BMRC may tweak Metro station plans to cut costs

BMRC may tweak Metro station plans to cut costs
Promises Better Amenities
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The artist’s impression of Namma Metro stations, complete with swanky facades and a futuristic look, may still stay in spirit. But the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) Ltd is also looking at balancing the look with the cost. After initiating the new model on four stations in Reach 1 of the Metro’s East-West corridor, the BMRC is now set to propose new designs for the two other stations on the Reach: MG Road and Trinity circle.
The BMRC had cleared new designs for stations on Old Madras Road, Ulsoor, CMH Road and Byappanahalli. These are pegged to new “economic considerations’’, according to BMRC sources.
B S Sudhir Chandra, director (projects and planning), BMRC, told The Times Of India on Thursday the cosmetic changes proposed across stations would not be at the cost of passenger amenities. “In fact, the new designs have enhanced amenities. The proposal provides for an increase in the number of escalators and kiosks in these stations,’’ Chandra said.
According to Chandra, the passenger experience in all the stations is going to be the same as proposed in the original designs. The changes will, by and large, be pegged to aspects like elevation of the stations, taking the cost factor also into consideration. The changed designs cleared for the four other stations also focused on the elevation factor.
“There is no change in the functionalities of the stations. There can’t be a change in features the automated fare-collection (AFC) systems or paid and unpaid spaces. So the design change is not going to impact the way the passenger experiences these stations,’’ Chandra said. The proposal on the new designs will be made during the BMRC’s board meeting, scheduled to be held on Saturday.
DESIGNER FUTURE
Designs with minor changes proposed for MG Road, Trinity Circle stations Economic considerations behind change in designs Proposal to be made in BMRC board meeting BMRC says designs offer enhanced amenities Elevation focus of new designs