ON CLOUD 09

ON CLOUD 09
A New Year is upon us, and with that boundless hope. A host of infrastructure projects are nearing completion, giving Bangaloreans a free exit from the traffic maze. Bangalore-Mysore corridor and Hosur Road Expressway are expected to be completed by this year. Happy driving

ON THE ROAD
During 2009, roads in new BBMP areas will get “urban” touch: 400 km of arterial and subarterial roads will be redone, 23 roads identified. Tendering process on. Project groundwork begins in March-April BDA is fast-tracking work on eight grade separators on the stretch between CSB Junction and Hebbal. The authority will add pace to its project on seamless travel on the ORR
WATER FRONT
The BWSSB’s Rs 332.53-crore project on underground drainage in Rajarajeshwarinagar, Byatarayanapura, Krishnarajapura, Mahadevapura, Dasarahalli, Bommanahalli is tipped to be completed in 2009. This apart, the board plans to put in place nine ground level reservoirs on a budget of Rs 46 crore by 2009 end

Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor
The NICE has already rolled out BMIC peripheral and link roads. Now, it’s planning to complete 111-km Bangalore-Mysore expressway by Dec 2009


HOSUR ROAD EXPRESSWAY
The 9-km expressway between the Central Silk Board Junction and Electronic City is expected to be ready in April. Over 80% work is complete. The Rs 765-crore expressway is expected to cut peak-hour travel time from one hour to 20 minutes


ON THE TRACK
Tendering for Namma Metro stations nearing completion. Land acquisition for all reaches to end by January-February. Shifting of utilities meeting the February deadline.
Flip side: Important roads around Vidhana Soudha are set to be closed from February for Metro underground work. Prepare for more traffic snarls


BMTC PLANS
The introduction of new buses and expansion of fleet will be taken up as an ongoing process through 2009. The BMTC plans to expand the Vayu Vajra fleet to 310 by March. The Marcopolo buses will be watched on a trial through the entire year.


FREEDOM PARK
Expect the Rs 10.27-crore Freedom Park, coming up on the old central prison premises on Seshadri Road, to be ready by February. In November, the BBMP had been given 45-day time to complete the 20-acre park


TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS
The city traffic police to expedite work on the area traffic control system planned under B-TRAC 2010 by April-May. A global tender (on work worth Rs 10 crore) floated for the first variable message system boards in the city. With the system, commuters will be able to know the expected time taken to reach their destinations