Unbelievable half an hour!

That's a title as suggested by my sister and cousins who accompanied me yesterday for a ride on the "Namma Metro" - The first ever metro train in Bangalore city.The most hyped attraction of the city which has missed several deadlines and finally made its grand opening this October is the first step in bringing some peace to Bangalore traffic I'd say. With the reach of Metro, not really that attractive as of now, I guarantee that upon its completion in the years to come we can see some organized structure in the movement of traffic in this city.

The plan was in place. Sis, I and two other cousins had the idea of enjoying this ride when it opens to public. What better day could it be than the Karnataka/Kannada Rajyotsava to make this event dream come true! Yes, we headed out on the road early yesterday morning (Pretty early). Reached MG road at around 8:30am. Walked past the Deccan Herald (office of a daily newspaper) and there we walk the first time ever into the station of Namma metro. The hoardings put up for the opening ceremony was still lying there and we made the best use of it by posing for some photographs :)

The mere 15Rupees ticket per person for a ride from MG road to Bayappanahalli (The route covered in the first phase of construction) was the selected itenary. Each person gets an electronic token that’s to be used for the onward journey only. (Helpful for new commuters: Place the coin on spot provided at the terminal entrance gate for it open. Carry the coin with you all through the journey so as to drop it to exit at the destination terminal gate). The excited us entered the platform and as we ascend the escalator we see a train pass. No rush no hurry - the mantra we adopt. This helped us get a glimpse of the train move away from us. Fellow passengers - some doing the same as we were upto (first timers), some real passengers who commute everyday to work, some kids celebrating the Kannada rajyotsava - started pouring in. Though not huge in number, almost all the seats filled up as we boarded the train. Photography is prohibited and since we had some camera phones, I have a two pictures on the board to share with you all.

That's me!


Beautiful green view outside.



You'd not believe it - a routine 45 minute driving or a bus ride on the road, took just 14 minutes on this metro. I am lucky to get a glimpse of a beautiful top view of part of Bangalore.

Some highlights of the ride:

-As you approach each station there are announcements made in 3 languages to let people commuting know about the whereabouts.

-The CCTV's are installed inside.

-There is a provision for mobile recharging as well :)

-Heritage glimpse of Karnataka played on the TV that is placed on the side walls of the train.

-The route the Metro operates on is put up on the sides of the train (On the top of the door is where you'll locate this)

By the time I noticed and grasped these details we were at Bayappanahalli. As we walked out to buy the return journey tickets I noticed that there are lifts operating between floors to carry the physically challenged people. After buying the tokens, we headed back to the platform and boarded the train - next 14 minutes passed by, before I realized it and we landed at MG road.
Half an hour - to and fro - ride the metro - MG road to Bayappanahalli. That’s the reason behind title.


As we walked out of the station we noticed a few kids dressed in yellow and red (karnataka flag colors), skating down the road marking the day special - Kannada Rajyotsava.

The perfect morning completed with a normal shopping routine at Commercial Street after munching on the authentic breakfast at ICH (Indian Coffee House), Church Street.
Its one of my best hop stops in Bangalore for a quick snack.

It was a splendid Kannada Rajyotsava for me.I loved the experience on the whole.

18 comments:

Sujatha Sathya said...

yet to go on metro :(

but this post was quite a joy ride :)

Bikram said...

I will surly expereince it :) and your picture show you are happy riding it he he he

Bikram's

Sahana Rao said...

Mera number kab aayega!! Probably no TV channel gave such a good insight into the journey.. :)

chitra said...

I have travelled by Calcutta metro, I think that was was the first that came up in the country. your post Reminded me of that ride.

Rachna said...

Wow, I recently travelled on the Delhi metro, and it was an amazing experience! Very similar to yours. I would love to do this trip on Bangalore Metro too but don't have the enthu to lug all the way to MG Road for that.

KParthasarathi said...

This should be a blessing when the entire city is connected by metro.I remember the days in early 1970s when I used to visit our stockyard at Baiyappanahalli.What a sea change.

prathima gangadhar said...

picture does the talking and i'm yet to enjoy something like this :)

KP said...

That sounds like one hell of an experience.. I haven't tried Metro yet..!

Jack said...

Ashwini,

Read all pending posts. Hope you are fit now and no more need to say GO AWAY. Tempting photographs in ONAM post. I knew that you write engrossing short stories and now glass paintings too. WOW. How I wish to have one of these beautiful creations! In Delhi, a lot of us prefer Metro to driving as it is not only faster but so comfortable and tensionfree too. May you always be so cheerful and happy.

Take care

ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ/ Ashwini said...

@Sujatha: Hmmm do let me know how it feels when you get a chance to hop into one.

@Bikram: he he he of course happy riding it. Also was not able control my giggles posing for a snap.

@Sahana: You need to wait till you come down to Bangalore now. Thank you thank you for such a huge compliment.

@Chitra: Yes Kolkata was the first to get Metro.

@Rachna: hmmmm.. Once you need to give it a try !! I've heard delhi metro is as good as this one. SO I'd like to hear it from you if its really true.

@KParthasarathi: Exactly !! complete makeover to the garden city. Just waiting for the project to complete.

@Prathi: Enjoy!

@Krishnapriya: Thanks and yes its fun.

@Jack: I love the way you come back once in a while, read all the pending posts and comment on each of them. Yes I am fit and fine now. This year Onam at office was really great filled with total fun. Glad you liked the glass paintings. I have a few more in the making. It will be unveiled soon. SO next time you visit I'll have it up here. Take care.

Ankit Sharma said...

now this was quite an enthusiastic post. though i am from bangalore and would love to take the metro, i lived the moment through your blog. it was just a mere personification of the experience through the writings. wishing to be back to india and take that joyful ride too....

P.S: amazing writing...

ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ/ Ashwini said...

@Ankit Sharma: Welcome to my space and yeah its a joyful ride to experience. Head back soon to India and namma bengalooru.:)

Sujatha Sathya said...

finally went on Metro. yesterday. loved it :) and kept thinking about this post

felt so proud but bit sad too. its just one stretch of a measly 6 stops. still a long long way to go for the entire thing to come up

Cяystal said...

I love Metros. The wiiiiiishhhhhh speed which they go by (sorry, lame way to describe it) is SO much fun. :D
I loved the jubilation this post spelled out. I felt rather happy after reading it :)

ಅಶ್ವಿನಿ/ Ashwini said...

@Sujatha Sathya: Howdu.. definitely it would take some good amount of time to have full fledged metro running through the corners of the city, but as said before atleast we have made it possible to climb the first step.

Thanks for remembering the post :(

@Cяystal : Welcome to my space and thank you very much for liking the read. I liked the way you describe the feeling of riding the metro.. It was the exact feeling I went through..

Anonymous said...

I can not wait :) to hop on...

Sriram Raj said...

In Delhi it is quite common in Metro. But your article was interesting for any one who has not travelled in metro :)

The One said...

OOO enamma e lvl ge fans aagidare ninna blog ge... tumba divsa aagitu visit koTu. full chamka chamka aagide page design.

Journey of Love: Chapter 7: Discovering Deeper Connections

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, Arjun and Latha found themselves drawn together by an undeniable force – love. They...