BANGALORE: The 13 minutes and 16 seconds long ride from MG Road to Byappanahalli is there to enjoy on Namma Metro but without the official stamp on safety. Giving media persons a sneak-peek into the ride which has not been inaugurated yet, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) explained the facilities available on Reach 1.Stopping at five stations, the ride helps you travel above one of the most congested parts of the city with a token ticket that costs just `15.The complete ticketing information has been put up in all stations along with a customer care executive to answer queries.Like the Delhi Metro, one needs to place the token or smartcard in the card reading area at the entry gate.Once inside, an escalator or the stairs takes you to the concourse area.The concourse on the first floor connects you to the platforms above or the plaza.The MG Road plaza, which will also have ticketing counters, is not ready yet and officials say that the construction will be over only by December.There are clear signs guiding you to the platform that helps you take the up route (MG Road to Byappanahalli) or the platform for the down route (Byappanahalli to MG Road).Namma Metro will eventually have 6-car trains but to begin with, 3-car trains will ply carrying about 1,000 people.The really short metro ride has made provisions for safety that include two emergency button boxes that will switch off the power at the station when pressed or send an immediate signal to the station master.In case of an emergency between two stations, there is a provision of a ‘walk way’ that helps people get off the train and walk to the next station.Each station is equipped with a medical kit that includes a stretcher and a wheelchair.A tactile route has been put in place to guide persons with disability.There is also a facility of an elevator.With CCTV cameras monitoring the entire station constantly, the officials believe that there is little room for mischief on the journey.There are two screens acting as a rear-view mirror for the drivers in order to check the platform before closing and opening the doors of the train.Commuters are also guided by screens displaying information relayed through real time GPS and continuous announcements during the journey.On the way back, the black coloured tokens with a builtin- chip for recognition have to be deposited at the exit gate.This also acts as ticket checker.
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