Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) is planning to extend a new alert mechanism that triggers an alarm when commuters step on the platform’s yellow line. The rule remains unchanged: the yellow line must not be crossed except while boarding or alighting. Earlier, violations were met with a whistle and intervention by a security guard. The updated approach replaces that with an automated siren, part of KMRL’s in-house Platform Yellow Line Crossing Detection and Warning System.

The system has been in place for two years at Edappally, one of the busiest stations. After it was seen to work there, it has now been introduced at Kaloor Stadium station. KMRL is considering expanding it to 10 more stations. Even with the new setup, security guards will continue to monitor platforms.

How the system works on platforms

Two infrared devices are installed at either end of the platform. They emit beams parallel to the yellow line. When a person crosses the line, the beam is interrupted and a siren sounds immediately. The alert is triggered in real time, without the need for manual action.

Impact seen so far

Continuous warnings have already reduced instances of passengers crossing the yellow line. With the siren in place, KMRL expects such violations to drop further. Many commuters are seen stepping back the moment the alarm sounds.

Crossing the yellow line on a metro platform exposes passengers to significant risk from approaching trains. There is the danger of being struck by the train’s overhang, pulled by aerodynamic force, or falling onto electrified tracks. The yellow line is marked as a safety boundary to keep commuters at a secure distance.