Metro Rail chugs in parts, but traffic snarls continue in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Although two years have passed after Reach 1 of Namma Metro became operational between Byappanahalli and M. G. Road, the traffic snarls on Old Madras Road, Byappanahalli road, Indiranagar 80 feet and 100 feet road have not subsided.

It was believed that after the commissioning of the Namma Metro project the traffic congestion would come down to a considerable extent on the stretch. But this hasn’t happened.

There are many reasons for this: lack of feeder service, parking, rationalizing of traffic movement, and other factors. said the public.

Those residing at Sadanandanagar, Krishnaiahanapalya and Kasturinagar are the worst victims of the poor planning by the police and transport departments.

Lack of co-ordination between Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and BMTC is evident as Namma Metro commuters are left stranded at Byappanahalli, said Mohit Kumar, resident of Kasturinagar.

The road from Old Madras Road to Byappanahalli metro station has been made one-way from 8 am to 11 am. The metro commuters have nowhere to go until 11 am after they reach Byappanahalli as no buses will be allowed to ply. They have to depend on unfriendly auto drivers or walk at least three kilometers to get BMTC buses, he rued.

Vincent Raj, a grade VI student, was almost in tears as he recalled his daily ordeal to reach school at KR Puram. Since the ‘one way’ was introduced, he had to either flag down two wheelers or literally run about three kilometers to catch a bus. He had to do this or miss classes, he said.

Vehicles get piled up on Indiranagar 80 feet and 100 feet road as the traffic flow has not been maintained properly. It is necessary to widen the road connecting between Kasturinagar and Old Madras Road.

Adequate and user-friendly parking facilities would encourage people to accept the metro, said Jnanesh K, a resident of Indiranagar.

S. A. Pasha, ACP, said the BMRCL should have thought about the quantum of traffic and wider roads should have been provided by acquiring land from railways.

He said that only a section of people are affected due to the one-way but 90 per cent of the public have benefited due to the one-way.

For no fault of theirs, traffic cops have to take the blame. However, there is a proposal to widen the road, he added.