Thursday, August 31, 2006

Bangalore Tomorrow: A Garden City

Bangalore Tomorrow: A Garden City


It used to be known as the green city, but it's giving way to skyscrapers. As part of our special series 'Bangalore Tomorrow: Your Vote' we asked the people of the city for possible solutions to maintain the city’s green cover.



Today the Garden City is a concrete jungle. There has been an influx of working population that needs to be housed, and the resulting construction boom has happened at the expense of Bangalore's green cover and lakes.



The result - crowded areas and a changing climate. TIMES NOW spoke to Bangaloreans to find out how worried they were about the changes taking place in their city.



One Bangalore resident said, “I have been in Bangalore for the last 15 years, many things have changed. Greenery has reduced, especially Bellary road area, that’s why climate is also hot nowdays.”



“The lack of greenery is not really a healthy sight, there is garbage and construction everywhere,” said one Banglorean.



Clearly, Bangaloreans are worried - but how can the city grow without eating into the green space? As part of our series, we asked people across the city for solutions , and 59% felt the government needs to ensure that construction companies plant trees and maintain parks around buildings.



21% felt a green tax collected from builders to maintain the green cover is the answer.



An equal number of people said concrete construction should be banned in Bangalore for the next 10 years.



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Interestingly, double the number of youngsters felt banning concrete construction is the answer, while one third of older citizens surveyed said a green tax is the solution.



Artist and singer Aarti Rao said, “Lots of these construction companies are indiscriminately chopping trees to clear land without permission. Every construction company, whether commercial or residential, should plant trees in and around their property.”



Mantri Developers, MD Sushil Mantri said, “Cutting of trees is quite common, the government is making an effort to control it but is unable to acheive success.”



Green cover depleting



Four years ago, 4.4% of Bangalore was open spaces. Today, it is almost half that number. With exceptions like the Cubbon Park most of the city's greenery is turning grey and lakes are drying up. Clearly this needs to be tackled for a better Bangalore Tomorrow.

Notices issued to BWSSB, Apartments’ owners

Notices issued to BWSSB, Apartments’ owners
Deccan Herald

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has issued a show-cause notice to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) on the waste discharges into Kaggadaspura Lake


The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has issued a show-cause notice to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) on the waste discharges into Kaggadaspura Lake, besides slapping notices on more than 40 apartment complex owners’ association in Kaggadaspura (Ward 83).

The notice, issued by KSPCB to both BWSSB and the association on August 26, states that water discharged through underground drains (UGDs) is entering the lake. KSPCB has already set a deadline for the apartment complexes to stop discharging waste into the lake.

On August 8, a Joint Legislature Committee directed the KSPCB, under Section 24 of the Water Act, to furnish a report to the government with regard to land encroachments and pollution (caused by waste water) of the 82-acre lake. The KSPCB then formed a three-member committee to submit a report in this regard.

Too many flats

Hundreds of apartment complexes have mushroomed in the area with the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike generously issuing occupancy certificates to builders, and the BWSSB issuing licences to these complexes to let out their domestic waste into the lake, says KSPCB Regional Officer Lakshman.

Among the 40 apartment complexes that have been served notice, are Aishwarya Apartments (120 flats), Malnad Towers (64), Jana Jeevan Nivas (54), Sreeja Tanishq (56) and G R Agency (48). According to the KSPCB, these apartments have more number of flats than statutorily allowed, thus leading to heavy discharge of waste into the lake. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Mr Lakshman stated the BWSSB should have provided a garland drain around the lake, instead of building pipelines leading into the lake.

Missing links

He also said “missing links of about 800 meters in one stretch and 200 meters in another should be plugged by BWSSB within seven days”, failing which, a court case would be booked against the Board.

Lake Development Authority (LDA) Chairman B K Singh said the only way out would be to let treated waste into the lake. “If sewage let out into the lake is not controlled/treated, nobody can do anything about the lake. All lakes in the City have become sewage depositories, as their topography is such that the waste settles naturally into the bottom-most portion of the land,” he said.

