BMRCL Tumakuru Rd U-turn: FOB chosen over subways

In a jolt for passengers who hoped to get safe access to metro stations at Nagasandra and Dasarahalli metro stations, the BMRCL has decided to do away with the plan to build subways as officials are now planning to build foot overbridges (FOB) instead.

It has been nearly four years since the metro began chugging till Nagasandra in May 2015. However, commuters risk their lives every day while crossing the busy Tumakuru road to reach the metro stations at Dasarahalli and Nagasandra.

Several people have suffered injuries and at least three have been killed after being hit by speeding vehicles at Nagasandra metro station. At Dasarahalli, the traffic signals have failed to provide easy and safe crossover access to pedestrians walking to the metro station.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) finally woke up to the problem and invited tenders for building subways at both the metro stations. A previous tender called in April 2018 was cancelled. The work was awarded in September last year after officials spent months to get clearances from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

However, six months down the line, officials have now sent a proposal for building a foot overbridge in front of both the stations instead. The BMRCL did not respond to a detailed query, but sources said the subway project was dropped recently.

“Preliminary works like soil testing were completed some time ago. However, during a high-level meeting recently, it was felt that the FOBs are a better solution since they are safer than subways at night, especially for women,” an official said.

Subhash Shetty, a resident of Nagasandra, said the news has come as a rude shock for residents.

“They wasted three years before finalising the subway projects. Now, they have gone back to square one. People are dying while crossing the roads and now they say they are rethinking on the project. We will bring this to the notice of the leaders who come asking for votes,” said Shetty, also a member of ward committee.

However, a BMRCL official contended that the FOB will serve the commuters better and will be a reality sooner than the subway.

“It takes about two years to build a subway, but a FOB can be built in six months. Tenders will be called once the NHAI approves the proposal,” he said.