Bengaluru | Gas leak in GAIL pipeline near IT hub sparks panic; traffic diverted

Bengaluru, Oct 29: Panic gripped residents and commuters following a leakage in Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) pipeline near IT hub at Whitefield in the city on Monday.

According to Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Harishekaran, there was an accidental damage to GAIL pipeline during Metro work on ITPL main road in Whitefield. 

Immediately an experts’ team from GAIL and Karnataka Fire Safety rushed to the spot and plugged the leak to restore normal vehicular flow.

Road traffic was diverted via Devasandra main road and Outer Ring Road to proceed towards Marathalli to reach Whitefield.

BMTC, other bus traffic and vehicles bound for the International airport via the alternate route coming in this area was also diverted in the morning, he added.

Managing Director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) Ajay Seth said: "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. 

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