Lucknow Metro day 2: trains develop snag; SP activists protest forcing closure of station

Lucknow, Sep 6: The first day of commercial run of the Lucknow Metro was eventful as, first, a train developed a technical snag forcing the passengers to be evacuated through emergency doors and, later, security forces closed the Transport Nagar Station when the Samajwadi Party supporters thronged the stations. Police had to resort to lathicharge to control the SP supporters who were carrying posters of party president Akhilesh Yadav claiming that the SP Government should be given credit of the Lucknow Metro. When they tried to enter the station raising slogans, the security personnel stopped them and later in the lathicharge several SP activists were injured. Mr Yadav, who was critical on the BJP's move to take credit of Lucknow Metro during yesterday's inauguration function, tweeted today, "Lucknow Metro was prepared well before and the Central Government organisation Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) took long time to give its NOC but still on the first day its functioning collapsed." The Lucknow Metro started its commercial run at 0600 hrs today and immediately within an hour a train developed snag leading the evacuation of passengers. However, the LMRC honoured first five passengers at the Transport Nagar Station with gifting them a pen drive each. LMRC spokesperson Amit Srivastava in a statement said around 0715 hrs, a Metro that was on way from Charbagh to Transport Nagar developed a technical snag. The Emergency Brakes were applied in the train when it was travelling between Durgapuri and Mawaiya Metro stations. He said all 101 passengers who were travelling inside the train were taken out through the emergency exit door and were taken safely to Durgapuri Metro Station. Thereafter from Durgapuri Metro station, all 101 passengers were taken by a different train to the Transport Nagar Metro station. From the Transport Nagar Metro station all the passengers made exit thereafter. The spokesman said during this intervening time period, all passengers inside the train were taken proper care by the LMRC officials and were provided every care and support they needed. The Metro staff and officials at the Durgapuri Metro station ensured that the Metro commuters do not face any further inconvenience. The train which has developed technical snag has been taken out from Metro service and has been taken to the Transport Nagar workshop for the troubleshooting purpose. Metro train services are, however, running normally between Transport Nagar and Charbagh, Mr Srivastava further claimed. However, reports said that another metro train developed some snag at Alambagh Station. Yesterday, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Governor Ram Naik and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the first phase of 8.5-kilometre of Lucknow Metro at the Transport Nagar Railway Station. The first trial run of Lucknow Metro was held on December 1, 2016 which was flagged off by the then Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. UNI