Bengaluru Central MP joins ‘Metro station beda’ chorus

P C Mohan backs New Bamboo Bazaar residents, says he will push for Metro near Cantonment.
It’s a 20-minute walk for commuters to reach City railway station from Sangolli Rayanna Metro station. Those carrying luggage find it tedious | Vinod Kumar T
It’s a 20-minute walk for commuters to reach City railway station from Sangolli Rayanna Metro station. Those carrying luggage find it tedious | Vinod Kumar T

BENGALURU: The demand for a Metro station close to the Cantonment railway station got a shot in the arm with an MP now announcing his support. Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan has promised to take up the matter with the authorities.

The MP’s comments come after BMRCL’s proposal was met with criticism from citizens, urban experts and residents of Bamboo Bazaar. While citizens and experts say the move would lead to a disconnect between the suburban and the Metro lines, residents of Bamboo Bazaar don’t want to lose the BBMP playground where the station is proposed to come up. Besides, they fear the station might lead to congestion of the narrow streets in the densely populated area.

On Facebook, the MP said, “It is not in the interest of commuters to locate the Cantt Metro station in Bamboo Bazaar as it defeats the very purpose of encouraging the use of public transport.” Reiterating what urban experts have been saying about the issue, he stressed on the fact that the Cantonment railway station would be an important station in future.

Promising further action, Mohan’s post states that he would take up the matter with both the Urban Development Ministry and the BMRCL on why the original alignment couldn’t be maintained. As per the original plan, the Metro station was supposed to come up on land opposite to the cantonment station, which is currently used as a parking space.

It’s a long walk at Yeshwantpur too

Even at Yeshwantpur station, Metro commuters heading to catch a train suffer for want of a skywalk. Veena B M, resident of Rajajinagar, said, she takes Purple line to Yeshwantpur Metro. “I have to get down from Yeshwantpur station and  climb many stairs to reach the railway station. With luggage in hand, it is difficult to climb stairs. Why can’t they connect both,” she asked. BMRCL officials said there is a proposal for skywalk to connect both, but nothing concrete has happened on the ground yet.

Related Stories

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