In a freak accident, two Delhi Metro trains had a minor sideway collision at Kalindi Kunj depot on the under-construction Botanical Garden to Janakpuri West Line, but no one was hurt in the incident.
The new trains, manufactured by Hyundai Rotem, are equipped with advanced anti-collision technology. The incident occurred on Friday at 3:45 pm during the pre-commissioning phase, but inquiry has been ordered into the case, a DMRC official said.
“A train, which was under complete control of Hyundai Rotem for commissioning, was moved perhaps inadvertently in reverse direction by the Rotem staff,” Delhi Metro Rail Corporation spokesperson Anuj Dayal said.
The Delhi Metro currently spans an operational network of over 210 kms. Botanical Garden-Janakpuri West corridor (Line 8 or Magenta Line) is slated to become operational by next year.
“There was no need to worry as it was in a depot, and one train just grazed against the other sideways. Also, the speed of the train was 2-3 kmph thus minimising the impact of the side-rubbing, and no one was hurt in the incident,” the DMRC official said.
“Responsibility for the incident is of Rotem and prima facie it appears to be negligence on the part of the Rotem staff,” Dayal said.
“However, a detailed inquiry is being conducted by Rotem to look into this lapse for suitable action,” he said.
Hyundai Rotem, a South Korean company, is responsible for commissioning, among other carriages, the standard gauge cars of the Delhi Metro.
“Our mainline train operations are fully safe and there is no scope of any such collision there due to provision of ATP (automatic train protection) and ATO (automatic train operation)
during passenger services,” the official said.
“These new trains are fully equipped to provide most reliable and safe service to public after commissioning even without train operators,” he said.