Parking woes throw metro off track

Namma Metro is a quick and effective way to travel, it could be the ideal alternative to private transport. However, the lack of parking space has been a growing problem. Although around 22 stations currently offer those facilities, but these barely make a dent in the requirements, however, leading to people choosing private transport over the Metro. Multi-level paid parking, integrated smart cards will improve last mile connectivity and go a long way in increasing ridership and easing congestion on the roads, reports.

It may have had hardly any ridership owing to its limited services when it first began, but Namma Metro, which has expanded  across the city over the years, has become more popular now , helping commuters beat the traffic on the roads and reach their destinations on time. But the inadequate parking facilities for both two and four -wheelers at its stations is proving a hurdle in increasing its ridership as commuters, who have nowhere to park their vehicles on reaching them, consciously avoid taking the Metro.

Responding to the several complaints on the lack of parking facilities at Metro stations from passengers, the BMRCL decided to offer them at a few prominent  stations. Presently  22 major Metro stations across the city have parking lots with the Mysore Road station providing the biggest facility, accommodating 2000 two-wheelers and 300 four-wheelers.

But this has not satisfied many as the public demand is for multi- level parking lots at all stations, and  additional paid parking lots around them built on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis to help  passengers park their vehicles before boarding the trains.

Says Puneeth T, a regular Metro user, "The opening of more lines of the Metro has given people a chance to experience fast travel to the core of the city and back and avoid spending  hours on the road in traffic, especially during peak hours. But they need a vehicle to reach the Metro stations in the absence of an adequate number of feeder buses. With no proper parking space at the stations, several have no option but  to give the Metro a miss and travel by their own vehicles."    The other grouse of passengers is that while the existing parking lots at Metro station have been outsourced to contractors, who are solely responsible for the safety and security of  the vehicles parked, the BMRCL has not come out with a scheme for monthly parking passes. "The monthly passes for parking could help daily commuters as they presently need to pay quite a bit for parking their vehicles at the stations.  This will also reduce the need for manpower for the BMRCL and help it save money," adds Mr Puneeth.     

Ask a senior BMRCL official about the lack of parking space at the stations and he says, "We have already provided parking space at 22 major stations. We know that people want parking facilities at other stations too, but unfortunately there isn't enough space around them.  Some of the stations from MG Road to Indiranagar on the Purple line and on the Green line don't have the empty space necessary owing to the  heavy traffic around.  So we request people to wait for a while. We will try to find a solution."