“Three CMs of the BJP built 6 km of metro in five years, we have built 36 km in 5 years. We are building Phase II and preparing for Phase III,” this was the tweet posted by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday to ridicule his political opponent B.S. Yeddyurappa.
In another tweet, the CM said, “We have got the Centre to sanction suburban rail. We are bringing in electric buses. We will increase BMTC fleet, what is your solution to traffic congestion?”
These posts and the response from BJP supporters indicate that mass transit that various parties are keen to use mass transit to remind voters of what’s at stake. This time, software engineers and professionals working in the IT corridors have a demand: ease of commute.
Many argue that there is a need to expedite ongoing metro works, implementing the long-pending suburban rail project, increase the BMTC fleet and improve road network.
A large chunk of the development work has focussed on the IT corridor.
The South Western Railway (SWR) is operating trains to Whitefield and Electronics City. The BMTC, too, is contemplating operating electric buses in these sectors.
Creating awareness
The Electronics City Industrial Township Authority (ELCITA) is working with around 150 companies in Electronics City to create awareness among software engineers about the electoral process.
“Officials from the Election Commission will explain how EVMs and the VVPAT function. Awareness will also be created on the importance of voting,” said Rama N.S., CEO, ELCITA.
Expanding on the need to improve transport infrastructure, Ms. Rama said, “There is an urgent need to expedite the ongoing metro work linking Electronics City.”
She added that in addition to mass transit systems, there is a need to improve road links in residential areas surrounding Electronics City.
T.S. Rajagoplan, a vice–president with an IT firm, is of the opinion that the incumbent government was busy distributing freebies instead of attending to core issues. “After a gap of 10 years, Phase I of Namma Metro was made operational. The BMRCL should take a clue from Delhi Metro on expanding the network. Metro and the suburban rail projects are being used as political gimmicks. Nothing has been done at the ground level,” he said.
He raised the issue of the Peripheral Ring Road project (PRR), which has been in cold storage for over a decade. “The next government must attend to concerns of the people on the increase in pollution levels owing to traffic. The only way to decongest the traffic is to build mass transit systems, which complement each other,” he added.
