CRS grants conditional safety clearance to Kolkata East West Metro line

Kolkata (Urban Transport News): Finally, the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) received conditional safety clearance from the Commissioner of railway safety (CRS) for opening of 5.74 km stretch from Sector V to Salt Lake Stadium. On Friday, CRS issued conditional nod for the launch of long awaited first phase of Kolkata East West metro corridor for public.

Before opening of the section, the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) have to clear the objections raised by the CRS in his observation list. If the KMRC failed to fulfill them, then the project may get delay in commencement of commercial run a bit that has already missed several deadlines in past. A major objection raised by CRS on the use of outdated software of Train Control and Management System (TCMS). The corporation will have to upgrade the same as per latest version.

In September 2018, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation installed the crucial microprocessor-based software that would enable Kolkata Metro's first communication-based train control (CBTC) system in the East-West Metro. However, this software can run the train at the speed of 80 kmph. KMRC will have to seek assistance from the Mitshubishi to upgrade the software soon because the current software is complex as it enables trains to run between stations automatically with minimum driver intervention.

KMRC official said that any slightest change or upgrade required highly skilled software experts. Another major issue noticed by CRS is defective bearings on the piers that hold the viaduct on which the rail tracks have been laid. The corporation will have to replace the all defective bearings which is a big task. The bearings fitted on the entire stretch are also too old. The bearings were fitted in 2012 and no proper maintenance was carried out even as the section’s commissioning was pushed back time and again.

The CRS instructed both KMRC and Kolkata Metro to conduct joint inspections and find out the health status of the viaduct and the 600-odd bearings and replace them accordingly, before announcing operations of metro on that section. A railway official said that the CRS may not object to the bearings being replaced even after the section is unveiled. But it will take some time to upgrade the TCMS software with the help of experts from Mitshubishi. A senior railway official said,

The CRS report mentions some conditions, focusing on the maintenance of the services so that commuters safety is ensured. It talks of specific conditions, such as the software upgrade and safety of the viaduct, which is held by the bearings of the piers.

CRS directed KMRC to provide proper training to the staff members for seamless operations of East-West Metro. According to the information shared by official, around 80 workers from Kolkata Metro have been trained to run this section.