Bangalore Metro, a prominent urban transit system, serves as an essential mode of transport for the people of the city. It eases commuting for residents and visitors alike. And this is now officially reflected in the records. Data showed that Bangalore’s metro ridership recorded more than 6 lakh daily commuters.
Bangalore’s Metro Ridership Sees Record High Of 6.1 Lakh Daily Riders
In the past four months, Bangalore metro’s daily ridership has consistently increased, hitting a new high of 6.11 lakh passengers in July, reported Deccan Herald. In July, the metro saw strong usage, with over 6.2 lakh riders for 17 days. On average, July had 16% more passengers compared to January, as per data reviewed by Deccan Herald.
From April to July, ridership has continually risen, with each month surpassing the prior, stated the report. BMRCL sees this growth as a sign of the metro’s effectiveness. According to a senior BMRCL official, daily ridership is predicted to hit 7.5 lakhs. In his statement to Deccan Herald, the official said that in the past 12 years, Namma Metro has transformed from a single line (MG Road-Baiyappanahalli) with 35,000 daily riders.
He suspects the numbers could increase. He said this could reportedly happen when the 2.1-km KR Pura-Baiyappanahalli and 1.9-km Kengeri-Chellaghatta lines commence operation by the end of August. Currently, trial runs are ongoing on these stretches, stated the report.
As per the statement, he also highlighted that ridership growth had increased despite the free bus travel initiative for women. The increase isn’t solely due to the KR Pura-Whitefield line, which started in March, the official stated.
What Do Some Experts Have To Say About The Numbers?
Although, there are some people who think these numbers can be increased. Prashanth Srinivas, a mass rapid transit expert from the Catalytic Think Tank Forum, speaking with Deccan Herald suggested that Namma Metro has the capacity to cater to 10.5 lakh commuters daily. But only if the BMRCL adjusts its operations, stated the report.
He noted the existing irregular metro headway and urged BMRCL to streamline it. Srinivas also highlighted a significant gap in headway during peak and non-peak hours.
Are you one of the 6 lakh people who use the Bangalore metro every day? If so, tell us what you think about the efficiency of the metro services, in the comments.
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Cover image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons (Representative Image)