Snag hits Metro again

KOLKATA: Metro services between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Kavi Nazrul were disrupted for over an hour on Saturday evening due to a crossover point failure near New Garia. This is the second time in the last one week that services along the elevated route have suffered due to a snag in the section from Kavi Nazrul to New Garia that will be thrown open on October 7.
Puja shoppers from the south-eastern fringes of the city who planned to put the Gandhi Jayanti holiday to full use were disappointed. With services remaining cancelled between 6.15 pm and 7.30 pm, many resorted to auto-rickshaws and buses to reach Mahanayak Uttam Kumar (Tollygunge). Long queues were witnessed at the ticket counters at the station. Those returning home from central parts of Kolkata after hectic bouts of shopping also expressed their displeasure after being forced to get off at Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and look for other modes of transport.
"These are glitches that occur whenever a new line is opened. The Metro is more prone to such snags as it has a third line from which the rakes draw power. To ensure smooth running of trains after October 7, we are now conducting dummy runs' between Kavi Nazrul and New Garia. Instead of crossing over Down rakes to the Up line at Shahid Kshudiram, we are taking them to New Garia," a senior Metro Railway official said.
Trouble broke out around 6.15 pm when an empty rake was trying to cross over to the Up line beyond New Garia. The crossover point at the Y-crossing' developed a snag and refused to shift position when the rake was ready to move back over it. Engineers and technical staff rushed to the spot to carry out repairs.
"Power supply to the third line had to be disconnected to carry out repairs. Normal services were maintained between Mahanayak Uttam Kumar and Dum Dum though. Our engineers have succeeded in getting to the bottom of the problem. Hopefully, we shall not have similar problems in the future. Extensive checks will be carried out along the entire elevated stretch before commercial services start till New Garia," the official said.