BENGALURU: The first trial run on the North-South underground corridor held on Thursday night gave anxious moments for Metro officials. As the first train began its journey from National College and inched forward on the tracks running at a speed less than 10 kmph, a piece of electric wire was spotted midway by the Metro crew on board the train.
The train began its journey at 5.30 pm from National College and was heading along the 2.5-km stretch to Kempegowda (Majestic) Metro station. It had a 20-strong crew on board comprising Metro officials and representatives of the French group Alstom, carrying out trial runs for Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).
“As the train was passing near Chickpet, officials on board spotted a piece of wire in the middle of the track, thanks to the powerful lights of the train. The engine was brought to a halt immediately,” BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola told Express. The power line had to be switched off immediately.
N M Dhoke, Director of Rolling Stock, BMRCL, and his team then walked along the track from Chickpet to Kempegowda Metro station. They spotted a few more such bits of wires lying on the tracks. “The wire could end up going under a wheel or it could touch the Third Rail (the single rail running parallel to the Metro tracks from which power is supplied for the running of trains),” Kharola said. “Of course, no major damage can occur as all automated safety features are in place. Still, we did not want to take any chances,” he added.
It was later learnt that the wires were left behind by workers carrying out electrical work, Kharola said. “It did create tense moments though for a few of us waiting to receive the first train at Majestic station as the train did not reach at the scheduled time of 7.30 pm,” he said.
The first run was delayed by nearly two hours.
