The gap in connectivity

Commuters struggle as metro, railways, BMTC and KSRTC operate independent of each other at Yeshwantpur

June 12, 2016 07:29 am | Updated October 18, 2016 02:17 pm IST - Bengaluru:

The peak time for arrivals in Yeshwantpur and Majestic is from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. and departures is post 10 p.m.

The peak time for arrivals in Yeshwantpur and Majestic is from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. and departures is post 10 p.m.

Narasimahaiah, a senior citizen from Rajajinagar, is a big votary of the Malleswaram – Peenya metro line and how it has made his commute easy since the route was opened two years ago. But he has a grouse: the metro station in Yeshwantpur is not connected to the railway station just across the road.

Yeshwantpur has always been a crucial entry point to the city through National Highway 4. But now, it has grown into a hub. Namma Metro, a busy railway station, hubs of the BMTC and KSRTC are all situated in a radius of 500 metres. What ails the area lacks is integration among the multiple modes of transport.

“I often travel by train. Every time I take the metro to Yeshwantpur, I have to get down from the metro station and climb the foot-over-bridge in the railway station. A simple skywalk to connect the two would be so much more convenient,” Mr. Narasimahaiah says.

U. A. Vasanth Rao, chief PRO for Namma Metro, said that the various agencies involved are discussing who should build the skywalk and funds. “Two designs are being considered. We will soon take up the issue,” he said.

Meanwhile, a 2010 proposal by Infrastructure Development Department to build a multi-modal transport hub with a bus bay, commuter lounge and commercial complex behind the metro station is gathering dust after failing to attract investors.

“In an age when we are talking of a single ticketing system for multi-modal transport across the city, it’s shameful to not physically integrate these modes in a way that they supplement each other,” says Prof. M N Srihari, traffic advisor to the government.

Need to sync metro timings with rail traffic

Urban commute expert Sanjeev V. Dyamannavar pointed out that while the lack of skywalk is the visible sign of non-integration, what is also missing is synchronisation of metro services with arrival and departure of trains.

“The peak time for arrivals in Yeshwantpur and Majestic is from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. and departures is post 10 p.m. But the metro does not operate at these hours. It is high time that metro services are operated run from 3.30 a.m. up 11.30 p.m.,” he said.

Metro operates services on the Sampige Road-Nagasandra line between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m., and from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the Byappanahalli-Mysuru Road stretch, which passes through Majestic.

Mr. Vasanth Rao said that services need to be shut for at least four hours for maintenance of rakes and lines. “But we are open to extending the service at night if we are approached with a definite proposal,” he said.

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