LMRC engineers pulling out all stops to ensure smooth run

LUCKNOW: Concerned over the near-everyday technical glitches in the commercial run of the Lucknow Metro, engineers of the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) are burning the midnight oil to fix the snags. They are especially focusing on the curve of Mawaiyya where most of the glitches have so far surfaced.

Since September 6, the train has got stuck twice at the Mawaiyya station. However, the LMRC authorities have not spelt out the exact nature of these snags.

Before the launch of the commercial run, the train had undergone high speed trials and had cleared all safety parameters. All prerequisite tests had been completed -- both on the test-track as well as on the ramp at the depot.

Load tests were also carried out wherein artificial weights -equivalent to crush loading of eight passengers per square metre -- were placed inside the coaches. A number of sandbags were used for this purpose.

Also, European experts (from France, Italy and Austria) monitored the systems and the trains, ensuring all technical support to the technical team of LMRC.

“Engineers of the Lucknow Metro are working tirelessly to resolve the issues that surface at the Mawaiyya curve, which is almost 40 degrees. Most trains ply at a speed of just 10-15 km/ hour. Despite that technical glitches have emerged at this curve. This is something for the LMRC staff to worry about,” said an engineer.

Notably, the Lucknow Metro also faced problems during the trials of the commissioner metro rail safety. The oscillation trial was conducted at the speed of 90kmph, and the emergency brake trial was carried out at 80kmph.

Engineers of Alstom - the company that manufactured the coaches - are also in the city, working together with LMRC to make the operations glitch-free.

“Over 1.3 lakh passengers have travelled in the Lucknow metro in the last 4 days. This shows that our services are well accepted by the people of the city.

As far as technical glitches are concerned, these are faced by even the best of metros after the launch. So, we are not disheartened.

Our engineers are working the nights to ensure a smooth experience for the passengers,” said Kumar Keshav, managing director LMRC.