Citizens resist Namma Metro renaming in honour of Basaveshwara, advocate infrastructure focus

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The suggestion to rename Bengaluru's Namma Metro rail network in honour of the 12th-century social reformer Basaveshwara has sparked a strong response from the city's residents.

Many have voiced their opposition to the renaming proposal, instead urging the government to prioritise accelerating infrastructure projects. For the people of Bengaluru, the term 'Namma Metro' holds not just a name but deep sentimental value.

They have implored politicians to refrain from engaging in political debates over naming choices. The idea gained attention when the Minister of Large and Medium Industries, MB Patil, mentioned the possibility of naming the entire metro rail network after Basaveshwara, similar to the naming of Bengaluru International Airport after Kempegowda.

However, this proposal has not found favour with many, as the name 'Namma Metro' has become an integral part of the city's identity over the past decade.

Residents believe that instead of changing names, the state government should prioritise the timely completion of under-construction metro lines to benefit the public.

In addition to retaining the name, citizens have called on the government to address pressing concerns such as increasing the number of metro coaches to alleviate congestion during peak hours, expediting the opening of new metro lines, and fast-tracking metro projects.

They emphasise the need to enhance the lives of Bengaluru's residents rather than engaging in renaming exercises. As Namma Metro enters its 13th year of operation, Bengaluru boasts an operational metro network spanning 74 kilometres.

The renaming proposal is met with scepticism, with citizens urging the government to concentrate on critical issues like maintaining road quality and prioritising the Bengaluru suburban rail project under Minister Patil's purview, as he oversees K-RIDE, the agency responsible for implementing the 148-kilometre suburban network.

Historically, some metro stations have been named after notable figures, including Balagangadharanatha Swamiji station (Hosahalli), Nadaprabhu Kempegowda station (Majestic), Sir M Visvesvaraya station (Central College), and Dr. BR Ambedkar station (Vidhana Soudha).

The names of some stations are chosen based on their locations, such as Mahakavi Kuvempu Road, Swamy Vivekananda Road, and Mahatma Gandhi Road.

Furthermore, under the innovative finance scheme, companies investing in the construction of metro stations have been allowed to include their names as prefixes. For instance, Infosys Foundation constructed a station near its campus in Electronics City, naming it Infosys Foundation Konappana Agrahara station.

The BMRCL indicated that, typically, they receive requests to name metro stations after significant personalities. Globally, metro stations are named based on their nearby locations for easy identification.

Regarding the proposed change of Namma Metro's name, the BMRCL has not received any official communication, emphasising that any modifications would require the central government's consent.