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See the last section of my document, where I say this:

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The final verdict on the Delhi Metro today is : “It's beautiful, very clean, just like the metros abroad”. Nobody says ”It has reduced the traffic, reduced pollution, reduced commute time and cost for the WHOLE of Delhi.” Delhi's traffic congestion remains, its pollution levels are increasing, the government is trying out alternatives like the BRT (Bus Rapid Transport) system.

Trains can be the most efficient way of carrying people around, in terms of space usage, pollution and cost. However, there are trains and trains, and the big questions are:

Can we afford a Metro ?

1. Is it too late to think of a train system now – should we have done this 100 years ago, like London or Paris ?
2. Is the over-ground system going to destroy the city, should it be underground instead ?
3. Why do richer countries than India think the Metro is unaffordable and opt for bus systems instead?
4. There are close to 100 cities worldwide that have implemented or are implementing bus based systems.
5. Why aren't we thinking holistically of a transport system that is a mix of vehicles instead of just the Metro, with the rest as an afterthought ? Metro as 'A system' meshing with the rest, rather than 'THE system' ?

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In an already existing city, transportation must be designed by the existing population patterns.
If you're building a brand new city, you can design the transportation and the population pattern will evolve around it.
Bangalore is an existing city.

Definitions of 'Activism' and 'Activist'
Activism : Intentional action to bring about social or political change.
Activist : An Active, vigorous advocate of a cause.
These are actually terms of high praise, let's not use them as insults.

You're wrong about the Indian habit. The problem is that we are too conformist, have too much respect for authority, are scared to question, and scared to think differently.

According to your argument, questioning is taboo. If someone is doing something, everyone should just go along with it, even if they think it is wrong. Which implies that they should not think. That's the definition of a Dictatorship, and India is definitley not one.

There are techincal arguments for the bus, and there are arguments for the Metro. The point is that I have presented a studied analysis of the pros and cons. My document is not a bunch of rants about personalities or questioning people's motives. I would appreciate an equally thorough techno-commercial analysis refuting my arguments, point  by point.

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Why do your Town planners not plan for future. Since Bangalore - electronic city Elevated Highway is being Built why not the planner planned for Metro Line in the middle. it would have saved lot of Tax payer’s Money as well time, by end of this year Metro line would have been ready.

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In the last page, the author Mr Das claims that Metro will be more environmentally and "visually" damaging compared to BRT.

What a ridiculous statement! Metro does not emit an single gram of carbondioxide while it is unreasonable to expect our BMTC to change to hybrid buses!

The only plausible criticism the author levels is the problem of last mile connectivity. This is where BMTC, BMRC will both have to play a role in tandem.

Overall, just a frustrated shopkeeper's rant against the metro! Best left discarded. 

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As I said earlier THE INFRASTRUCTURE ADVOCATES  
will keep themselves seeing the flyovers, double-decker roads and most cars in gridlock on all the roads

We can already see how they have quietened down.

Yaardu infrastrcuture

Nammadu illa 

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Did not expect this from Mr Das. You certainly make some valid points, but this way of putting forward arguments may not get us much 'cooperation'. Did you forget to paste the rest of your post? What is the suggestion, and the next steps? More dharnas, and placard holding?

First of all:

"Many (most?) of us will suffer the construction, but will not be alive to see its final fruit."

That logic is no good, it applies to us consuming less water and fossil fuels etc as well.

• The summary (main post) paints a picture of destruction and devastation all around the city, and yet you say it will touch only a small percentage of city's population. Both can certainly not be true.
• There will be jams everywhere during construction time, yes. But for that, we got to make sure BMRCL floats tender like this one (diversion plan around Vidha Soudha) before embarking on major construction.
• If only a small part of the city is going to use the Metro, suggest how to increase the usage.
• If its going to take 50 years, suggest how to increase the pace.
• Or, if you are suggesting Metro should stop all construction right now, suggest how much wastage that cancellation would entail, and how will we recoup that cost.

At the end of it, it will turn out to be a mixture of multiple modes. Transportation is being designed by the population patterns today, but soon, transportation will shape the population patterns of the city. You and I will move to live near 335E, 319C, and 356J, or near Yeswantpur Metro, or near Kanakapura Mono, or near Sarjapur Road Railway station :)

Yes, the Metro is not perfect, but the lessons from Metro are

• We, the citizens should stay awake, and get into analyzing these projects early. Not way late in the game when authorities can' neither roll back, nor continue (First Airport, now Metro)
• If Metro routes were picked based on a traffic study, same should be used to design other Bus/Mono/LRT etc corridors. Otherwise, when all will be said and done, things will not fit.

Why this vs that, why Mr Das? Its time to be constructive. Shyam doesn't have to die for Ram to live.

One can shred any logic or project to pieces because examples of all types are abundant. London buses don't make money, not even today. Perhaps Bogota does.

By attacking from every corner possible (people, netas, media), we just don't let anyone work here. First set of arguments from most activists' are almost always negative toned. No wonder most activists are avoided by many local civic bodies.

The days of starting every conversation of involvement with governance with a "No" (that's an Indian habit perhaps) has not taken us anywhere. It neither gets the masses involved in activism, nor gets the authorities excited. Days of "my idea is the best" are history. Its time for our ideas, careful evaluation early in the game, and patience.

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