Bengaluru: After curtailment of services on the Purple Line of Namma Metro for a couple of days, normal operation resumed on Tuesday morning, providing much needed relief to commuters.
BMRCL officials assured the public that it was safe to use the metro and urged them not to pay heed to rumours floating in the social media. The trains are now moving on this stretch at normal speed, they added.
The services on the Purple Line were restricted after BMRCL authorities discovered a ‘honeycomb’ (coarse and rocky appearance on the outer foundation with a close resemblance to a honeycomb) on a pillar near the Trinity Metro station. Train services between M.G. Road and Indiranagar were suspended for a couple of days to carry out repairs.
A senior BMRCL official told Deccan Chronicle, “We have made it clear at the outset that it’s a minor problem and people should ignore rumours. The concrete areas requiring attention were identified and steel plates were used to strengthen them as a permanent solution. Other concrete areas were grouted.”
He pointed out that the effectiveness of repair work was verified through nondestructive testing, instrumentation and trials by trains at different speeds. It was only because of the repair work the train speed was reduced while approaching the affected spot, but now the train speed is also normal at 45-kilometre per hour, he added.
“We were shocked when we heard that BMRCL maintenance team had found a ‘honeycomb’ on a concrete beam near the Trinity Station. BMRCL gave an assurance it will be cleared, but rumours started floating in the social media that these restrictions will be there for a long time. But now we are happy that services have been restored,” said Shankar K.L., a commuter.
