Nagasandra Metro work in progress; facilities for passengers are missing at the new stations.

Ashwini G, who lives in Nagasandra on the national highway four, often visits Mantri Mall in Malleswaram -which is the nearest mall - on weekends. Her four-year-old son Abhinav's favourite part of the journey is metro ride, which has now become three stops longer and saves time which would otherwise be spent stuck in traffic from Nagasandra to Peenya and back.

The addition of four stations beyond Peenya has brought metro services literally to her doorstep. She can now reach the mall in about half an hour. Although the metro service to Peenya began on May Day, its full effect will be visible from Monday onwards. The service is expected to relieve thousands of industry workers of the hassles of their daily commute by road. The metro authorities could do better, though. For instance, the Yeshwantpur Congress MLA Munirathna is not comfortable with Goragunte Palya station named as Peenya Industry. 'Goragunte Palya is an old village and we have to retain that. I have requested the CM to have it changed. He has instructed the BMRCL MD.' At Jalahalli station, the MLA has suggested an underpass to help Metro users and others because two persons died last year while trying to cross the road. 'The service roads under metro elevated tracks are very bad.

The BMRCL is not taking care of the road after completing its work,' he said. The new stations come with handicaps of their own. There is a lack of drinking water facilities and chairs for passengers while they wait — especially for pregnant women and older commuters. Many are still hopeful that those should come up in no time, like the other metro stations.

ET