Last loop of flyover to open today

Last loop of flyover to open today
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The last loop of Airport Road flyover constructed by the Bangalore Development Authority will be opened for public on Thursday. This loop connects Airport Road (Domlur) to Indiranagar.
With the opening of this fourth loop, the Rs 36 crore project is completed. The flyover has made this busy junction that connects Koramangala, MG Road, Indiaranagar and Airport a completely signal-free junction.
While the loop 2 connects Koramangala to Airport, loop 3 connects Domlur to MG Road and Koramangala, and loop 4 connects Indiranagar to MG Road and Domlur.

AUTO RAJ

AUTO RAJ
Over 70,000 autorickshaws in Bangalore but not one around when you need it. S Nandagopal and Bansy Kalappa do a reality check on auto drivers and their business


Double kodi... Meter mele hathhu rupai jaasti aguthe, one-way jaasti (Give me double... Pay Rs 10 more than the meter as there are too many one-ways). This is common demand of an auto driver and he refuses to take you to your destination. And the response from drivers when you stop an auto is appalling. While some don’t even acknowledge you, others slow and then give you shocked looks. Often, you feel they are doing a favour rather than being paid to ferry passengers. According to rules, carrying a commuter to the desired destination is a professional obligation of an auto driver. TOI checked drivers out on three major aspects: refusal to go to desired destinations, tampering of meters and attitude.
Of the 50-odd autos we tried to stop to go from MG Road and Majestic to Banaswadi, 40 refused. Refusal to nearby destinations, which fetches the driver only the minimal fare, is very high — as many as 23 of the 25 autos we stopped at MG Road refused to take us to Shivajinagar.
Some of the responses were: doora aithu saar (It is too far); gas illa saar (no gas); mane kade hogtha iddini (I am going home); bere auto nodi (find some other auto); double aguthe (it will cost double meter); tumba onewaygalu (too many one-ways); Vaapas baadige sigalla (I will not get a return passenger). The refusal rate is more during nights, rainy conditions and peak hours.
Commuters will tell you tales of drivers refusing to ferry them even as they were dripping wet in rain, pleading helplessly. The heavier the rain, the greater the bargaining power of the driver.
Late-night travellers will tell you that after 10 pm and before 5 am they’re at their worst. Drivers refuse to ferry commuters even when they’re offered triple or quadruple fares.
Another issue is tampered meters. From Chikkabanaswadi to MG Road, we paid anything from Rs 52, Rs 56, Rs 57, Rs 62 and even Rs 68 for the same route. We’re not sure which is the correct amount.
Meter tampering has become a nightmare. According to N Prakash, controller of department of legal metrology, tampering of mechanical meters can be checked only by mandating use of electronic meters.
Prakash has a three-pronged solution: change over to electronic meters, mass checking drive and updating of addresses of licence holders to easily locate them.
The traffic police is more involved in easing congestion and controlling traffic jams, leaving them hardly any time for helping commuters waiting for an auto.
“The police have become insensitive to issues like helping a commuter hire an auto. This has to change and will take time,” says a senior officer. He said commuters aren’t taking the issue seriously — the police receive very few complaints.
Computerised record of offenders, which is still in trial stage, will go a long way in curtailing refusals and excess charging, police say. The EasyAuto system in which you can hire an auto by sending an SMS to a particular number could be an effective solution.
‘Illa illa’
“MG Road barthira?’ (Will you come to MG Road) “Illa.’ (No). Another autorickshaw. “MG Road barthira?’’ “Illa.’’ Yet another auto. “MG Road barthira?” “Illa, riperi agide.’’ (no, auto under repair) This was our experience at Ulsoor Lake, when trying to hail an auto to MG Road on May 25 when the skies dumped over 36 mm of rain. We saw a police constable at the pre-paid stand on MG Road sending four passengers going to Banaswadi in one auto at about 9 pm. Passengers were instructed to pay Rs 100 each. The fare to Banaswadi is less than Rs 80. Desperate passengers had to accept this unfair arrangement.
We tried to flag down 16 autorickshaws on Kamaraj Road going towards Commercial Street on a Sunday when it was drizzling at about 8 pm. We wanted to go to Ulsoor Lake.
All refused.
PASSENGER WOES
Once I paid Rs 75 from Koramangala 80 ft Road to JP Nagar I Phase though the fare is Rs 35. The meter was turning over at a high speed and the driver dared me to lodge a complaint. Just the other evening, I wanted to go to MG Road from JP Nagar and waited for 45 minutes for an auto because most of them refused to come.
| Dr Reena Sunil Basavraj, paediatrician
I’m an 80-year-old dialysis patient and hunting for an auto to ferry me to Manipal Hospital from HAL II Stage has become a daily ordeal. On many occasions, my daughter and I had to walk back home. A common excuse is ‘the distance is small’. They refuse to put on the meter and demand a hefty sum for a distance of 2 km. Why can’t we have pre-paid counters near the hospitals?
| Krishna Rao
Once I waited for two-and-a-half hours on MG Road for an auto to go my house behind Christ College. I use crutches because my two legs are non-functional stumps and I have no family to look after me. It is such a pain because just outside my office are many regular autos who refuse to come to my area.
| Vedavathi G M R, bank officer WHAT THE AUTO UNION HAS TO SAY
Autorickshaw owners invest about Rs 2 lakh per vehicle. And in many cases they pay interests — ‘meter baddi,’ up to 30 per cent per annum. Therefore, auto drivers end up overcharging customers, said Bangalore Autorickshaw and Taxi Drivers Association R Somashekar.
He said not all drivers overcharge but about 40 per cent of the drivers do. As a corrective measure, drivers have to be trained and the government must computerise all the autorickshaw and owner details to bring in greater accountability.
METER TAMPERING
Mechanical teeth in the meter are fabricated and preset so that they move after a particular distance. Minimising the number of teeth will enable the meter to show increased fares. Though it’s not very easy to break the seal, experts can do this in no time. Tampering is done mainly in small garages which don’t easily catch the attention of the authorities. The only way to nab the culprits is to catch them red-handed which is not easy.

UB City's sanctioned, original plans 'differ'

UB City's sanctioned, original plans 'differ'
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Justice Hegde told Deccan Herald that the original plan had showed the road width as 15 metres, whereas in the modified plan - which was approved on February 24 - the road width was shown as only 13 metres.


Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde on Wednesday said the sanctioned building plan of UB City on Vittal Mallya Road showed the width of the road in front of the complex as different from what was in the original plan submitted by the builders.

After an inspection of documents produced by officials of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Wednesday, Justice Hegde told Deccan Herald that the original plan had showed the road width as 15 metres. However, in the modified plan — which was approved on February 24 — the road width was shown as only 13 metres, he said.

Modified plan
The Lokayukta said he was examining the manner in which the modified plan was sanctioned by authorities.
He said a slope alteration to the previous storm-water drain has also been detected.
Justice Hegde said the allegations of building by-law violations will be also be investigated by Lokayukta.UB City's sanctioned, original plans 'differ'
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Justice Hegde told Deccan Herald that the original plan had showed the road width as 15 metres, whereas in the modified plan - which was approved on February 24 - the road width was shown as only 13 metres.


Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde on Wednesday said the sanctioned building plan of UB City on Vittal Mallya Road showed the width of the road in front of the complex as different from what was in the original plan submitted by the builders.

After an inspection of documents produced by officials of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Wednesday, Justice Hegde told Deccan Herald that the original plan had showed the road width as 15 metres. However, in the modified plan — which was approved on February 24 — the road width was shown as only 13 metres, he said.

Modified plan
The Lokayukta said he was examining the manner in which the modified plan was sanctioned by authorities.
He said a slope alteration to the previous storm-water drain has also been detected.
Justice Hegde said the allegations of building by-law violations will be also be investigated by Lokayukta.

Hiring auto, without tears!

Hiring auto, without tears!
DH News Service, Bangalore:
From June 1 passengers can book autos by calling or SMSing to an IVRS number.


Come Friday, Bangaloreans will have some respite from ‘hunting’ for autorickshaws, thanks to Easy Auto (EA), a scheme endorsed by the City police and RTOs. With this pilot project (for six months, starting June 1) in place, passengers can book autos by calling or SMSing to an IVRS number.

Passengers will be categorised as registered (entitled to door-to-door service) and casual (who’ll have to hire autos from EA stands). The City will have about 1,500 such stands, 1,050 of them close to BMTC bus stops.

People can register with EA paying Rs 75 at Spice outlets. Registration kits will contain a registration card and codes for different locations, a copy of which will be carried by autos enrolled with EA. Each card will have a serial number and a 16-digit PIN, to be used while booking autos. Enrolled auto drivers, to whom Spice Telecom is giving free SIM cards, will be informed through mobile phones (at a monthly rental of Rs 150). The passengers will be charged Rs 3 over the meter fare.

The IVRS number is 98441 12233. EAs can also be booked through www.easyauto.in. A call centre, to co-ordinate with passengers, will be manned by agents fluent in Kannada, English and Hindi. It will give out only the location from where they wish to take the auto. Already, 500 auto drivers have reportedly enrolled. Internet World Wide will offer uniforms and personal/family health insurance up to Rs 1 lakh to enrolling drivers.

Pinning hope on flyover to ease traffic

Pinning hope on flyover to ease traffic
Thursday May 31 2007 08:33 IST

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Flyover construction work in progress at Yeshwantpur Circle in Bangalore.

BANGALORE: One of the most congested spots in the city - Yeshwantpur Junction, will be free of traffic snarls by this December. The flyover being constructed is billed to ease the traffic to a large extent.

Accumulation of traffic at this junction normally claims about 15 minutes of travel time. Two roads from Malleswaram side and two from Yeshwantpur join the Tumkur Road Highway, and another stream of traffic from West of Chord Road adds to choke the traffic at busy times.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) chief engineer (projects) A K Gopalaswamy said: ‘‘The peak traffic at Yeshwantpur Junction in the mornings is some 8,720 passenger car units (PCU) per hour and it is 9,293 PCU per hour in the evenings which is many times more than the capacity.’’ He allayed the fears that the work may get delayed due to monsoon. ‘‘The foundation system is almost in place, if anything, the rains would have affected the foundation work. The pile foundation is mostly in place with 50 of 90 piles driven, and it is just a matter of time before we cast the pile caps and subsequently the super structure,’’ Gopalaswamy said.