MURKY SCENARIO

*More than 1,000 metres of UGDs to be provided by BWSSB

*Many apartment complexes have not paid the BWSSB for water and sewage connections, leading to many of them having illegal connections

*The lake belonged to the LDA and the Forest Department

*There are more than 100 apartments with Ground Floor plus three floors

*More than 30 apartment complexes in the area are now under construction

Notices issued to BWSSB, Apartments’ owners

Notices issued to BWSSB, Apartments’ owners
Deccan Herald

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has issued a show-cause notice to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) on the waste discharges into Kaggadaspura Lake


The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has issued a show-cause notice to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) on the waste discharges into Kaggadaspura Lake, besides slapping notices on more than 40 apartment complex owners’ association in Kaggadaspura (Ward 83).

The notice, issued by KSPCB to both BWSSB and the association on August 26, states that water discharged through underground drains (UGDs) is entering the lake. KSPCB has already set a deadline for the apartment complexes to stop discharging waste into the lake.

On August 8, a Joint Legislature Committee directed the KSPCB, under Section 24 of the Water Act, to furnish a report to the government with regard to land encroachments and pollution (caused by waste water) of the 82-acre lake. The KSPCB then formed a three-member committee to submit a report in this regard.

Too many flats

Hundreds of apartment complexes have mushroomed in the area with the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike generously issuing occupancy certificates to builders, and the BWSSB issuing licences to these complexes to let out their domestic waste into the lake, says KSPCB Regional Officer Lakshman.

Among the 40 apartment complexes that have been served notice, are Aishwarya Apartments (120 flats), Malnad Towers (64), Jana Jeevan Nivas (54), Sreeja Tanishq (56) and G R Agency (48). According to the KSPCB, these apartments have more number of flats than statutorily allowed, thus leading to heavy discharge of waste into the lake. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Mr Lakshman stated the BWSSB should have provided a garland drain around the lake, instead of building pipelines leading into the lake.

Missing links

He also said “missing links of about 800 meters in one stretch and 200 meters in another should be plugged by BWSSB within seven days”, failing which, a court case would be booked against the Board.

Lake Development Authority (LDA) Chairman B K Singh said the only way out would be to let treated waste into the lake. “If sewage let out into the lake is not controlled/treated, nobody can do anything about the lake. All lakes in the City have become sewage depositories, as their topography is such that the waste settles naturally into the bottom-most portion of the land,” he said.

MURKY SCENARIO

*More than 1,000 metres of UGDs to be provided by BWSSB

*Many apartment complexes have not paid the BWSSB for water and sewage connections, leading to many of them having illegal connections

*The lake belonged to the LDA and the Forest Department

*There are more than 100 apartments with Ground Floor plus three floors

*More than 30 apartment complexes in the area are now under construction

Option 1 could win the race

Option 1 could win the race
The Times of India

Bangalore: One year of exercise, six options in hand, three short-listed, and one will stake claim as Greater Bangalore.

The delimitation exercise was carried out largely taking into consideration the projected increase in population — by 2015, Bangalore’s population would be 88 lakhs and by 2020 it would grow to one crore.
The process was set in motion in July 2005 for Bangalore: talks of redefining the constituencies following increase in the population, reshuffling of pockets having unequal population, geographical features, better connectivity, means of communication, public convenience, areas divided by rivers, hilly ranges, forests and ravines.

While the short-listed options dwell on the merger of urban local bodies around Bangalore into BMP and formation of zonal corporations, the remaining alternatives spoke of combination of villages as per their level of development.

Over to the six options.

