Socio-cultural Impact of advent of Metro on Street Scenario of Bengaluru

Abstract

Guttierrez remarks, the socio-cultural transformation is a great happening and a reality that is necessary and inevitable part of urban transformation. This happening only varies in degrees depending on the pace of change. Change is an unchangeable phenomenon of society. Webster Dictionary explains, “socio-cultural - relating to, or involving a combination of social and cultural factors”. Sociologists define sociology as a scientific study of human society and social behavior. Sociologists view of culture includes religion, art, philosophy, literature, music, dance, etc. which brings satisfaction and pleasure to many. It is the expression of final aspects of life. The current modern Indian culture is a cultural assimilation due to migration to cities and is a mix of evolved ancient cultures brought through village immigrants and profound influence of the west through multinational exposure, which has been well talked about by sociologists like MSA Rao and MN Srinivas. One of the means of infrastructure development or progress of a city is through transport systems. The means adopted to ease out the traffic congestion in a city is by making transportation people and environment friendly which is Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS). This study would encompass Socio-cultural aspects and urban transformation with respect to city dynamics, retail evolution and changing lifestyle in suburbs of Bengaluru with the advent of metro. The objective of this study is to study the Social transformation due to socio-psychological change of the space and socio-cultural life due to urban physical development. A reference study taken is of Delhi metro and its impact, which changed the suburb of Dwaraka. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods has been used to undertake this exploratory research. Observations and interviews have also been conducted apart from surveys done to understand user, shopkeepers and people in vicinity of metro stations.