Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has clarified that the disruption on the Purple Line on Thursday evening was not caused by a technical fault, but by a commuter’s metal chain becoming lodged in the train door guideway at Cubbon Park Metro Station.

The clarification comes after the brief service disruption affected commuters during the evening rush hour and triggered speculation about another technical failure on the Purple Line. According to BMRCL, a preliminary investigation found that the train itself was functioning normally and that the delay was caused solely by a foreign object obstructing the train door mechanism.

Metal chain obstructed train doors

In an official statement, BMRCL said the incident occurred when a commuter’s metal chain became trapped in the train door guideway, preventing the doors from closing properly.

The disruption took place between 7:36 pm and 7:54 pm at Cubbon Park Metro Station. Since the train doors could not close safely, metro operations were temporarily suspended as per standard safety procedures.

BMRCL stated that its Operations and Maintenance teams carried out an immediate investigation after the incident and confirmed that the obstruction, and not any equipment failure, was responsible for the delay.

“The preliminary investigation has identified that a metal chain belonging to a commuter became lodged in the train door guideway, preventing the doors from closing properly and resulting in the operational delay,” the corporation said.

No technical malfunction detected

Following the incident, engineers conducted a detailed inspection of the affected train and its door systems.

According to BMRCL, the inspection found no technical defects or mechanical failures in the train. Officials emphasised that all systems were functioning as designed and that the disruption resulted entirely from the foreign object becoming stuck in the door mechanism.

The clarification is significant because the Purple Line had witnessed another disruption just two days earlier due to an actual technical snag, prompting concerns among regular commuters over the reliability of metro services.

By confirming that Thursday’s incident was unrelated to any mechanical issue, BMRCL sought to reassure passengers about the operational safety of the metro network.

Passengers safely evacuated

As part of established safety protocols, passengers onboard the affected train were safely deboarded at Cubbon Park Metro Station before operations resumed.

BMRCL said the evacuation process took around 17 minutes and was carried out to ensure passenger safety while the obstruction was removed and the train was inspected.

Although the delay lasted less than 20 minutes, it affected the schedules of the following five metro services on the Purple Line, resulting in temporary crowding at stations.

Officials noted that safety remains the top priority and that operations can only resume after confirming that all systems are functioning normally.

Second Purple Line disruption in three days

The latest incident came only two days after a separate disruption on Tuesday evening, when a genuine technical fault affected a train on the Purple Line during peak commuting hours.

That earlier disruption caused major inconvenience across the corridor, particularly between MG Road and Whitefield, with overcrowded stations and long waiting times. Many passengers were forced to seek alternative transport, while videos of commuters travelling in trucks and lorries circulated widely on social media.

The repeated disruptions had sparked criticism from commuters and political leaders, raising questions about the reliability of Bengaluru’s metro services.

However, BMRCL has now clarified that Thursday’s delay was fundamentally different from Tuesday’s incident, stressing that it was caused by an accidental obstruction rather than a failure of the train’s systems.

Importance of commuter awareness

The incident has also highlighted how personal belongings can interfere with automated metro doors if they become trapped during boarding or alighting.

Modern metro trains are equipped with multiple safety mechanisms that prevent movement when doors are not fully closed. While these systems protect passengers from accidents, they can also result in operational delays if foreign objects obstruct the door mechanism.

Transport experts say commuters should ensure that scarves, bags, chains, clothing accessories and other loose items remain clear of train doors while boarding or exiting.

Such precautions can help reduce avoidable service interruptions and improve punctuality across busy metro corridors.

BMRCL urges passengers to cooperate

BMRCL has appealed to commuters to exercise caution while using metro services and avoid carrying or positioning loose objects near train doors during boarding and deboarding.

The corporation reiterated that safety protocols will always take precedence over maintaining schedules, even if this results in temporary delays.

With metro ridership continuing to rise across Bengaluru, officials said passenger cooperation plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth and efficient operations.

While Thursday’s disruption was relatively brief, BMRCL hopes that greater commuter awareness will help prevent similar incidents in the future and minimise inconvenience during peak travel hours.