Metro Rail: Speed thrills officials but kills workers

Deccan Chronicle : Tuesday September 14, 2010 :

Sept. 13:The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd(BMRCL) doesn't seem to be learning from its mistakes. Although five people have already died in accidents at different times on the construction sites of the Metro Rail in the city since January last year, an even worse tragedy was averted by sheer luck as a crane used at one of the sites came crashing down on a moving car in Vijaynagar on August 28.

Fortunately the family travelling in the car was unhurt, but the incident has not endeared the BMRCL to the people, who have been left wondering when it will do what is necessary to make sure that its construction sites are accident-proof. “Even after the death of five people, the BMRCL has miserably failed to anticipate the kind of problems that can arise at the Metro construction sites and take necessary precautions. Instead it has been washing its hands off such accidents, blaming them all on the contractors employed to build the Metro. The company has itself not made even an inch of progress in enhancing the safety standards at the sites,” deplores B.H. Veeresh, a resident of Vijayanagar and a member of the RTI study centre. There is now a growing suspicion that safety is being given a go- by while the BMRCL hurries to meet its deadlines for completing phases 1 and 2 of the Metro Rail.

Dr H.R. Viswanath, executive chairman, BMS Educational Trust and International Cooperation Division (ICD) is among those who believe that safety is becoming a casualty of the speed at which the Metro work is being carried out to meet the deadlines announced by politicians in public gatherings. The solution is obviously to take stock of the situation and come out with measures that can keep both workers on the site and the passersby safe. One suggestion is for BMRCL to cordon off sites where cranes are used in the interest of vehicles and pedestrians. “Or such work must be done only at night,” suggests Mr Veeresh.

Chairman for the task force on quality assurance in public construction C. S. Viswanath says the issue of safety at the Metro Rail construction sites has been raised with the BMRCL. “We have asked them to take adequate safety measures instead of passing the buck,” he adds.