Nagpur Metro to initially run at only 25 kmph

Nagpur Metro to initially run at only 25 kmph

NAGPUR: The speed of Nagpur Metro rail on at grade (priority section) section of 5.05km between Khapri station and Airport South station on North-South corridor has been restricted to 25 kilometre per hour (kmph) for lack of requisite signalling systems. Average speed of MahaMetro Rails in the nation is 80 kmph. This makes Nagpur MahaMetro slowest among all.

Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MahaMetro) has planned commercial run on the at grade on North-South corridor in the first phase.

Ministry of Railway’s Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO) and Commissioner of Metro-Railway Safety (CMRS) had inspected the stretch and also six rolling stock/cars obtained by MahaMetro from L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited (LTMRHL) on rental basis for trail and commercial run.

As per documents obtained under RTI Act by activist TH Naidu, RDSO issued provisional speed certificate on December 1 last year in which Metro Rail’s speed for at grade section was restricted at 25 kmph. Based on its inspection on January 16, CMRS issued a detailed note of 20 pages in which it also restricted Metro Rail’s speed at 25 kmph. “Trains will be operated in safety cut out switch (SCS) mode. Communications based train control (CBTC) and automatic train protection (ATP) have been not planned for commissioning of priority section. Also, signalling automatic train control (ATC) system is unavailable. Therefore, no other mode of operation — ATP, automatic train operation (ATO) and auto turn back (ATB)— will be functional,” report said.

CMRS also directed MahaMetro to ensure opening of cars’ doors on correct side manually through train operator. “In SCS cut out mode, the train shall be operated by train operator in accordance with line side signals and on radio verbal instructions from the traffic controller.”

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