KOCHI: Dismissing apprehensions over the delay in commencement of the commercial operations of the Metro, Kochi Metro Rail Limited MD Elias George said that the service would be opened for the public this year.
While addressing the media to announce the Metro test run on Saturday by chief minister Oomen Chandy, he said that the date of the commercial operations would depend on the Railway Safety Commissioner’s inspection and certification.
The test run along the 1.25 km long test track at Muttom yard is the most significant and is a statutory procedure to get the safety clearance.
The KMRL MD termed the reports on conducting the test run as an “election stunt and baseless” (what was he referring to?) and added that test runs of all other Metros in the country had been done by dignitaries in a similar manner.
Elias George added that Kochi Metro was the fastest metro to be commissioned in the country.
“From January 2014 to this date, land belonging to 400 persons has been acquired for the project, which is a great achievement,” he said.
Praveen Goyal, director (systems), KMRL briefed on the test run procedures.
“So far, the testing procedure is satisfactory and we have been checking and rechecking various functions of the train like traction and brake. Gradually the train will be fully integrated to signaling system, he said.
