A senior BBMP official told BM, “It’s not everyday congestion. The jam was caused by a number of factors, including the bandhs on September 26 and September 29. This formed the major reason for the rush. Many people who missed work on those days wanted to complete their official duties on September 27, which contributed to the congestion.”
To meet the traffic demand, 3.2 m wide and 21.7 m length AC rolling stock is recommended for running suburban rail services in Bengaluru. The design speed is 90 mph and the operational speed shall be 80 mph (except at stations). The operating speed at stations shall be 50 mph. The operating speed in depots shall be 25 mph. The train power supply shall be fed by 25KV- AC Overhead Equipment System. As of now, for Corridor 2, a 220KV receiving substation has been proposed in Mathikere.
Shashidhar, a food delivery agent in the area said, “It can be a major issue for people on two-wheelers. Especially if it’s raining and during the night, if the slab falls onto the road, it can lead to casualties.” He added that instead of the stone slabs, iron rods can be put so that it is safer for the commuters. A police constable stationed at the crossing said, “This can be a major issue. The slabs were placed over two years ago.
Since February, the metro has witnessed a surge in footfall, with February recording a ridership of 1.46 crore, generating revenue of Rs 34.90 crore. In March, ridership increased to 1.60 crore, resulting in revenue of Rs 38.36 crore. The trend continued in April, with ridership rising to 1.71 crore, and revenue reaching Rs 41.40 crore. In May, the metro served a total of 1.74 crore commuters, generating revenue of Rs 43.45 crore. This indicates a significant increase of 28 lakh passengers in May compared to February.