Let’s put the bang back in Bangalore

Let’s put the bang back in Bangalore
KEYHOLDERS SPEAK OUT
Questions were asked, issues were debated, and the stakeholders presented their points of view. But are Bangaloreans convinced?


For people-based approach Gaurav Gupta | COMMISSIONER, URBAN LAND TRANSPORT
Shift from a vehicle-based approach to people-based approach. That’s step one towards an improved, unlocked Bangalore. We have been laying wrong emphasis on vehicles. A city like Tokyo has seen a fall in vehicle sales. For the situation to be replicated here, the BMTC and the upcoming Metro Rail need to be given a big fillip. Let us push for a policy that ensures easy access for the public to bus and rail stations.
The bane of public transport in Bangalore has been limited access to stations. In the next five years, a huge number of people will be able to afford four-wheelers. The focus should be on implementing a policy that encourages public transport and ensures that people can walk on roads and cross them as well.
Bangalore’s problems are not unique but can be found in any Indian metropolis. The BMLTA will work under the National Urban Transport Policy towards addressing connectivity issues pertaining to Bangalore.
Five departments — urban development, infrastructure development, public works, home and transport — and 10 agencies, including the police, will work together under BMLTA. The city mobility plan, envisaged under the Rs 47,000-crore Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Plan, is also in the pipeline, covering road improvement, Metro and mono rails and other aspects of connectivity.


We’ll be out of MG’s by Dec. V Madhu | MANAGING DIRECTOR, BMRC
The key to Bangalore’s logjam lies in effective implementation of the Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Plan (CTTP). Unlock the CTTP and things will fall in place. The proposed Mass Rapid Transport System in Bangalore, covering about 690 km, will play an important role in addressing the city’s connectivity issues.
Resistance to land acquisition and pending litigation against the project have hampered the Metro Rail’s progress. Acquisition of private land has been an issue... we are trying to convince land owners with the package that we have on offer. Since there is pending litigation, some of the land owners are waiting for the court verdicts before accepting compensation.
Yet, we’ll stick to the deadline and by June, most of the Metro’s civil work tenders will be awarded. Three-fourth of Metro’s design process is over. BMRC has tendered for signalling and telecommunications as well.
Work on MG Road (Byappanahalli-cricket stadium stretch) will also be completed as per schedule. I had set an 18-month deadline when we began work there. By December, we’ll be out of M G Road.


BBMP needs more funds S Subramanya | BBMP COMMISSIONER
BBMP has been suffering from acute shortage of financial resources, poor infrastructure and lack of planning. BBMP should be empowered to collect octroi (entry tax) and other taxes to pump in money to upgrade its infrastructure. BBMP is faced with the challenge of improving 14,000 sq kms of road apart from other projects, from its fiscal outlay of Rs 3,300 crore for the year 2007-08.
The city lacks a blueprint for overall development and planning has not been in compliance with the growth. For instance, when the BDA plans new layouts it would lack a place for installing transformers and finds place on roads, thereby shrinking them.
Footpaths and roads developed by the BBMP have been dug up constantly by 13 agencies which have converted them into conduits for their cables, while vendors convert them into shops, leading to traffic chaos.
Pothole-ridden roads would lead to piling up of traffic on streets. Bangalore has over 840 junctions/ intersections, which need to be addressed.


Rising to the occasion H Siddaiah | COMMISSIONER, BDA
The financially sound BDA offered to take up implementation of projects planned by other stakeholders, but been held back due to lack of funds. “There is no dearth of financial resources and any stakeholder intending to implement new projects can approach us with formal authorization from the government. We’ll rise to the occasion to build flyovers and grade separators. The flyover near Marathahalli will be over by the month-end and Chord Road-Magadi Road Junction underpass would be ready by June-end.
He said: “The BDA has not given up the 117-km Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) project estimated to cost Rs 990 crore. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) authorities evinced interest to execute its first phase and bear land acquisition cost too. NHAI is yet to take over the project in principle. The second phase would be executed by the BDA.’’


