'Namma metro is a game-changer...'

BENGALURU: The completion of Phase I is a significant milestone in the journey of Namma Metro. The network now makes it possible to interchange between the the two corridors. Pradeep Singh Kharola, Managing Director, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, speaks on how the Metro will bring about a new way of lifeWhat does the completed Phase I mean for the city?To begin with, there is a tremendous saving on travel time. The conventional speed in the city is 10 km per hour. With the Metro, the speed is one km in two minutes.People can now plan their journeys more efficiently. When commuting in your own vehicle, there is a lot of uncertainty.You have to leave as much as an hour earlier to ensure you are on time. But with the Metro, your planning can be meticulous. Planning becomes a way of life.The social life of people too will be better. You can visit friends and relatives more often. Weekend activities can be planned much better.Many important activities will begin to gravitate around Metro stations. There are spaces available in close proximity to some Metro stations to accommodate multiplexes and malls. Convenience shopping options will come up near the stations. It is a win-win situation for all the traders will find it rewarding and commuters will make use of the convenience.Now, distances don't matter like before.There are many joggers from Vijaynagar who come to Cubbon Park in the Metro daily for a run. It would not have been possible for them to do this earlier.Many office-goers use the Metro. They arrive in better shape with the stress of riding a two-wheeler or car no longer there. This improves their productivity and contributes to the economy of the city.Such changes are taking place. The Metro is a game-changer.In the long run, will the Metro be the answer to the traffic woes?The Metro has begun to provide an answer. Commuting to many parts of the city is much easier now. Areas such as Chickpet become easily accessible as you don't need to worry about the traffic congestion or parking space. You can take the Metro to experience this bustling part of the city.Work on Phase II is going on smoothly. We are targeting next year end to complete Mysore Road and Kanakapura Road stretches. The Mysore Road line will go up to Kengeri which has a student population of 20,000.They can all use the Metro. Such possibilities will make a big difference. So, it will surely ease the traffic conditions over time.Are you creating vibrant spaces in stations for commuters?The M G Road Boulevard is easily accessible now. From Peenya it takes just 25 minutes. It is a vibrant space. So also the handicrafts expo at the S V Road station. We have space at many stations for expos and flea markets. There is a display of art at the Cubbon Park station.When can we expect more frequency, more coaches and a coach for ladies?Right now we have 50 trains. The frequency is dictated by this. To increase the frequency, we need more trains. The frequency now is four minutes and we are trying to come to three minutes. In the long run, we plan to bring it down to one minute. For this we need an altogether different signalling system.The length of the trains will be doubled from December in phases. We have placed an order for more coaches. In 1214 months we will double the capacity.In the next step, we will get more trains.The capacity then will be eight times of what it is today. When we have six coaches in a train, we can earmark one for ladies.What plans do you have to bring about last mile connectivity?Last mile connectivity has to be handled on many fronts. We need to leverage technology too. We need to look at improvising. For example, conventional feeder busses can be leveraged better with an app that commuters in the Metro can use to say where they want to go. This information reaches us. If say 1,000 commuters are in the train and 100 say they want to go to a particular destination, busses at the station can be re-routed, and this information passed on to the commuters who used the app in the train.Cabs and autos too have role to play.We can provide alternative modes of transport such as bicycles. At the Byappanahalli station you can hire a motorcycle too. The parking facilities we are providing is part of the last mile connectivity too as people can park their vehicles and use the Metro.