Namma Metro, your dirty underbelly exposed

The Metro may be on its way to fulfilling Bengaluru’s need for a speedy public transport system connecting huge sections of the city, but barely six years since the first stretch became operational, why have we allowed it to become this eye-sore? Barring the stretch from Trinity to Anil Kumble Circle, a major part of the Metro is nothing more than an open-air garbage dump with construction debris and garbage lining the medians below the elevated corridor. As if there wasn’t enough of that already! 

The Metro Rail is finally taking shape, giving Bengaluru’s image a boost and ushering it into the league of cities with a fast and comfortable public transport system. But the picture of a city of the future that it paints is somewhat marred by  the garbage found dumped along its medians and the defacing of its pillars.

Should you happen to walk from the Ulsoor Metro station to the Indiranagar Metro station, you will see  construction debris scattered in small heaps near the viaducts. What's more, the rubbish even includes an abandoned western commode. Linger at the Ulsoor station fora bit and you see a couple of cows on the median below. All is explained by a local vendor, who reveals the cows belong to  some locals, who let the animals roam around during the day near the Metro station before taking them to a shelter at night.

But it's not just in Ulsoor that the Metro medians have become a dumping ground for rubbish. Says a local resident of Nagasandra, Rahul, who walks by its Metro station to get to work every day, “ When  I walk by the Metro line all I see is construction debris dumped near the pillars on the median below. It's time things changed.”Coming back to the eyesore that the Ulsoor Metro medians have become, Mr Imtiaz, who lives in nearby Lakshimpur laments 

“ We call it Namma city and Namma Metro, but  there is a huge lack of  awareness on garbage disposal. Lakshmipuram, which is between Ulsoor and Indiranagar Metro stations, has become a dumping ground for the locals. The BBMP clears the garbage regularly, but the very next day the rubbish finds its way back here again. People need to become aware of their responsibility to keep the Metro medians and their surroundings clean.”

Adds Mr Gopinath of Cambridge Layout in Ulsoor , “We always see people disposing plastic wrappers anywhere they feel like, including the Metro median. How do we educate them? There are several eateries, and small hotels along the Metro line that stay open till midnight and reopen the next afternoon. They miss the garbage truck that comes in the morning and conveniently dump their waste on the Metro medians.”

Making a relevant point, he says most people have a hard time disposing of sofas, furniture and construction material they no longer want. “None of us are aware of any policy on how to dispose of such waste and there are no big waste bins either. Also, the garbage collectors cannot fit them into their small trolleys. So people dump them in public spaces,” he regrets, however, letting corporators  off the hook, saying they  do ensure daily collection of garbage  in their wards. 

The Metro Rail is finally taking shape, giving Bengaluru’s image a boost and ushering it into the league of cities with a fast and comfortable public transport system.

•  “The Metro medians in Lakshmipuram, which is between Ulsoor and Indiranagar Metro stations, have  become a dumping ground for rubbish. We call it Namma city and Namma Metro but there is a huge lack of awareness about garbage disposal among the people,” said Imtiaz,  a resident.
•  “It is a Rs 65 crore project to beautify the Metro pillars on the Magadi-Nayanadahalli stretch and plant floral saplings on the Metro medians. As the package was approved by the cabinet only last week, the work will begin soon,” said Pradeep, Special officer of BBMP.
•  “The BBMP and ward committees have been instructed by the High Court to work out modalities for garbage disposal and solid waste management by November 30. BMRCL must utilise its property to plant greenery or it will serve as an invitation for people to dump garbage. 
• Rs 65cr 'Vijayanagara Vaibhava' project was announced in February this year to showcase the grandeur of the Vijayanagar empire, reflected in Hampi, on purple line pillars.
• 250 chosen pillars from Mysore Road to Magadi Road were supposed to get floral saplings on the median strips, however, what you see at present are a few pillars painted purple and several others covered by posters of political parties. 

Purple line crying for BMRCL, Palike attention

Thanks to residents groups, the Shristi School of Design, tech parks and non- profit organisations like Ugly Indian, most purple line stations from Cubbon Park to SV Road will soon boast of artistically painted Metro pillars. But the BMRCL and BBMP themselves have not made much progress on the Rs 65 crore ‘Vijayanagara Vaibhava’ project announced in February this year to showcase the grandeur of the Vijayanagar empire, reflected in Hampi, on 250 Metro pillars from Mysore Road to Magadi Road on the purple line. The plan included planting floral saplings on the median strips here.

But what you see at present are a few pillars painted purple and several others covered by posters of political parties on the stretch. Some larger than life banners of leaders, including the Chief Minister, catch your eye here as well. And while green shoots are appearing above the ground in parts of the median, most portions are barren and have no plants growing in them. Besides beautification of the Metro pillars, the project includes creating boulevards with replicas of Hampi’s stone monuments like the Virupaksha temple and providing attractive lighting in 20 parks and footpaths in the area. But there has been no sign of any of this taking off in the last nine months.

Giving an update on the project, BBMP Special Officer,Pradeep says, “We have applied purple paint on around 40 of the 250 Metro pillars here. The paint will serve as a background to the artwork representing Hampi.  The work has been delayed as we have not receive the funds yet.”

The officer explains that while  the BMRCL  has funded the pillar painting and footpath development, the BBMP is taking care of white topping roads upto the Mysore toll, and upgradation of boulevards and parks .  “Besides, Rs 5 crore has been given by the tourism department. As the  package was approved only last week in the cabinet, we will now get started on the project,” he assures, revealing  that heritage themed designer plant pots will be placed in every section of the median strip as part of the beautification plan.The authorities are also working with the horticulture department to select floral species that flower all 365 days of the year for planting in the 25 boulevards  along this stretch, going by the officer.