I would like to congratulate the BMRCL and all Bengalureans on the opening of the Green Line. The Metro Rail is now operational over 42 kms in the city. While this new line extension from Sampige Road to Yelachanahalli is one more step towards making commuting easier for millions of Bengalureans, it has come at almost double its original cost. The line was supposed to have cost Rs 6000 crore to build, but it took Rs 13,000 crore to complete.
The BMRCL will hopefully learn from past mistakes and take a cue from the Delhi Metro and Kochi Metro when extending the Metro Rail further in the city. Bengaluru could learn how to keep within tight schedules from the Delhi Metro and take a lesson from Kochi where the Metro has come up in no time. It was inaugurated on Saturday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who rode on the Metro along with Kerala Governor, P Sathasivam, Chief Minister , Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Urban Development Minister, Venkaiah Naidu and India’s “Metro Man,” E Sreedharan.
Where the BMRCL has gone wrong is in planning the execution of the project. If it had done this better it would have helped BMRCL experts foresee the constraints that keep emerging every now and then. In fact, the overall initial planning should have been done better. The work took so long because the men on the job came up against hard rock. A massive machine broke down while drilling and the BMRCL had to wait for almost four months for a replacement part. All this could have been avoided had the BMRCL planned and executed the Metro construction better.
I do not believe that funds for infrastructure will be a problem as both the Centre and the state government have been proactively working towards creating sustainable infrastructure.
I believe with a willing, proactive, infrastructure-friendly government at the Centre and a like- minded government in the state , Karnataka will get the requisite funds.
But I am very disappointed that Namma Metro is not properly connected to feeder services like buses, autos and taxis. This could be because the BMRCL does not have in-house expertise or the kind of talent required to do this sort of planning.
We at the Indian Institute of Science( IISc.) had an in-depth meeting with BMTC officials over bus connectivity and routes and they were very willing to incorporate our suggestions in their plans. The BMRCL should have incorporated feeder services when planning the Metro stations, taking into consideration the roads and density of traffic.
Also, parking should be provided and improved at stations on the outskirts of the city. This way people can drive up to the Metro station, park their cars and take the train to the Central Business District and beyond.
I also feel that a Metro link to the airport is a must. It is something that the state government should take up on priority. Look at the Delhi Metro, which has six airport exchanges. Bengaluru should be linked to the airport by the Metro in the same manner. Considering the kind of traffic that heads towards the airport every day a Metro link will help cut down pollution and speed up transport.
But planning is a priority. It should not be haphazard and shoddy. For instance, the Metro station should not be far from the airport entrance. If it is close, passengers can exit it and immediately enter the airport like they do in Delhi.
However, one advantage is that the Bengaluru Metro runs on standard gauge unlike the Delhi Metro, which is broad gauge. This is plus point because Metro systems all over the globe run on standard gauge and absorbing new and evolving technologies will be easier owing to this singular world standard.
The suburban rail is also a good idea and should be fully exploited. But it has its drawbacks as it can be implemented only where there is existing rail infrastructure without encroaching upon railways special corridors. The rest of the area can be covered by the Metro. This way both systems can work in tandem.
Eventually Bengaluru’s future lies in a seamless integrated multimodal transport system. All civic agencies concerned will have to work together to help it achieve this.
The writer is the head of the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science.
(As told to Rohan Ramesh)
