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Rajya Sabha
Trial runs of the Sky Bus on the test track commenced from 25th August, 2004. On a return trip, during trial runs on 25th September 2004, the Officer-in-charge observed that the Sky Bus speed was not getting controlled as it was approaching the curve ahead of stopping point, and since the speed was restricted to 20 kmph on the curve, at some distance in advance of the approach of curve, he reacted to take action to abort the experiment by pressing the emergency button. This provides for cutting off the power and application of pneumatic breaks. The officer did not immediately feel reduction of the speed but soon found the Sky Bus going into dynamic instability hitting one of the columns resulting in the said accident. During mishap, late Shri T. Babu Fitter Konkan Railway Corporation expired and two persons Shri Laxmi Narayan, Engineer, Kernex Microsystems India Ltd. and Ramachandra Murthy, AC Mechanic, South Western Railway were injured.
An enquiry by a committee consisting of four Heads of the Department of Konkan Railway assisted by Prof. S.C. Lakkad, Deputy Director of Indian Institute of Technology, Powai and Austrian Engineer has been ordered by Managing Director, Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. to go into the details of the accident. The enquiry report is expected to be finalized shortly and further action shall be taken accordingly.
Fresh review on the safety aspect of the project shall be taken after the report of the inquiry committee ordered by Managing Director, Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd. is finalized.
Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation has constituted a committee in December 2003 under the chairmanship of Shri E.V. Indiresan to examine the feasibility of establishing and operating sky bus metro service in Indian cities. The terms of reference of this committee are as under:
To examine the techno-economic and financial feasibility of the sky bus metro system. To ascertain the safety of the system.
To critically evaluate novel system component, such as suspended rail technology, traversing systems, etc.
To critically evaluate the integration of different technologies, and any other matter considered relevant by the Committee.
This information was given by the Minister for Railways Shri Lalu Prasad in reply to a question from Shri R.P. Goenka in the Rajya Sabha today.
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