Shenzhen Metro expansion derailed as workers cut power lines, water main
Subway operator initially blames incidents on its maps not accurately showing locations of cables, but apologises after criticism from power supply bureau
Construction work to expand the subway system in the southern city of Shenzhen was disrupted over the past week after workers accidentally cut seven power cables in the space of three days, and then a water main, cutting off services to buildings nearby.
Three electrical cables were cut near the new Bagualing station on Line 6 on July 5, and two days later four more cables were severed near Gangxia North on Line 2, according to Thepaper.cn.
Officials from Shenzhen Metro initially blamed both incidents down to its maps not accurately showing the locations of the lines, state broadcaster Voice of China reported on Thursday.
A spokesman for the subway operator was quoted as saying that “our people in charge of relocating the municipal lines didn’t communicate well with the construction workers”.
But the Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau criticised the construction work as “primitive” on its official Weibo social media account. The bureau included a photo of work being carried out near a warning sign reading, “High voltage cables underground, no excavation allowed”.