Bengaluru: All hell broke loose on Friday morning when Namma Metro services were withdrawn without any prior intimation, putting lakhs of commuters through a harrowing experience. Both East-West and North-South corridors, stretching up to 42 km, were shut because of a tussle between the Metro staff and Karnataka State Industrial Security Force personnel on Thursday.
Metro services were shut at all the terminals from 5.45 am, indicating that it was a pre-planned agitation and not a flash strike. Metro train services resumed only around 11.45 am after a gap of six hours after the intervention of BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola, MLA N.A. Haris and additional commissioner of police, Bengaluru East, Hemant Nimbalkar. As if the strike was not enough, employees of Namma Metro blocked Old Madras Road at Byappanahalli Metro station demanding the release of arrested Metro staff.
As the Metro services were withdrawn, lakhs of commuters took out their private vehicles, creating traffic jams throughout the city.
Mr Kharola said that the police are investigating the reasons behind the scuffle. “We will wait for the police to submit the report. At this juncture, I don’t want to take action on any staff members and interfere with the police investigation,” he said.
