The Bengaluru Metro Project, commonly known as Namma Metro amongst the city residents, has significantly contributed to improving the city’s air quality over the years.
As per a recent study by the Department of Environmental Sciences, the University of Bengaluru has revealed that air quality around six metro corridors within the city has drastically improved over the period of 2017 to 2021.
Operated by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL), the rapid transit system was started with a vision to reduce traffic jams in the year 2011. It was also the first underground metro system to be started in the southern part of India.
The study was conducted across the six metro routes, all of which are a part of phase-II of the metro network, including Mysuru Road Terminal to Kengeri, Krishnarajapuram Byapanahalli to Whitefield, Gottigere to Nagawara, Puttenahalli Cross to Anjanapura Township, R V Road to Bommasandra and Hesaraghatta Cross to BIEC.
Carbon emissions have also reduced in 4 year
Dr Nandini N, Professor and Principal Investigator with Bengaluru University’s Department of Environmental Science was quoted as saying that Metro train services have gradually reduced the carbon concentration around the areas in which they operate.
She said, “If we take last one decade report also according to the Central Pollution Control Board, in the last one decade the pollution levels have come down. The air quality index shows that the air quality in some of the regions of Karnataka including Bengaluru is moderate. It is very clear the objective of the introduction of metro (BMRCL) is to improve the lifestyle of people, especially socio-economic conditions and it is eco-friendly and clean energy.”
An official with the BMRL, Mr BL Yeshwanth Chavan, also affirmed the positive impact of the public transport system on the environment. He further added that the northern and eastern extension of the currently existing railway tracks would also be carried out in the near future.
“In addition, we are also looking at RV Road to Bommasandra to be opened within this year because the other line has got an underground section of 12 km that schedule is in 2024. Overall we have achieved 62 per cent of the progress,” he stated.
Serving approximately 3.5 lakh commuters every weekday on the two routes it operates viz. the purple line and the green line, the various stations of the metro system also help in keeping close to 12,000 private vehicles off of city streets by providing parking facilities for the passengers who owns a vehicle.
The improving air quality around the metro corridors has proved encouraging for the officials as well as the commuters.
While the unanimous consensus that the metro systems have improved air quality is still far-reached among the city dwellers, it sure has played its part in providing a cheap, efficient and environmentally friendly alternative mode of transport for city commuters.
