Locating Majestic Metro station puzzles BMTC commuters

Santhosh Kumar and his family from Devanahalli are not new to the city centre. They got down at Kempegowda bus terminus to go on a joyride through the underground stretch of Namma Metro. But, reaching Majestic Metro station from BMTC bus terminus was not an easy task for the family from the city’s suburbs.

“Getting out of the crowded BMTC bus terminus, divided by platforms as well as pedestrian walkways is not easy unless you are a regular commuter. Sign boards would have helped us to take the shortest route,” Kumar said as he walked past the footover bridge and then towards KSRTC bus stand to reach Majestic Metro station. The family said they had to confirm with other commuters to make sure that they were on the right track.

This is the hardship faced by most commuters who get down at KSRTC as well as BMTC bus stations who want reach the Metro station. There are no sign boards nor any other sort of assistance. Those coming from Sangolli Rayanna Railway station (city railway station) also face a similar problem in locating the Metro station.

At present, the underground walkways have sign boards directing people towards railway station, KSRTC and BMTC bus stations. But, there are no sign boards leading them to Metro station.

Urban commute analyst Sanjeev Dyamannavar says Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) should fix indicators on the footover bridge and at the exit points of bus and railway stations to help commuters easily locate the Metro station. “Commuters will not be able to find on which side the Metro station is located. This will also boost the process of integrating public transport system.”

Dyamannavar says sign boards would be a temporary solution and the BMRCL should extend the footover bridge that connects BMTC and KSTRC bus stations till the Metro station.

He said commuters constitute different set of people from a villager to a migrant, who might travel in the early morning to late night hours. The process of changing different modes of public transport should be a smooth one devoid of chaos, he noted.

Reacting to the issue, BMRCL spokesperson U A Vasanth Rao said that the BMRCL would place sign boards at different spots to help commuters to locate the metro station. Construction is on at the Metro station and there is some confusion, he said.

Feeder bus fare costlier

The BMTC feeder buses, which shuttles between Majestic Metro station and Mantri Square Metro station, charges Rs 12, while the fare is Rs 5 from Majestic bus terminus to Mantri Square station.

Dr Ekroop Caur, BMTC Managing Director told Deccan Herald that the price was fixed based on the distance and dead mileage. Another official said although, Metro station and BMTC bus terminus are located close by, the entrances are on different sides. Buses from Metro station travel a longer route (2.7 km) while its less than 2 kms on the other stretch. Hence, BMTC charges Rs 5 for the first 2 kms distances and Rs 12 for distance of 2 to 4 kms.