Technical glitch stalls Gurgaon Metro, again

A technical snag caused severe disruption in services of the Delhi Metro, twice within three days of its inauguration on the Gurgaon-Jehangirpuri corridor. HT reports.

A technical snag caused severe disruption in services of the Delhi Metro, twice within three days of its inauguration on the Gurgaon-Jehangirpuri corridor.

HT Image

The inaugural day service was disrupted for over half an hour. On Sunday, the scenario was repeated for about an hour.

A train which was plying from HUDA City Centre towards Jehangirpuri was saddled with technical problems and stopped at Chawri Bazar station around 5 pm.

This led to suspension of train operations for nearly an hour. Finally, on failing to repair the fault, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) removed it from the track.

The train, said DMRC officials, was manufactured by the German company Bombardier and was pressed into service only a few months ago.

The DMRC, though, claimed that the disruption did not cause any delay in its service. It claimed that on Sunday, traffic was comparatively less and trains were plying at seven-eight minute intervals.

However, commuters reportedly had a tormenting time, with some complaining that there was no train between 5 and 5:45 pm on the route.

Finally, when a train did arrive, after 45 minutes, it was too crowded.

A DMRC official admitted that despite repeated attempts, the fault could not be rectified.

"Finally, passengers were de-boarded and a single line operation started between Rajiv Chowk and Vishwavidyalaya stations," the official said, adding that services from Gurgaon to Rajiv Chowk and from Vishwavidyalaya to Jehangirpuri were normal.