Metro services delayed, passengers stranded

BMRCL had taken up maintenance work; commuters said there had been no announcements

BENGALURU - KARNATAKA - 11/03/2018 : Large number of namma metro commuters standing outside the Kempegowda Station, unaware that the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) closed it services for more than 3 hours in the morning, for Maintenance work, on both Purple and Green Line of Namma Metro, in Bengaluru on March 11, 2018. Photo: K. Murali Kumar

On Less Traffic Day, a government initiative to encourage people to use public transport, hundreds of passengers were stranded at metro stations, especially at Majestic, on Sunday morning as they were unaware that the services had been affected because of scheduled maintenance work. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) had delayed services by two and a half hours, as the result of which services that usually start at 8 a.m. began only by 10.30 a.m.

Hundreds of commuters had to wait outside the Kempegowda interchange station at Majestic until metro staff opened the gate. They were allowed inside the station at 10.15 a.m. “It is only after reaching the metro station I realised that there was a delay in the services. Instead of wasting time, I could have used either an auto or a cab to reach home,” said Renuka, a resident of Indiranagar.

Ashwin M., who was stranded at Majestic, said, “I had to go to Baiyappanahalli; metro staff told me that they will start services at 10.30 a.m. I have been waiting for more than an hour.”

Regular users of Namma Metro claimed that no announcements had been made. BMRCL had put up notices, but people said they were not prominent enough to warrant attention. “The BMRCL should make announcements at least in advance if it’s a scheduled delay. This is nothing but inconveniencing passengers unnecessarily ... I got to know about the delay only after enquiring with the metro staff,” said a commuter.

The second Sunday of every month is observed as Less Traffic Day by authorities in the city to promote public transport, and the irony was not lost on metro commuters.

Executive director of the BMRCL A.S. Shankar said, “Services started at 10.30 a.m. We also operated additional trains from various points to clear the rush.” On Sundays, nearly 2.5 lakh passengers use Namma Metro, which operates 120 trips.

Promoting e-vehicles on Less Traffic Day

At Cubbon park, the Transport Department hosted the second edition of Less Traffic Day to promote public transport and the use of electric vehicles. Electric autos and electric two-wheelers were put on display, and visitors were also seen taking rides on them within Cubbon Park. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board claimed that air pollution levels had dropped by 20% during the last Less Traffic Day.