Namma Metro commuters frustrated as Nagasandra-Madavara opening awaits inauguration despite safety clearance

Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) approved the three-kilometre extension of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on October 4 following a statutory inspection

The wait for commuters along the Tumakuru Road stretch, one of Bengaluru’s busiest routes, continues as the opening of the new Nagasandra-Madavara metro line extension remains stalled despite receiving safety clearance over 20 days ago. BMRCL has held back on commercial operations awaiting a formal inauguration by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, who has yet to confirm his availability, according to officials.

The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) approved the three-kilometre extension of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on October 4, following a statutory inspection. The new segment, which is part of the Green Line, will add three new stations — Manjunathnagar, Chikkabidarakallu, and Madavara — providing much-needed relief to thousands of commuters along Tumakuru Road, a critical route connecting Bengaluru with other parts of Karnataka.

The hold-up has drawn sharp criticism from residents and regular commuters, who argue that they are being made to suffer the consequences of protocol while a practical solution to their commuting woes stands unused.

“I can’t understand why the authorities won’t prioritise citizens over ceremony. Every day, we’re stuck in hours of traffic, and this past week with the rain, it’s been unbearable. If the metro had opened, it would have been so convenient for us. Yet, here we are, with the station right in front of us, locked up. It’s beyond frustrating,” said Datta Kumar, a resident of Nagasandra.

The BMRCL’s delay in opening the line has also sparked conversations about the priority given to ‘VVIP inaugurations’ over public convenience.

“We are literally held hostage to bureaucracy. There’s already a metro line, built and ready, that could cut my travel time by half. But instead, we’re left dealing with traffic jams because the government wants a grand inauguration. For the past five years, many commuters have been taking shared autos from Madavara to Nagasandra to catch a train. Now, with the extended metro ready but not opening, it’s making daily life miserable for all of us,” said Prashanth Rao, a bank employee who commutes via Tumakuru Road.

Sources say that BMRCL has written to the Urban Development Department, which in turn has approached the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to schedule Mr Khattar’s attendance for the launch.

The extended metro route from Nagasandra to Madavara is likely to alleviate congestion on Tumakuru Road, which daily endures bumper-to-bumper traffic, especially during peak hours and weekends since the road is a major lifeline connecting Bengaluru to the rest of Karnataka.

The metro extension has encountered several roadblocks over the years, pushing its completion timeline far beyond initial expectations. Delays in land acquisition near the NICE Road junction and setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic extended the project timeline by nearly five years. The metro extension’s delay in opening has been particularly exasperating for those who frequently travel to the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), located along Tumakuru Road. The new metro link promises to offer better access to BIEC, making it a valuable addition not only for daily commuters but also for visitors attending large trade events at the venue.

Published - October 25, 2024 05:22 pm IST