Strong winds on Thursday evening disrupted the services of the Hyderabad Metro Rail for around half an hour as a banner fell from a hoarding, on to the overhead electric wires above the tracks.
The banner landed on the wires between the stations of JNTU and Kukatpally at around 5 30 pm, following which serves were halted till around 6 pm, leaving commuters stranded on their respective trains during this period.
Maintenance and Operation staff of the L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited (L&TMRH) worked swiftly to clear the poster.
"We regret inconvenience caused due to disruption in services from Ameerpet - Miyapur - Ameerpet due to falling of an advertisement flex on Over Head Equipment (OHE), because of heavy winds at JNTU. Normal services have resumed. We thank our commuters for their understanding," L&TMRH said in a statement.
“There was a 30-minute disruption to services as the flex fell on the OHE (Overhead Equipment). The maintenance staff removed the flex following due process during the rain and lightning,” Hyderabad Metro Rail managing director N V S Reddy was quoted as saying.
This was not the first time that such an incident was taking place in Hyderabad, as an advertisement banner fell on the overhead power lines due to the strong winds on May 2 at Begumpet, disrupting services for about 30 minutes.
According to media reports, as many as 300 to 400 hoardings are very near to Metro Rail Over Head Traction and metro tracks covering the stretch from Miyapur to Nagole.
Speaking to the media earlier this month, NVS Reddy said that the 16-km stretch between Ameerpet and LB Nagar as part of Corridor-I would be completed by July this year, while the work between Ameerpet and Hitec City will be done by October.
Meanwhile, works related to Corridor-II between JBS and MGBS are expected to finish early next year.
The 30 km-long first phase from Nagole to Miyapur was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 28 last year and has 24 stations, which covers a large part of the city.
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