Reason to breathe easy; metro rail is on the way

Reason to breathe easy; metro rail is on the way
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: WITH the proposed Bangalore Metro Rail project getting a green signal from the Centre and the State Governments, travelling on city roads is expected to become little more safe and fast.

The massive Rs. 6,300-crore five-year project would make commuting more convenient, lessen pressure on the city’s transportation system and would reduce congestion, accidents and vehicular pollution that has reached alarming levels.

According to a study, the metro rail will result in savings of at least Rs. 1,000 crore in terms of reduction of traffic congestion, fuel consumption, maintenance of roads, savings in travel time and pollution levels. In fact, the metro is expected to reduce travel time by almost half -- getting from end to end will not take more than 45 minutes.

The metro will connect 32 stations and will ferry an estimated 8.20 lakh commuters a day in all four directions. The trains, each with six air-conditioned coaches, will run every five minutes during peak hours and stations located at one kilometre intervals.

The partially underground, partially elevated and partially surface metro rail will have two corridors: North-South and East-West. Both the corridors will meet at the Majestic station where passengers can change trains.

All this at a reasonable cost to the commuter. The proposed fare structure reveals that metro fare will be 1.3 times to 1.6 times the ordinary bus fares. The commuter will have to pay Rs. 5 to Rs. 12, depending on the distance travelled.

Reiterating the Government’s commitment to the project, Chief Minister Dharam Singh on Monday said additional funds for the project would be earmarked in the State Budget. ‘‘Metro rail will help in easing the traffic congestion in the fast growing city,’’ the CM said.