The length of flyover is 419.9-metre and is estimated to cost Rs 19.30 crore. It would comprise of a structural viaduct with a length of 250-m and the ramp on Tumkur side would be 52.70-m while that towards IISc would be 37.20-m. All the lengths would have 4 lane bi-directional traffic.

The project period is 18 month, but the probable date of completion would be December 31, Gopalaswamy said.

BBMP plans rescue action

BBMP plans rescue action
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: BBMP commissioner K Jairaj has directed all eight zonal joint commissioners to identify BBMP-owned premises to house victims of rain deluge.
Following a report in The Times of India on Monday, highlighting the pathetic state of low-lying areas, Jairaj has asked the officials to identify at least five relief centres that are located in the neighbourhood of flood-prone areas to shift residents. Among the orders issued were — to appoint nodal officers and depute them in all sensitive and vulnerable areas between 6 pm and 11 pm for the next 15 days irrespective of whether it rains or not, increasing the gangmen, rescue team, deputing joint commissioners to handle rain-related queries at the central control room every day on a rotation basis. Speaking to TOI the commissioner said, “We will put all the effort to protect life and property. We are on alert and I have instructed my officers to attend to drain work in these areas at war footing.’’
Save-lake campaign by BDA
As part of the World Environment Day on June 5, the BDA will take up the cleaning of Benniganahalli Lake, situated next to the Benniganahalli flyover near Pai Layout on June 3. Participants will also display drawings, write-ups and deliver brief talks to mark the day. The action has been initiated to give a fillip to Save Lake Programme and also to create environmental awareness among the public. The BDA will also rope in educational institutions, industries and NGOs for the programme.

Come June, hiring autos will be easy

Come June, hiring autos will be easy
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: If all goes as per police plan, come June, hiring an autorickshaw will be minus the drama over excess fare and the drivers’ preferred destinations. With the new initiative, the autos will come to your doorstep after the customer dials or SMSes 9844112233 or by logging on to www.easyauto.in.
And to make it easier for non-Kannadigas, the dedicated call centre established to co-ordinate auto bookings, will have employees fluent in Hindi and English too. And keeping the security in mind, all the passengers’ details will be registered at the Call Centre.
The new scheme — “Easy Auto” — will be flagged off on June 1 at 5 pm by the transport minister.
The “door-service” will be for those who register themselves under the scheme. Others have to take the autorickshaw from the ‘Easy Auto’ stands.
The authorities are also planning to introduce autorickshaws exclusively for schools and bring in auto-pool system, set-up easy auto kiosks, encourage women auto drivers and surface transport integration.
The system will also enable the autorickshaw drivers with several facilities like insurance cover up to Rs one lakh and Rs 2,000 per year for their children’s uniform and scholarship.

BIAL to follow suggestions

BIAL to follow suggestions
DH News Service, Bangalore:
A BIAL statement on Tuesday said that the company had received a letter from the Ministry with "recommendations" on the technical and aesthetic aspects of the greenfield airport


A day after Deccan Herald reported the Union Civil Aviation Ministry’s apprehensions about the design, architecture and facilities in the upcoming international airport in Devanahalli, the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has said that the Ministry’s suggestions were being evaluated.
A BIAL statement on Tuesday said that the company had received a letter from the Ministry with “recommendations” on the technical and aesthetic aspects of the greenfield airport. “The letter states that these remarks are suggestions and could be points of consideration. These suggestions are also being evaluated carefully against the budget and time line available,” the spokesperson said.

Schedule
The company has said that it would try its best in incorporating the suggestions that could make an impact on the passenger service and experience. BIAL is set to hold its next board meeting in late June. BIAL has also maintained that the Rs 1,930 crore-airport would open as per the original schedule. “Work at BIAL is on schedule and the airport will be ready for operations in April 2008,” the statement added.

Lokayukta asks for sanctioned plan again

Lokayukta asks for sanctioned plan again
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The Lokayukta told Deccan Herald on Tuesday he has asked the Town Planning Director (Lokayukta) to re-examine the sanctioned plan for the complex built by Prestige Developers.


In another turn to the UB City encroachment of Vittal Mallya Road, Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde has again sought from the BBMP the complex’s sanctioned building plan and related documents. The Lokayukta told Deccan Herald on Tuesday he has asked the Town Planning Director (Lokayukta) to re-examine the sanctioned plan for the complex built by Prestige Developers.
Justice Hegde said the documents he had sought from BBMP last week were yet to reach him. He sent a reminder to BBMP officials through the Registrar on Tuesday. “”I received several calls from residents in the area citing violations by builders. There is another allegation that the drainage system near the complex has been altered by builders,” Justice Hegde said.
Residents of D’Souza Layout and Garden Apartments told Deccan Herald the builders had constructed an RCC drain under an old footpath on the road and sloped it to connect to the main south drain at D’Souza Layout entrance. They alleged the drain was sloped to drain the 10-acre complex and said the south drain slopes were too narrow to handle heavy rain inflow.
Residents claimed the new drain was technically faulty and could aggravate the area’s flooding problems. They maintained a new drain had to be built in the UB City premises sloping down in the opposite (towards Cubbon Park) direction so that rainwater could be routed to the nearby culvert.
The Lokayukta added he had received complaints from residents with regard to other alleged violations.
“I’m following up with BBMP officials on the possibilities of any such violation,” he said. Deccan Herald had on May 19 first reported the encroachment.

Regularise building or lose power, water

Regularise building or lose power, water
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The public will have three-month's time to file their application to regularise their buildings from the date of issuance of the final notification.


Bangaloreans, if you have constructed your residence or commercial establishment violating the sanctioned plan, make better use of the opportunity offered by the State government to regularise it. Else, you may lose power and water supply connections.
The State government had issued draft rules on regularisation of 50 per cent of violation in case of residential buildings and 25 pc violation in commercial buildings on May 17.
Objections for the rule are invited until June 17.
The public will have three-month’s time to file their application to regularise their buildings from the date of issuance of the final notification.
BBMP Deputy Commissioner (Resources) Vasantha Rao told Deccan Herald, “The government will not extend the date for filing applications. After three months, supply of water and electricity will be cut to those buildings whose owners do not file application to regularise their buildings”.

Impossible!
“It is highly impossible to demolish all constructions which have violated the sanctioned plan. This is the golden opportunity for the public”, he said.
The Palike has made it clear that applications for those buildings which have violated the sanctioned plan beyond the permissible limit will not be accepted. Similarly those buildings which have come up encroaching storm water drain area, government land and land reserved for civic amenities will not be considered for regularisation. “The public who own property in red zone (highly polluting industrial area) should get clearance from Karnataka State Pollution Control Board before applying for regularisation”, Mr Rao said.
“Now the rule is in the draft stage. Once the final notification is issued, the fee structure will be announced. We will issue application forms with all necessary information, which will be helpful for the public to calculate fee amount on their own”, Mr Rao said.
The Palike has already constituted screening committees under the chairmanship of joint commissioners in each zone to accept applications and verify them. BBMP commissioner K Jairaj said the Palike will set up an exclusive helpline to help the public who need information on regularisation of their properties.

Honey, there goes the quiet neighbourhood

Honey, there goes the quiet neighbourhood

Swathi Shivanand

Why are commercial complexes being allowed to come up in residential areas?

# Repeal of Section 14 A of Town and Country Planning Act favoured
# Organisations say CDP has been implemented more in violation


BANGALORE: Of the many images the name Bangalore evokes today, those that come to mind immediately are traffic-choked roads, overflowing drains and waterlogged areas.

And even as plans are chalked out to tackle these apparently intractable problems, one of the primary causes for them remains relatively unspoken — blatant and unrestricted change of land use.

Changes in land use have often been made under Section 14A of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act. This section empowers officials to use discretionary powers if it is in the "public interest."

Committee report

The P.S.S. Thomas Committee, set up to examine objections received for the upcoming master plan, has criticised section 14 A as prone to gross misuse. It has called for its repeal and said that permitting change in land use merely on the payment of the stipulated fee is contrary to the principles of town planning. For example, commercial complexes are allowed to come up in residential areas, increasing traffic flow and burdening the narrow streets. Green belt and lake areas are converted into housing layouts with complete disregard for the natural topography, causing flooding during the rains.

Master Plan

The Comprehensive Development Plan 1995, which is the blueprint for the city's planners, has been implemented more in violation than in enforcement, say civil society organisations, pointing to the large-scale commercialisation of residential areas such as Malleswaram, Koramangala and Sadashivanagar.

The next master plan is in the making. The P.S.S. Thomas Committee states that the CDP 1995 encouraged conversion of residential plots to commercial by allowing a higher Floor Area Ratio for commercial buildings. "This was double incentive to go commercial because the sites were located attractively in affluent neighbourhoods on prime roads," the committee noted.

Court judgment

"Despite the Supreme Court judgment stating that the BDA does not have the authority to change land use except under special circumstances, the planning authority continues to do so, perpetuating more mistakes," says Major Pramod Kapur of Koramangala Initiative.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court in its February 2, 2006 decision said that the BDA cannot change land use, unless such changes are due to a) topographical or cartographical or other errors and omissions in the Master Plan b) due to failure to fully indicate the details in the plan c) changes arising out of the proposals in the Master Plan.

But citing public interest allowed in section 14 A, the BDA had allowed for changes in land use, even though these changes must not be contrary to the development envisaged under the Master Plan, says Vijayan Menon, another member of the Koramangala Initiative.

The Existing Land Use Survey of 2003, conducted by the BDA, shows that area under Parks and Open Spaces was a mere 2.8 per cent of the BDA's 1,279 sq. km. when the 1995 Master Plan had allocated 8.7 per cent — down by six per cent. The area under Transport and Communication also fell short at 13.9 per cent as compared with 20.7 per cent allocated under the CDP. "Thus there are far fewer parks and open spaces, and far less area under roads and transport facilities than had been planned. These are important shortfalls in the achievement of CDP 1995, and have serious impact on transport in particular, and quality of life in general," says the Thomas committee.

Change in land use blamed for chaos

Change in land use blamed for chaos

Afshan Yasmeen and Swathi Shivanand

BANGALORE: You have invested blood, sweat and tears on your dream house in a quiet residential area. Everything goes fine for a while till one day you realise that the quiet has been replaced by constant hubbub.

You find yourself surrounded by a fast food joint, cyber café, shoe shop, a software company and so on. Suddenly the residential area has become like a business district and your dream has turned into a nightmare.

