BANGALORE: The Bangalore Metro has attracted global attention in the last six months. While people complained about rash auto drivers and indecent crowd in BMTC buses, the Metro came as a boon for most of the city. Now, as the Metro completes the half yearly mark, the city’s experts and prominent personalities had their say in what the Metro meant to them and to the city.
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CMD of Biocon
It is not fair to judge the Namma Metro even before it has finished Phase I. We cannot measure the impact before the project is completed. It is a large city and the Metro only caters to a small population. People from that area would be able to judge if the Metro has had any impact to their daily commute. The only thing I would suggest is that the construction and completion processes must be quickened. .
Jennifer Kotwal, Sandalwood actor
Introducing new technology in the society is a sign of development. Bangalore has been witnessing tremendous development and the construction of th Metro has proved to be a boon to the Bangalore infrastructure. Once all the phases of Metro are completed I am sure it will be of great help to the commuters. I still haven’t got a chance to travel in Namma Metro and I am looking forward to take a ride on it soon.
Harish Bijoor, Entrepreneur and Brand Manager
I feel that the Metro is still a young phenomena. I would say ‘Picture abhi baaki hai’. As of now we have been given a teaser as to how the future will be. The Metro still has to become children and senior citizen friendly. Right now it is helpful for those who stay along the MG Road and Byappanahalli stretch. The Metro is definitely fast and affordable and more comfortable when compared to other public transport.
Mohandas Pai, former Member of the Board of Directors of Infosys
Metro has changed the way people look at public transport as travel time reduces and there is an increase in comfort level. I feel the advantages of Metro are that it is clean, fast, predictable and efficient at the same time. It certainly lacks network as of now. I wish that the metro work finishes faster as Bangalore is desperate for ‘Namma Metro’. We have to say that public transport has become a lot safer due to the Metro.
Ramesh Arvind, Sandalwood Actor
Time really flies, I don’t believe that its already been six months since the Reach 1 was inaugurated. I still remember the problems and complaints that were brought up at the time of its completion. But metro has contributed to the public transport by becoming the fastest means of transport. Metro is sure to change the face of Bangalore once it is complete in all parts of the city. The main advantage of the metro is that the traffic jams will and have reduced and connectivity has become better. Metro works along with the BMTC buses as there is also the feeder service.
Arundhati Nag, Eminent theatre personality
In merely six months, Namma Metro has changed the whole idea of public transport in the city. Although, I’ve been in the Metro only once, I do know that for people living or working near the Reach 1 stations, it has proved to be a benefit.