Several Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation officials, including BMRCL MD N Sivasailam, took along their families—including children—to enjoy a “joy ride” even before the Commission for Railway Safety granted safety certification.
When the Metro Rail ran the entire Reach One from Byappanahalli to MG Road on Sunday afternoon, all of Bangalore rejoiced; but what nobody realised was Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had thrown all safety norms to the winds by endangering the lives of around 200-odd people who took a jolly ride on Sunday’s trial run.
Several BMRCL officials, including BMRCL MD N Sivasailam, took along their families—including children—to enjoy a “joy ride” even before the Commission for Railway Safety (CRS) granted safety certification.
But nowhere in the world are family members allowed on board during a trial run; and that’s the time when Metro officials test the segment, the electrical systems and signal functions, etc.
Not just that, a journalist from an English daily managed to sneak in while photographers were permitted to shoot pictures from next to the electrified tracks.
The trial run was supervised by the BMRCL and Railways Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) of Indian Railways. The CRS will grant safety certification only after reports of trial runs are submitted to it.
KJS Naidu, commissioner, CRS (Southern Circle) said: “So far they (BMRCL and RDSO) have not let us inspect the work; they are yet to come to us for safety certification…they are not supposed to carry the public while trial runs are on.”
Surprisingly, when questioned, VK Jain, additional director general, RDSO, gave a tangential reply: “There is no violation if they have carried people without taking money for the ride.”
But he also added, “Before they open it for public, there needs to be an agreement signed by RDSO whereby the service is paid for and people cannot be put to any risk.”
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