More stress on computerization N Lakshminarayana | COMMISSIONER, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT
The department will soon computerize all its RTOs and ARTOs to facilitate easy functioning of the department, apart from providing smart cards to driving licence holders with free insurance cover for one year. The department is also e x p l o r i n g GPS options to track vehicles to cut down offences in the state. The department will moot the idea of increasing the qualification of drivers from SSLC to ITI level so we get better quality drivers.


Developing transit terminals M A Saleem | DIRECTOR, VIGILANCE & SECURITY, KSRTC
To decongest the heavily congested Majestic area, efforts are on to acquire lands to decentralize the bus-stations. Vehicles using the six transit terminals — Mysore Road, Nelamangala Road, Peenya Road, NGEF-Old Madras Road, Hosur Road and Bellary Road — in future can use bus-stations to be developed there. Like the MCTC bus-station developed on Mysore Road, we plan to set up Inter Modal Transit Centres at these transit terminals. Work will soon begin on the Rs 71-crore Peenya bus-station which will facilitate even BMTC and Metro users. Here, a subway is being built for BMTC buses, providing it a separate terminal. The same will be done at NGEF, where we are trying to acquire land. However, it’s been very difficult to acquire land on Hosur Road and Bellary Road; we require around 5 acres of land at both places. KSRTC has also requested BDA and BBMP to sell them lands if possible, but here too they have hit a dead-end.
KSRTC will provide direct connectivity to people travelling to the new international airport from other cities and districts — initially for passengers from Mysore, Hosur and Tumkur.


14 buses to new airport Upendra Tripathy | MANAGING DIRECTOR, BMTC
BMTC is inaugurating 14 buses — 10 Vayu Vajras and four Suvarna — for connectivity to the new airport. It will be a free service for the first two days when the airport opens. It’s also setting up a Centre for Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning at a cost of Rs 15 crore. Funds for this Rs 60-crore project will be raised from the state and under the JN-NURM. By 2012, the city will have an additional 10,000 buses, including 1,000 Volvos. About 5,000 drivers will be trained this year to adhere to lane discipline, apart from focusing on other safety measures.


New recruits need training Praveen Sood | ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, TRAFFIC & SECURITY
No official in the traffic department is trained, but learn about their roles on the field. Though enforcement is the core task of the traffic police, they are doing a lot more other work. There is no
point in passing the buck on other agencies. Even today, our constables paint the markings and zebra crossings in the city. I don’t comment on who should do this work, but definitely, enforcement is our prime objective. Even in other countries, traffic police are being used for enforcement work. Being the only visible officials on the road, these constables are ridiculed by the public for all reasons.
Citizen group members should take an oath stating “We would not violate rules.’’ We should collectively find solutions to the traffic menace. Traffic police are ready to work with social organizations. We will select 50 schools and colleges and educate them. We are planning a positive campaign to bring in awareness among motorists. While educating motorists, it’s more important to tell them what they should do than what they shouldn’t do. Many motorists still have to learn skills to drive on different roads. Motorists don’t know how to get on to a narrow road from an arterial road.


Longer terms, please V P Baligar | PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENT Announcing that the trumpet interchange near BIA would be opened on Thursday, infrastructure secretary V P Baligar made a passionate plea for longer terms for bureaucrats to implement projects. “We want to do the best we can in the time available to us. But we don’t know whether we’ll be there for six months, one year or two years. It would be nice if we stayed longer to ensure good implementation.”
He said training of bureaucrats had improved mid-career as well as at induction and suggested they also be trained in project management. The department has ensured completion of trumpet interchange near BIA in eight months despite litigation and land acquisition problems.
The department in collaboration with Public Works Department has completed upgradation of nearly 500 km of roads around Bangalore in addition to the road from Sai Baba Ashram in Whitefield. Six roads around Bangalore which provide direct access to BIA have been strengthened and will be opened shortly.