A Metro stretch between New Garia and Ruby has got the nod for commercial runs from the railway safety boss.
The section is part of the larger upcoming New Garia-airport Metro corridor (Orange Line).
Till Thursday night, there was no word on a possible date for the start of commercial runs on the stretch. A senior official said some “minor issues” needed sorting before commercial runs could start on the stretch.
The same stretch had received a CRS (commissioner of railway safety) nod in
February last year. That was for a “one train-only system”.
It meant one train would start from New Garia, reach Ruby (Hemanta Mukhopadhyay) station and then turn direction and head towards New Garia again.
But the carrier did not start commercial runs, apparently because they wanted to
introduce an advanced signalling system — that would enable multiple trains to travel simultaneously — on the stretch.
On Thursday, the Metro spokesperson said the latest nod was also for a “one train-only system” but with “electronic interlocking”.
“It means two trains can run simultaneously, one in each direction. This is one
step forward from the earlier system,” said a Metro official.
The chief commissioner of railway safety (CCRS), Janak Kumar Garg, had for the
past few days been conducting inspections of the three Metro sections — New Garia-Ruby, Howrah Maidan-Esplanade (part of the larger East-West or Green Line) and Joka-Majerhat (part of the larger Joka-Esplanade or Purple Line).
The East-West Line is now operational between Sector V and Sealdah and the Joka-Esplanade line between Joka and Taratala.
“For the two remaining sections, the CCRS has made some observations. We will implement them and send a compliance report to the CCRS again,” said Kausik Mitra, the Metro spokesperson.