BENGALURU: Citizens of a Resident Welfare Association conducted a public survey at Cantonment Railway Station, asking commuters whether having a Metro station near the railway station would help. Members of Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB) conducted the survey, which is a continuation of their campaign against the shifting of the Metro station from in front of the Cantonment Railway Station to a playground in Bamboo Bazaar. Commuters were also asked how they commuted from the Railway Station to their destination, and most people said they take cabs. A CfB member said, “Cabs have also been misconceived as modes of public transport, which they’re not.”
The members said at least over 80 per cent of the respondents preferred the station to be nearer to the railway station rather than a new station at Bamboo Bazaar. Divisional Railway Manager, Bengaluru Division R S Saxena said: “Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) conveyed to us that it had taken a professional and managerial decision to shift the location of the station from the initially proposed venue of Cantonment railway station, and it had nothing to do with the availability of Railway land. Top officials explained to us that the move to have the station 250 metres away from the station will not inconvenience the public. They have assured us that accelerated walkways or escalators will be installed to facilitate easy movement for the public between the proposed Bamboo Bazaar Metro station and the Cantonment railway station.” BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola is reportedly planning a presentation to citizens by next week to prove that commuters wouldn’t have to bear any inconvenience.