Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety directs BMRCL to probe three years of metro service disruptions

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The Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS) has directed the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to investigate train service disruptions that have occurred over the last three years and submit a detailed report on the corrective measures taken.

The directive follows a letter written by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya after a major service disruption on the Purple Line that left thousands of commuters stranded on June 23.

In a letter to the MP, 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 advised to investigate the incident, review similar cases of train service disruptions over the past three years, and submit details of the corrective measures undertaken.

The CCRS has also instructed BMRCL to conduct an audit of the effectiveness of the operational and maintenance aspects of the metro railway system to improve the safety and reliability of services.

In his letter, Mr. Garg noted that under the Metro Railways (Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2002, the Commissioner is statutorily required to inquire into accidents involving loss of human life or grievous injury, besides inspecting and authorising the opening of new metro railway lines and the introduction of new rolling stock. However, he clarified that the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the metro system, including ensuring its safe and reliable functioning, remains the responsibility of the Metro Railway Administration.

Following the June 23 Purple Line disruption, Mr. Surya had expressed concern over recurring technical failures, claiming that nearly 20 technical faults had been reported since January 2024. He had sought a comprehensive safety audit of the Namma Metro network to restore commuter confidence and ensure reliable operations.

BMRCL officials refused to comment.