Metro: No parking on M G Road

Metro: No parking on M G Road
By S Praveen Dhaneshkar, Bangalore, DH News Service:
Parking on M G Road would not be allowed from the Cauvery Emporium junction to Mayo Hall as the BMRC would soon be occupying 9.75 metres bang in the middle of the road to begin construction in phase two of the Namma Metro project...

Motorists who park their vehicles on the City’s showpiece M G Road will have to brace themselves for alternative parking arrangements that would be in place by the end of this week.

Parking on M G Road would not be allowed from the Cauvery Emporium junction (Brigade Road) to Mayo Hall for cars and two-wheelers as the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) would soon be occupying 9.75 metres bang in the middle of the road to begin construction in phase two of the “Namma Metro” project.

“With drilling work on the historic boulevard progressing on schedule and shifting of utilities almost over, we are ready to commence construction along Reach 1 of the second part of Mahatma Gandhi Road this month. Talks with the City police have been held to acquire space from Brigade Road junction,” said V Madhu, managing director, BMRC.

Sources in the traffic department (East) said parking will be banned from Brigade Road junction to Mayo Hall in view of the metro rail project.

“A traffic diversion plan has been prepared. Movement of BMTC buses is also likely to be affected. We anticipate it to be announced on Wednesday or Thursday. The police have provided a cushion period of three or four days for the public from the date of restrictions so that motorists get used to the new plan. Pamphlets will be distributed on M G Road to announce this,” said a police officer.

Change in bus stops
BMTC managing director Upendra Tripathy said the BMRC and the traffic police have been asked to follow the Delhi Metro pattern while proposing traffic diversion.

“Talks with all stakeholders have been held. A change in bus stops is also on cards,” he added.

Meanwhile, work on the multi-crore project is speeding up with excavation drilling machines working round-the- clock. Girders are being put in place at a distance of every 28 m on an average depth of 16m depth into the ground.

This will then facilitate laying of viaducts and pre-fabricated platform for the metro tracks to be laid on, said Mr Madhu.

The BMRC would complete construction of pile foundation/pillar structure on the promenade by October this year and has set itself a deadline of September 2008 to complete work up to Trinity Circle and lay platforms for coaches by April 2009 on the MG Road stretch.

Meanwhile, the BMRC has completed the building-condition survey on properties to be acquired. Nine approved valuers who have surveyed properties will now suggest demolition of properties, either in full or partly, depending on the acquisition.

“We have left the option of demolition to property owners. If they choose to demolish it on their own, the BMRC will bear the cost. Compensation to land owners will be paid either by the end of this month or in September,” Mr Madhu told Deccan Herald.

The BMRC has also received pre-qualification bids for providing rolling stock (coaches) from expert consortia who would build state-of-the-art coaches for “Namma Metro”.