One could say that Namma Metro (click here for blog )- Bangalore’s metro rail network – is well and truly on its way.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation began road works from Cauvery Emporium to Trinity Circle on M G Road on Saturday morning. This part of the road was barricaded, leaving little space for movement of vehicles, resulting in traffic jam on Brigade Road and Commercial Street.

( From a Deccan Herald report from here )

As a result & as can be seen, a lot of inconvenience is on the cards over the next 2 years that the project is completed. Barricading, traffic jams, one-ways, parking – all of these will take a toll on the patience of road users. A lot of noise, literally and figuratively, will be created in the media by affected citizens, road users et al. Environmentalists will continue their tirade. Senior citizens will rant against the changing skyline. Busybodies will pass snide remarks on the integrity of those involved in the project. In all this chaos, lets remember that the end result – a spanking new, state of the art Metro that does more good than most people can currently envision will finally be a reality.

Namma Metro will enable many Bangaloreans to leave their vehicles at home and finally, rely on a public transit option. As a result, there will be far less vehicles and as a direct consequence, less road rage!!! Not only amongst road users but also betwen them and custodians of the law. This piece of news should give us an indication of what’s happening around us.

A 45-year-old man suffered head injuries when a police constable hit him on the head with a lathi following an altercation in Kumaraswamy Layout police station limits on Friday.

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This writer had recently travelled to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and like before, truly appreciated the convenience of their Metros. Of notable mention is the Metro in Singapore. For tourists in particular, travelling on the SMRT should be a compulsory experience to savour their showpiece for its on-the-dot puncuality, cleanliness, safety & reliability. Day to day communting – for personal or official duties – in both these cities is so easy and convenient.

It is also time for all Bangaloreans to give their full fledged support to the BMRC, the Special Purpose Vehicle in charge of building our metro network. BMRC officials have shown respect to all stakeholders in the myriad issues that have cropped up, a genuine concern in getting the project on the rails quickly & professionalism in their approach. Proof of this is apparent can be seen with some of the designs for stations..these are truly world-class.

In short, Bangalore desperately needs a good public transit network. The Metro and its sister network, the Mono Rail hold a promise of deliverance to all Bangaloreans from the terrible traffic woes of the present. Both these systems will help redeem our place amongst world class cities. Till the project is completed, there will be a lot of inconvenience and pain. All of us Bangaloreans need to bear with this for a short while. The wait will be worth it.

Namma Metro is bound to be Bangalore’s jewel in the near future. I’m positive about this.

This post also cross posted here. For daily ( almost!) updates on Namma Metro, check it out.