While permitting change in land use is the main culprit for the haphazard growth of the city, scores of commercial establishments and units are doing business in residential areas even as they directly affect public health.

A business establishment must obtain a trade licence from the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to operate. Obtaining trade licences from the BBMP depends on a no-objection certificate from the neighbours. This is easy as those who want to run commercial establishments simply produce two signatures of acquaintances on the application form.

"When such establishments are closed, people often point out that they have been paying property taxes, electricity bills and water charges on the same level as commercial enterprises. But just paying such charges does not make it legal," says Kathyayini Chamaraj of Civic Bangalore. People are also misled to a certain extent in that while the revenue department of the BBMP collects commercial property taxes, the engineering and health departments in-charge of enforcement consider it a violation, she said.

BBMP's promise

BBMP officials, however, hold a promise for the future. "That will be a thing of the past now. We have taken up this issue seriously now and will close down all units that have flouted norms. If residents of a particular area are troubled by some business in their area, they can complain to the respective zonal health officers and action will be taken immediately. Such licences will not be renewed," BBMP Deputy Commissioner (Reforms and Resources) U.A. Vasanth Rao told The Hindu .

BBMP apathy dampens spirits

BBMP apathy dampens spirits

Staff Reporter

Poor roads a cause for worry

BANGALORE: The civic authorities, particularly the Bruhut Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), seem not to have learnt any lesson from the flooding of Bangalore due to rains last year.

Repeated claims

Despite repeated claims by the State Government, the BBMP and others that the drains will be cleared and all encroachments removed to ensure a free flow of water, nothing much seems to have been done.

The roads and footpaths continue to retain pools of water and waterlogging is still a problem on many roads, putting both motorists and pedestrians at peril. Coupled with the poor state of the roads, motorists also have to cope with the frequent power shutdowns at night, which force them to navigate the roads in darkness, using the help of only the lights from oncoming vehicles.

Curses

Many motorists whose vehicles slipped on the wet roads during the recent rain and suffered minor injuries could be heard loudly cursing the BBMP for what they called the shoddy roadwork and the piling up of garbage and construction debris on the streets, blocking the smooth flow of traffic.

They wondered why the BBMP was not able to initiate action against those who leave such debris on the streets and pavements all over the city.

Civil aviation ministry picks holes in design

Civil aviation ministry picks holes in design
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Hyderabad has scored over Bangalore again. The civil aviation ministry has given its stamp of approval to the GMR Hyderabad International Airport but dumped the design for the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli.
In a letter sent to the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) in May first week, the civil aviation ministry expressed serious reservations over the quality of the airport design. “Primarily, it is not even the look we’re worried about. Some construction design elements are a cause for serious concern,” a top civil aviation ministry official informed TOI.
The points of concern pertain to structural design itself. For example, three sides of the terminal building’s floor at Bangalore are below ground level. “The capacity of the storm water drain at the terminal building is not adequate. So, unless it is augmented, the terminal building has every chance of being flooded during downpours,” officials said.
The Centre is also unhappy about the lack of a canopy outside the terminal building, again in view of the rain. Design flaws, like lack of distance between the escalators/staircases, have also been pointed out.
“The look of this airport is like that of a factory; there is no international flair. In contrast, the Hyderabad airport looks truly international. They have used the best of the consultants for everything. Even the additions AAI has made to the Mumbai airport look better,’’ the officials said. The ministry has suggested that colour and geometric shapes be used to make the airport look bright and lively. Hyderabad prides itself on its “spacious and abundant natural light’’. BIAL gets it wrong the second time
Bangalore: The civil aviation ministry has found flaws in the structural design of the Bangalore International Airport (BIAL).
This is the second time the Centre has complained about the quality of Bangalore airport.
In October 2005, civil aviation minister Praful Patel had complained both about the look of the airport and sought augmentation of the terminal’s capacity to handle more passengers.
BIAL did a redesign, submitted it to the Centre and had it cleared, with an additional cost of about Rs 500 crore raised from the market.
The Bangalore airport is modelled on the Zurich one, known to be the most efficient in Europe.
BIAL had proposed a granite flooring with rangoli and the Hampi mandala designs for the terminal building, besides silk drapes on the walls to showcase art from Karnataka.
The civil aviation minister shot both down and asked for an international look.
Civil aviation officials said: “They wanted black granite, which will develop spots within two months.”
“We objected to it, and they opted for the more international grey granite. Silk will also not be effective ; colour geometric shapes are better,’’ they added.
BIAL officials could not be reached for comment.

Residents blame it on BBMP for flooding woes

Residents blame it on BBMP for flooding woes
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Despite the residents urging the BBMP to construct a boundary wall across the SWD six months ago, no action has been taken, angry residents told Deccan Herald.


It was a nightmarish experience they would like to forget in a hurry. For residents of D’Souza Nagar in Hoskerehalli, Banashankari 3rd Stage,, the sudden downpour on Sunday saw water gushing into their houses giving them a sleepless night.
The apathy of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) came to the fore as the storm-water drain at Vrishabavathi Valley overflowed, inundating their houses in the middle of the night.
Despite the residents urging the BBMP to construct a boundary wall across the SWD six months ago, no action has been taken, angry residents told Deccan Herald.
“In the past whenever it rained, water from the SWD gushed into the houses and on Sunday, it was no different as houses adjacent to the SWD was inundated with water up to six feet,” said Rashmi D’Souza, President, PG D’Souza Nagar.
Sunday’s rain fury saw water from the SWD flooding 15 houses leaving its residents with no option but to spend the night outdoors.
“ The rain, which began around 8 pm, lasted about four hours and by around 1 pm, we saw water gushing into our houses and most of the household articles were washed away in the rain,” said Mary Joseph, a resident.

Boundary wall
Holding BBMP responsible for the entire mess, residents blamed the engineers for not taking any action despite repeated requests from them to build a boundary wall across the SWD.
A few residents were also furious that the BBMP had constructed a boundary wall on the side of the SWD, where there are no residential areas.
“A boundary wall has been constructed on the side of the PESIT Institute, while there is no wall to protect us when the SWD overflows. We have complained to the Chief Minister during the janata darshans, but nothing has happened,” adds Rashmi D’Souza.Residents blame it on BBMP for flooding woes
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Despite the residents urging the BBMP to construct a boundary wall across the SWD six months ago, no action has been taken, angry residents told Deccan Herald.


It was a nightmarish experience they would like to forget in a hurry. For residents of D’Souza Nagar in Hoskerehalli, Banashankari 3rd Stage,, the sudden downpour on Sunday saw water gushing into their houses giving them a sleepless night.
The apathy of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) came to the fore as the storm-water drain at Vrishabavathi Valley overflowed, inundating their houses in the middle of the night.
Despite the residents urging the BBMP to construct a boundary wall across the SWD six months ago, no action has been taken, angry residents told Deccan Herald.
“In the past whenever it rained, water from the SWD gushed into the houses and on Sunday, it was no different as houses adjacent to the SWD was inundated with water up to six feet,” said Rashmi D’Souza, President, PG D’Souza Nagar.
Sunday’s rain fury saw water from the SWD flooding 15 houses leaving its residents with no option but to spend the night outdoors.
“ The rain, which began around 8 pm, lasted about four hours and by around 1 pm, we saw water gushing into our houses and most of the household articles were washed away in the rain,” said Mary Joseph, a resident.

Boundary wall
Holding BBMP responsible for the entire mess, residents blamed the engineers for not taking any action despite repeated requests from them to build a boundary wall across the SWD.
A few residents were also furious that the BBMP had constructed a boundary wall on the side of the SWD, where there are no residential areas.
“A boundary wall has been constructed on the side of the PESIT Institute, while there is no wall to protect us when the SWD overflows. We have complained to the Chief Minister during the janata darshans, but nothing has happened,” adds Rashmi D’Souza.

Expressway route deviates from gazette notification

Expressway route deviates from gazette notification

Sharath S. Srivatsa

KRDCL plan does not pass through many notified survey numbers

# Notification issued by the BMRDA in March notified 638 acres
# Official admits to variations in alignment


BANGALORE: As the fixing of ground alignment of the expressway to the international airport at Devanahalli is nearing completion, residents of Challakere village are crying foul over the deviations taking place from the notification issued in this regard by the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA).

While the BMRDA has notified the survey numbers on which the expressway is to be laid, the alignment map of the expressway provided by the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd. (KRDCL) travels on different survey numbers.

The alignment plan has been procured from the KRDCL by K. Gopal, a resident of Challakere under the Right to Information Act. The expressway notification issued by the BMRDA on March 2 notified 638 acres of land for the project commencing from Horamavu on the Outer Ring Road.

The gazette notified 21 survey numbers covering a total of 15.2 acres in Challakere village in K.R. Puram hobli. The KRDCL map showing the expressway does not pass on many survey numbers that have been notified in the gazette, where as the map shows expressway passing on several other survey numbers that have not been notified.

Markers have been erected on survey numbers 28, 29 and 31, which has not been notified in the gazette. The actual alignment plan of the expressway project does not affect survey numbers 12, 14, 25 and 129 that were gazetted for the project, as they are away from the alignment.

The alignment plan has been done by the Consulting Engineering Services (CES) on behalf of KRDCL.

A resident of Challakere, P. Ramanujan, told The Hindu : "Gazette notification should be sacrosanct, accurate and authentic. The public faith in government documents should be restored to prevent honest citizens from being affected."

Variation possible

A KRDCL official acknowledged that there were variations between the notification and the alignment. He said: "We have used the village survey maps and there are possibilities that orientation may have varied. We cannot get the exact number or shape of the survey numbers unless the alignment is fixed on the ground."

Further, he said, alignment was based on satellite imagery and geometrics, which was now being transferred to ground by the revenue surveyors. The notification, he said, issued by the BMRDA was only to freeze development in the area.

Ready for rain? Not really...

