Even as Bangaloreans eagerly wait for Namma Metro run between Byappanahalli and Mahatma Gandhi Road Stations, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., (BMRCL) expects that at least 25,000 people will take the ride daily when it becomes operational.
Since Namma Metro is becoming operational only for a small stretch of its original network, the actual capacity of the system to carry about 45,000 persons an hour per direction could not be achieved. However, based on rough estimates on modal shift of passengers travelling by BMTC buses and people using private vehicles to Namma Metro, Bangalore Metro has estimated that about 25,000 to 30,000 people might utilise the services.
Since Namma Metro is mandated to reduce the traffic burden on roads by attracting users of private vehicles, BMRCL is providing park and ride facilities at some of the Metro stations. On Reach 1, park and ride facilities are being offered at Byappanahalli and Swami Vivekananda Road Stations. While Byappanahalli has quite a large space for parking, S.V. Road has relatively less space.
The coaches
A BMRCL spokesperson said that five imported train sets — each comprising one trailer coach in the middle and two driver-motor coaches at the ends — would be shuttling between Byappanahalli and M.G. Road. The actual requirement of number train sets for the stretch could be assessed only after people start using the services, he said.
While the exterior of the Namma Metro coaches look lavish, the interiors are quite simple bereft of any luxury. The only luxury is in the form of air-conditioning. The coaches have horizontal seating arrangement, with fibre seats. About 43 persons can sit in a driver-motor coach and 50 can sit in a trailer coach. However, the total carrying capacity of a train set is about 1,000 as maximum space has been provided for standing passengers.
Bangalore Metro has successfully conducted the technical test run of Namma Metro train on Sunday on the “down track” and is planning to conduct a similar test run on the “up track” in a couple of days.
