No Metro for old men

Senior citizens fear taking Metro because of chaos at platforms and absence of escalators at certain stations; ask for a separate queue at Majestic Metro station

(Anti-clockwise from above) He waits for people to deboard to get in, stands at the train’s gate after failing to get a seat after boarding from Cubbon Park Metro station; a senior citizen takes the stairs at Vidhana Soudha Metro station  Nagaraja Gadek

BENGALURU: Travelling on a Metro train has turned out to be quite a task for senior citizens. Right from trouble with accessibility to dealing with crowded platforms and lack of last mile connectivity, senior citizens tell City Express that a Metro train journey often turns out to be an “adventurous” and “risky” ride.

(Anti-clockwise from above) He waits for people to deboard to get in, stands at the train’s gate after failing to get a seat after boarding from Cubbon Park Metro station; a senior citizen takes the stairs at Vidhana Soudha Metro station   Nagaraja Gadekal

Bellur Laxminarayana, who heads a senior citizens forum in the city, says that several of his friends who initially switched to Metro trains from BMTC buses are now going back to buses. “It is easier. There are no stairs to get to the bus stop. No pushing and shoving on the bus stop like there is on the Metro escalator and platform,” says the 74-year-old former RBI employee.
The septuagenarian also complains of the absence of an escalator at Yelachenahalli  Metro station. “I find it really difficult to climb the stairs,” he says, adding that the crowd menace at Metro station in Majestic gives him the scare.

“I usually wait for the escalator at the Majestic station to clear up, or I’ll end up being pushed and I don’t want to risk an injury,” says 71-year-old G V Hebbar, who travels to Sir M. Visveshwaraya metro station from Yelachenahalli for work. “In the train, the youngsters don’t even get up to offer their seat to a senior citizen, despite regular announcements,” he adds. Hebbar claims that there have been times when he asked for a seat, but was refused by seated youngsters. “People’s attitude have to change,” he says.

Boarding and deboarding have proved to be quite an “adventure”, laughs Laxminarayana. Yogeesh Prabhuswamy says his grandfather faces a similar problem. “His reflexes are slow... also he is scared to take an escalator, he has to go hunting for the lift. Even the language on the signs are not friendly, who will understand ‘Concourse’ for ‘Exit’,” he says.

Laxminarayana suggests that the crowd managers at Majestic Metro ensure a separate queue for senior citizens at the platforms. “We can board the train without risking injury,” he says.BMRCL did not respond to City Express’ calls for a comment.