Ready for rain? Not really...
Rain and floods go hand in hand in the city. For decades, some areas are bearing the brunt of the downpour and the backlash. While authorities unveil projects costing crores of rupees to check flooding, there is no end to woes. What ails these low-lying areas? R Jayaprakash, S Nandagopal and Prathima Nandakumar give an insight

VULNERABLE SPOTS
At least 196 areas have been identified as ‘sensitive’. Some are Vasantnagar Dhobi Ghat, some roads in Koramangala, JP Nagar V Phase, Murugeshpalya, Malleshpalya, areas behind Kamakhya Theatre, Padmanabhanagar, Ejipura, Banashankari II and II Phase, Channammanakere, Rajajinagar II Block, Bhuvaneshwarinagar, Malleswaram 18th Cross, MG Road (near Oberoi), Old Byappanahalli, Kodandarampura, Cholanayakanahalli, Chamarajpet, Nayandanahalli and Venkateshpura slum.
ZONE-WISE SENSITIVE SPOTS East Zone - 44 West Zone - 22 South Zone - 41 RR Nagar - 25 Bommanahalli - 30 Mahadevapura - 5 Byatarayanapura - 15 Dasarahalli - 14 STORMWATER DRAIN NETWORK Primary drains - 94 km Secondary drain - 134 km Total - 228 km
REMODELLING WORK AND COST Total cost of remodelling - Rs 450 crore Vrishabhavathi Valley - 88.44 km. Challaghatta Valley - 31.6 km. Koramangala Valley - 56.2 km. Hebbal Valley - 51.76 km. Deadline - December 2007

KAMAKHYA LAYOUT
This is where 9-year-old Gopi was washed away in April and the incident prompted CM Kumaraswamy to address the rain-affected residents. It is more than a month and things have not moved an inch. The problem in the area is encroached drains, absence of retaining walls and silt. The BBMP has demolished parts of buildings coming on the drain but have left out ‘select’ cases. Construction of retaining walls is a distant reality.
Areas around this killer drain: Kamakhya Main Road, Dena Bank Colony and Chikkalasandra. While officials who had come with the CM promised action within 15 days but nothing has been done.
Residentspeak
“When the CM visited our area, we thought our worries were over but the latest downpour threw up everything. Rainwater completely covered the drain and fortunately, no life was lost. Engineers came soon after the CM’s visit with machinery and men. We see earth movers and pumps in the area but work is very slow.’’
Venkataraghav | SOFTWARE PROFESSIONAL, EDS TECHNOLOGIES


JP NAGAR V PHASE
AVVIP area with high-profile residents that include film stars, politicians, bureaucrats, the rich and the mighty. Even the CM has a house here. But the area has open and incapacitated drains, overflowing manholes and slushy roads. An hour’s downpour and it’s a deluge. Sewage-mixed rainwater entering houses and apartment complexes are common during rain.
Residentspeak
“We have lost hope. This is absolute lethargy and laxity. There is no will to develop or put in proper infrastructure. Protests, petitions and letters have fallen on deaf ears. BWSSB has started digging the roads to lay drainage pipes. Work is at a slow pace.”
Abu Bakkar | BUSINESSMAN, Amit Kumar Srivastava | VICE-PRESIDENT, MAHAVEER JEWELS APARTMENT OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION


PUTTENAHALLI
Major parts of Puttenahalli can now breathe easy thanks to some projects. But there are certain pockets that are sensitive to downpour — 9th, 10th and 24th Mains including 15th and 16th Cross. There are no stormwater drains here and residents have to wait for days for water to recede. Though the BBMP and BWSSB has comprehensive plans to put in place UGD and water supply, the exercise still remains on paper.
Residentspeak
“From several years we are running from pillar to post holding protests and submitting representations to the officials and the CM but with zero results. It is absolute chaos during rain and we have to remove water from the houses. Flooding is common and there are many occasions when I had applied leave to office and ended up cleaning the house.’’
Smitha Mithu | SOFTWARE PROFESSIONAL


EJIPURA
This area is below Koramangala Valley — the storm water drain and naturally, roads will be under water during rain. Ejipura is adjacent to the primary drain which runs inside the Koramangala National Games Village. The Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) authorities — for want of more space for car parking — have covered the primary drain. The KHB has constructed pillars across the drain for the carpark and have obstructed the flow of water. Added to this is encroachment on the drain.
Around 10 roads starting from Ejipura 9th Main and Ashwini Layout gets flooded and it takes more than five hours for the primary drain to clear.
Residentspeak
“Residents have contributed to the problem by deviating from by-laws. But there is a solution. If the BBMP really wants to solve this perennial problem we can discuss and work out ways to solve it.
For instance, the primary drain covered in Games Village is the main culprit. Let the authorities remove the cover and widen the drain.’’
Shivkumar N | CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT


MURUGESHPALYA
Picture this. An aircraft waiting to take off on the runway of HAL airport. A few metres away, workers are busy clearing garbage and sewage from an open drain in Murugeshpalya. Houses around the area bear the brunt and that too after the BBMP claimed that it has remodelled the drain.
A new bridge over the drain (on Wind Tunnel Road) is meant to avert flooding of the surrounding low-lying areas. Absence of roadside drains along the new bridge and uncleared debris is obstructing free flow of water below the new bridge.
Residentspeak
“We have no stormwater drains. All electric gadgets in my house are damaged every year. We are forced to drain out water into the manhole.’’
Sreenivas | A RESIDENT WHOSE HOUSE WAS INUNDATED DURING THE LAST RAIN


ASHWINI LAYOUT,
MADIVALA
One cannot expect water to flow from lower to higher levels. This is precisely the case that has made the plight of the residents miserable. Overflowing manholes, chocked stormwater drains and knee-deep water is common during rain. Work on remodelling of stormwater drain package III of the Koramangala Valley project is in a limbo. The retention wall has been left undone which has caused severe problems to the apartments as rain water gushes into their basements. Chocked primary drains is yet another cause for worry as water stagnates throughout the layout. Water from Ejipura, Military Grounds and other surrounding areas collect at Ashwini Layout and gets clogged since there is no vent for it to flow.
Residentspeak
“Clandestine development projects are primarily responsible for the crisis. Some years ago, there was absolutely no problem as the water flowed smoothly through the main drain which connects to the Challagatta Valley. The BDA unscientifically raised the level of the ring road and this has worsened the situation. Even the connecting primary drains are unscientifically dug up which has resulted in reverse flow of the water from the main drain into the area through the primary drains.’’
K Anil Kumar | CONVENER, ASHWINI LAYOUT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION


HSR LAYOUT
Very next to the impressive flyover that speaks of engineering skills, the plush HSR Layout has many problems. Waterlogged main roads, open and overflowing manholes and stench spreading all around to mention a few. Residential complexes and houses are aplenty but lack of proper planning has made life miserable for those who have spent heavily to construct their homes. A series of manholes overflow in Sector I, unattended by BBMP for days together. Right in front of the stinking chamber is a school. Little children have to bear the brunt of BBMP’s apathy.
Residentspeak
“Roads have been laid broadly but unscientifically. A shower or two is enough to inundate the area. Though the main drain flows nearby, proper vents have not been given for the rain water to flow to the primary drains. Overflowing sewage from the manholes make life more miserable. We have lost confidence in the BBMP.’’
M N Palanivel | ADVOCATE, HSR LAYOUT, SECTOR I




SUBBANNA GARDENS,
CHAMARAJPET
Knee-deep water on the roads is bad. Knee-deep water inside houses is worse. This is the situation at Subbanna Gardens. Drain work is half done and apartments throw garbage right on the concrete slab built on the stormwater drain. The I cross, VI main is the worst affected. The drain which is connected to the Kempavathi Lake has been ill managed.
Residentspeak
“We have no complaints against the MLA of the area as he frequently visits the place and takes stock of the situation. Despite repeated instructions, BBMP personnel do not act. When BBMP does not respond to an MLA, will they care if we residents complain?’’
M Umesh | BUSINESSMAN

ELEVATED COMFORTS at six stations

ELEVATED COMFORTS at six stations
R Jayaprakash | TNN


Six aesthetically designed glass-fronted stations of Metro Rail will redefine the skyline on Reach One between MG Road and Byappanahalli. All the stations are elevated and will be unique in design and feature, unlike the Delhi Metro which has uniform and low-profile stations.
These stations are at MG Road, Trinity Circle, Ulsoor, CMH Road, Old Madras Road and Byappanahalli. The glass-andsteel facade stations with elevations will have state-of-the-art facilities in metros worldwide.
Escalators, kiosks for ATMs and tickets, coffee shops, book shops, souvenir shops, lifts with Braille buttons, signage conforming to international standards, heritage of Karnataka depicted in the form of art works and murals, CCTVs for surveillance, smoke and fire sensors apart from utilities. The authorities have estimated the cost of each station at around Rs 11 crore and all stations will have dedicated bus bays to facilitate integration of transport system.
According to BMRC sources, RITES consultants initially designed the stations. However, the designs were changed after consulting six top-notch architects of the city. The need for a design change was felt as it had to be more compatible in some of the city’s busiest junctions. While the spadework for Byappanahalli has already begun, other stations will be taken for construction and assembly.
AT EACH STOP
MG Road: Elevated stations in front of Plaza theatre; six escalators and staircases; skywalk across MG Road; one lift from underground parking at Plaza. Underground parking also being provided around the promenade area
Trinity Circle: Elevated station on MG Road adjacent to Nalli Silks. Six escalators; staircases and three lifts with surface parking.
Ulsoor: Elevated station on SV Road in the police quarters; five escalators and stairways; three lifts and surface parking area
CMH Road: Elevated station on top of CMH Road in front of Arya Samaj; eight escalators and staircases; three lifts; large parking area at the surface level to house 215 two-wheelers and 60 cars
Old Madras Road: Elevated station off the road, in front of Indiranagar 80 Ft Road; skywalk for commuters to cross to Old Madras Road; eight staircases and escalators, and three at this station. Surface parking facility on both northern and southern side of station.
Byappanahalli: The last station of Reach One is located on southern side of South Western Railway’s Byappanahalli station at surface level; largest parking area for 1,000 two-wheelers and 920 cars; separate area earmarked for traffic integration area of BMTC and KSRTC terminals; two escalators; stairways and lifts.