OPTION I
(This has been on the government’s mind): 696 sq km.
Includes BMP limits extending up to 226 sq km and merging seven CMCs and one TMC spreading over more than 291 sq km, and 103 villages with more than 30% development spread over 178 sq km.
OPTION II
527.97 sq km. Merger of BMP and seven CMCs and one TMC.
OPTION III
(under government’s consideration) 597.18 sq km. First is the BMP; then 257 sq km of urban local bodies and next the 33 villages with 70% development spreading over 79.21 sq km.
OPTION IV
BMP and two zones - East and West - bifurcated by Bannerghatta Road in the South and the Bellary Road in the North. The East zone has developed areas having IT-related activities, part of Byatarayanapura, KR Puram, Mahadevapura, parts of Bommanahalli and Yelahanka CMCs and 26 villages with more than 30% development-230 sq km.
West zone comprising TG Halli catchment area where developments are less due to restrictions on development - 240.17 sq km including RR Nagar, Dasarahalli, part of Bommanahalli, part of Yelahanka, part of Byatarayanapura CMCs and Kengeri TMC along with 59 villages more than 30% development.
OPTION V
(under consideration)
Apart from BMP, two zones have been proposed - North zone with 187 sq km and South zone with 283 sq km bifurcated by Magadi Road in the West and Varthur Road in the East.
In North zone, revenue collection is high due to dense developments and has Dasarahalli, Byatarayanapura, Yelahanka, parts of KR Puram and Mahadevapura CMCs along with 45 villages which have more than 30% developments.
In the South zone, revenue collection is low since developments are restricted in certain pockets. It has RR Nagar, Bommanahalli, parts of Mahadevapura and KR Puram CMCs and Kengeri TMC along with 64 villages with more than 30% development.
OPTION VI
Apart from the BMP, two zones to be formed: Zone I will have three CMCs, Bommanahalli, Mahadevapura and KR Puram and 38 villages with more than 30% development; Zone II comprises four CMCs - RR Nagar, Dasarahalli, Yelahanka, Byatarayanapura — and Kengeri TMC along with 68 villages.
The government, which has formed a committee headed by principal secretary to CM Sudhakar Rao to zero-in on one proposal for Greater Bangalore, is likely to issue a notification in this regard in a day or two.
According to sources, the government is serious about the first option where BMP limits will be expanded to 696 sq km by merging urban local bodies and 193 villages.

Slow death for KR Market?

TIMES CIVIC K R Market
Slow death for KR Market?
This Place Is One Of The Filthiest Areas In Bangalore
The Times of India

Bangalore: KR Market, one of the oldest markets and landmarks in the city, is dying a slow death. Thanks to the apathy of officials and elected representatives, KR Market is one of the filthiest areas teeming with people.

“The entire market is in a terrible condition. Encroachments are rampant. Hawkers and vendors are all over the place. Garbage thrown by them along with poor ventilation causes a disgusting stench. Sweeping takes place only when the officers are likely to inspect the area,” says B K Goyal, secretary of federation of trade associations of central Bangalore.

“The underground parking is a horrible experience in itself. The entrance and exit are blocked by vendors and vehicles. Dirty water is always on the floor due to the open drain pipes. Only good team work can solve existing problems.”

He adds that the roads are heavily cratered. Traffic jams are a common sight. “It’s a nightmare for commuters to travel in the market area during festival seasons.”

Agrees DCP West (Traffic), Rama Subba: “During festivals there is heavy traffic in K R Market and additional staff is deployed for surveillance. The concreting of SJP Road by BMP has led to traffic diversions. Once the work is completed and the road is open to public traffic flow will be smooth”.

Law and order does not seem to work here. For, buses and autos are parked all over obstructing traffic flow. The underground pedestrian walkway passage is of faulty design and pedestrians hardly use it. “The existing bus stand at Kalasipalya should be renovated to accommodate all the buses including private ones and movement of tempos should be restricted during peak hours. Though two tenders were called by BMP to modernise the bus stand, work has not stared,” complained the traders.

According to BMP officials, a proposal to renovate the Kalasipalya bus stand is placed before the government for approval. It will be done through Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) system. A 30-year lease period will be given under which a quarterly management fee will be collected by BMP.

The area also suffers from high pollution levels, seepage of water from flyover during rains, poor illumination, garbage menace and flooding.

CORPORATORSPEAK: SYED JALEEL
“A sum of Rs 85 crore has been sanctioned for garbage disposal and placed before the government for approval.Rs 2.85 crore has also been sanctioned for the development of roads in KR Market. It will be completed by the end of October. The entire market area will be given a face-lift. Interior roads will be concreted. Vendors and hawkers have been in city market for over 60 years. They are not causing any problems as they are controlled by the police and BMP.”

