Kite-flying thread a threat for Lucknow Metro!

Kite string or ‘manjha’ is proving to be a nuisance for the Lucknow Metro. The power supply of the Metro has tripped twice due to manjha since the launch of commercial operations earlier this month.

Director rolling stocks Mahendra Kumar told Hindustan Times, “The substation at the Metro depot has twice suffered tripping -- and that too on the main line of the Metro. Once, the train movement was affected for 18 minutes. The areas where kites have become a problem for us start from Alambagh and last till Mawaiyya. We have cleaned a large quantity of manjha from the train’s overhead wires.” 

He said that the staff of the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) was patrolling the overhead electricity track everyday just because of these kites.

“I am concerned about the safety of kite fliers too. They are playing with 25,000 volts power supply, which can be very dangerous if there’s a short circuit. The staff is especially keeping an eye on the stretch from Alambagh to Mawaiyya,” said Kumar. 

The manjha has metallic components, which can directly endanger the life of the kite fliers.

Kumar said the LMRC will soon start an education-cum-awareness programme for the locals. “We will urge them not to attempt to touch the overhead wires,” he said.

Manjha menace has remained a matter of concern in other cities too. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has launched awareness campaigns in the past to inform the people about the consequences of kite-flying near Metro tracks.

SOME FAULTS IDENTIFIED 

Reasons behind some of the recent glitches experienced by the Metro have been found. Once, due to an adjustment flaw in one of the doors, it did not close properly, triggering the emergency breaks. Emergency breaks are applied for the safety of the passengers. As the breaks were applied, the train was stopped for two hours. The same train was again stopped for 45 minutes. Another fault unearthed was the absence of signals. While, this problem can be surmounted by running the train on manual mode, it is not considered safe. “In such a case, it’s better to tow the train,” said Kumar. 

At present, repairs are underway to correct these glitches. 

 SENIOR ALSTOM OFFICIALS REACH CITY 

The head of the engineering wing of Alstom and the head of Alstom (Asia pacific region) have arrived in Lucknow to monitor the metro coaches and remove technical faults. They are accompanied by a team of engineers that will stay back till the train operations are normalised. 

FILM SHOOTING INSIDE METRO 

 Lucknow Metro is proving to be an attraction for Bollywood too. A few film directors have already applied for permission from LMRC to shoot inside the Metro coaches. However the Lucknow Metro is still to formulate any policy in the matter. Officials said that the policy regarding film shooting would be formed in consultation with the state government and the chief metro rail safety commissioner. 

TBM TO START DIGGING FROM HUSSAINGANJ  

The tunnel boring machine (TBM), which was taken out from Hazratganj, will be put to work again from September 21. It will start digging the tunnel for the next phase of the Lucknow Metro project -- from Bapu Bhavan to Charbagh.