DMRC Launches 'Comprehensive Inspection' Of Physical Assets On All Corridors Following Gokulpuri Metro Incident

Following the collapse of part of the boundary wall at Gokulpuri Metro station on the Pink Line, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has begun a comprehensive inspection of its physical assets across its corridors.

This initiative aims to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The DMRC in a statement said that a total of 26 elevated stations are being inspected on the Pink Line as part of this exercise.

These inspections involve thorough checks of vital components like drains, removal and cleaning of drain covers, and examination of adjacent parapets.

Based on the preliminary assessment, priority repairs will be promptly undertaken. Additionally, any loose concrete or plaster observed on any structure within the DMRC network is being promptly addressed with immediate repair work.

It is also pertinent to mention that "such wear and tear on the civil structures is a routine process due to weather changes and the DMRC teams operate regularly to fix such issues", it said.

However, in the context of the recent incident, such repair works are being done round-the-clock across the network, officials said.

Furthermore, as part of these maintenance inspections, the DMRC had already started thorough checks on the fittings and pipes (specifically the drain pipes) of all the metro stations and as a precautionary measure, the DMRC has started securing these iron pipes with clamps on priority basis, the statement said.

"Any signs of wear and tear on these pipes may not be easily visible to the naked eye because of their location. Subsequently, these pipes will also be replaced with more durable and easy to maintain unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) pipes," it added.

In a tragic incident on 9 February, one person lost their life and four others sustained injuries when a 50-metre portion of the wall collapsed on them as they were passing beneath the Gokulpuri Metro station.

According to a DMRC official, the affected section of the elevated station on the Pink Line was inaugurated on 30 October 2018.