and for opening the line.