Through the wide windows, young and old alike watched the urban sprawl in the twilight as the Namma Metro meandered through parts of south Bengaluru.
For many, it was the excitement of seeing the train traverse through their neighbourhood, a nearly decade-old promise that fructified on Sunday evening.
The trains on the Green Line of Namma Metro connecting Nagasandra in the north with Yelachenahalli in the south saw many families take a fun ride, and fewer commuters going to work being a Sunday. While many could be seen clicking selfies, many others were busy identifying landmarks. The view from the train offered glimpses of the densely-populated J.P. Nagar and Banashankari and the lush green neighbourhood of Jayanagar, before disappearing into the tunnel soon after leaving National College Station and passing under the busy pete areas.
For many, it was a first date with the metro, which is expected to change the city’s mobility pattern and ensure faster connectivity. Excited about her first journey on the metro, Konanakunte resident Bhanushree C.M. and her family arrived at 3.30 p.m. and waited eagerly for the shutters to go up. They were elated as they were the first to receive the token at the station.
While the crowd was sparse initially, it increased substantially as the evening progressed at Kempegowda Interchange Station. The cumulative ridership on both the Purple and Green Lines between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. on the day was 1.17 lakh.
