Will Bengaluru's metro be a game changer?

Bengaluru’s over 1 crore residents eagerly await completion of Phase 1 by November 1
Will Bengaluru's metro be a game changer?

BENGALURU: By transporting between 1.67 lakh and 1.97 lakh commuters during the transport strike from July 25 to 27, Namma Metro revealed the potential it has to emerge as a popular mode of public transport.

This, despite the entire south of Bengaluru not being connected via Metro and North Bengaluru only partially connected.

When Phase-I — East-West Corridor and North-South Corridor — intersecting at the Kempe Gowda Interchange Station is completed, it is likely to take on board 5 lakh passengers. This may happen by early 2017 though Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation officials insist they are on track for a November 1, 2016, deadline fixed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. “After completion of Phase-I, we plan to run trains every three minutes along both corridors from day one. We plan to float global tenders within a fortnight to double the number of coaches to six. The feasibility of having a ladies’ coach will also be explored,” a Metro official said. Metro will have six coaches only by 2017-end.

“When Phase-II and the two proposed new lines are completed, we are set to touch ridership figures of 10 lakh,” the official said. When Phase-III, for which the alignment is yet to be finalised, is completed, “Metro can touch any number,” he added.

Right now, the 18.1km East-West Corridor (Purple Line) connecting Baiyappanahalli and Mysore Road, runs with packed trains averaging between 1 to 1.2 lakh commuters daily. Metro has now increased frequency to six minutes in peak hours.

The northern line is not connected to Kempegowda Interchange Station (Majestic). One needs to reach up till Mantri Square Sampige Road Metro station to reach north Bengaluru.

South won’t be opened now

BMRCL has said no to a demand for the Southern stretch between National College and Puttenahalli. “We would like to open the entire North-South corridor in one go. Our signalling, communication systems are interconnected,” he said.

Metro’s Phase 2 likely to connect airport

Bengaluru: The new line proposed between Gottigere and Nagawara in Metro’s Phase-II is likely to be extended up to Kempegowda International Airport, said a Metro official. According to top Metro officials, RITES, an engineering consultancy firm, had originally proposed to Metro five routes to the airport. They are Nagawara to KIA via Thanisandra, Begur; Nagawara to KIA via National Highway through Hebbal and Yelahanka; MG Road to KIA through Cubbon Road and Mekhri Circle; Hebbal, Peenya to KIA through Jalahalli. By end of 2015, RITES narrowed down the options to two routes, from Nagawara through Hebbal and Yelahanka or via Thanisandra. “A final decision is yet to be taken on the Nagawara line connectivity, “ the official said. Once the route is fixed, the Metro line is likely to become operational when Phase-II is completed by 2020. 

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had submitted a report to state government in 2009 in connection with High Speed Rail Link but the project was shelved.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com