BENGALURU: With the government scrapping night curfew, Namma Metro passengers want BMRCL to extend operational hours.
Until Friday, night curfew was in place from 10pm to 5am, and currently Namma Metro operates trains from 6am to 10pm. Many passengers have urged BMRCL to run trains from 5am till midnight – just like pre-Covid times.
“Now that curfew has been withdrawn, it does not make any sense to stop services at 10pm,” Aneesh Kumar, a techie, said. “At the moment, we are forced to depend on cabs and autorickshaws which charge high fares.”
BMRCL has also not operated any additional services even during the festival rush. Chennai Metro Rail, for instance, operated trains from 5.30am to midnight on Tuesday and Wednesday (November 2 and 3) to facilitate people leaving the city for their hometowns to celebrate Deepavali.
When contacted, a BMRCL official said they will soon take a decision on extending timings.
No buses either
Several daily commuters complained that there are insufficient BMTC services after 8pm. Ashwin J Kumar, a passenger said: “I take the BC7B series (8th Mile - Byadarahalli) buses but services dry up after 8pm. Many passengers in areas like Andrahalli are struggling. BMTC should resume BC7B and MF25 Metro feeder services. Even those having bus passes are forced to pay double charge by auto to travel to Andrahalli.” BMTC officials said they will look into the issue.
