Metro can carry 80,000 a day

Metro chief N Sivasailam on Friday said the Metro is ready to ferry as many as 80,000 people a day.

He told reporters at Vidhana Soudha: "We expect 30,000 to 35,000 people every day on the Metro. But police tell us they estimate that 60,000 people will take a ride every day. While there are different estimates, the Metro is ready to take in around 80,000 people."

He was speaking after the chief minister launched the Namma Metro Travel Card, toll-free helpline and website.

Sivasailam said the ridership will be very high for the first three to four months because of the novelty factor. "The train is new and people will want a ride. The novelty will last at least four months. In this time, we expect 35,000 people every day, but we are prepared for 80,000." He said the number could go down once the novelty factor wears off.

BREAKING EVEN

"We've assessed that even with 30,000 to 35,000 passengers per day, we would be breaking even on daily operations and maintenance. We have to see how the ridership turns out," Sivasailam said.

The minimum fare of Rs 10 and maximum fare of Rs 15 for Reach-1 had been fixed keeping in mind economics and cost factors. "The proposed Rs 7 as minimum fare was an estimate made in 2003. The cost conditions have changed since then and the present fare will ensure viability of the Metro."

"All reaches of the Metro will be ready by 2013-end, even the underground stretches. The next line -- Reach-3 on the northern line -- will be thrown open in December 2012. All civil works are nearing completion except in Peenya Industrial Estate where a basement building has to be handled differently and is taking time," Sivasailam said. "Underground work along 250 metres has been completed smoothly. It will be complete in 2013."

He said parking would be provided only at Byappanahalli and Old Madras Road stations, and not in the Central Business District as is the practice across the world.