You may miss the last train, but the train can't miss you

In an unusual incident that demonstrated for the first time Namma Metro’s 'leave no commuter behind' policy, a green line Metro train towards Nagasandra was recalled to pick up some 20 passengers who had been left behind at the Kempegowda station on Tuesday night.

The incident occurred after a train operator absent-mindedly departed from the Majestic Interchange ahead of time.

“I had taken the 11.12 pm train from MG Road station, which reached the Majestic station at 11.22 pm. I rushed down the stairs to Platform 3 along with some others, but the last green line train towards Nagasandra had already left,” said Sachin Hegde.

“Some regular travellers started questioning the staff how they had let the train depart, but a Metro official calmed them down, got on the walkie-talkie and called the train back from the Mantri Mall Sampige station,” Hegde said.

Two BMRCL sources confirmed to DH that the driver had erred.

“Unlike trains through the day, which depart stations as soon as the platform is clear, the last train has to get clearance from the station controller before entering and departing each station. On Tuesday night, the train operator forgot that he was running the last train and departed Kempegowda station at 11.20 pm as soon as those on the platform boarded it,” the source explained.

The Metro policy is for the last train in each of the four directions to wait at the Majestic Interchange for 5-10 minutes so that commuters from the other trains can get on. Under no circumstance is any commuter to be left behind in the ‘paid area’ of the station.

“I have travelled on Metro trains in London, New York and Delhi. This was a first for me. It was particularly important for me that the train was called back because I had to reach a hospital near Goreguntepalya where my father was admitted,” he added.