NOIDA: The commissioner of metro rail safety (CMRS) will inspect the 29.7km Aqua Line from December 11 to 13 for the final certification needed to start commercial operations on the corridor that is likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Christmas day. The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) has been expecting an inspection by CMRS S K Pathak for the past one month. The final inspection includes exhaustive checks and re-checks on different public safety mechanisms, including security system, alarms, emergency stops, and entries and exits at all 21 stations of the corridor.Earlier, in the first phase of the checks, the deputy CMRS had conducted a full trial of the metro line along with a two-day test of the rakes that will run along the entire corridor. That was completed on September 20. TOI had reported that the inspection was described as “good” by officials.“It takes at least...
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three days as this is the last stage when each and every aspect related to commuters’ safety is studied and checks are carried out,” an NMRC official said. “If any loophole is found, the CMRS will direct it to be fixed. Usually, a final invitation is sent to the CMRS only when the metro line is fully ready for commissioning,” the official added. While December 25 is the proposed date for commissioning, NMRC officials have not yet confirmed it. “The dates for the CMRS inspection have been confirmed for December 11 to 13. We are gearing up for the same,” said PD Upadhyay, executive director of NMRC, adding the inauguration date will be finalised after the CMRS inspection.While in most metro projects, commissioning has followed the final inspection, sources said the CMRS had pointed out shortcomings during the inspection of the Botanical Garden-Kalkaji line due to which the commissioning was delayed by a few months. “Usually, if the CMRS points out shortcomings, they would ask for quick redress and issue a new date for another round of inspection,” the official said.