Delhi Metro train services disrupted on Blue line after thieves steal cable, DMRC confirms

Delhi Metro update: Train services were delayed on the Blue line due to cable theft on the down line section leading to Vaishali/Noida Electronic City, reports PTI.

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Delhi Metro commuters had to face inconvenience while travelling today (July 19) as blue line services were affected due to a technical snag from Indraprastha to Yamuna Bank stations. It was later revealed that line services were affected due to cable theft on the down line section leading to Vaishali/Noida Electronic City and can only be rectified after services stop at night. The Blue Line connects Dwarka Sector-21 in Delhi and Electronic City in Noida with a branch at Yamuna Bank to Vaishali. "This has resulted in track circuit drop (signalling issue) in this section restricting the trains to move in manual mode with limited speed of up to 25 kmph only. Because of this issue, there will be minor bunching of trains between these two stations," read the tweet of DMRC. 

To spread the word, DMRC officials are making regular announcements inside the trains as well as on stations. The restoration work on this stretch will be completed only during night hours on July 19, 2022 after closure of revenue services, since ‘access to track’ will be necessary for up to 3 hours to identify the exact location of the theft & carry out necessary replacement work.

Train services are affected between the Indraprastha and Yamuna Bank stations of Blue Line since morning because of a suspected case of cable theft on this section on the Down Line which goes towards Vaishali/Noida Electronic city.

— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation I कृपया मास्क पहनें (@OfficialDMRC) July 19, 2022

Because of this issue, there will be minor bunching of trains between these two stations, the DMRC said. Vani Bhatia, who stays in Noida and commutes to Delhi, said, "Today, the train I boarded from Noida Sector 52 station was running at a normal speed. But, as soon as it reached Akshardham, all commuters were asked to deboard with frequent announcements being made that there was a technical snag. The next metro arrived after 15 minutes," she said.

Many commuters took to Twitter to share the hardships they were facing and reminded DMRC that the Blue Line was witnessing snags a bit too frequently in the last two months. DMRC officials said the restoration work on the affected stretch of the Blue Line will be completed on Tuesday night after the closure of revenue services.

This is because "access to track" will be necessary for up to three hours to identify the exact location of the theft and carry out necessary replacement work, they said. "To inform passengers about the matter, announcements are being made at the stations and inside the trains on Blue Line. The information has also been shared through social media," an official said.

Services on the Blue Line of the Delhi Metro were delayed for over two hours due to a technical snag on June 9. While on June 6, services on the Blue Line were impacted for nearly an hour-and-a-half due to a technical snag caused by a bird hit.

Recently, DMRC chief Vikas Kumar, when asked about several technical snags being reported on Delhi Metro corridors, particularly on the Blue Line, had said, "Most of these were overhead equipment issues caused by bird hit and birds dropping something on it. In our report submitted to the Delhi transport department, we have mentioned that."

(With inputs from PTI)