Bengaluru: Lifts shut down after 10 pm at Metro stns, complain commuters

Bengaluru: The average daily ridership of Namma Metro may have crossed five lakh, but not everyone seems satisfied with the facilities at its stations..

While commuters often complain about faulty escalators or of some remaining out of use for days, the latest lament is about the lifts at the stations. Some of the Metro stations shut down their lifts after 10 pm owing to lack of manpower, say commuters, who find it hard to carry heavy bags up the stairs to the platforms.

The working of the lifts and escalators is important as they help commuters negotiate different levels such as the concourse and platform at the stations, particularly with the expansion of the BMRCL network, but many find they are not in use when they need them most.

I have experienced this several times. Some of the Metro stations switch off their lift services after 10 pm and don’t respond to our requests to resume it, leaving us with no option but to use the steps to reach the platforms. This is very difficult for old people like me. When we ask the BMRCL for the reason, it say the stations have no manpower to operate the lifts after this time,” complains Mr Srinivas, who is retired and a regular Metro user.

But ask the BMRCL and it claims it has received no such complaint. “We have instructed all station staff to operate the lifts till the trains run. If the commuters face any problems on this count, let them file a complaint with evidence and we will take action," says a BMRCL senior official.