Times Now takes the city a step forward

Times Now takes the city a step forward
The Times of India

Bangalore: From corruption to illegal marriage halls, from terrible traffic to cultural divides — the Times Now panel discussion, organised as part of the Bangalore Tomorrow initiative was crisp yet comprehensive. Held at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) campus, with the help of the institute’s Centre for Public Policy on Wednesday, the discussion aimed at looking at a solution for the city’s problems for a better future.

The panelists were a mix of Bangalore’s bureaucracy, concerned citizens and active social participants — MLC B K Chandrashekhar, BMP commissioner K Jairaj, JCP (crime) Gopal Hosur, singer-actor Vasundhara Das, environmentalist Leo Saldanha and Vrinda Bhaskar from Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness.

Moderator and Times Now editor-inchief Arnab Goswami kickstarted the discussion with the increasing crime rate. “Our crimes are lower than any other city and BPO crimes are an abberation and not a trend as the media has portrayed,’’ defended Hosur.

The next pointer was the lack of planning in the city that was made by Chandrashekhar. Blaming BMP, BDA and the government, he said, “The mythical Slum Clearance Board should be wound up.’’

Jairaj cited the infrastructure provisioning as inadequate for the city’s expansion rate, while Saldanah blamed BDA for Bangalore being an “encroachment galore city.’’

However, it was Das and Bhaskar who pointed out that the city lacked citizen participation. “In civic awareness surveys conducted by our organisation over the past four years, over 50 per cent of the population is not even aware of the concept of wards, let alone knowing which ward they come under,’’ said Bhaskar.

A member from the audience made a point about the illegal commercial encroachments in basements, while another lamented on the number of illegal marriage halls mushrooming in all corners of the city sending the traffic haywire, but Jairaj offered no concrete solution.

Bangalore versus Bengaluru was a subject of discussion, where a majority of the audience disagreed that the change would help bridge the widening cultural and economic divide.

The topic of corruption saw heated participation and while Jairaj said that people should stop paying bribes, the audience retaliated saying that the bribes were demand-driven.

But on the optimistic side, the audience agreed that despite all its problems and unpreparedness to face the boom, they wouldn’t shift out of the city. Love it or hate it, you can’t leave namma Bengaluru.

(Watch out for the telecast on September 9 and 10 at 9.30 am and 6.30 pm on Times Now)

Famous last words
Chandrashekhar: We must introduce at least functional Kannada so that citizens feel a sense of ownership towards the city.
Jairaj: We must be optimistic about the active citizen civic participation and recognise Bangalore’s potential.
Hosur: We must be prepared to resist terrorist attacks. The nature of crime is going to change and will become more organised and cyber-driven.
Das: How many of us would actually get up and do something? How many students opt for politics as a career?
Saldanha: I see no space for the poor in the expansion plans of Greater Bangalore. And there’s no space for citizen participation.
Bhaskar: There is space for a citizen’s forum, which we must make use of and be more aware.

Stretch of power and might

STREET SMART - DR B R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI
Stretch of power and might
It may not be more than one kilometre in length, but the Dr B R Ambedkar Veedi is undoubtedly the most beautiful road in the City.

A city is known by its people, the environment it offers to residents and visitors, and also its streets. Go to any urban centre and people will identify it by its streets. The names, the history attached to them, the landmarks and people who’ve made the street famous - in a sense, streets play a role in creating the identity of a city too.

Starting this week, we bring you all the interesting dope on streets - famous and the not-so-famous - in Bangalore.

It may not be more than one kilometre in length, but the Dr B R Ambedkar Veedi is undoubtedly the most beautiful road in the City. It stretches from K R Circle on the one end and ends at S G Balekundri Circle (near Indian Express) on the other end. The legislature, judiciary and bureaucracy are all located on this road and therefore it is quite appropriate that it is named after the man who framed the Indian Constitution.

