Namma Metro
Yes, the namma metro [our metro] is finally here! The thing that attracted me the most is obviously the name. Namma Metro. Our Metro. Not just metro but our metro. Not your[public's] metro, but ours!
The project has been in pipeline for 2 decades if you calculate the time from the conceptualization of the idea. The best part is, since I have personally experienced the traffic of Bangaluru, the best result I can imagine from this project is that the traffic will be unclogged. Since the service will take care of saving time, fuel and uncongesting roads, this sells by itself. But why was a branding done?
For one, it brands Bangalore long term. And then, if you need an international standard [I do not know if it really meets the international standard - am yet to use it], you better brand it internationally.
The internet savvy youngsters, who would surely 'google' the same, will find a well maintained official site with details about people [well, very good profiles that too], who work for Metro. This by the way increases credibility and somehow makes me feel like, yeah the project is not all hype and really upto something...
Everywhere you travel in Bangalore through road, you see Namma Metro following you. Either the overhead rails or the construction work sites or the road blocks. So, it was a constant reminder that there is something big happening. People would look up and admire the overhead rails while traveling in buses. I was in Bangaluru when it was inaugurated. Well, after missing the deadline some 4 times, it finally was a huge hit.
The smart cards is an awesome idea. They do not need any human contact from the metro, are used for payments and checking in by travelers. You can book it online and it feels good for a youth like me to know that such a technology will be used in my country. But I am not sure if the smart cards [like any facility] would be misused. I, for sure, do not know how the number of entrants would be checked while entering with a swipe. Hope they have it all in place.
Another thing I noticed was that the partners are well recognized by the project and given in most of their own advertisements. This kinda makes their partners obliged to acknowledge the metro project too and as something huge! In fact, the employees of these partner organizations are spreading the word [obviously on account of the association] through facebook. A good word of mouth is happening because of this. I do not know if it is intentional or unintentional that they have specifically thanked each partner and thus increased the base of a good word of mouth.
Now, branding or no branding, advertising [which would be close to nil because it will soon become a necessity] or none, I hope they maintain the metro properly unlike other public projects. This thought is from a citizen and not from a marketing student.
Let it drive Bangalore ahead. :)
Namma Metro, 'Driving Bangalore Ahead!'
The project has been in pipeline for 2 decades if you calculate the time from the conceptualization of the idea. The best part is, since I have personally experienced the traffic of Bangaluru, the best result I can imagine from this project is that the traffic will be unclogged. Since the service will take care of saving time, fuel and uncongesting roads, this sells by itself. But why was a branding done?
For one, it brands Bangalore long term. And then, if you need an international standard [I do not know if it really meets the international standard - am yet to use it], you better brand it internationally.
The internet savvy youngsters, who would surely 'google' the same, will find a well maintained official site with details about people [well, very good profiles that too], who work for Metro. This by the way increases credibility and somehow makes me feel like, yeah the project is not all hype and really upto something...
Everywhere you travel in Bangalore through road, you see Namma Metro following you. Either the overhead rails or the construction work sites or the road blocks. So, it was a constant reminder that there is something big happening. People would look up and admire the overhead rails while traveling in buses. I was in Bangaluru when it was inaugurated. Well, after missing the deadline some 4 times, it finally was a huge hit.
The smart cards is an awesome idea. They do not need any human contact from the metro, are used for payments and checking in by travelers. You can book it online and it feels good for a youth like me to know that such a technology will be used in my country. But I am not sure if the smart cards [like any facility] would be misused. I, for sure, do not know how the number of entrants would be checked while entering with a swipe. Hope they have it all in place.
Another thing I noticed was that the partners are well recognized by the project and given in most of their own advertisements. This kinda makes their partners obliged to acknowledge the metro project too and as something huge! In fact, the employees of these partner organizations are spreading the word [obviously on account of the association] through facebook. A good word of mouth is happening because of this. I do not know if it is intentional or unintentional that they have specifically thanked each partner and thus increased the base of a good word of mouth.
Now, branding or no branding, advertising [which would be close to nil because it will soon become a necessity] or none, I hope they maintain the metro properly unlike other public projects. This thought is from a citizen and not from a marketing student.
Let it drive Bangalore ahead. :)
Namma Metro, 'Driving Bangalore Ahead!'
Comments
lots to do after i do :)