Koyambedu-Alandur route, which will be the first section of Chennai Metro to begin service soon.

CHENNAI:Chennai Metro Rail has cleared yet another hurdle ahead of its much-awaited inauguration.

The Union Minsitry of Urban Development has amended the Metro Railway General Rules which now make it possible to run services on a single line till the second line was completed. Earlier, there was no provision in the rules to run services on a single track.

The amended rules will directly benefit the 2.88 km stretch between Ashok Nagar and Alandur of Chennai Metro where only one track is ready for use. The second track is nearing completion with some finishing touches pending. The stretch is part of the Koyambedu-Alandur route, which will be the first section of Chennai Metro to begin service soon.

CMRL officials said the single line would become operational after the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) does another inspection. After the inspection, the Metro Rail could begin services, the officials indicated.  The Ministry of Urban Development held several rounds of discussions with the CRS, Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Railways and experts to resolve the issue and later decided to amend the Rules of 2013 to enable operations on single line Metro sections pending commissioning of the other line.  The altered rules would also benefit rail users between Mandi House and ITO stations in New Delhi where services can be offered on a single line till the second line was completed.

Source: The New Indian Express.