Software delay puts off Chennai Metro Rail’s Commercial run

Software delay puts off Chennai Metro Rail’s Commercial run

Chennai (MAS): The delay by German firm Siemens in providing the final software has delayed the inaugural commercial run of Chennai Metro Rail from Koyambedu to Alandur, according to a top Metro Rail official. The plan was to have the inaugural commercial run by the end of the year.

The final software will integrate design, supply, installation, testing and signals, besides providing track data and other vital data.

Sources said that through the final software, the entire power supply system can be monitored and controlled through Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA). The remote operation can be managed from the centralised operation control centre located in Koyambedu.

Top Metro Rail officials then took up the issue with the chief executive officer of the company in Germany, after which, the official said, they procured the software and the trials were taking place now.

Once the final trial is conducted with the final software, there would be an integrated trial run. The trial would be analysed by officials from Siemens, before being studied by an independent Safety Assessor of Siemens.

Following this, there will be two independent safety assessment tests, after which there will be a statutory inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Bengaluru. Once the Commissioner of Railway Safety gives the green light, the Ministry of Railways will give its clearance, following which the dates of the inaugural trial run will be decided.

Works on the Metro Rail stations are also yet to be completed. “We planned it in November, but then we are positive that it will be inaugurated early next year,” the official said.

Till now, no date has been fixed. It can be decided only after getting vital clearances from the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Chennai Metro Rail sources said.

It is believed that if the city gets its quota of monsoon then the pending work on the elevated stretch could be delayed further.

Source :RAILNEWS.