A piece of history

No visitor to Bangalore can afford to ignore this road as it contains a number of heritage buildings. The red-coloured Karnataka High Court Building was designed by Col Sankey under the tenure of Bowring. But is was not always a High Court Building. From 1868 to 1956, the year Karnataka State was formed it was called the Attara Kacheri and housed the executive, judiciary and the legislature.

There is a well-maintained lawn in front of the High Court in which you can find pigeons fluttering throughout the day. Many people come here early in the morning for their exercises to feed these pigeons.

Opposite the High Court is the majestic Vidhana Soudha, the State Secretariat and Legislature. This imposing edifice with a fusion of Indian styles of architecture - Dravidian, Rajasthani, Chola and Kannada. There is a swarm of shutterbugs who click photographs of visiting tourists with the Vidhana Soudha in the background.

There was a time not long ago when visitors used to freely move in and around the Vidhana Soudha. Now the security measures are so rigid that it is impossible for visitors and tourists to get close to the building. Very recently the Vikasa Soudha, which resembles the Vidhana Soudha, has come up and is a South Block extension of the State Secretariat. Vikasa Soudha replaces the Government Press, a heritage building.

Another impressive building is the General Post Office, built in granite, giving it a look of strength and infinity. Though the GPO itself was established in early 1800s, the new building was inaugurated by late Rajiv Gandhi in 1985. The signal intersection where the GPO stands is known as Police Thimmaiah Circle. Many will remember that Police Thimmaiah was a thick mustachioed friendly and helpful head constable, who was knocked down while on duty trying to save a child on the road, by a speeding truck violating traffic signals.

Other structures which adorn the road are the Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic, the mundane-looking multi-storeyed building (popularly known as MS Buildings) which houses many wings of the Secretariat.

The 21-storeyed Visvesvaraya Towers on this road was conceived by renowned designer Charles Correa. Some architects, of course, consider this building a monstrosity. You can get a beautiful view of the City from the 21st floor of this building. On this floor the proceedings of commissions of enquiries are conducted and you may get a chance to enter it only if you are a witness, an accused, police personnel on duty, a lawyer representing the plaintiff or defendant or a journalist covering the proceedings.

One interesting characteristic of this road is that there are no shops or commercial establishments, with the exception of Coffee House run by the Coffee Board. You can have a good cup of coffee accompanied by idli, dosa or sandwiches from its limited menu. In the past there used to be a restaurant called Shyam Prakash, which was demolished a few years ago to pave the way for a building housing IT and BPO offices.

However, the ubiquitous vendo is always there, selling groundnuts, strips of raw mango and slices of fruits.

Ministers Acharya, Ansari brush aside Vaasthu fears

Ministers Acharya, Ansari brush aside Vaasthu fears
Vikasa Soudha to see some life, finally
Deccan Herald

At last two ministers have decided to shift their offices to the Vikasa Soudha from the Vidhana Soudha. Medical Education Minister Dr V S Acharya and Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari will be shifting to the Vikasa Soudha in a couple of days.

Sources in the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) told Deccan Herald that these two ministers had communicated their decision to them.

The much-hyped Vikasa Soudha was built mainly to reduce congestion in Vidhana Soudha by shifting offices of some ministers from Vidhana Soudha. Similarly, the secretariat sections of the departments related to these ministers were also to be shifted from the Multi-storied Building and other buildings. The idea was to ensure proper co-ordination within different sections of the departments by housing them in the same complex.

Accordingly, 14 ministers were supposed to shift their ministerial offices along with secretariat offices of their respective departments. Though 13 of the 14 departments have shifted their offices to the new building, none of the ministers have shifted so far though their offices in the Vikasa Soudha were ready for occupancy since August 2005. The reluctance of the ministers to shift to the new building, which has all the modern facilities, is being attributed mainly to the perceived “Vaasthu” fears. According to sources, several ministers fear that the new building which is an extension of the Vidhana Soudha towards the southern direction might not support their political growth. Hence they are said to be dilly-dallying over shifting to the new place.

Of course, none of the reluctant ministers have officially cited “Vaasthu fear” as reason for not shifting to the Vikasa Soudha built at a cost of Rs 148 crore. The DPAR is said to have issued two reminders in the last seven months to the 14 ministers asking them to shift to the new building.

