It's yet another milestone for Bengaluru

BENGALURU: It's yet another milestone in the long journey of Bengaluru. The commissioning of Reach I Byappanahalli to M G Road a decade ago, and the subsequent commissioning of stretches across Phase I, gave people a glimpse of what to expect from the

Metro network

.

Over the last decade, it became common to hear more and more people share the good news with glee that they could take the Metro to work and back as these stretches were commissioned. The ridership grew in leaps and bounds the once empty Reach I is now jam-packed with the Purple Line running till Mysore Road.

Bengaluru has gone past many milestones in the past and will surely do so in the future too. Be it the IT sector taking root here, the international airport powering the city onto the world map or the excellence in the healthcare space drawing medical tourism, these milestones have added a new dimension to the character of the city.

The

Metro Rail

promises as much if not more. It promises to create new way of life. It promises to change attitudes. And, it promises to integrate the core city areas seamlessly to create a conducive environment for business and social interaction. It promises to create a new Bengaluru a different city that future generations will inherit.

A Metro Rail network, in any city, is a significant part of its life. It dictates the way people commute, work, interact and even socialise. It has a bearing on business and creates commercial hubs. Housing and social infrastructure find demand along its corridors. It is a lifeline of a city. A Metro network is the pride of a city.

Namma Metro will surely be no different. While it is a welcome relief from the daily grind on the roads for those served, it is a ticket to discovery of this growing and ever-changing city for a great many others. On the one hand, it helps you reach office in a much shorter time daily, and on the other, makes it possible to criss-cross the city to savour its sights and sounds more often. Many of the old Bengaluru localities, for example, along its corridors, are easily accessible now.

Historic places, the bustling high streets of localities an hour and a half away, popular eateries that still hold sway over the locals and the many famous landmarks of the city are now destinations people from all along the Metro corridors can access easily. The weekends will become more interesting. Meeting friends and relatives on the other side of town won't be a day-long journey any more.

Namma Metro is the city's ticket to a more productive, satisfying and fruitful life. It will fuel growth in business, help beat stress, create more quality time for people to spend with family, and give everyone something to cheer about. It is a lot more than the means of transport it is meant to be. It is a lifeline the people of Bengaluru have waited a long time for.