Bengaluru: While the entire east-west corridor of Namma Metro running from Byapanahalli to Mysuru Road could be open for commercial operation soon with the now ready underground stretch providing the missing link, there is serious concern about passenger safety owing to the ongoing construction work on the north-south corridor below the Majestic Metro Interchange Station.
The work on the north-south corridor nearby has forced the BMRCL to cordon off three entrances to the Majestic Metro Interchange Station, which thousands of east-west corridor passengers are expected to use shortly. With only one entrance accessible for exiting and entering the station, experts are predictably worried about passenger safety.
"With just one entrance open at the Majestic Interchange how will the Metro handle the crowd?”asked transport expert and a member of Praja RAAG , Sanjeev D, adding, “Also with the kind of construction that is still going on , how are they going to ensure the safety of passengers?
While Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety, SK Mittal, admits it is not the best of situations, he believes the Metro has no option but to open only one entrance of the Majestic station for now considering its design. “There seems to be no other option. My only concern is fire safety and how well the Metro will be able to do an evacuation during such a crisis. So I have directed it to get all necessary fire safety certificates," he said.
But BMRCL spokesman, Vasanth Rao, claims there is no cause for concern. "We have five safety engineers working at the Majestic Interchange station and have taken all safety parameters into consideration. To begin with we will have only one access point as the other three have been cordoned owing to the work on the north -south corridor.
There is no question of overcrowding as this platform can hold 20,000 people at a time, " he said when contacted. "By June when we open the stretch from Sampige to Majestic one more entrance will be opened so commuters looking to change a train can do so," he added
