Chunk Of Ceiling Falls Off Metro Station In Bengaluru, Casts Doubt Over Namma Metro

In yet another metro mishap, a false ceiling collapsed at the National College Metro Station on September 30, Monday evening in Bengaluru.

The issue came into notice when a CCTV footage of the incident started making rounds on social media platforms.

The video shows a chunk of the false ceiling falling off and three women making a narrow escape. This happened when the women were trying to make their way through the automatic fare collection gates.

However, no injury was reported. The three women are reportedly safe and sound. The fallen bricks damaged a part of the gate.

“One of the bricks in the 70cm-high wall constructed between the platform deck and track-bed got loosened and fell on the false ceiling. The track-side has plastering while the platform side doesn’t have it due to less access. Therefore, the brick got loose and collapsed due to vibration caused by train movement,” Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) Managing Director Ajay Seth (IAS) told The Times of India.

“The wall is not part of any structural part and hence there is no issue regarding safety to the structure. To prevent such occurrence in the future, the un-plastered side has been covered by mild steel sheet permanently. Other stations are also being checked for preventive measures,” he added.

Earlier, in September, a 24-year old woman succumbed to her injuries after a chunk of concrete fell on her head at Ameerpet metro station, Hyderabad.

The Logical Indian Take

The frail structure of ambitious metro projects that are in full swing across the nation, raise concerns when they start shedding off frequently and claim the lives of citizens.

These incidents, that often led to fatal injuries and death, reflect poorly on the civic bodies’ ability to ensure safety. The need for quick new-age mobility should not mean compromise with safety and durability.