Mapping trees,

Mapping trees, HISTORY & HERITAGE
Prathima Nandakumar | TNN

Bangalore: Ever heard of a 1,000-year-old tamarind tree with aerial roots in Devanahalli, a mango tree dating back to Tipu Sultan’s period or the trees that remind one of the Indo-USSR bonhomie at Lalbagh?
Bangalore is a treasure trove of ancient trees. But as tree lovers put it —they are “ancient but not captives of record books’’. Sadly, most of these trees escape people’s attention despite dotting the cityscape for hundreds of years.
To help people identify and value these trees, the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) and an NGO, Bangalore Environment Trust (BET), have launched a project — Heritage Trees — where volunteers would map trees
as also promote eco-tourism. KSTDC hopes to evolve a ‘Green Circuit’ featuring 100 ‘heritage’ trees.
The project’s theme is: Every tree has a tale to narrate. “Bangalore has at least 300 heritage trees which are either ancient or have an interesting history, apart from their ecological value. We started mapping in April and hope to complete by March 2008. Trees in Chamarajpet, Basavanagudi, Malleswaram, Nelamangala and Nallur in Devanahalli have already entered the list,’’ explains BET member and retired IFS officer S G Neginhal.
Every heritage tree will display a plaque indicating age, height, girth and other specifications, along with their historical and ecological importance.
“Eco-tourism could be a major tourist attraction. Bangalore’s high altitude and good climate support a wide variety of species. How about adding a bonsai garden, bamboo zone or a green island,’’ asks horticulture department director G K Vasanth Kumar.
The NGO is drawing up two more projects to save ‘Gundu Thopu’ (village orchards) and ‘Devarakadu’ (sacred groves). The teams are identifying Gundu thopus at
Nallur in Devanahalli, Anjanapura and Whitefield, which are traditionally gene pools for indigenous species of trees. The gundu thopus are said to be typical of Old Mysore state.
“Often, we ascertain trees’ age by old techniques (such as boring) which could damage trees. Epitaphs and inscriptions on temple walls help us calculate trees’ age, ‘’ says Neginhal. “Many such orchards are being misused as parking lots.’’
What qualifies as a heritage tree?
Any tree which is indigenous and older than 100 years, with historical significance and ecological value. Trees with mythological reference — like Ashoka tree associated with the Ramayana — also fall into this category. While, the leaves of ‘Ficus krishne’ are believed to have been used as a cup by Lord Krishna to eat butter
MUST SEE
A huge tamarind tree on the GPO premises Peepal trees near Kaadu Malleshwara temple in Malleswaram Ippe (Madhuka longifolia) trees near Yeshwantpur market Huge banyan tree in Basaveshwaranagar Park Gigantic Margosa trees on Kanakapura Road

Dedicated auto lanes could hobble traffic, not help it

Dedicated auto lanes could hobble traffic, not help it
By Vicky Nanjappa, DH News Service,Bangalore:
Traffic expert M N Sreehari says DALs are going to be just 500 metres, and unless they are at least 3 to 4 km, they won't make sense


How do you discipline autorickshaw drivers in the City, known for their reckless ways? Make them get into dedicated auto lanes (DALs), is the traffic police’s answer. But the question is whether a DAL system works in a city where the roads are narrow.
Sample the DAL being laid from the MG Statue to near Minsk Square. The road is four-lane and a bus-shelter is located on either side.
The buses will have no option but to get into the DAL to stop at the shelters. While the police argue that the lanes would help streamline traffic, traffic experts and the commuting public say it is not a good idea in a city like Bangalore.
Traffic expert M N Sreehari says DALs are going to be just 500 metres, and unless they are at least 3 to 4 km, they won’t make sense. With short-distance lanes, the autos would have to cut into the main road at the end of the DALs, posing more problems to the traffic flow.
Says Shyam Sundar, a motorist: “Only recently the road was asphalted and now they have again started banging nails into the road. If one of the nails were to come out, it would cause damage to vehicle tyres. Also, the short DALs won’t do”.

‘Fatal’ dividers
The cement dividers do not have reflectors on them. This could prove fatal to vehicle-users if they bump into them at a good speed, the auto drivers point out. As Mr Sreehari asks, why should there be frequent changes of lanes or directions? “Since the DALs are on a trial basis, why are the police putting up cement dividers and wasting money? They could have used a cat’s eye or plastic poles instead, to check whether DALs work or not”.
The traffic police insist that with DALs, haphazard movement of autos could be curtailed.
They would reduce congestion, and broader roads would be identified to introduce the DALs.
Instead of penalising auto drivers for violating rules, they should be educated on these rules, they say. There are nearly 90,000 autos registered with RTOs in the City.
Moving autos to suburbs could be a long-term solution, say experts.

FOCUS BACK ON THE ROAD NOW!

FOCUS BACK ON THE ROAD NOW!
By R Krishnakumar and Hemanth C S, DH News Service, Bangalore:
With just ten months left for the scheduled opening of the international airport in Devanahalli the State Government is looking at options closer to reality to address an issue that threatens to hijack the airport boom: Devanahalli's distance from the City.


High-speed rail lines and six-lane expressways can wait. With just ten months left for the scheduled opening of the new greenfield international airport in Devanahalli, the State Government is looking at options closer to reality to address an issue that threatens to hijack the airport boom: Devanahalli’s distance from the City.
Though the NH 7 (Bangalore-Hyderabad) is tipped to take a huge volume of traffic to and from the new airport, the government is also supplementing it with development of a State Highway and minor connecting roads.
According to V P Baligar, Principal Secretary, Infrastructure Development Department, the immediate solution could be in the development of roads leading to Devanahalli.
From the Central Business District, the default route will be NH 7, through Yelahanka. The highway has been spruced up over the past year.
The Public Works Department, meanwhile, is trying to ensure that other approach roads are also in shape by April 2, 2008, the opening date for the airport that’s around 35 km from the City.
“The PWD is developing many roads near Devanahalli. Development of SH 104 is high on the agenda, as the State Highway provides connectivity to Devanahalli from more than one direction, including from Whitefield, Bagalur and Budigere,” Mr Baligar told Deccan Herald. From the Outer Ring Road direction, SH 104 provides connectivity to Devanahalli in the Nagawara-Kannur-Bagalur-Singahalli-Bettakote route.

Passenger rush
On launch, the airport is expected to handle around eight million passengers per year.
Around 22,000 passengers will be commuting between the City and the airport, everyday. Add the number of friends and relatives who accompany the passengers and the airport employees, the figure could be well in the excess of 80,000 per day. By all counts a mean figure, considering the minimal options of connectivity between Devanahalli and Bangalore.
From the Hoskote direction, the NH 207 connects to Devanahalli through Sulibele and Balepura. From NH 4 (in the Hoskote direction), commuters can pass through Chimsandra, Budigere and Bettakote, before reaching the airport.
However, spruced-up highways might just not be enough to ensure connectivity from Bangalore to the airport, considering the shape that some of the connecting roads near the airport are in.

Major work over
According to Mr Baligar, a major part of the connecting road upgrades is over and what’s left is integration of a few patches of village roads.
“As long-term plans, there’s the BMRDA Expressway and the high-speed rail line. However, we can’t bank entirely on them at this juncture because the airport will be ready by April next year.
There have to be some short-term alternatives to address immediate requirements,” Mr Baligar said.

INTERVIEW/ALBERT BRUNNER

DH: With just a year left for the airport to start flight operations, is BIAL satisfied with the State Government’s work on the various approach roads to the airport and the rail link?
AB: I’m happy that the government is undertaking various infrastructure development works very seriously. From the point of passengers and the environment, a rail link is needed. We already have a rail link; we just need to connect it to the airport. The State Government is also exploring additional road links to north of Bangalore.

DH: What are the benefits of the trumpet intersection of the main access road and NH 7?
AB: From NH 7, the airport is five kilometres away. The four-lane approach road will be developed by BIAL, parallel to the runway, linking the NH 7 to the terminal complex. This road, primarily serving the passenger terminal building, will also link the entire airport support facilities.

RAIL LINK
Work on the high-speed rail link between the City and the airport is on track, with the soil-testing being conducted on the proposed route.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRCL), which is being appointed by the State Government to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR), has been testing the soil in various locations including Chinnaswamy Stadium, Sankey Road, Mekhri Circle, Hebbal, Yelahanka and the airport site, to ascertain the load-bearing capacity of the elevated railway line.
The rail link will be integrated with the Metro Rail and the journey time to the airport from the check-in station is likely to be under 30 minutes.

FUTURE DRIVE
On a Rs 482-crore budget, the 21.2-km expressway connecting Outer Ring Road to Devanahalli was announced with great fanfare by the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA). The six-lane expressway — designed for a 180 kph speed — was expected to take a substantial chunk of the traffic load off NH 7, once the airport becomes operational.
However, residents and property owners in areas including Challakere, Vaddarapalya, Kylasanahalli and Dodda Gubbi are up in protest against alleged high-handedness by officials and discrepancies in the alignment survey. At present, boundaries are being marked by the surveyors and BMRDA has fixed a fresh deadline for completion of the expressway: any time between December, 2008 and March, 2009.

25-year-old tree will now get new home

25-year-old tree will now get new home
Bangalore, DHNS:
BET, with the assistance of Chennai-based landscaping company, Masterplan, has undertaken the task of saving some trees, which otherwise will be axed for the proposed Metro Rail project. The plan is to transplant 10 of 31 trees to be chopped on M G Road.


A 25-year-old tree (Tabebula Rosea specie) was transplanted on Sunday from its original location on M G Road promenade to Manekshaw Parade ground, as part of a “save green campaign” by the Bangalore Environment Trust (BET).
BET, with the assistance of Chennai-based landscaping company, Masterplan, has undertaken the task of saving some trees, which otherwise will be axed for the proposed Metro Rail project. The plan is to transplant 10 of 31 trees to be chopped on M G Road.
Trustee and Administrator of BET G Goverdhan said the work on lifting the tree (after carefully cutting its roots) started around 5 am using two cranes. By 8 am, it was shifted to its new location on the ground (on Brigade Road-M G Road corner). The defence officials have allowed transplantation of these trees in the ground.
A huge pit of 15 feet width and 7 feet depth has been dug up where the tree was transplanted. “Transplantation is a technical job and only experts can do it. Right from pruning of branches to cutting of roots to lifting it and transplanting it to the new place, needs to be done carefully. Even a slight mistake will lead to failure,” he explained.
The crucial point in this process is when the transplanted tree is taken care of. Extreme care has to be taken for 45 days to ensure that the tree survives. If everything goes fine, it will sprout, he added.

Rain: 'Swimming pools' dot City

Rain: 'Swimming pools' dot City
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Vehicle movement was slow and pedestrians had to wade through knee-deep water on Infantry Road, Kamaraj Road junction, Mahatma Gandhi statue Junction, Sankey Road near Windsor Manor Hotel, Vittal Mallya Road, M G Road-Brigade Road junction, Old Madras Road, Residency Road and other areas on the peripheries of the City.


