As Namma Metro snakes its way across the length and breadth of Bengaluru, it has transformed the way people travel, bringing far-flung neighbourhoods closer to each other. It has also shed light on the commuting patterns of citizens. The hub is the Kempegowda interchange station at Majestic which sees over 78,000 people using it every day to interchange trains either on the Green or the Purple line. Touted to be Asia’s largest metro station by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL), it is spread over seven acres of land and is built 60 feet deep.
The number of people using the interchange is likely to increase in the coming days as the BMRCL has now linked the station to other transport hubs — the KSRTC and the BMTC bus stands and the city railway station.
Majestic station also tops the list of metro stations seeing the highest footfall. Every day, more than 30,000 passengers travel from the station to other parts of the city. This is over and above the 78,000 who use it to interchange lines.
Last-mile link
Other metro stations that receive high footfall are Baiyappanahalli, Indiranagar, Mysuru Road, and Magadi Road. “After Majestic, Baiyappanahalli has the highest footfall. It is the terminal station of the Purple Line on the eastern part of the city, and thousands of working professionals use it to reach their offices in Whitefield. Unlike other stations, the last-mile link from this station is good and initiatives such as Metro Bikes are helping passengers,” said a BMRCL official.
However, some metro stations see barely a few thousand people. In January, Peenya Industry station on Tumakuru Road was used by only 1,400 to 1,500 passengers a day. Other stations that see some of the lowest footfall are Mahakavi Kuvempu Road with 4,000 passengers, Deepanjali Nagar (4,200) and Goraguntepalya (4,300).
Managing director of the BMRCL Mahendra Jain said to increase the ridership in these areas, there were plans to link the stations to BMTC and KSRTC bus stands in the area. “At Peenya, there is a proposal to link the metro station and Basaveshwara bus terminal. We have submitted it to the BBMP. There is also a proposal to implement the project under the PPP model, ” he said.
Over 50% passengers use smart cards
Namma Metro smart cards are finding more users every day, the BMRCL officials have said. More number people — 55.35% — use smart card on the Purple Line, while 45.39% use tokens. Only 0.26% use group tickets to travel in Namma Metro.
On the Green Line, 50.52% of passengers use tokens and 49.34% use smart cards. Mr. Jain said the BMRCL was working on a common mobility card which would help metro passengers to access other modes of transport such as city buses. “We have floated tenders for open loop cards for phase II and while introducing the service, the same facility will be extended to the phase I network,” he said.
Loop train during rush hour
With the entire stretch of phase I operational, Namma Metro on an average has a ridership of 3.8 lakh people, and on some days it crosses 4 lakh. The BMRCL generates revenue of close to ₹1 crore a day. After commissioning of the entire phase I (from June to December 2017), it has earned revenue of ₹177 crore.
“We have taken various measures to meet peak-hour demand. In addition to operating additional trains during peak hours, we are also operating loop trains for the benefit of passengers from stations which have received more crowd, said Mr. Jain.
“Our recent initiative of reserving two entry doors of first coach of the train has been well received by the women passengers,” said the official. Mr Jain said the BMRCL has taken up various commercial activities at the metro station such as food joints, saloon and other commercial establishments too helping the metro in attracting the passengers.
