Bangalore’s Subway Debate: A Call for Comprehensive Infrastructure Solutions

I read with great concern the recent news regarding the opposition to the proposed subway in Bangalore. This project, which aims to alleviate the city's notorious traffic congestion, has faced a barrage of criticism. Detractors cite a recent "study" from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) claiming that a subway would be detrimental to Bangalore's future. 

But let's take a moment to reflect: in which major city around the world has a subway traversing the central business district ever proven harmful?

Critics also argue that the city's water basin will suffer if a subway is built, disrupting the flow of subterranean water. Another faction insists that constructing a metro over the same sector, at a similar cost, would improve traffic by up to 40 times. Furthermore, a chorus of voices, suddenly attuned to geological considerations, asserts that building a road could destabilize buildings, while a metro would not. This outcry seems to overlook the fact that cities globally have faced and overcome similar challenges. 

For long, we Indians have behaved like a basket of crabs that has no lid. Alas, that continues.

Let’s Consider the Facts:

1. Not the First, Nor the Last: Bangalore is not the first city in the world to consider a subway cutting through its core. Cities like New York, London, Singapore and Tokyo have built extensive subways under bustling business districts without catastrophic consequences. Even Mumbai has successfully implemented infrastructure through complex geological terrains, including underwater tunnels and even Earthquake-prone zones. 

2. Examples of Dual Infrastructure Success: Numerous world cities have built both subways and metro systems to alleviate traffic congestion and improve urban mobility. 

o New York City, USA: New York boasts an extensive underground metro system and also has several vehicular tunnels like the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels. These infrastructures coexist, effectively managing the city's dense traffic and facilitating smoother commutes.

o London, UK: London has an iconic underground metro, the "Tube," and also features road tunnels like the Blackwall Tunnel and the Limehouse Link. These combined infrastructures help to ease traffic congestion and provide multiple transit options for commuters.

o Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo’s extensive metro system, including the Toei and Tokyo Metro lines, is complemented by road tunnels such as the Yamate Tunnel. This combination helps to manage the city’s traffic efficiently, offering both road and rail solutions for the bustling metropolis.

o Paris, France: Paris features a well-developed metro network and several road tunnels, including the Tunnel de l'Échangeur de Bagnolet. This dual infrastructure supports the city’s heavy traffic flow, offering comprehensive transportation options for residents and visitors.

3. Premature Conclusions: The opposition is based on an idea, not on a completed feasibility study. It is premature to declare the subway harmful without thorough investigation and planning. Judgments should be reserved until concrete evidence is available.

4. Practical Realities: Even if we opt for a metro over a subway, it’s unrealistic to expect that commuters will abandon their cars and two-wheelers in favor of public transit overnight. Without a comprehensive strategy, including significant road improvements, traffic congestion will persist.

5. Think Big, Think Bold: The most pressing question remains: why is there a debate about choosing between a subway and a metro? Why not build both? A modern city with a population of over 10 million should not have to choose. We need robust infrastructure that includes both extensive metro networks and multi-lane subways.

A Broader Perspective on Development:

For far too long, we Indians have been trapped in a counterproductive rhetoric that pits one development need against another. This mindset reflects a deeply ingrained, and quite frankly, an outdated socialist perspective that hampers progress. In a country not known for its optimal use of resources, it’s disheartening to see such debates overshadowing comprehensive growth.

When India successfully launches a satellite, critics lament that the funds could have been used to build hundreds of schools in rural areas. Similarly, when India introduces the Vande Bharat trains, which symbolize a leap forward in intercity transportation, detractors grumble about unresolved issues like inadequate toilets and safety on existing trains. Such criticism reflects a peculiar self-defeating attitude that focuses on faults rather than celebrating advancements. This kind of thinking is not only perverse but also detrimental to national progress.

Bangalore’s infrastructure development has lagged behind for decades. It is crucial that the government undertakes a feasibility study to explore the construction of a comprehensive system that includes a ten-lane subway and a parallel metro line. In today's era, financing such projects is feasible. The real obstacle seems to be a lack of ambition and foresight.

It’s time for Bangalore to catch up with other progressive cities like Mumbai and Delhi, where bold infrastructure projects are already transforming urban landscapes. Our city deserves a modern, efficient, and comprehensive transportation network.

Let’s not settle for one or the other. Bangalore needs both a subway and a metro to truly address its traffic woes and to prepare for future growth.