Several busy roads turned into virtual swimming pools on Sunday due to water-logging, after heavy rain, coupled with thunderstorms, again pounded Bangalore.
Vehicle movement was slow and pedestrians had to wade through knee-deep water on Infantry Road, Kamaraj Road junction, Mahatma Gandhi statue Junction, Sankey Road near Windsor Manor Hotel, Vittal Mallya Road, M G Road-Brigade Road junction, Old Madras Road, Residency Road and other areas on the peripheries of the City.
However, there was no major incident or traffic jam as it was a holiday. The City received 9.2 mm rain and the airport 1.6 mm rainfall up to 8.30 pm, according to the Met Department.
As the flow of rainwater was blocked at the entry of drain (due to clogging of the drain), there was heavy water-logging in these places.

Drains blocked
In some places, the chambers from where rainwater enters the drains were blocked with stones. Water-logging was also due to substandard desilting work done recently.
However, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner K Jairaj claimed there were no untoward incidents. “The excellent work done by the BBMP has yielded results,” he said.
Surprisingly, there was also no major incident of flooding anywhere in the City, except for one or two places like Jayanagar 8th Block and near the Kamakya BMTC Depot, according to Mr Jairaj, who personally monitored the situation in the City during rain sitting at the BBMP main control room.

Trees uprooted
If the BBMP is to be believed, it is for the first time in recent times that there was no flooding in the City, despite heavy rains.
As many as three trees were uprooted in Banashankari III Stage, St Mark’s Road and Primrose Road.

Rubbish! This exception only proves the rule

Rubbish! This exception only proves the rule
By Hemanth C S & Satish Shile, DH News Service, Bangalore:
Walk into one of the older but well-planned localities -- Jayanagar IV and V blocks -- and try and catch yourself spotting a pile-up of garbage anywhere around. Not a chance!


It’s not that all Bangaloreans wake up every morning to see the garbage dumped in and around their neighbourhood. There are the lucky ones who still get to see a clean and green Bangalore first thing in the morning, and what’s more, do it to the accompaniment of music.
Walk into one of the older but well-planned localities – Jayanagar IV and V blocks -- and try and catch yourself spotting a pile-up of garbage anywhere around. Not a chance! Because there is a garbage collection system in place here, thanks to BBMP Pourakarmikas (helpers) hired by it to collect the waste every morning from every single household. All the residents do is hand over their refuse to the helpers. The door-step service comes free of cost. When the helpers come calling, they let you know -- they play popular film songs through the public address system. In addition, of course, they ask the residents to dump their household wastes into the vehicle, either a truck or an autorickshaw.
Terming the system as extremely effective, Jayanagar Residents Welfare Civic & Cultural Association office-bearers say this system has been extremely popular among the residents who, in fact, queue up to dump their wastes.
“An auto comes to the locality every morning by 7 am and makes an announcement through the PAS, urging residents to dump their wastes into the auto,” says Keshavkumar N, association president.
Once the garbage is collected, the helpers segregate the wastes. Food leftovers, hazardous matter, medicinal waste and bottles are separated before being actually ‘lifted’. This system is not restricted to Jayanagar. It is in place in Koramangala, Sadashivanagar, Rajajinagar and other areas as well. So could more areas of the City hope to have this rather musical way of mopping up the ‘municipal’ muck? Fingers remain firmly crossed.

'Factory-like' airport is an eyesore, says Centre

'Factory-like' airport is an eyesore, says Centre
From B S Arun, DH News Service, New Delhi:
The Civil Aviation Ministry has found fault with the airport authorities on several counts noting that the airport has the "look-feel of a factory and not that of an international airport" and that it lacked the "human touch".


The Centre has taken strong exception to the design and facilities to be offered to passengers at the upcoming Bangalore international airport at Devanahalli.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has found fault with the airport authorities on several counts noting that the airport has the “look-feel of a factory and not that of an international airport” and that it lacked the “human touch”.
Suggesting changes to the airport design and facilities to be augmented, the Ministry has noted that there was “ample scope” for increasing the capital investment to implement the suggestions. This, it says, can be achieved without adversely affecting the finances of the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).
The Ministry has based its opinions formulated by and after site visits of Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and secretary Ashok Chawla. The Ministry wrote the letter on April 30 and the BIAL management is yet to respond to it, official sources told Deccan Herald here on Sunday.

Aesthetics
On the aesthetics side, the ministry says the architecture and structure of the terminal building were “extremely rectilinear” and “very clinical in nature”. On entering the terminal building from the South side, the light trusses would lend the look-feel of a factory as the trusses get fully exposed. This should be nullified by creating elements which hide the shape generated on account of these trusses, it is suggested. Finding fault with the partition building, the Ministry has noted that they were predominantly rectilinear and lacked interest.
There was a suggestion to create a play of light by introducing alternate geometry and interesting shapes and colours which are bold and bright to understate the existing greys. The height of ceiling of the restaurant in the departure area needs to be increased.
On the facilities side, the Ministry has advised the BIAL to construct a canopy since there is a strong possibility of heavy rains lashing the terminal which is south-facing. Without any protection, people may get drenched and rain water can enter into the terminal.
The Ministry wants changes in the departure section as staircase and escalator passengers have to take to ascend towards the aircraft boarding area are “frightfully close to each other”.
Expressing concern at the runway area being constructed at a lower level than the rest of the airport, the Ministry said this needed immediate attention as it may lead to a “catastrophic situation” during heavy rains. The Ministry wants these issues to be brought up at the next meeting of the BIAL Board.
The Ministry said there was ample scope for increasing the capital investment to implement its suggestions without adversely affecting the finances of BIAL (the project has seen one increase from Rs 1,411 crore to Rs 1,930 crore). Convenience of passengers, their safety as well as an international look are of paramount importance, the ministry said.

BBMP striving to make monsoon hassle-free

BBMP striving to make monsoon hassle-free

Staff Reporter

Contingency plan to tackle rain-related problems in place

# Control rooms to be provided better infrastructure
# Special monsoon squads to be deployed

BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is preparing to prevent and tackle rain-related problems this year. Armed with a "strong contingency plan," its officials claim they are all set to make this monsoon hassle-free for citizens.

Several areas were inundated and some people washed away in last year's floods.

The contingency plan includes strengthening of control rooms with personnel and infrastructure; deployment of flood management control squads at areas identified to be prone to inundation; clearing of clogged drains; increasing the height of retaining walls along storm water drains by placing sand bags, desilting drains and so on.

Addressing presspersons here on Saturday, BBMP Commissioner K. Jairaj said that 197 vulnerable points had been identified in April and work on preventing rain damage in these areas had been on.

Funds

"We have set aside Rs. 12 crore for this and more than 75 per cent of work has been completed," he said.

To ensure that calls from people in distress are attended without delay, the BBMP has strengthened its control rooms with increased personnel and infrastructure. "With water logging and inundation of houses in low-lying areas being a common complaint, the palike has always been under fire for lack of quick response. To avoid such problems this year, the civic body will station special monsoon squads at the nearest ward office in all the vulnerable areas," the BBMP Commissioner said.

Contractors entrusted with remodelling of drains along Koramangala, Hebbal, Challaghatta and Vrishabhavathi valleys have been asked to expedite work.

"We have asked them not to heap silt on the sides of the drain," he said.

Following Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's direction, more than 350 shops that have encroached upon the major storm water drain on Nala Road in Shivajinagar are being relocated temporarily. "We will widen the drain and cover it with a concrete bed and then bring back the shops. Our officials have cleared more than 700 encroachments along and above the drains. This apart, dangerous and diseased branches of old trees are being pruned," Mr. Jairaj added.

Control room numbers

The Control Room numbers are as follows: Head Office: 22221188, 22975595, 22100031, 32,33, 34, 35; Health Control Room: 22975585;

East Zone: 22975803; west zone: 23561692; Dasarahalli: 28394909;

Byatarayanapura: 23636677/ 71; Bommanahalli: 25735642;

Mahadevapura: 28512300 and Rajarajeshwarinagar: 28600954

Train tickets can now be booked at BangaloreOne

Train tickets can now be booked at BangaloreOne

Staff Reporter

The service will be launched on Monday and will be available between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.

BANGALORE: Now, you can book your train tickets at any of the 16 BangaloreOne centres in the city by paying an extra Rs. 6 per ticket. The service, to take off from Monday, will be available between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Giving details of the new service, Rajiv Chawla, Secretary, e-Governance, told presspersons on Saturday that BangaloreOne had tied up with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to provide the service.

Citizens can walk into the BangaloreOne centres with identity proof (driving licence, PAN card, passport, election card or Central/State Government identity cards) and book the tickets by paying in cash. "Though train ticket booking is available on the Internet, one should compulsorily have a credit card for that. We will provide the same service at an extra cost of only Rs. 6 per ticket and people can pay in cash," Mr. Chawla explained.

"The service charge of Rs. 6 is in addition to the Rs. 15 charged by IRCTC for online reservations. Totally, the charges will be Rs. 21 extra per ticket and not per person. If people book through agents and tour operators, the cost will be higher," he said.

Pointing out that the airline ticket booking service had become very popular among people, Mr Chawla said that BangaloreOne centres would soon start booking KSRTC and movie tickets and accepting LIC and ING Vysya insurance premium.

The Bangalore Development Authority's (BDA) 20 e-Pragati kiosks are being converted into mini BangaloreOne centres. "The BDA handed over these kiosks to us three days ago and we will transform them into our centres and operationalise them by the end of June.

These centres will have two or three counters, but will provide the same services. We took over these centres from BDA because of their strategic locations in the city. This way, our services will spread across the city," Mr Chawla said.

These apart three big centres will be opened on the premises of the National Games Village in Koramangala, Multi-Storeyed Building near Vidhana Soudha and BDA complex in Indiranagar.

City bus commuters' choices may change

City bus commuters' choices may change

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: What a spoiler! Our Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) just went ahead and reduced the Volvo fares. It could have at least sought the views of the status-conscious Bangalorean, soaking in the envious glances of ordinary passengers packed like pancakes in the more modest buses.

With reduced fares, the ordinary Bangalorean will now take that big leap into the Volvo, have a crack at elitism and throw to the winds the BMTC style class system.

