Metro joyride turns into political mela

BANGALORE: Slogans rent the air on Tuesday, as the Metro ride was turned into a political rally. Party activists accompanying chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda hailed the project and their leader with shouts of `Bharat Mata Ki Jai!' and `DVS Ki Jai!'
It was virtually a free for all as almost 300 people crowded into the Metro along with the CM, as he rode from MG Road to Byappanahalli and back.Among them were ministers R Ashoka, S Suresh Kumar, V Somanna, legislators, mayor Sharadamma, government officials, the media and hangers-on.
It's another matter that the Metro is supposed to accommodate only 80 persons per car.
The Metro ride was such a mela that there wasn't much space to stand, let alone sit, and even the chief minister himself was pushed around. Party activists hailed the Metro as their own.
The chief minister arrived at the MG Road Station around 3.15 pm. There was a mad rush as he entered the station, and some media and security personnel got into arguments.
Gowda was greeted by BMRC MD N Sivasailam with a bouquet. He then moved to the ticket counter, picked up his smart card, posed for cameras and walked towards the entry gates. As he swiped his card, the gates opened and Gowda made his way to the platform, where all and sundry crossed the yellow line, which is against the rules. Metro security personnel tried hard to whistle and push the people back so they wouldn't fall on to the track.
A 12-MINUTE RIDE
Just before the train rolled in at 3.25pm, Gowda made inquiries about the track. At 3.26pm, he boarded the car as the rest rushed in, the Metro rolled off, packed to the brim. It crossed Trinity at 3.29pm and rolled into Indiranagar station at 3.34pm. The CM got down and ushered in legislators and political party members of the area. At 3.40pm, the train reached Swami Vivekananda station, and at 3.44pm, it reached Byappanahalli. It took about 18 minutes for the train to reach the final station, as the CM had stopped at Indiranagar.
ESCALATOR STOPS MIDWAY
At Byappanahalli, the CM made his way to the top concourse. As he rode the escalator to the top, it stopped midway and he and the officials had to walk up. Some officials mentioned that the escalator was overloaded, which it was. Mayor Sharadamma was forced to walk up all the way.
The CM discussed in detail the topography of the station before making his way back.
As he returned and swiped the card, the gates opened to let him through. But they shut instantly as security personnel didn't have smart cards. They were left almost 10 metres behind the CM, leading to a sharp argument between the security personnel and Metro staff. Opening the gates automatically took more than a few minutes, after which there was much pushing and shoving.
Party activists raised more slogans and many sought photoshoots with the CM, after which the crowd pushed the CM towards the train. The ride back took just 12 minutes.
SIDELIGHTS
GRABBING CREDIT
On the way back, politicians and party members were busy talking about sites to be bought and sold, while others guessed who should get the credit for the Metro. "Byappanahalli was all because of K Raghu. What about MG Road? Is it Roshan Baig or N A Haris?" a party member asked.
ANOTHER JOYRIDE
As the train stopped, many party activists said they are taking another ride on the Metro. Said one: "Now that the huge crowd is gone, let's go on another ride." There was nothing Metro officials and security personnel could do with political heavyweights all over.