Namma Metro will make this city a global metropolis and investment gateway of Karnataka,says Sajan Poovayya
The spatial structure of Bangalore is polycentric and the city is growing at the fringes more than in the inner areas.The growth pattern in Bangalore is in concentric circles,moving outwards.The large and growing middle income segment of Bangalore mostly live in planned residential layouts spread across the city.While Bangalore's income groups are generally mixed throughout the area,increase in land prices is reflected in clustering of groups.This has obviated a 'hub-and-spoke'travel pattern and resulted in 'many-to-many'travel pattern increasing trip lengths.Urban transport in Bangalore,accessed across income groups,remains completely roadbased and dominated by buses,two-wheelers and autos.Conventional public transport services are provided by BMTC,with buses operating in mixed traffic,without any privileges like exclusive lanes or priority of passage at signal intersections.
A 2005 World Bank report had noted that Bangalore lacks a comprehensive urban transport strategy,linked to an urban development strategy and that Bangalore is in need of a demand-segmented,serviceoriented urban transport strategy,which would balance growth with equity concerns,with a strong but cost-conscious orientation in favour of public transport modes.Namma Metro is indeed an appropriate response to the problem.
As Bangalore has grown richer,vehicle ownership and use has grown more rapidly than available road space,resulting in increased congestion and traffic-generated air pollution.Rail-based mass transit systems are less congesting than are road-based systems and can be very important for those who are peripherally located and have long journeys to access employment.
Namma Metro is environment-friendly and helps retain Bangalore's 'Green City' tag,by reduction in emission of greenhouse gases.It can,like the Delhi Metro,become one of the first few railway projects in the world to be recognised by the United Nations under the clean development mechanism which will enable it to claim carbon credits.
Namma Metro will also be an impetus to economic development,by saving fuel costs,vehicle costs and emission costs.From an investment perspective,an efficient Metro will be attractive for the city's investment climate and further growth.
As Bangalore has grown richer,vehicle ownership and use has grown more rapidly than available road space,resulting in increased congestion and human-vehicular conflict.Nearly 0.5 million people die and up to 15 million people are injured in urban road accidents in developing countries each year.Projects like the Namma Metro will greatly help in reducing human-vehicular conflict.
Namma Metro will certainly be a better mode of transport (cleaner,quicker,punctual) than existing inadequate modes and will be known for reliable and safe journeys.The project has been implemented efficiently by BMRCL.The need is for the transport planners to streamline public transport system in Bangalore by focusing BMTC bus resources on inter-Metro-terminal transfers and eliminating duplication of routes.
One cannot expect miracles from just the commissioning of Reach I of Namma Metro.While the denizens have suffered the shortterm pains of Metro construction,it is time to savour the benefits of its long-term gains.It is important for the Metro penetration to increase,as the long-term benefits of the Metro can be felt only if connectivity is established between the multiple suburbs and business districts of Bangalore.
Namma Metro is also set to position Bangalore as a global metropolis and make it the investment gateway for Karnataka.
(The author is former Chairman,Karnataka State Council,Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry)
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