JOIN USBengaluru is always on the move towards development and ‘Namma Metro’ has been an advantageous addition to this metropolitan city. However, the ridership of the Metro has increased by leaps and bounds over the past few months.
The Metro system currently accommodates around three lakh commuters on a daily basis. In spite of the heavy rush, the commuters are more than happy with the experience. “The coaches are clean, the guards are well-trained and give proper instructions whenever I ask them something,” says Rama Rrebbapragada, who feels that the Metro is extremely safe for women. “I have told all my cousins to ditch the car and travel by the Metro,” she says laughing. Sharon Xavier from St Joseph’s College also agrees that the Metro is safe for women. “It is so convenient. I remember that it used to be almost empty around a year and a half ago and now everyone travels by it,” she says.
Its rising popularity has also brought along a host of other issues and now the Metro faces the problem of over-crowding. Prateek Shetty says, “Getting in and out of the coaches is now a mammoth task. The Majestic Station is jam-packed and there is too much pushing and shoving.”
Safety and security is ensured with bag checks and body scanning, another reason for people to prefer this mode of transport. Kruthika A Kumar from Dayananda Sagar University says, “I use the Metro to avoid all the traffic, it’s comfortable and definitely better than the bus.”
The Metro has its pros and cons but this technological advancement continues to be a regular means of transmit for many, crowd or no crowd.