What was 2017 like for Namma Metro?

The "swords of Damocles" has been hanging over the heads of the planners of Bengaluru's metro since its very inception.

The uprooting of trees, demolition of shops and homes and the loss of livelihoods led to several protests while the project was being implemented. These were captured eloquently in Gautam Soni and Usha Rao's documentary "Our Metropolis."

But how has the metro been functioning since? Are there still issues relating to land acquisition that are opposing the expansion of the metro? What have been the recent flashpoints that led to protests over Namma metro last year? Has the public good promised by the metro changed the lives of Bengalureans? 

To answer these questions and more, take a look at some stories done by DH over the past year:  

Namma Metro tokens sport new look
Bored of purchasing the plain black tokens whenever you travel on Namma Metro? The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has decided to break the monotony of your travel by introducing the single-journey tokens in a new avatar.
 
Twitterati rises against 'Hindi hegemony' in Namma Metro
A petition urging the state government to banish Hindi from Namma Metro took social media website Twitter by storm with thousands of netizens participating in the “campaign”.
 
Language policy: KDA demands action against Namma Metro
The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) has written to the government, asking it to initiate action against Namma Metro for violating the language policy
 
Activists mask Hindi signage at Metro stations
The protest against use of Hindi in Namma Metro intensified on Thursday with Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) members blackening Hindi letters on signboards in several Metro stations in the early morning and staging flash protests.

Now, Hindi words go off Majestic Metro station board
The growing opposition to the use of Hindi in Namma Metro signboards made its first impact with authorities masking a part of the display board at Kempegowda Metro station.
 
Celebrity status for Namma Metro MD
BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola on Sunday attained celebrity status among Metro riders, who rushed to take a selfie with him.

Prez flags off Metro link to south Bengaluru
The first phase of Bangalore Metro today marked its completion with President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurating the 11.3 km stretch 'Metro Green Line'

Metro staff protest 'high-handedness'
Hundreds of Namma Metro employees sat on a silent protest from afternoon till late in the night outside the administrative block of the BMRCL in Baiyappanahalli, saying they were now scared of going to work.
 
Strike leaves Metro users stranded for several hours
More than one lakh Namma Metro commuters were stranded as trains did not run for seven hours on Friday.
 
Fatima Bakery land ownership row may delay Metro to Nagawara
Land acquisition for Gottigere-Nagawara line in Phase 2 of Namma Metro project is likely to slow down due to the tussle over Fatima Bakery land needed for building the Vellara Junction Metro station.
 
Railways and Metro in parking price war at Baiyappanahalli
The exponential growth of Namma Metro commuters has triggered an unprecedented competition in Baiyappanahalli
 
Namma Metro baggage fee
Commuters are furious the Namma Metro is asking them to pay Rs 30 for each piece of baggage they carry.