Metro trial run takes dangerous turn
MAGENTA LINE No casualties, DMRC says no delay in start of new Noida line
NEWDELHI: An empty metro train on a trial run broke through a boundary wall at the Kalindi Kunj depot in southeast Delhi on Tuesday afternoon.
The train was to be part of the Botanical Garden-kalkaji Mandir section (magenta line), which is scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25.
“The train was on a trial run, running very slow. There were no casualties,” said a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation official.
According to a DMRC spokesperson, the accident took place at 3:40 pm.
“A trial train was moved from the workshop without testing the brake system, as a result of which, while the train was moving up the ramp for washing, (it) rolled back and hit the adjacent boundary wall. No person was injured in the incident,” the spokesperson said, adding that a high-level inquiry has been ordered.
“Prima facie, it appears to be a human error and negligence. Appropriate action will be taken after an inquiry,” the spokesperson added.
DMRC chief spokesperson Anuj Dayal, however, said there was no need to panic because the line has full clearance from the commissioner of metro rail safety.
Metro said the inauguration of the magenta line was on course and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the section. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is also expected to be present.
The depot where the accident happened is part of this section and is the first elevated depot on the Delhi network.
Taking to Twitter, transport minister Kailash Gahlot expressed his shock at the mishap. “I have sought a report from DMRC on the derailment of its driverless train during trial run on Kalkaji-botanical Garden. Shocking lapse! There can be no compromise on passenger safety,” he tweeted.
The 12.64-km stretch is part of the 38.23-km Botanical GardenJanakpuri West corridor under the Metro’s Phase III expansion plans. The section has nine stations – Botanical Garden, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Kalindi Kunj, Jasola Vihar-shaheen Bagh, Okhla Vihar, Jamia Milia Islamia, Sukhdev Vihar, Okhla NSIC and Kalkaji Mandir.
This will also be the first Metro line with driverless trains, a first in the country. But Metro clarified that at the time of the accident, the train was being operated by a driver.
“Although the trains are driverless, they will run with drivers for the first 2-3 years till the system stablises,” said an official.
DMRC said that as per the standard operating procedure, when a train enters the workshop, the brakes are decommissioned.
This is done so that the train and its systems, including the brakes, can be checked.
“As per the procedure, once the train is again recommissioned, the brakes should be tested by the maintenance staff in the depot before the train leaves the shed,” the corporation said in a statement released after the accident.
The train movement inside the workshop area is handled manually and not guided by the signalling system.
“Prima facie, it appeared, this was not done and subsequently, the person who took charge of
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST LINE WITH DRIVERLESS TRAINS. BUT METRO CLARIFIED THAT THE TRAIN WAS BEING OPERATED BY A DRIVER
the train from the maintenance staff also did not check the brakes and proceeded with the train up to the washing plant built on a ramp. While stopping at the ramp, since the brakes were not available, the train rolled back causing this incident,” the spokesperson added.
This Botanical Garden-kalkaji section is meant to reduce the travel time between the two areas from the existing 52 minutes (Botanical Garden to Mandi House via Blue Line and onwards to Kalkaji on Violet Line) to a direct 19 minutes.
The coaches on magenta line will be brightly lit with videos guiding the passengers about routes, and have Wi-fi, USB ports along with charging points, LED and LCD screens and backrest near the wheelchair area.
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