Namma Metro

Metro

Namma Metro is faster and more at ease than other modes of travel is an easy guess; but on our test drive, we found how the Metro just manages to edge the others out at the finish line

So the Metro Green line has zipped into service. Bangalore Mirror took a test drive on Monday morning to appreciate the travel time and cost-effectiveness of taking the Metro. Three modes of transportation were used to check how supportive the Metro Green line is. While some people of the team took the Metro, some rode to the destinations on their bikes and some took the BMTC bus. Five junctions were checked out: Yelechanahalli to Mysore Road, Mysore Road to Nagasandra, Nagasandra to Baiyappanahalli, Baiyappanahalli to Yelachenahalli and Yelachenahalli to Nagasandra.

Among them, taking a two-wheeler and the Metro were equal in terms of time and expense. And if you are taking the bus, be ready to squander even twice the time taken by Metro or bike.

And, we give two signals to the Metro also because travelling in the CBD areas is just a breeze.

At the Metro stations, we saw testimonies to our detection: Ecstatic commuters who had smiles on their face, because they had saved almost 3/4th of the time they take during their usual commute.

And though bike aficionados may say the biker has a slight benefit as he/she can travel from threshold to threshold and save the time that a Metro commuter has to spend waiting for the train or reaching the station, there is no  dispute that the Metro offers a relaxed and hassle-free ride, sans pollution and without being pushed to the edge of road rage.

Parking confusion

As workers began their week with the new Metro line, our team noticed that the commuters faced a bit of uncertainty at the new junctions, as they were in search for a parking space.  We also saw that a few parking lots at the National College to Banashankari way were already occupied by 9.30 am.

When shove comes to push

We considered in true Bengaluru spirit, the commuters would be considerably more laid back. Boy, were we mistaken! At the busiest of all Metro stations, Kempegowda Metro station, commuters had to go through a groveling grind. As this is the main concerning point to green and purple lines, every Metro traveler soon have to understand that at a station, a person must be permitted to get down, before one tries to push their way in. On day one, not many followed the protocol, leaving behind quite a few discontented travelers.

At Majestic many people found themselves being pushed back into the train. Archana Kamath, a person who tried to get down at the station said, “I had to take another train from there, but there were almost 30 people trying boarding the train. Only a few could get out and we were wrapped inside. We had to stop at the next junction. The security workforce too were trying to push everyone inside the train due to the time limit for the door to close.”