Bolstering connectivity: Bengaluru Metro witnesses surge in ridership, over 6.1 lakh passengers daily

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) attributed this surge in ridership to the metro’s reputation as an efficient and dependable public transportation option. However, critics argue that Namma Metro, as it’s known locally, is still underperforming.

Bengaluru: City’s metro system has experienced a steady rise in daily ridership over the past four months, reaching a new high of 6.11 lakh passengers in July. July saw particularly strong patronage, with more than 6.2 lakh individuals using the metro on 17 separate days.

This consistent growth in ridership has been observed from April to July, with each successive month surpassing the previous one.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) attributed this surge in ridership to the metro’s reputation as an efficient and dependable public transportation option. However, critics argue that Namma Metro, as it’s known locally, is still underperforming.

A senior BMRCL official noted that the daily ridership is anticipated to rise to 7.5 lakh once the KR Pura-Baiyappanahalli and Kengeri-Chellaghatta lines, spanning 2.1 km and 1.9 km respectively, become operational by the end of August. Trial runs are currently being conducted on these stretches.

Having transitioned from a single line with a daily ridership of 35,000 to a 70-km network serving over six lakh riders daily, Namma Metro has shown substantial progress over the last 12 years.

Notably, the rise in ridership has occurred despite the free bus travel scheme for women. The recent opening of the KR Pura-Whitefield line in March, which was temporarily disconnected from the rest of the network, has also contributed to this increase.

Prashanth Srinivas, an expert on mass rapid transit, emphasized that Namma Metro could potentially accommodate 10.5 lakh passengers daily if the BMRCL optimizes its operations. He suggested refining the current metro headway, extending operating hours, ensuring access to all station entry/exit points, and enhancing first- and last-mile connectivity through travelators and skywalks at key junctions in the city.

However, the BMRCL currently has no immediate plans to alter headway or timings.

Another BMRCL official argued that the metro could serve 7.5 lakh passengers even with the existing headway and timings. They questioned the feasibility of increasing headway when the demand doesn’t warrant such a change.