Namma Metro Phase 3: What do the Civilians have?

Namma Metro entering a station in Green Line

Namma Metro has been a promising travel partner of the city since its inception. Back in 2011, when Namma Metro was opened for the public usage, there was a very positive response from the people using it. Bangalore has widened it's width and a growing city needs a sustainable mass transport system, and, when we say mass rapid transport, Namma Metro comes in front of every Bangalorian.

Namma Metro, which has become the circulatory system of the city in a very short period, has shown a lot of potential in order to make the city traffic-free. As of now, Namma Metro has 41 stations along a stretch of 42.3 kilometres. Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station, Majestic offers the interchange between the 2 existing corridors, N-S Corridor(Nagasandra-Yelachenahalli) and E-W Corridor(Baiyappanahalli-Mysuru Road). Namma Metro experiences footfall of 4,00,000 everyday. As of now, Namma Metro has traversed through the CBD of the city and has connected a few residential and commercial areas and Bangalore is that city which needs a lot more than just a couple of lines and 40 odd stations. By 2023, Namma Metro is expected to complete it's Phase 2 network and provide connectivity to some more prominent areas of the city like the tech-hubs of Electronic City and Whitefield.

Namma Metro Phase 2

So, this article is mainly focused on the Phase 3 network of Namma Metro which is on the drawing board. RITES had begun the feasibility study for the Phase 3 back in 2014. The DPR was launched for the 105.55 Kilometres' stretch, which would increase the network length to 266 kilometre, once Phase 3 is finished. But, after the Budget, it was revealed that the 21-kilometre Hosakerehalli-Marathalli stretch, passing through Old Airport Road was dropped, which let down many people. But, the dropping of this line meant saving a lot of trees of the city.

So, by the end of Phase 3, Namma Metro will have 266-kilometre long network to operate. So, let's see which are those new lines on the drawing board and in DPR.

The first line under Phase 3 will be the ORR Line extension, which will cover 33-kilometre distance between Silk Board and Hebbal. There's also a proposal of Circular Metro alongside the ORR of the Bangalore, just like in Delhi, which experiences huge traffic jams despite the flyovers. Before, it was planned that KIA will be covered from Gottigere-Nagawara line of Phase 2, but, later, the DPR proposed the connection of KIA from Krishnarajapuram and Hebbal. Under Phase 2, Namma Metro will have 6 interchange stations: Majestic(Green and Purple; Open to public), Rashtreeya Vidyalaya Road(Green and Yellow), Jayadeva Jn.(Red and Yellow), Central Silk Board(ORR Line and Yellow), Krishnarajapuram(ORR Line and Purple), Mahatma Gandhi Road(Purple and Red).

Even while our city struggles without a proper, reliable and efficient public transport system, the construction of Namma Metro Phase 2 lags behind extended deadlines. The report also mentions that the company is confident of completing Phase 2 by 2020. This will only be true for two of the six proposed stretches(Mysuru Road-Kengeri and Nagasandra-BIEC). With Phase 1 missing several deadlines, it's no surprise that Phase 2 is headed in the same direction.

Till date, the worst part about Namma Metro is that, it has not been able to adhere to the original deadlines set in the tender documents and work orders. Namma Metro recently released it's online report with the mention about the new stretches of Namma Metro. The annual report explains that the Phase 3 of Namma Metro would be a circular network connecting important areas like Ring Road, South-East areas of Bangalore, Old Madras Road and Sarjapur Road. A radial corridors along Old Madras Road and Magadi Road have also been envisaged for which the consultants have submitted the feasibility reports.

According to the reports, the new lines will be:

1. Nagawara-Aerospace Park(Interchanges at Nagawara with Phase 3 Airport line)(Extension of Gottigere-Nagawara line of Phase 2)
2. Kogilu Cross-Rajanakunte(Interchanges at Kogilu Cross with Phase 3 Airport Line)
3. Magadi Road Toll Gate-Kadabagere(Interchanges at Sumanahalli Bridge with Hebbal-JP Nagar line)
4. Hebbal-JP Nagar(Interchanges at Goraguntepalya and JP Nagar with existing Green Line, Myruru Road/Nayandahalli with existing Purple Line and at Sumanahalli Bridge with Magadi Road Toll Gate-Kadabagere)
5. Gottigere-Basavapura(Extension of Gottigere-Nagawara line of Phase 2)
6. Bommasandra-Attibele(Extensions of RV Road-Bommasandra line of Phase 2)
7. Iblur-Carmelaram(Sarjapura)(Interchanges at Iblur with Silk Board-Krishnarajapuram Line)

Namma Metro Phase 3

Though Namma Metro Phase 3 looks pretty promising in reducing the traffic of the city at major junctions, by the time it'll be finished, people will be fed up of the traffic of this ever-growing city. And, Namma Metro has all the potential to effectively and efficiently manage the moving people of this city. Let's hope we will get Namma Metro Phase 3 as soon as possible!

Please put down your valuable comments so that I can improve in my next articles. Also let me know which new corridor you're expecting in future and why.