BMRCL installs handrail barricades at more high-footfall metro stations

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) has initiated the installation of handrail barricades along platforms at several busy metro stations, extending the safety measure beyond the already equipped interchange hubs at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station, Majestic and R.V. Road.

The handrail barricades have recently been installed at Indiranagar, K.R. Pura and Benniganahalli stations, all of which witness substantial daily footfall. The decision follows apprehensions that the present open-platform layout does not sufficiently deter passengers from accidentally stepping or falling onto the tracks. These locations were prioritised due to heavy commuter movement and interchange traffic between corridors, according to officials.

New handrail barricades installed at M.G. Road Metro station in Bengaluru on Sunday.
| Photo Credit:
ALLEN EGENUSE J.

A senior BMRCL official said, “The installation of the handrail barricades at identified high-footfall stations is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance commuter safety. These railings are intended to guide passenger movement and reduce the risk of track intrusions. We are continuously assessing station-specific requirements and implementing suitable measures wherever necessary.”

This comes in the backdrop of several distressing incidents in which individuals attempted to access the tracks, with some cases ending in fatalities. Such episodes have intensified calls for stronger protective infrastructure at the metro stations.

Commuters have been persistently advocating for the introduction of Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) across the entire Namma Metro network, arguing that the rapidly expanding ridership makes advanced safety systems indispensable.

Officials estimate that average daily patronage has reached nearly 10 lakh passengers, resulting in crowded platforms during peak hours.

Savitha Rao, a regular commuter from Jayanagar, welcomed the installation of barricades but said more comprehensive measures were necessary. “It is a positive step that the BMRCL has added barriers at some stations, but ideally they should be present everywhere. During peak hours, platforms are packed and even waiting in a queue feels risky. The PSDs must become a mandatory feature in all future metro corridors before they are opened to commuters,” she said.

In February 2024, the BMRCL introduced metal railings along select sections of interchange platforms to restrict direct access to the tracks. Since then, the corporation has been evaluating their impact, particularly at stations with high passenger volumes. While retrofitting the PSDs on existing corridors poses challenges, the officials confirmed that the technology was being incorporated into upcoming expansion projects.

However, the absence of the PSDs on the older Purple and Green Lines, developed under Phase 1, continues to draw criticism. Sources said that during the initial stages of the metro project, budgetary limitations necessitated a focus on essential civil and operational infrastructure, leaving little scope for costly safety additions like the PSDs. Retrofitting such systems now, particularly at large and complex hubs like Majestic, would require prolonged service disruptions, the officials noted.

“In the early years, priority was given to increasing train frequency to as low as three-minute intervals and strengthening on-ground crowd management with additional personnel. The emphasis on the PSDs has gained momentum only in recent years, especially for underground segments under the Phase 2,” an official added.