Will Metro curiosity slow down city traffic?

BANGALORE: While Namma Metro project aims to de-congest city’s traffic, Bangaloreans’ enthusiasm to ride in the latest addition to city’s transport may prove counter productive.The main station for Reach 1, which houses the depot and the Operations Control Centre (OCC) among other important installations, the Byappanahalli Metro station has its  own disadvantages. With one of the highest density of traffic movement per hour, Old Madras road could choke up further as enthusiastic commuters would embark on their first ride on the much anticipated project. Added to this, the Metro station’s car parking is yet to be completed. Karthik, a resident of SG Palya and frequent commuter on the road opined,  “Though there is temporary provision for parking, until the entire establishment is  complete, it may defeat the purpose”.Adding to this paradigm would be the feeder services and the stopping of buses in the area. Shahid, another commuter and van driver told Express that they should have waited to complete all the necessary works for Metro and then opened it for public use. “I think they wanted to show results and did so almost without thinking”. The route has heavy vehicles, private vehicles and sometimes even cranes and 16 wheelers, and curiosity of the people would slow down traffic further, he said. The route, also is witness to long traffic jams and longer signal waits, as it connects all of the traffic from the Outer Ring Road towards Bagmane Tech Park, HAL, BEML and many other places.But the traffic police seem content with the preparations. Speaking to Express, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-East), Muthanna said that there was enough provision for the moment. “There is an entry from the other side (Sadanandanagar) and this would ensure that traffic would not be affected to a large extent on this road”, he said.Board BMTC bus to see MetroBangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will launch 129D bus service from Kempegowda Bus Station, Maharani College, Corporation, Museum Road to M G Road Metro Rail Station from October 21 for the benefit of all those interested in witnessing the newly launched Metro rail service in the city. This bus will ply with a frequency of 15 minutes. Also, services during public holidays and weekends will be provided from Chandra Layout, Vijayanagar, Yeshwantpur, Malleswaram to M G Road Metro Rail Station.