GAIL gas pipeline leakage near ITPL, traffic diverted

Panic gripped residents and commuters of Garudacharpalya in Mahadevapura when they sensed gas leakage during metro construction work on Monday morning.

The metro drilling work punctured a 70-kilo force pipeline, leading to a massive gas leakage.

Metro officials along with fire force, GAIL authorities and police rushed to the spot and blocked 500 metres radius of the area.

According to police, "the fire safety team and GAIL team are at the spot repairing the gas pipeline, have requested not to allow vehicular traffic. We are restoring the traffic on both sides of ITPL road.”

Traffic moving towards ITPL Main road to reach Whitefield are advised to use Devasandra main road or use outer ring road (ORR) to proceed towards Marathahalli and reach Whitefield.

Traffic moving towards the city from Whitefield are advised to proceed towards graphite from Hoodi proceed towards Kundalahalli towards city via Marathahalli.

KIAL Bound vehicles are advised to use Devasandra road or travel towards Graphite-Kundalahalli- Marathalli - onto ORR. BMTC has been sounded about the regular route and diversion routes.

Accidental damage: BMRCL

Managing Director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) Ajay Seth said it was an accidental damage. He said the pipeline was not found in the test trenching but BMRCL was taking steps to ensure such accidents do not repeat.

"In order to prevent any such reoccurrence, BMRCL is obtaining gas network alignment from GAIL in all metro reaches. We will superimpose them with metro alignment and ensure the removal of any potential conflict before taking up any construction," he said.

Not the first time

This is the second such incident as a similar incident occurred in Mahadevapura on October 22 and a complaint was filed with the Mahadevapura police station.

Bengaluru Traffic Police has issued the following advisory for vehicles moving around Whitefield and towards the Kempegowda International Airport.

1. Traffic moving towards ITPL Main road to reach Whitefield are advised to use Devasandra main rd or use ORR to proceed towards Marathalli and reach White field

2. Traffic moving towards City from Whitefield are advised to proceed towards Graphite from Hoodi proceed towards Kundalalhalli towards city via Marathalli.

3. KIAL Bound traffic is advised to use Devasandra road or travel towards Graphite-Kundalahalli- Marathalli - on to ORR