Still, for those who cannot afford even the reduced Volvo fares, the blue and cream bus will remain the first choice. Master of multi-tasking, the driver of this modest vehicle doubles as the conductor too. With one hand on the steering wheel and another delicately poised between coin and ticket, the versatile driver saves money for the BMTC. One salary, two jobs. Perfect.

As for the comfort-challenged commuter, he or she boards and exits through the front door.

The person has no choice, because BMTC will not promote ticketless travel.

With no conductor to on guard, the double exit door in the middle is always firmly shut.

Traffic hit as roads become drains following heavy rain

Traffic hit as roads become drains following heavy rain

Staff Reporter

Water logging in several areas proves BBMP claim wrong

# 9.2 mm rain recorded till 8.30 p.m.
# Traffic disrupted for over an hour on Lal Bagh Road


BANGALORE: As it rained heavily in Bangalore on Sunday again, traffic was affected as several roads turned into storm water drains exposing the claims of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) about its monsoon preparedness.

BBMP Commissioner K. Jairaj said on Saturday that more than 70 per cent of monsoon-related drainage works has been completed. He said that there would be no more water logging.

However, the situation was otherwise and the roads submerged in rainwater, though only 9.2 mm of rainfall was recorded till 8.30 p.m.

Vehicles piled up for more than an hour from Mission Road Junction till the Lal Bagh Main Gate on Lal Bagh Road, Hosur Road, Mysore Road, Kanakanapalya, Ruby Junction on Bannerghatta Road and surrounding areas due to water logging.

Traffic was also affected near Vidya Peetha Circle and Hanumanthanagar for a considerable length of time.

A tree fell on Primrose Road, off Mahatma Gandhi Road, obstructing traffic, while another tree that fell near Garuda Mall, also brought traffic to a halt.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-East) Madhukar Shetty told The Hindu that as the volume of traffic was less (as it was a Sunday), the impact of rain was relatively less.

The fully covered shoulder-drains of arterial roads and lack of adequate inlets into these drains from the roads are the main reasons for roads getting flooded.



RAIN WOES: (Top) Bangalore Electricity Supply Company personnel clearing cables after a tree fell on Primrose Road in Bangalore on Sunday and (above) slow moving traffic on one of the city roads. — Photos: Sampath Kumar G.P.

At many places, rainwater was gushing out from manholes.

The problem of water logging on Lal Bagh Road seems to be never-ending, as even a little spell of rain makes the road unfit for motoring. Similarly, the stretch of Mysore Road near the Rajarajeshwari Nagar Gate, Ring Road Junction near Nayandahalli and Ghali Anjaneya Temple get inundated whenever it rains.

Mr. Jairaj was present at the BBMP Control Room to monitor distress calls and direct officials to attend to emergencies.

He said the Control Room got more than 30 calls about water logging and water entering houses in the low-lying areas.

Houses flooded

Rainwater entered houses in low-lying areas such as 7th Cross, Sudhamanagar (near Urvashi cinema), Journalists' Colony (off J.C. Road), Bantappa Colony near Byappanahalli, Bhavaninagar in Banashankari III Stage and Yarabnagar in Banashankari II Stage according to BBMP Control Room personnel.

The BBMP rushed its personnel to restore normality in these areas.

The tree in front of the Central Bureau of Investigation office on Bellary Road fell around 8 p.m. leaving traffic affected for more than three hours on the road.

However, there were no casualties.

Traffic was restored after BBMP personnel removed the tree.

Tree shifted in 9-hour operation

Tree shifted in 9-hour operation

Staff Reporter



SAFE: The tree being removed from the Mahatma Gandhi Road promenade to the Field Marshal Cariappa Parade Ground in Bangalore on Sunday. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: It was a green beginning for the Metro Rail project. Instead of cutting down trees for the project on its Mahatma Gandhi Road leg, it transplanted the first of the 10 well-grown trees from the road's promenade to the Field Marshal Cariappa Parade Ground here on Sunday.

The big Tabebuia rosa tree was moved by two cranes and transplanted into a eight-foot pit. The operation lasted nearly nine hours.

Taken up by the Bangalore Environment Trust, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, the job was executed by over 20 personnel attached to the Chennai-based Masterplan Landscape Architects.

The process started around 5 a.m. The Tabebuia rosa tree was reduced to a vertical lump as most of its branches were chopped off.

The tree was tied from four sides before the workers started to dig the earth around it.

After digging a 10-foot pit around it, the mother root was preserved in its original form, while the other roots were cut. The roots so cut were treated with friendly-chemicals to protect them from further damage.

Bins? Nah, feel free to dump garbage anywhere

Bins? Nah, feel free to dump garbage anywhere
Monday May 28 2007 09:21 IST

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BANGALORE: Don’t get me wrong, I love the place - however, despite all the plazas, restaurants and bars that make Bangalore a fantastic city, it has another striking element - garbage.

In the gutters it flows, on the pavements it grows - in fact just about everywhere you look, the ground is afflicted with rotting matter.

The city is treated like a landfill site. Litter is discarded on floor without a hesitation and where it collects in heaps on street corners, passers-by assist its decomposition with their own, human waste.

I was shocked until I realised I hadn’t seen a single bin anywhere. I’ve been told that garbage bins once roamed free about the city.

They were much larger than the tame, domesticated ones in use today, and revelled in their garbage collecting responsibilities.

These wonderful creatures were sadly mistreated, neglected to such an extent that they overflowed and became hazardous and unappealing.

I spoke to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Joint Commissioner (Health) B V Kulkarni, to find out what had happened to the garbage bins?

‘‘A decision was taken in 2000 to remove them,’’ he said. ‘‘In their place we now have a regular garbage collection service’’ (the one that was holding the city to ransom). I asked him then, what were pedestrians to do with their rubbish without bins to dispose of? His response was simple - ‘‘where there are no bins the rubbish can be collected from the street.’’

Now forgive me if I am missing a vital link in this brilliant strategy (which costs Rs 90 crore a year) but it seems the BBMP’s logic is tragically flawed. Without bins on the street, no matter how regular the domestic collection, there is nowhere the litter can go. The fine for littering is negligible and almost impossible to enforce. So inevitably the garbage mounds will grow higher.

The BBMP is not trying to solve the problem, it is merely reacting to it, isn’t it time the BBMP cleaned up its act and brought the faithful garbage bins back? I put this to the Joint Commissioner, he declined to comment.

Arkavathi Layout : Allottees suffer agony

Arkavathi Layout : Allottees suffer agony
Monday May 28 2007 09:18 IST

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BANGALORE: It is more than two years since some 9,000 people have been allotted Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) sites in Arkavathi Layout, but they could not construct houses. Most who got the site are waiting with a bated breath for the Supreme Court verdict regarding the layout. When it will come is anybody’s guess.

Allotment was done in two batches, one in 2005 and the other in 2006. Most allottees make it a point to regularly call BDA and ask for any fresh news. Their anxiety is heightened with the construction materials becoming dearer by the day. But the BDA has no reply, for they too are awaiting court verdict. A senior BDA official told this paper that people worried at the outcome, make numerous calls to the BDA and explain how ‘helpless’ they are. But we tell them, ‘‘so are we!’’

‘‘Some are well aware of the situation, they call to inquire whether it’s safe to construct their houses in the layout. Some also inquire after they are unable to make up their mind over construction, ‘‘in both the cases we cannot help,’’ said the official.

The Arkavathi Layout was the first layout with a dual pipeline system. Dual pipeline system would mean that every house will have two water connections, one for fresh water and the other for treated water.

This plan was initiated to stem the water scarcity in the City. This will be accepted as the future plan for all other layouts.

Flyovers have in no way eased traffic

Flyovers have in no way eased traffic
Monday May 28 2007 09:18 IST

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People at the crossroads at Banasawadi flyover.

BANGALORE: The purpose of constructing flyovers is to ease the traffic movement and share the traffic load of the main road. But many flyovers in the city do not meet the purpose.

If the 12 flyovers in the city constructed by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) are not serving the purpose, the fault lies with a variety of factors, not with a single agency, it is argued.

To begin with, commuters say that the existing flyovers lack proper planning and far-sight. The obvious result is that the traffic is not well diverted like the one on Double Road and the Banaswadi Flyover. If the flyovers are wide, they are not properly connected with the arterial roads to share the traffic load, like Anand Rao Circle and Double Road Flyover.

Rakesh M, a commuter says that using the flyovers has become almost as risky and laborious as the main road because of overload and heavy traffic at times. ‘‘Roads beneath the flyovers should also be utilised for traffic movement and be well connected with the main road.

This will ease the traffic movement and make commuting faster,’’ he said.

Meera J, another commuter while concurring with the first said that negotiating the city flyovers had become a tiresome task. There are traffic jams on flyovers too, especially during peak hours.

‘‘The traffic department ought to study and listen to the problems of the travelling public.

Mere construction of flyovers is not the solution. Managing traffic is as important as constructing flyovers,’’ she said.

Big companies violate building by law

Big companies violate building by law
Monday May 28 2007 09:10 IST

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BANGALORE: Big business, they are. Sadly, they happen to be the violators of building bylaw in the city.

The names are: Tobacco major ITC, owners of Coffee Day, and a company of R N Shetty group. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has admitted that these companies have taken up constructions sans the commencement certificate (CC). In fact, many of the constructions are in the final stages. This has prompted the joint director of town planning (JDTP) at BBMP S S Topagi, who appeared in a sombre mood, to remark that he might be called upon to issue both the commencement letter and occupancy certificate to them at one time!

A senior journalist had sought under Right To Information (RTI) Act, in September last, copies of commencement certificates and occupancy certificates issued by JDTP between January 2005 and September 2006. It took seven months for the Palike and a rap on its knuckle from the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) to produce result.

And the Palike had to admit that it was not seriously implementing the building by law. In March, the applicant shortlisted 27 ongoing constructions in the city and demanded documents on them. JDTP furnished the information in two instalments.

On April 28, he gave 10 CCs and on May 5, he furnished seven more. When asked about the remainder, Topagi said that it should be ‘understood as not issued’. But why cannot BBMP enforce its own building bylaw? ‘‘We work under tremendous political pressure,’’ he said.

Operation tree translocation begins

Operation tree translocation begins
Monday May 28 2007 09:06 IST

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BANGALORE: It was a dream come true for environmentalists who had been fighting against the tree felling for the developmental works in Bangalore, when a large tree was translocated in an early morning operation on Sunday.

