Metro draws up fresh SOP for pillar construction after Nagawara mishap

BENGALURU: Days after a reinforcement cage of a Metro pillar collapsed, killing a woman and her son near Nagawara, Namma Metro authorities have drawn up a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for undertaking construction work.

Based on the suggestions of the technical team, a fresh SOP has been prepared and will be put into effect. Accordingly, the BMRCL will go in for single stage casting pillars and the reinforcement cage should should first be of 12 metres height, supported by guy wires.

Once concrete casting up to 12 metres is completed, work can be taken up on an additional 10 metres. As of now, wherever pillars are over 12 metres in height, work has been suspended temporarily till the new guidelines are issued, BMRCL MD Anjum Pervez said.

“The work started in October 2022 and the work on the airport line is expected to be completed by 2025. There will not be any delay in the execution of the project”, he added.

BMRCL MD Anjum Pervez said new guidelines will be issued soon.

Four months ago, there was another mishap at the casting yard of NCC at Hennur, but luckily there was no loss of life and the incident was allegedly covered up. It had also led to some delay in the work on the Gottigere-Airport line and the latest incident is expected to further delay the project.