71 steps a day: Passengers slam BMRCL over missing escalators at Vidhana Soudha Metro Station

Commuters give BMRCL one-week deadline to fix long-pending accessibility issues, warn of protest if no action is taken

Bengaluru Metro commuters have expressed deep dissatisfaction over the lack of basic facilities at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Vidhana Soudha) Metro Station, accusing the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) of neglecting passenger convenience for nearly a decade.

The station currently has an upward escalator, but no downward escalator or lift, forcing commuters to climb down 71 steps every day. Passengers say this causes severe difficulty, especially for senior citizens, women, children, and people with health issues.

Commuters have pointed out that space for installing a downward escalator was reserved during construction, but the facility has still not been made operational. Despite repeated requests over the years, no concrete steps have been taken to resolve the issue.

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Adding to the anger is the recent metro fare hike, which passengers say is unjustified when basic infrastructure problems remain unaddressed. They argue that while ticket prices are being increased regularly, passenger comfort and safety are being ignored.

Narasimha Murthy, a regular commuter, has formally submitted a representation to BMRCL, urging immediate action. He warned that if the issue is not resolved within a week, commuters will launch a protest in front of the metro station.

Passengers stressed that climbing 71 steps daily is exhausting and unsafe, particularly during peak hours. They demanded the urgent installation of a downward escalator and lift to ensure safe and comfortable access for all.

Commuters have now given BMRCL a one-week deadline to provide a solution, failing which they have threatened to stage demonstrations outside the station.