Members of Bangalore Environmental Trust and officials from Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) shifted the Tabubia Rosea tree from its original position on M G Road, to Manekshaw Parade Grounds on the same road.

BBMP Tree Officer Udapudi Krishna, told this website's newspaper that ten trees which are falling in the alignment of the Metro Rail construction, would be shifted in the same manner, if the aggressive pre-monsoon showers cooperate.

Though a costly affair, the method that is being carried out for the first time in Bangalore by the civic agency, gave a sigh of relief to the agitating environmentalists. Two large cranes were pressed into service to shift the trees.

‘‘Among ten trees, four are large and the remaining are medium-sized. If rains go down a bit, we will complete the translocation process within two days,’’ he added.

Roadside eateries, the real villains?

Roadside eateries, the real villains?
By C S Hemanth, DH News Service, Bangalore:
Hoteliers, both big and small, might have realised the importance to go clean by following a systematic garbage disposal system at their restaurants. However, for some roadside eateries, old habits die hard and these joints continue to be a major source of the Citys garbage menace.

Hoteliers, both big and small, might have realised the importance to ‘go clean’ by following a systematic garbage disposal system at their restaurants. However, for some roadside eateries, old habits die hard and these joints continue to be a major source of the City’s garbage menace.
Right from push-carts to hawkers on footpaths that serve chaats to dosas and non-vegetarian dishes, all are equally to be blamed for the mess that they contribute to — be it at Sajjan Rao Circle, Avenue Road, BTM Layout, Basavanagudi or any other locality where they have set up shop. When Deccan Herald visited these spots, it found that hygiene is the last thing on the mind of those running the business; they merrily ply their trade with no concern for cleanliness.
At Market Road near Sajjan Rao Circle, popularly known as ‘food street’ that operates till late in the night. The food leftovers, paper plates and cups are all dumped in front of the shops once they down shutters and there is nothing like a ‘will’, much less anything remotely like a method, to segregate the waste.

Taxing stink
And a majority of those running these joints say it is the duty of the civic authorities to clear the waste “as they collect tax, don’t they?” “It is not that we are not concerned about hygiene... we ensure that the leftovers are dumped at a particular spot every day and not thrown in the open. But it is the duty of the civic authorities to clear them the next day,” says Vivekananda, a hawker.
Similarly, on Avenue Road, the picture is not pretty. Waste is strewn all around once the hawkers and push-carts wind up for the day (night!). Plastic plates, plantain leaves, egg shells, meat leftovers and such are thrown in the open -- for the cows and, of course, canines to feast on.
But says a customer, “It doesn’t matter whether the place is clean or not, all that matters is that this is one of the few spots which serve food till late in the night.”

Customers wrong
Passing the buck to the customers, a tea-stall owner says that though most of these roadside eateries have kept dustbins to dump used paper plates and plastic cups, very few have the ‘courtesy’ to dump them there after use.
The culprits are not just the night-time eateries, but also the ones that serve food during day who don’t follow any procedure for segregating the wastes.
On Bore Bank Road in Benson Town, food leftovers are dumped barely metres away from the push-cart which has a beeline of customers everyday. Residents of the locality make repeated requests to dispose of the refuse, but the vendors couldn’t care less.

Ulsoor lake dirty as BBMP goofs up

Ulsoor lake dirty as BBMP goofs up
DH News Service, Bangalore:
Ulsoor lake, an important water body, has been polluted with a large quantity of sewage water entering the lake following Thursdays heavy rain.

What was a picturesque lake has turned into an eyesore of the City on Friday. Ulsoor lake, an important water body, has been polluted with a large quantity of sewage water entering the lake following Thursday’s heavy rain.
Sewage water flooded the lake from a nearby storm-water drain which is under repair. It was due to sheer laxity of BBMP officials - who had removed filters installed at the end of the drain - the sewage water flooded the lake.
The lake water has turned black and a large quantity of dirt and waste has accumulated.
BBMP Deputy Conservator of Forests Krishna Udapudi admitted filters were removed to take up repair works on the storm-water drain. “Filters were removed by those working on the drain. We are cleaning the lake now... The problem will remain for a few days as filters would be re-installed only by May 30... but nothing will happen to the lake,” he said.

Work to salvage trees begins

Work to salvage trees begins

Staff Reporter

This is to save them from being cut for infrastructure projects

# It is undertaken jointly by three agencies
# A Chennai-based firm is providing expertise for the task



LAUDABLE EFFORT: (Top) Workers dig the ground around a tree on M.G. Road promenade as part of the exercise to salvage it. (Below) A pit is being dug for the transplantation on Field Marshal Cariappa Parade Ground, on Friday. — Photo: V. Sreeni vasa Murthy

BANGALORE: In the first concerted effort in the city to save trees being felled for infrastructure projects, work began on Friday to salvage 10 well-grown trees on the M.G. Road promenade. They will be transplanted on the nearby Field Marshal Cariappa Parade Ground.

The operation to remove a Tabebuia Rosa tree, whose girth is big enough to envelop a warm hug for an average person, commenced on Friday morning.

Undertaken jointly by the Bangalore Environment Trust, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. and the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, the expertise for tree transplantation is being provided by the Chennai-based Masterplan Landscape Architects, the work was to get over by late Friday but rain hampered progress.

Though a couple of cranes arrived at the spot, the supervisors decided to postpone the transplantation to Saturday morning.

How it is done

Here is how trees are transplanted: In the first step, workers lop off the branches and reduce the existing tree to a vertical log. The tree is then tied from three or four sides lest it falls on the workers undertaking the operation.

Then, the workers start digging the earth around the tree. Hours later and after reaching over 10-ft depth, the mother root is preserved as it is while the other roots are cut off leaving a metre long butts. The roots so cut are treated with friendly-chemicals so that they do not suffer damage because of sudden exposure to open air and sunlight.

After being so salvaged, it is carefully shifted to the venue of transplant using cranes and a lorry in the presence of fire services personnel and ambulances to meet any eventuality.

At the site of transplant, a huge nine-ft deep pit is dug. The first two feet of it is covered with sand. After carefully landing the tree in the pit, it is covered with sand.

The experts explain that only sand is used to fill up the pit because that would make it easier for the tree to branch off its roots in loose soil.

They said the tree would be watered on a regular basis so that it rejuvenates at the earliest.

Trustee and administrator of BET G. Govardhan said in about 45 days fresh leaves could appear.

However, horticulturist of Taj West End S.L.V. Prasad, who is also helping the operation, said his experience was that the time required was six months to two years for the tree to show signs of rejuvenation.

"This is because we are not giving a greenhouse-king of conducive atmosphere for it," he said.

Heavy rain lashes city

Heavy rain lashes city

Staff Reporter

Several areas were waterlogged in the downpour



DISRUPTED: Traffic movement was affected owing to heavy rain in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

BANGALORE: Rain lashed the city for the second day on Friday.

According to the Meteorological Department, the city recorded 36 mm of rain while it was 21.6 mm at the airport, till 8.30 p.m.

Because of the heavy rain traffic was disrupted at several places. Vehicular traffic was affected for two hours on a road in Koramangala 6th Block after a tree fell on cars near the Koramangala Club.

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike control room received reports of tree fall at Jayanagar 1st Block, Rajajinagar 2nd Block, Koramangala 8th Block, Shantinagar 15th Cross, Tilak Nagar, Peenya and Basaveshwaranagar. There were also complaints of overflow of sewage from Adugodi and Journalists' Colony.

Water entered several houses on Magadi Road, at RBI Layout, Padarayanapura, Nandini Layout, Manjunatha Nagar and Jakkasandra.

Mysore Road was waterlogged which affected movement of vehicles. Traffic was also affected near Kempe Gowda bus stand. There were reports of waterlogging in several other areas, including CMH Road, Old Madras Road, Mysore Ring Road, M.G. Road, Queen's Road, Residency Road, Cubbon Road, Airport Road, near Lalbagh West Gate and Kino Theatre.

Work to salvage trees begins

Work to salvage trees begins

Staff Reporter

This is to save them from being cut for infrastructure projects

# It is undertaken jointly by three agencies
# A Chennai-based firm is providing expertise for the task



LAUDABLE EFFORT: (Top) Workers dig the ground around a tree on M.G. Road promenade as part of the exercise to salvage it. (Below) A pit is being dug for the transplantation on Field Marshal Cariappa Parade Ground, on Friday. — Photo: V. Sreeni vasa Murthy

BANGALORE: In the first concerted effort in the city to save trees being felled for infrastructure projects, work began on Friday to salvage 10 well-grown trees on the M.G. Road promenade. They will be transplanted on the nearby Field Marshal Cariappa Parade Ground.

The operation to remove a Tabebuia Rosa tree, whose girth is big enough to envelop a warm hug for an average person, commenced on Friday morning.

Undertaken jointly by the Bangalore Environment Trust, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. and the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, the expertise for tree transplantation is being provided by the Chennai-based Masterplan Landscape Architects, the work was to get over by late Friday but rain hampered progress.

Though a couple of cranes arrived at the spot, the supervisors decided to postpone the transplantation to Saturday morning.

How it is done

Here is how trees are transplanted: In the first step, workers lop off the branches and reduce the existing tree to a vertical log. The tree is then tied from three or four sides lest it falls on the workers undertaking the operation.

Then, the workers start digging the earth around the tree. Hours later and after reaching over 10-ft depth, the mother root is preserved as it is while the other roots are cut off leaving a metre long butts. The roots so cut are treated with friendly-chemicals so that they do not suffer damage because of sudden exposure to open air and sunlight.

After being so salvaged, it is carefully shifted to the venue of transplant using cranes and a lorry in the presence of fire services personnel and ambulances to meet any eventuality.

At the site of transplant, a huge nine-ft deep pit is dug. The first two feet of it is covered with sand. After carefully landing the tree in the pit, it is covered with sand.

The experts explain that only sand is used to fill up the pit because that would make it easier for the tree to branch off its roots in loose soil.

They said the tree would be watered on a regular basis so that it rejuvenates at the earliest.

Trustee and administrator of BET G. Govardhan said in about 45 days fresh leaves could appear.

However, horticulturist of Taj West End S.L.V. Prasad, who is also helping the operation, said his experience was that the time required was six months to two years for the tree to show signs of rejuvenation.

"This is because we are not giving a greenhouse-king of conducive atmosphere for it," he said.