In a few months, Bengalureans can travel in the metro from as early as 7 am even on Sundays. While on other days, metro services in both the Green and Purple lines start at 5 am, the Sunday services begin only at 8 am. In light of rising commuter demand for the metro, authorities are now positively thinking of gradually starting an early service at 7 am on Sundays too.
Ajay Seth, Managing Director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation told TNM, “We are not in a position to announce a date. But within a few months, we will be able to start operations from 7 am without changing our maintenance schedule, keeping in mind the expectations of commuters. We are also looking at making the last train for all lines to leave the Kempegowda Interchange at 12 midnight too.”
He said that they are also working on a 6 am schedule for Sundays. “We will have to have larger change in plans but we will work on that, holding meetings between different departments,” he added.
The BMRCL MD also said that increased crowding in the metro compartments especially by women in peak hours, will soon be a thing of the past.
“Right now we have reservation for women commuters for the first two gates for three-car trains and the first compartment itself for six-car trains. But in the next two-three months, it will be a non-issue, as we will be adding six-coach trains at an increased frequency,” Seth said.
In one year (between June 18, 2017 and June 16, 2018), the BMRCL has recorded 12,29,49,982 (over 12 crore) individual journeys, with an average daily ridership of 3,36,849. However with the introduction of the first six-car metros since June, the ridership has been steadily increasing. But even this figure is shy of the 8 lakh daily passengers anticipated in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the entire Namma Metro Phase 1.
Phase 1 of the metro runs a service of 42 km in the city with the Green Line between Nagasandra and Yelachenahalli spanning 24.22 km, and the Purple Line between Byappanahalli and Mysuru Road running 18.08 km.