Chennai Metro Rail signal malfunction ‘a deliberate act’, says CMRL

Thousands of passengers suffered as the staff went on strike and the automatic signalling system was deliberately triggered to malfunction. The services were restored at 1.30 p.m., says CMRL.

Several staff of Chennai Metro went on a protest on Monday against the privatisation of a section of operations. File

Thousands of passengers suffered as Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) staff went on strike and two of its employees deliberately caused the automatic signalling system to malfunction, resulting in disruption and stoppage of services on Monday evening and Tuesday morning too.

Elaborating on the reasons for the ‘glitches in the system’ it had originally quoted, the CMRL, on Tuesday afternoon, said the direct services from Chennai Central to airport that were stopped had been restored.

“Inter corridor train operation between Central to Airport has successfully restored at 01:30 pm today (30-04-2019). All Metro Train services are running as per schedule,” the CMRL tweeted.

Inter corridor train operations between Central to Airport has successfully restored at 01:30 pm today (30-04-2019)

All Metro Train services are running as per schedule.

— Chennai Metro Rail (@cmrlofficial) April 30, 2019

 

In a statement,the CMRL said, “Two of our non- executive staff tampered with the automatic signalling system leading to malfunction late evening on 29 April. CMRL extends sincere apologies to passengers for the inconvenience caused.”

It plans to file a police complaint against some employees for manhandling a joint general manager and a woman manager on Monday evening and damaging the fire alarm at the Thirumangalam station.