Bengaluru’s Namma Metro was built to ease the traffic woes in the city. And the best thing about this mode of transport is it does not get stuck in the infamous gridlock jams of the city. But the ground reality is something else and everyone needs to read this.
Namma Metro Is More Of A Headache
The metro constructions around the city are a major reason for the traffic jams in Bengaluru, claims research. The prime victim of this woe is Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus, which often gets caught in.
Earlier, during the planning phase, the metro was lauded as the solution to Bengaluru’s two key problems. One, getting private vehicles off the roads, therefore reducing traffic congestion and pollution. Two, as being a much greener, affordable and convenient commute alternative as compared to other options such as the city bus service. Together, this was expected to result in better air quality over the city.
However, despite the thousands of crores being dropped in it, Namma Metro is nowhere near attaining either of these objectives. And the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) website states nothing about it being ‘green’, besides some figures on the number of trees felled, translocated, and planted.
Managing citizens’ comfort, many have argued that buses are the relatively more sustainable, affordable, and accessible commute option in the city. There is enough evidence to prove that the BMTC bus service deserves far more funding and attention. However, it is the Namma metro that gets more funding and attention while ignoring what most experts, and so many foreign cities, have shown to be better public commute options.
In any case, given that Bengaluru’s metro currently has only two operational lines, “the metro fails miserably in connecting the major hubs of the city,” says Shrushti Joshi, a frequent metro commuter. And as to whether it really is the green option it is supposed to be, opinions, and some studies seem to raise serious questions.
A supposed “green option”
Talking about the carbon dioxide emissions from this mode of transport, Bengaluru’s metro contributes greatly to polluting emissions. “CO2 emissions are indirectly calculated by first computing the electrical energy consumption using a simplified model. The economic feasibility is determined by computing the income spent per year on the metro using Per Capita Income and travel fare. The results demonstrate that Tokyo’s metro is better than Bangalore’s metro in all the aspects mentioned. Furthermore, the paper also recommends the improvements which can be implemented to directly or indirectly improve Bangalore’s metro,“ quoted Bengaluru Citizenmatters. More details Here.
Meanwhile, the slow pace of construction on other routes has only made things worse. As reported in The Hindu, the nearly 10-km stretch on Bannerghatta Road, between Dairy Circle and Gottigere, a key arterial road where Namma Metro work is still underway, is proving to be a nightmare for motorists.
Following recent rains and floods in the city, the condition of the road has only become more dangerous. The stretch is facing excessive delays and missed deadlines by BMRCL to complete the 21-km Pink Line from Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara, which includes an underground stretch as well (Dairy Circle to Nagawara).
A commuter who takes this stretch to go to his office said: “Already, the metro work has created traffic snarls on the stretch and now after rains, the potholes have added to it. The BBMP or the BMRCL has not taken any action to fill the potholes in the last two months”.
