Namma Metro's Yellow Line, ahead of its inauguration on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 19.15-km metro corridor, with passenger service beginning the next day.
Credit: DH PHOTO/PUSHKAR V
Bengaluru: Ahead of the Yellow Line’s expected launch this weekend, DH visited metro stations along the 19.15-km stretch between RV Road and Bommasandra to assess accessibility.
While most stations are nearly ready for operation, access remains a concern at several points. Three trains will be operated in the route at a 25-minute interval.
At the RV Road station, an interchange for the Green and Yellow Lines, a skywalk is located nearby, but remained locked on Wednesday. Commuters had to walk about 100 metres to find an opening in the road divider. However, the locality’s well-maintained footpaths make accessibility easy.
Issues are more evident at other stations.
Patchy paths
Of the 16 stations, six — Ragigudda, Jayadeva Hospital, BTM Layout, Silk Board Junction, Kudlu Gate, and Bommasandra — lack skywalks.
Some existing skywalks do not have lift access. For example, the Hebbagodi station has a skywalk, but it is a 5–10-minute walk from the entrance.
The Kudlu Gate station can be accessed via an underpass or an outdoor staircase on the nearby service road.
The Jayadeva Hospital station, the largest and a double-elevated interchange for the Yellow and Pink Lines, has 12 entrances spread across four zones, each with a lift. However, reaching the lifts is difficult.
Metal railings along the road leave no nearby opening, forcing commuters to climb over barricades. The closest pedestrian crossing is 400 metres away. Poor footpaths and heavy traffic worsen the problem.
"People do not have the time or patience to walk to the crossing, so most jump the barricade. Even after the Yellow Line opens, only ticketed passengers can cross through the station," said a security guard.
The station at BTM Layout faces similar issues. At Silk Board, poorly maintained footpaths add to the challenge.
As the Outer Ring Road and Hosur Road are not at the same level, crossing is only possible from inside the station, an on-ground staffer said.
While many stations along Hosur Road have decent footpaths, these are blocked by commercial encroachments.
"There is no need for skywalks between the Ragigudda and Silk Board stations as there are entry/exit points on both sides of the road. We have built skywalks after Silk Board. The footpaths and roads around the stations are in good condition," a BMRCL official said.
Concerns raised
- Several stations lack skywalks
- Footpaths poorly maintained or encroached
- No pedestrian openings in road dividers