Weekend Metro services on Baiyappanahalli section to be hit as BMRCL plans to replace bearings

BENGALURU: Namma Metro has been the most preferred mode of commute for thousands of Bengalureans. But the section between MG Road and Baiyappanahalli seems to be facing problems due to issues with the bearings on the Metro pillars. Weekend services are likely to be hit on this section to take up repair work.

Incidentally, the MG Road-Baiyappanahalli section was the first to become operational 10 years ago. Now, the section is seeing frequent troubles with the bearings on the viaducts and vibrations can be felt during travel.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd Managing Director Anjum Pervez said such issues are common after 10-12 years of operation. “If the problem has to be resolved completely, services on the line will have to be shut down for a month. Hence, we are taking up repair work on the weekends”, he said.

However, Metro Employees’ Union vice-president Suryanarayana Murthy claims that the life of a bearing is 20 years, but problems are cropping up frequently. “Repair work is being taken up at least twice a month. This will compromise the safety of the pillars. Not only the MG Road-Baiyappanahalli section, the problem has surfaced at other places too. Due to frequent repair works, passengers are being put to inconvenience”, he said.