Bangalore Metro is all set to ring in its second birthday on Sunday. Ever since the first section was launched in 2011, close to 1.45 crore people have travelled on the 6.7-km stretch between Byappanahalli and MG Road.
However, with no new routes opened in the past two years, people are gradually losing interest in the city’s most promising infrastructure project till date.
According to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials, Rs 19.8 crore has been earned in revenue till October 19. Reach 3 and 3a between Malleswaram and Peenya is expected to be open for operations by the end of this year and a further stretch up to Hesaraghatta by early next year.
“It is useful for people living in that side of town. However, for the rest of us, we just went once or twice for a ride to see how the Bangalore Metro looks like. I have not used it after,” said Arvind, a resident of Basavanagudi.
Officials remain positive that implementation of new reaches will gather momentum in the coming days. “In order to avoid delays akin to that in the first phase, the BMRCL has already invited design consultants to submit proposals for stations in phase II. The process of land acquisition has also been begun along with other preliminary work,” they said.
Tunnelling for the underground sections of phase II is almost complete and the BMRC is confident of meeting the 2015 deadline for 42 km of Phase I. However, work on the crucial Majestic interchange station is only 35 per cent complete.