SPOT CHECK: A Metro Ride After Reopening

Stations taking great precaution, but negligible footfall

By Ritika Srivatsan

Namma Metro has now begun operating both Purple (Baiyyappanahalli-Mysore Road) and Green lines after a five-month hiatus. The Nagasandra-Yelachenahalli (Green line) stretch became functional yesterday; joining its counterpart which began working three days ago.

Increased security, handsfree thermal screening and smartcards

Security staff donning personal protective equipment (PPE) were stationed in particularly high numbers near the entrance and the platforms. To promote easy commute, citizens are required to wear masks, maintain social distance, have the Aarogya Setu app and their Metro Smartcards in hand. At the entrance, the temperatures are checked with a handsfree thermal scanner where one is required to hold their hand up in a high-five position. Then, passengers are urged to sanitise their hands using the peddle hand sanitiser before placing their baggage and other items through the security scanner. It is then a trouble-free journey as frisking by security is discontinued. Smartcards required to be placed three centimetres from the gate reader ensure no further contact.

Though smartcards add to a smoother trip, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation has drawn flak for their lack of organisation. Many are unable to use Metro services as the token system was abolished due to the virus, and the Namma Metro app’s delay has further upset the citizens. Prior to COVID-19, a significant number of residents relied on the Metro as an essential mode of transport in the traffic-congested city. Namma Metro recorded a daily ridership of 4,50,000 in 2019.

This number is reduced to just a few thousand in the last three days. Stations now appear almost abandoned and ghostlike. Deserted stations, platforms and trains make one feel like they’re anywhere but in Bengaluru, a once heavily-crowded city with congested Metro compartments. “We used to see hundreds in a single day earlier,” said one employee. “The service has just started, so the numbers should go gradually increase.”

Though not everyone has smartcards and the COVID-19 threat has definitely forced many to consider alternatives, the reason for low footfall could also be attributed to the Metro being functional for only select hours. Trains are running only from 8am to 11am and 4:30pm to 7:30pm. This is said to change from September 11 when trains will begin to run from 7am to 9pm on both the lines.

Seats on the Metro are marked with reflective tapes stuck on the floor to ensure social distancing. However, with ridership hitting rock bottom, there are hardly six individuals in every compartment. Even Majestic, a station which acts as an intersection between the two lines, remains quiet and empty.

Less congestion and the cleaner avatar of Metro and its stations should be incentive enough for people to use the service. However, unless the COVID threat decreases and Namma Metro app becomes operational, the stations will continue to see low ridership.