BMRCL set to miss the train at Whitefield, KR Puram in Phase 2

Amid the row over relocation of the Cantonment Metro station, BMRCL seems to be wading into a controversy with Whitefield and KR Puram too as the two proposed Metro stations in Phase 2 remain far from railway stations.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) uploaded a map detailing the alignment of Baiyappanahalli-Whitefield line and the 13 stations along the 15.5-km corridor.

While authorities have not changed much of the alignment or station locations, hopes of an integrated transport are dashed as the Metro stations are separated from the two key railway stations.

While the Metro station at Whitefield will be situated about 700 metres from the railway station, at KR Puram, the busy Outer Ring Road (ORR) runs between the railway station and the Metro station coming up on the premises of Lowry Adventist College.

Namma Metro has attracted criticism with several of its stations remaining inaccessible. At Majestic and Yeshwantpur, where Metro stations have been functioning for over an year, commuters have to struggle to reach the railway stations while lack of safe access claimed the life of a teenager at Nagasandra Metro station.

Subway needed

At Whitefield, the Metro station will come up about 250 metres away from the BMTC’s Kadugodi bus station. Metro officials have to build a subway under the ORR if they want to connect the railway station and BMTC’s KR Puram bus stop.

BMRCL officials did not answer calls and did not reply to messages seeking to know how they plan to provide access to the two stations in Phase 2.

Sources said the corporation was facing several land acquisition issues that have limited their plans to bring Metro stations closer to railway stations. “The government land in the area comes under forest category. Big projects need approval from the Centre,” they added.

“We are already suffering as the Kadugodi bus stand is far from the Whitefielid Railway station. At the least, BMRCL should move the Metro station near the police station so that people can walk 50 metres and cross the road to reach Kadugodi bus station,” said Anjali Saini of Whitefield Rising.

“They (BMRCL officials) did a good job at Baiyappanahalli. We don’t know why they would take a decision that will make commuting messy. Soon, more people will travel to the city from suburbs for work. If suburban rail and Metro join hands, it will reduce travel time of lakhs of people in the coming years,” she added.