BENGALURU: Passengers on board the first ever six-car train to chug out of Namma Metro stables were delighted. Women passengers more so, for the safety and convenience of the ladies’ only coach. TNIE hopped on board, for the debut run, to gauge the mood of Bengalureans.
Software engineer Rohith Fernandes, who was boarding the train at Kempe Gowda station, said, “The trains were getting overcrowded, so the six-coach trains are welcome”. Venkat Ramaiya, a government employee who frequently travels from Yeshwanthpur to Majestic, was certain that the longer Metro would be a hit with commuters. “Metro travel saves a lot of time and it is highly economical,” he said.Megha Biradar who works at Growth Enabler happily noted that these added coaches would ease crowding in trains “especially during peak hours at Majestic metro station”.
Women passengers expressed delight for the coach reserved for them in the train. Advocate Shobha L said, “Definitely Metro travel will be safer for women now. In regular Metro trains, we don’t have enough space to move around... it is always better to have a separate bogie”. Soumya HM, a computer operator who frequently travels from Mysore Road to National College, said “This would be safer, surely, in other trains there is groping and pushing around particularly during peak hours”.
Sushmita BC, a student of Christ University, agreed with Soumya. “In other Metro trains, we get pushed around by men and we cannot protest because there is no space for them to back off,” she said.A few passengers stressed on the need to increase connectivity of Metro rather than merely increasing its length. Bernard S, an engineer said, “I travel regularly from Jalahalli to MG Road and take Metro for one part of the journey and cabs for the rest. If the next phase of the Metro starts from Silk Board, it would help me avoid traffic jams near MG Road”.
Commuters sounded largely satisfied by the service and expressed eagerness to see all trains converted into six-car ones. A senior citizen, said, “The new trains are convenient for the elderly because there is sufficient space to sit, in addition to the seating preference given to us if it is crowded”.