The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has recently announced that they are seeking proposals for the design, fabrication, and installation of Platform Screen Doors (PSD) for the Namma metro stations.
The project also entails training of staff and annual maintenance services for a period of five years, and is a part of the larger Bangalore Metro Rail Project, which includes Phase-2, Phase-2A, and Phase-2B.
The move is a significant step towards ensuring the safety and security of commuters. These doors are crucial in preventing accidental falls or suicides on the tracks by separating the platform from the train tracks.
While BMRCL had previously announced the installation of PSDs in 2018, this is the first time they have floated a tender for the same.
At least 50 metro stations will get PSDs under this project. The installation will cover six elevated stations and 12 underground stations on the Reach-6 metro line (Gottigere-Nagawara), the complete elevated metro corridor under Phase 2A (Outer Ring Road line) from KR Puram to Central Silkboard, as well as 16 elevated stations and one underground station between KR Puram and the Kempegowda International Airport Terminal.
Commuters of the metro have repeatedly expressed the necessity for screen doors at existing metro stations, particularly at high-traffic stations like Kempegowda. The concern over the absence of safety measures at metro stations was brought to light once again after an incident where two first-time metro users attempted to cross the highly electrified metro tracks. This has prompted the commuters to express their worries about the need for more safety measures at metro stations.