Rail Safety Commissioner Orders Probe Into Three Years of Bengaluru Metro Disruptions
The Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS) has directed the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to investigate train service disruptions over the past three years and submit a detailed report on corrective measures taken.
The directive follows a letter from Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya after a major disruption on the Purple Line on June 23 left thousands of commuters stranded.
In his response, Janak Kumar Garg, Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety and Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (Southern Circle), stated that the Managing Director of BMRCL has been asked to investigate the incident, review similar cases of service disruptions over the last three years, and provide details of corrective measures implemented.
The CCRS has also instructed BMRCL to conduct an audit of the operational and maintenance aspects of the metro system to improve safety and reliability.
Mr. Garg clarified that under the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, the Commissioner is statutorily required to inquire into accidents involving loss of life or grievous injury, besides inspecting new lines and rolling stock. However, day-to-day operation and maintenance, including ensuring safe and reliable service, remains the responsibility of the Metro Railway Administration.
Following the June 23 disruption, Mr. Surya expressed concern over recurring technical failures, noting that nearly 20 technical faults had been reported since January 2024. He called for a comprehensive safety audit of the Namma Metro network to restore commuter confidence.
BMRCL officials declined to comment on the matter.
