CMRL misses second deadline.

Chennai Metro Rail has failed to meet its second deadline of March 2015 to begin the first service between Koyambedu and Alandur.

According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), a decision can be made on the commencement of services only after a certificate of approval is issued by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS).

'They will come for inspection later this month and give their approval subsequently. Only after that there may be a decision on the commercial operations,' an official said.

About 90 per cent of the work is already complete; but it is not clear when the Metro Rail services will take off. 'At present, only finishing work is in progress in most of the stations,' he added.

Sometime back, the trains of Chennai Metro Rail received clearance from the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO). This is one of the statutory requirements before beginning operations.

Chennai Metro Rail that is built at a cost of Rs. 14,600 crore should have taken off in October 2014 between the 10 km stretch of Koyambedu and Alandur. But it has been delayed due to various reasons.

The Hindu