Bengaluru: Metro pillar develops cracks, trains slowed down at damaged portion
Bengaluru, Dec 12: A metro rail pillar in the busy Trinity Station here has developed cracks, compelling the Bengaluru Metro Rail authorities to slow down the speed of the trains at the damaged portion.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said he has directed the authorities to suspend the services till the damaged portion was repaired.
"I am aware of the crack in a portion of the metro rail route. Technical experts on the subject have carried out an inspection. I have given a slew of directions.
One is that the metro rail services should be stopped because it should not cause any trouble to the public," Kumaraswamy told reporters in Belagavi.
The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has raised a steel platform for the engineers to carry out tests.
It said the affected portion was small and would not affect the safety of the structure.
"The affected portion is very small and will not affect overall safety of the structure. The tests are being carried out as a matter of abundant precaution," said BMRCL ina statement.
The BMRCL said that it noticed a honeycomb in the concrete beam near Trinity Station.
"A more detailed inspection of concrete is required to be done through non-destructive methods to ensure that the concrete is adequately strong," the BMRCL said.
Regular Metro rail users and those frequently using the road beneath the elevated metro corridor expressed fears over the damage to the Metro pillar.
Vinay G, a resident living at Halasuru near the Trinity Circle said it was a cause for concern that the pillar developed a crack though initially authorities had said that the Metro elevated corridor was so strong that it would not require any maintenance for the next 25 years.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Integrity of electoral process severely compromised, Cong to soon launch movement: CWC
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress Working Committee met here on Friday and adopted a resolution alleging the integrity of the entire electoral process was being severely compromised against which the party would soon launch a movement.
In the resolution of the top body of the Congress, the party said free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that was being called into "serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission".
The CWC, which met amid the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, said the session has been a washout so far because of the Narendra Modi government's "stubborn refusal" to have an immediate discussion on three pressing national issues -- "the recent revelations regarding corruption by a business group, and the violence in Manipur and Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal".
Asked why the Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution does not name the business group, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "The answer is the Adani group".
"The CWC believes the integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised. Free and fair elections is a Constitutional mandate that is being called into serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission.
"Increasing sections of society are becoming frustrated and deeply apprehensive. The Congress will take these up these public concerns as a national movement," the resolution stated.
Addressing a joint press conference along with Ramesh and Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, party general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said the party discussed the political situation in the country for four-and-half hours and adopted the resolution.
He said the CWC has decided to constitute internal committees to look into electoral performance and organisational matters.
About the Assembly polls results in Maharashtra, Venugopal said the electoral outcome in the state was "beyond normal understanding and it appears to be a clear case of targeted manipulation".
