Exploring yet another option to solve Namma Metro’s last-mile connectivity issue Premium

Ubiquitous on Bengaluru’s streets, the autorickshaw should have been the most effective last-mile connectivity option. It is a no-brainer, at least on paper. Yet, the lack of an effective price regulatory system has made a mockery of the auto meter, further pushing the city’s unsustainable, explosive growth of private vehicles. Can Metro Mitra and other options in the pipeline reverse this decline?

Ubiquitous on Bengaluru’s streets, the autorickshaw should have been the most effective last-mile connectivity option. It is a no-brainer, at least on paper. Yet, the lack of an effective price regulatory system has made a mockery of the auto meter, further pushing the city’s unsustainable, explosive growth of private vehicles. Can Metro Mitra and other options in the pipeline reverse this decline?

Developed for a mobility partnership with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and expected to be operationalised soon, Metro Mitra app promises to be a game-changer. But can it change the public distrust of many such initiatives in the past that eventually failed to deliver? Exasperated by the inaccessibility and frequent cancellations by autos attached to aggregator platforms, commuters are desperate for a system that actually works.

Pre-paid auto rickshaw stands at many Metro Stations are in disarray. Despite the inflated rate cards, vehicles are often unavailable and the counters are poorly staffed or closed. Alighting the Metro, commuters end up paying hefty fares after a hard bargain. During peak hours, the waiting time for an Uber or Ola can get frustratingly long.

Metro Mitra is different since it is exclusively for Metro users, and the routes are designed to originate from the Stations. The plan is to extend it to all existing stations across the city. To beckon the long-harassed commuters, the app will strictly follow the government’s meter fare model with an additional flat fare charge of ₹10. This will cover the pick-up and technology-related expenses.

Inter-modal connectivity has been a big challenge at many of the Metro Phase I stations. Designated BMTC bus bays are a rarity. The new app is expected to address this issue with designated ‘Metro Mitra Zones,’ created for auto drivers in close proximity to the Metro stations. 

So, here’s how it works: Commuters book the auto ride while buying a Metro ticket from the BMRCL app or through its WhatsApp chatbot feature. Once he / she enters the destination in the app, an estimated fare shows up. Post booking, the commuter receives a one-time password (OTP) with other ride details. The Metro Mitra zone is then assigned to the commuter. The system follows the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) model.

At the heart of the public discontent with the existing ecosystem is driver behavior. But, as Sampath C., General Secretary of the Adarsh Auto Drivers’ Union points out, the fault lies also with the driving schools and Regional Transport Offices (RTOs). “After getting his learner’s licence, the driver has 30 days to obtain his Driving Licence (DL). During this period, he should be clearly told that the licence is given for public service and he should go to whichever corner of the city he is hired for,” he says.