Bengaluru, 17 Sept  

The absence of lactation facilities at Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has sparked public outrage after a mother was forced to breastfeed her child behind a cardboard partition at Trinity Metro Station on the Purple Line.

The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when a couple struggled to find a private space for breastfeeding. The mother ultimately had to sit behind a cardboard partition near the ticket counter to feed her child.

A video of the incident went viral on social media, leading to widespread criticism of BMRCL. Speaking to Salar News, Ananya Rao, a 29-year-old mother of a 5-month-old baby residing near Indira Nagar, Bengaluru, expressed her frustration. “It is frustrating that we have such well-maintained stations but no space to breastfeed. As a new mother, I avoid taking the metro because I don’t know where I’ll be able to feed my baby if she starts crying. We deserve better.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Deepa K. Ramesh, a design architect and 34-year-old mother of two children, Sakshi,2, and Sanjay, 5, said, “Every metro station has spacious toilets, ATMs, vending machines, and food kiosks, yet there is no place where a mother can privately and comfortably feed her child. It’s ironic that we boast about development while neglecting such basic human needs.”

Speaking to Salar News, a BMRCL official, who wished to remain anonymous, acknowledged the issue: “The incident at Trinity Station has brought to our attention the urgent need for suitable breastfeeding and childcare rooms. While we have a care centre at Majestic, we recognize that this is not enough. We are currently reviewing our infrastructure and will soon introduce childcare rooms at several key stations.” The official further noted that the care centres will be designed based on feedback from mothers through a planned survey. -Salar News