Passengers travelling via the purple line of Bengaluru Metro Rail on Wednesday morning were inconvenienced due to delay in trains. Trains were slowly plying at 15-minute intervals, causing delays for office-going commuters.
The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited officials said that the delay was due to technical difficulties. In a tweet, BMRCL said that the trains were plying slowly due to a honeycomb formation near the Trinity Metro Station. The honeycomb was formed under the metro track's bridge near the Trinity Metro Station.
“Due to noticing of honeycomb formation in concrete, restoration works is in progress at Trinity station. Speed restrictions are imposed at this location. Trains may run between 10 to 15 mins and there may be delays in operation. Commuters are requested to cooperate with us," BMRCL said in a tweet.
Due to noticing of honey comb formation in concrete, restoration works is in progress at Trinity station.Speed restrictions are imposed at this location. Trains may run between 10 to 15 mins and there may be delays in operation. Commuters are requested to cooperate with us.”
— BMRCL (@cpronammametro) December 12, 2018
However, at pillar no 155 near the Trinity station, it was evident that the problem was not just about honeycombs.
According to a BMRCL official at the spot, the slider or the concrete slabs supported by a pillar, has moved from its original position. The engineers have been told to concretise the slider. Temporarily, a metal jack has been placed next to the pillar to support the slider. BMRCL workers will carry out repair works after 11 pm once the metro stops plying for the day. They have been told to finish the work in three days.
A BMRCL official, on condition of anonymity, said that aside from the honeycomb, delays were caused due to the problems on pillar number 155. The metro rail's engineers have installed iron planks to support the elevated track. "The repair work should be completed in three days time. We have issued instructions that the trains must travel at a slow speed when approaching Trinity Station until the repair work is complete. The trains will ply at normal speed once it crosses Trinity," the official said.
At around 8 am, the trains from Baiyappanahalli to Trinity Station had stopped plying. However, the train service resumed at around 9 am but were running only in 15-minute intervals.
"From 8..15 Hrs onwards trains are running on both the tracks in purple line. Slowly we are trying to pickup pace to normalize with induction of more trains. Still expect delays due to speed restrictions at Trinity station . Request cooperation from Namma commuters," BMRCL said in another tweet.
From 8..15 Hrs onwards trains are running on both the tracks in purple line. Slowly we are trying to pickup pace to normalize with induction of more trains. Still expect delays due to speed restrictions at Trinity station . Request cooperation from Namma commuters.
— BMRCL (@cpronammametro) December 12, 2018
Commuters of Namma Metro, however, said that they had to wait for over 30 minutes for a train and some thought that the train service was stopped temporarily.
"Bengaluru metro train services from Mysuru Road to Bayapanahalli station have been stopped temporarily due a technical glitch. BMRCL should have made made alternate arrangements," said Kriti Prakash, a commuter.
At around 10.20 am, the train service was normalised. "From 10.20 Hrs train operations are normalized .Thanks to all the commuters for their cooperation and bearing with us," BMRCL tweeted.
From 10.20 Hrs train operations are normalized . Thanks to all the commuters for their cooperation and bearing with us .
— BMRCL (@cpronammametro) December 12, 2018