Sky Bus: Safety clearance awaited
08 January 2005 23:09 ISTThe Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) is awaiting clearance from the railway safety commissioner on the sky bus technology after restructuring it following an accident on September 25 which killed one of their employee.
The KRCL managing director B Rajaram today took the retrial of the sky bus technology at Margao railway station. He said that the corporation has learnt many lessons from the mishap and they have ensure that the tragedy would not re-occure.
Contradictory to its earlier plans, the KRCL now has invited bids from various companies who will market the technology.
These companies will pay licence fees to KRCL while entire process of negotiating with the respective governments and getting the clearances for various projects will have to be done by the company.
At present, 12 companies have shown their interest in bidding for licencing. According to Mr Rajaram, 950 kms of potential area for the execution of sky bus technology is identified by the corporation. The KRCL which will be constructing the project will charge Rs 5 crores per kilometre as licence fee.
The KRCL which was earlier insisting that the sky bus technology should be covered under metro act has now agreed for ministry of railway's suggestion that the technology can be covered under Railways Act. ``We had to reconsider our position and agree to get it covered under railways act,'' conceded Mr Rajaram.
``Safety and technology aspects belong to railway ministry while funding, construction and licencing should be taken care by the respective states,'' commented Mr Rajaram.
