It has been two years since the Metro was launched between Mysore Road and Byappanahalli. Since the day it opened, it has been my main transport to get to work. So much so that I can’t think of any other way of commuting to work! The issue since then has always been the last mile, the last 6kms from the station to the office. I decided to go with BMTC and the results have been mixed.
On mornings, it would take anywhere between 20 mins and 45 mins for that distance, not considering traffic. Evenings, it took anywhere from 25 mins to 1 hour considering traffic. Mornings, I was mostly down to using one bus, and evenings I had to switch once. None of my colleagues who use the metro chose this option. There is a campus feeder that runs every 20-30 minutes and takes a lot less time between the destinations. I am not a fan of waiting for a feeder and being restricted to its timings. But I realised I was doing pretty much the same with the buses. Once I ditched using BMTC to get to the metro station from home, parking my vehicle there, I was mostly consistent with what time I was reaching Baiyappanahalli. This made the argument moot.
Anyway, the news is that I finally ditched using BMTC for the last mile now. The reasons were too many:
The feeder becomes attractive in terms of time and convenience. Fixed timings, get in and get dropped at work. Evenings, the first day he took internal roads and reached Baiyappanahalli in less than 30 mins. Next day he took the main road and took 10-15 minutes more. But it is consistent. At least there’s no swapping.
I don’t know how long this will work. But almost everyone who has been on it, has been on it for years. At least until the KR Puram line opens, this might be the way to go. I did consider getting a cycle, or using Yulu bikes. The latter is a good option, and I might explore it. Trouble is days when it is raining or too hot.
As much as I love public transport, this is not how you do it. You are punished by everyone, starting from vehicles on the streets when crossing the road, to BMTC crew with their rude behaviour, the BMTC system of targets, stages and bookkeeping, the traffic police by prioritising private vehicles over public transport, and the BBMP with their infrastructure targeted towards ever-increasing private vehicles and their putting the lives of pedestrians at risk. At the end of the day, using public transport should be about getting to work and then back home safely. It’s sad that millions have to depend on this kind of service to get to their workplaces. But when you have options you will eventually take them and move out. Unfortunately when the main public transport fails its users, it’s the city that loses. So long, BMTC!
Note: This article was originally published on the author’s blog, and republished here with required permissions.
Bengaluru Buzz: Trader licences revoked, SPV project pushed and 1000 transformers uprooted
Bengaluru needs more roads, and elevated is the way to go
Residents of Dodda Bommasandra in Byatarayanapura are forced to park their vehicles far away from their house due to the CMC’s delay in completion of road works.
Volunteers from Million Voter Rising, the citizen group from Mahadevapura, interviewed candidates contesting in the Karnataka Assembly elections from Mahadevapura constituency. This is the transcript of the interview with the incumbent MLA from Bharatiya Janata Party,
From planting trees to measuring them, and painting murals to making collages, there’s a lot in store for students of schools that participate in the Neralu School Project. Hurry, the last date for submission of entries is February 5th.
I liked this one..It isn’t like they can convince someone to leave his car in the middle of the road and take the bus..funny but very true..why will car users use BMTC if infra does not get better and takes almost same or more time than car/bike. Commuter rail is the answer for now and maybe ever for low income groups given the metro fares.
Each passing day, most Indians becoming state representatives and thus causing trouble to migrants of other Indians. Results is alienation of people from other states, which is getting reflected in every bus driver and conductor here in Bangalore now
Same here almost. Good work to show case the problem. Now, waiting for BMTC response..
Sad truth bro.. Really frustrating
Seemed like you are narrating my story
I ditched the metro in favour of the bus for the following reasons
1) Stinky Stations with bird droppings all over – Mysore Road is a model for how stations should not be maintained.
2) Disorderly Parking at the same station. The parking contractors are a dishonest and insolent lot.
3) The need to ride through roads, which are in horrendous conditions. The metro construction on Mysore Road has made it an inferno. There has been no progress as far as construction of Phase Two of Metro is concerned.
BMRCL and its officials are good at lying. The bureaucrats at Metro blocked suburban rail for decades. I would like to tell these officials who live in their ivory towers that restrooms are more of a necessity. We can’t appreciate for your Rangoli Art Centre when your stations are stinky, dingy and adorned with bird droppings.
Agree on most of your points. I am yet to have an issue with parking.
Given how often we are riding close to the railway line, suburban rail could’ve done the job for a lot of places at a much cheaper cost. And in many cases could’ve taken the load off the roads during metro construction too.
Can’t you suggest something better here? Why is that bangalore is taken as IT hub? Can’t the IT companies move out of bangalore? Majority of the Bangaloreans do not belong here, they are from different places..
Comments are closed.
Follow us on
Information
Collaborate
Supported By
© Oorvani Foundation 2013-2023