Bengaluru: Metro services on the Purple Line will be disrupted for a few more days as it may take a while to repair the 'honeycomb formation' or concrete distress found in a beam above a pier near the Trinity station. There could even be a shutdown in operations between MG Road and Indiranagar for a couple of days once the BMRCL receives an action plan for the repair work, according to its Managing Director, Ajay Seth.
“As we need to clear the honeycomb and do some minor engineering work, a decision will be taken not to operate services from M.G. Road to Indiranagar station for two days after we receive the action plan. In other parts train services will run as usual," he said, also revealing that the corporation had asked the BMTC to provide feeder services free of cost on the stretch for commuters carrying Metro cards or coupons during the shutdown.
“Commuters, who need to travel from Mysore Road Station to Baiyappanahalli, will have to get off at the MG Road station and board a feeder bus using their Metro card or coupon to reach Indiranagar station free of cost when our services are shut down on this stretch," Mr Seth explained.
Dismissing reports of a gap in the pillars posing a threat to the Metro structure at Trinity station, he said the gap between segments and pillars was part of the design
Although the BMRCL claims that its services have returned to normal after running slow for a couple of days, the trains have been asked to slow down while approaching Trinity station as the work on the pillar could take a few more days to complete, according to sources. The train speed has reduced to 10 km/hr from Trinity station to Baiyappanahalli and to 35 km/hr on the journey back, affecting the frequency of trains on the line. Meanwhile, a senior BMRCL official revealed that it had decided to change the design for Phase 2 of the Metro owing to concerns thrown up by the honeycomb issue.
"We are also increasing the number of structure inspections, which was usually conducted only once a year. So we request the public not to panic. Their Metro journey will be safe for all time," he added.
Dismissing reports that its ridership has fallen as a result of the recent scare, the BMRCL said it recorded a ridership of 3.88 lakh on December 12 and of 3.81 lakh on December 13, which was greater than in November.
