New Delhi: After much din, the roll-out of the Conditional Access System (CAS) in three metros from September 1 ended in a whimper with Chennai being the only saving grace for the government as Mumbai and Kolkata saw a "non-launch".

However, the Centre, which is adopting a wait-and-watch approach and giving the metros some time to get over the initial hiccups, is not giving up. For Delhi, where the CAS was deferred, it will also notify a date, immediately after the Assembly elections.

In Mumbai, fears over Shiv Sena's opposition have led to Multi-System Operators developing cold feet, while in Kolkata they are awaiting a green signal from the state government.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is also likely to go easy on the city till the 10-day Ganesh festival is over as the law and order machinery is already stretched during this period, sources said, adding that after this it would take steps to ensure its implementation.

A joint secretary of the Ministry is leading a team to Mumbai on September 2 to talk to state government officials, Additional Secretary, Information and Broadcasting, Vijay Singh, said after a meeting of the CAS Implementation Committee.

He said CAS may be implemented in Kolkata in the next three days since Centre has responded to clarifications sought by the state government. The state government had on August 31 said CAS would not be implemented.

PTI