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.
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Have sanctioned 1,000 buses for next fiscal, says K'taka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday said the government has sanctioned procurement of 1,000 government buses in the next year’s budget.
According to him, in the current fiscal, 2,000 buses were sanctioned and many of them have already arrived.
Speaking in the Legislative Council, he alleged that the previous BJP government neither bought a single bus nor recruitment was done in the state transport department.
He was replying to BJP MLC Y M Satish’s request for buses for Ballari and Vijayanagara districts.
“From 2019 to 2023, not a single bus was purchased in the four corporations. Not even one bus. If buses are not purchased continuously for four years, what will happen to the organisation?” Reddy asked.
He recalled that the last time buses were procured and recruitments took place were in 2016, when he was the transport minister during the previous Congress government from 2013 to 2018.
“After we came to power (from 2013), we procured 6,080 new buses. Then last year, 2,000 buses were provided, and many of them have already arrived. This year too, 1,000 buses have been sanctioned in the budget,” Reddy told the House.
He noted that 9,000 people were recruited and 1,300 people were appointed on compassionate grounds during the Congress tenure.
The Minister added that around 2,000 to 2,500 buses have been refurbished.
“In total, 6,080 buses came in two years. Last year’s 2,000 buses, and now 1,000 more. Altogether, we have about 26,000 buses. Out of these, nearly one-third have been added in the last two-and-a-half years,” Reddy said.
Satish told the Minister that at least 100 red buses and about 20 Volvo buses are required for Ballari and Vijayanagara districts.
In response, Reddy said in 2022-23, 720 buses were given, and in 2024–25, 307 buses; in 2026, 140 buses—totalling 1,173 new buses were given to Kalyana Karnataka region.
There are around 4,000-odd buses in Kalyana Karnataka region, he said adding that another 400 buses have been tendered and funds have to be released.
“Additionally, 56 high-end buses—sleeper AC, non-sleeper AC, and Volvo buses—are also coming. Now, 400 buses are coming. Priority will be given to Ballari and Vijayanagara districts,” Reddy said.
