A strike by a section of employees and a glitch in the automatic signalling system, allegedly deliberately triggered by two employees of Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL), resulted in the disruption of metro rail services between Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon, CMRL has said.

“It has been identified that two of CMRL non-executive employees caused the automatic signalling system to malfunction on Monday evening,” said a spokesperson of CMRL.

Normalcy in metro service was restored today at 1.30 pm with all trains running as per schedule after the service was disrupted from Monday evening due to the strike by a section of CMRL employees seeking wage revision. There was also a technical glitch that affected signalling.

The disruption happened for the first time since service was in full swing in both directions – Chennai Airport to Washermenpet and St Thomas Mount to Chennai Metro Hub – from February.

On Tuesday morning, the disruption was mainly in the St Thomas Mount to Chennai Metro Hub sector. While employees claimed it was due to their strike, officials said it was a combination of both the strike and signalling problems that disrupted services.

On Monday night, service was stopped after 9 pm from Airport to Washermenpet while there was delay in the return direction. Usually, it takes 25 minutes from Government Estate to Nanganallur Road, but on Monday night it took more than 1.15 hr. This was due to the signalling problem, said a driver of the metro train

The CMRL in a late night statement said, “The diploma and ITI staff have been well-paid and CMRL has adhered to norms. It is also being highlighted that the non executive cadre are provided with wages, which are double the market wages, in addition to 5-10 per cent wage hike, which has also been provided. Further higher salaries would mean higher fare for the public, which is not sustainable.”

Manhandling of senior CMRL officials by the striking employees was also reported on Monday. Confirming this, a spokesperson for CMRL said that 25-30 employees entered the restricted area without permission and manhandled JGM (RS) and a lady manager who was present.

On Tuesday morning, another statement said that all inter-corridor train services between Chennai Central and Chennai Airport was suspended temporarily due to technical glitches. They were restored at 1.30 pm.

 

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