Namma Metro, Bega Katro!

Namma Metro, the promising rapid transit

As we all know, Bangalore is a congested city(Literally!). Bangalore badly needed a way to decongest it's roads, which are often congested to such an extent that these roads look as if they're parking lots! As we all know, Bangalore's population and growth are at the peak and looks like it's not gonna stop, at least not in near future. When people accumulate, the city hardly grows, but, because of less space and more moving people, roads get congested and Bangalore isn't the only city which is experiencing this. In fact, cities have experienced worse circumstances than this!

Bangalore, the Garden City, hasn't been that anymore. Road widening, white-tapping have become day-to-day affairs. And, according to a (disturbing) stat is that everyday, 3000 new vehicles are turn on road in Bangalore and along with the number of people, number of vehicles is also rising exponentially. The reason behind increasing number of vehicles? People want to move, that's all. So, isn't there any other way of moving people around in this city? If we think of this question, only one answer comes to all our minds, Namma Metro!

Namma Metro is the mass rapid transport system serving the city of Bangalore. Also called as Bangalore Metro, it started operation 20th October 2011, around 7 years ago. The planning for Namma Metro started as long back as May 2003. The report for Phase 1 of Namma Metro was prepared by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation(DMRC). The construction work was to start from 2005, but, it was postponed to February 2006 due to change in Government in Karnataka. This was just the beginning of delays. The project's Phase 1 was approved in April 2006 and civil work for the first stretch of Namma Metro measuring 6.7km, with 6 stations(Mahatma Gandhi Road-Baiyyappanahalli) was flagged off in April 2007, almost one year later and was opened to public on 20th October 2011, almost 8 long years since inception of plan. Not even one station was open for public use in March 2010, which was the first deadline to complete Phase 1, consisting of 2 lines, 41 stations and 42.3km in length. This was just the first deadline missed and only one segment(stretch) was opened almost one and a half year post-first-deadline. During the beginning of civil work, the Phase 1 was budgeted at ₹5400 Crores. But, when completed, in 18th June 2017, ₹11609 Crores was the total cost and the estimated cost was revised 4 times. By this time, the completion of Phase 1 missed 9 deadlines and was finished 7 years late than planned at the beginning! 

Namma Metro, Phase 1

So, assessing the current network of Namma Metro, it consists of 2 colour-coded lines, Purple(East-West) and Green(North-South) lines, with termini at Baiyyappanahalli, Mysuru Road, Nagasandra and Yelachenahalli. These two lines intersect at Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station, Majestic, which is the city centre of Bangalore and houses Bangalore's bus terminal. Majestic Metro Station is the largest in Asia. Right now, Metro experiences a footfall of 4,00,000 people a day. Phase 1 covers only a few of the very major locations in Bangalore and locations like KR Puram, Whitefield, Koramangala, Airport Road, Silk Board etc. are still unserved. This makes Metro not that effective, even after Phase 1's completion. This also means that there's no change in congestion in these areas of the city. Also, the existing lines have majority of 3-coach trains, these will be seen packed all the time. Only 5 trains are equipped with 6 coaches, which are run only during peak hours and during peak hours, one 6 coacher on Green and 4 on Purple Lines are not enough to cater the needs. BEML is responsible to add 3 coaches every month and according to that, Namma Metro should have been equipped with all 6 coachers, which, of course isn't the case. So, despite 42km long network, congestion doesn't seem to be reducing, neither on roads, not in Metro trains! 

If we look at where our Metro stands in the country, it was the second largest Metro Network in India, next only to Delhi Metro, just a year back. But, now, due to missed deadlines, snail-paced construction of Phase 2, Hyderabad and Chennai Metros occupy the top positions, pushing Namma Metro to number 4 in India. 

Current Namma Metro and Indian Railways Network in Bangalore

Talking about Phase 2, it'll be looking forward in order to decongest some more areas of the city. Phase 2, will have 3 more lines(Tentatively Red, Yellow and ORR) along with extension of 2 Phase 1 lines. The Green Line will be extended from Nagasandra(Hesaraghatta Cross) to Bangalore International Exhibition Centre(BIEC) in the north, from Yelachenahalli to Anjanapura Township in the south. The oldest line, Purple line will be extended from Baiyyappanahalli to Whitefield in the east, from Mysuru Road to Kengeri in the west. The new lines will be:

1. Red Line(Gottigere(Bannerghatta Road)-Nagawara(Outer Ring Road)-Airport): This will offer interchange with upcoming Yellow Line at Jayadeva Hospital Junction, Purple Line at Mahatma Gandhi Road. This will include (tentatively) 18 stations and will be mostly underground until Nagawara and further extension to Airport is still in paper.

2. Yellow Line(Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road-Bommanahalli(Hosur Road)): This 18.8km long line will have 16 elevated stations including RV Road which acts as terminus and offers interchange with Green Line, Jayadeva Hospital Junction(Red Line), Silk Board(ORR Line). This will pass through one of the busiest areas in Bangalore, through Silk Board, which is often referred to be the busiest junction in Bangalore. 

3. ORR Line(KR Puram-Silk Board): This will cover a stretch between the termini, which also act as interchange stations along Outer Ring Road, which experiences heavy traffic jams everyday. 

Namma Metro, Phase 2

Phase 2 was approved on 30 January 2014 by Union Cabinet and will add up almost 121km to the existing network. But, different governments at state and centre adds up to the woes of Namma Metro, which has been sloppily slow since inception. Before, 2020 was set as the deadline for completion of Phase 2, but, later, it was postponed to 2022 and as of now, it looks as if the work won't be complete till 2024, at the best. 

Namma Metro, Phase 2, in a nutshell

So, what're the reasons for this? One thing is that there are always different governments at state and centre. The other thing is the state government's wish to construct Elevated Corridors and other flyovers which are not at all sustainable. The government is looking intended to build ways to move vehicles, instead of people, which, obviously isn't what needed. Other projects like Elevated Corridor has adverse effects on civil work of Phase 2. The added woe is the presence of existing flyovers. Another major issue is sub-contracts by the contractors awarded the tenders. 

Silk Board Metro Station(Yellow/ORR Lines)

Current situation at Silk Board Jn.

So, Namma Metro doesn't stop there, but, there's also a planned Phase 3 which will further improve mobility in the city. 

At times, the snail-paced civil work creates more traffic issues than ever before and this is a major concern, which can only be solved if the civil work gets proper funding and the work completes in time. Namma Metro is more known for missing deadlines than to connecting the city. If we compare Namma Metro with Delhi Metro, constructed and operated by DMRC, Namma Metro stands nowhere near, when it comes to efficiency, connectivity and fast-paced civil work. Delhi Metro has been seeing growth everyday, rapidly than Namma Metro, this is clearly evident as Delhi Metro has extended existing lines 5 times in the last 4 years, adding many more stations. The longest, fully-operative line of India, Blue Line(Delhi Metro) measures longer than the entire network of Namma Metro. Even Yellow Line of DMRC has covered more length than Namma Metro network all together. This comes as a warning sign for Namma Metro. 

Overall, Namma Metro has shown a lot of potential in past few years and it's our responsibility to use it, let it grow and decongest our roads by moving people. Namma Metro is known for slow pace and nothing else, but, it's left to governments to make it known as a sustainable, efficient, effective and reliable mode of transport for the commuters of the Garden City. So, the name is pretty opt, Namma Metro, Bega Katro(Namma Metro, construct quickly!).