Bengaluru: Metro scare as trains run 15 mins late

Bengaluru: For the third time in less than six months, the IT capital's all important metro train services that are the lifeline for some 400,000 commuters every day, were faced with delays. Between 8.15 am and 10.20 am, the coaches ran at 15-minute intervals on the Purple Line on Wednesday, after officials, who found a  problem with a concrete beam near the Trinity Station, imposed speed restrictions at the location.

Metro users had also panicked as the coaches slowed down to a snail's pace after a WhatsApp message circulating privately,  warned that  "the metro pillar on MG Road got twisted, better avoid the road and metro through that route."   

Metro officials dismissed the WhatsApp alert as "misleading and wrong", adding that there was "no twisting of any pillars." 

"Our staff rushed to the spot immediately after it was found that the slider at pillar no 155 near the Trinity Station had shifted from its original position.  As a temporary measure, a metal jack ( a steel platform) was placed near the pillar to support the slider," a senior BMRCL official said, adding that a more detailed inspection of the concrete beam that had developed a 'honeycomb structure' would follow to ensure that the concrete remained stable and strong.

"The affected portion is very small, and will not affect the overall safety of the structure," he added.

The official clarified that the 'honeycomb' discovered on the concrete beam near the Trinity station was being reinforced and tested. 

Commuters however were also upset as this is the third time in less than six months that trains have been delayed. "It's my routine to use the Metro every day. Today too I board the train at 7.45 am, but by 8.15 am onwards  there was delay in the trains running on both the tracks of the Purple Line. So I reached my office late," complained Mr Kiran Kumar KL, a regular metro user.

Metro services were also affected recently after the branch of a tree fell on the track between Jayanagar and Lalbagh stations, damaging the third rail. And on Tuesday night,  a video circulating on WhatsApp showed a Metro pillar collapsing on Mysuru Road, leading to panic, but it later turned out to be fake  

"All this is bound to happen on big services, but we have all safety measures in place.  I request people not to circulate false news," said the BMRCL official.