The Namma Metro station coming up at Konappana Agrahara in Electronics City will be the first to have platform screen doors (PSD) in the city. The station, funded by Infosys Foundation, is part of the RV Road-Bommasandra Yellow Line, which is likely to be operational by the end of the year.
At present, the city has an operational Metro network of close to 70km, with 63 stations (including eight underground ones). There is no PSD in any of them.
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) managing director Anjum Parwez said, “Infosys Foundation, which is funding the station construction, has requested the installation of platform screen doors and has agreed to bear the additional cost. We’ll float the tender for the installation of the platform screen doors. The foundation is providing Rs 135 crore for the station. As part of the agreement reached, a dedicated walkway will connect the station with the Infosys campus. They will also build 3,000sqft of space for commercial activities.”
Construction of Konappana Agrahara station is currently in advanced stages.
PSD helps prevent untoward incidents such as people falling or stepping on to the tracks, leaning on platform edges, and venturing beyond platform areas. Other Metros such as the ones in Delhi and Chennai have PSD.
In February, two men using Metro service for the first time tried to cross the track to get to the opposite platform at Mahakavi Kuvempu Road (of the Green Line). Timely intervention by Metro staff prevented them from crossing the tracks.
BMRCL has floated tender to design, manufacture, supply, install, test, and commission signalling and train control and PSDs for the Pink and Blue Lines.
As per the plan, the 12 underground stations of Pink Line from Dairy Circle to Nagawara will have PSD. “The PSD acts as a barrier between the platform and the track. Other than avoiding untoward incidents, it helps in keeping the platform of underground stations cooler by preventing loss of air circulation towards the tunnel. This will also help reduce power consumption,” said BL Yeshwanth Chavan, chief PRO of BMRCL.
Recently, BMRCL fixed a deadline of March 2025 for opening the Pink Line (Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara).
Meanwhile, two stations of the Blue Line (ORR-airport) that will be built on the campus of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) are likely to have PSDs.