While most of them have not bothered to reply to the reminders, some of them are said to have expressed their wish to continue in the Vidhana Soudha itself.

Some of the ministers are also said to be not interested in shifting out of the Vidhana Soudha as they think that they would be going away from the power centre if they vacate it. Besides, there is no scramble for ministerial office space in the Vidhana Soudha now as there is a cap on the ministerial size.

But the officials hope that the fear of Vaasthu will die down soon with the two ministers deciding to shift their offices to the new building. They argue that such Vaasthu problems have not arisen at Delhi which too has a South Block for government offices.

“The ministerial chambers in the Vikasa Soudha are not only spacious, but also have several modern facilities including Air conditioning. Now that two ministers are shifting to the new building, other ministers too would come to know about the advantages of the new building,” the DPAR sources argue hoping that the reluctance would end.

The 14 departments and the ministers who are supposed to shift to the new building are: Departments of PWD, Energy, Commerce & Industries, Water Resources, Health and Family Welfare, Medical Education, Animal Husbandry, Housing, Infrastructure Development, Food, Urban Development, Social Welfare, Labour and Co-operation.

Of these, all the departments barring Co-operation have shifted to the new building. The co-operation department is expected to shift soon.

BDA’s right over CA sites in private layouts upheld

BDA’s right over CA sites in private layouts upheld
Deccan Herald

The Bangalore Development Authority on Wednesday got a shot in the arm with the Karnataka High Court ruling that areas earmarked for civic amenity purposes (CAPs) in layouts formed by the housing societies, will fall under the category of “open space”.

The Bangalore Development Authority on Wednesday got a shot in the arm with the Karnataka High Court ruling that areas earmarked for civic amenity purposes (CAPs) in layouts formed by the housing societies, will fall under the category of “open space”. Thus, the BDA will have all rights over such areas.

A division bench comprising Justices H L Dattu and A S Bopanna gave this ruling over a dispute among the Bhavani Housing Cooperative Society (BHCS), Appolo Educational Trust (AET) and the BDA.

The court also ruled that BDA need not wait for the execution of relinquish deeds to take over areas earmarked for CAPs in layouts formed after obtaining land from the government via bulk allotment. In reality, such CAP areas in layouts “will always remain with the BDA”, the court held.

However, the new ruling on relinquish deeds is applicable only in those cases where the sale deed executed in favour of the societies, during bulk allotment of land for formation of the layouts, contains the provision that the societies should hand over open space, parks, roads to the BDA.

With this ruling, areas earmarked for CAPs fall under the category of “open space” as defined in the Karnataka Parks, Play Fields and Open Spaces (Preservation and Regulation) Act, 1985. In the BDA Act, “open space” had not been defined.

BHCS had challenged BDA’s allotment of a CAP site in the layout formed by the former at Padmanabhanagar, in favour of the AET in 2003. BHCS had claimed that the BDA did not have any right over CAP sites as these were not open spaces.

While upholding BDA’s action, the court directed BHCS to execute the relinquish deed within 15 days.

Can new bylaws curb hoardings?

Can new bylaws curb hoardings?

The Hindu
BMP got Rs. 3 crore revenue from hoardings

# The mahanagara palike hoped to earn Rs. 35 crore last year
# Agencies get licence for one hoarding and display the same number on a cluster of hoardings
# The fine stipulated for illegal hoardings is a pittance for agencies

Bangalore: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) earned just Rs. 3 crore from advertisements in the city last year as against the projected revenue of Rs. 35 crore.

Perturbed at this, the BMP drew up a new set of advertising byelaws. But do the new byelaws (still awaiting Government's approval), in reference to hoardings, address the problems, and give the BMP more teeth?

Officials say that the new byelaws would not only help curb violations but also ensure that the BMP got the revenue due to it.

One of the serious problems is the menace of illegal hoardings. The practice has been that advertising agencies obtain licences for one hoarding and use that same licence for a cluster of hoardings. They display the same licence number for all the other hoardings and avoid paying fees to the BMP. The new byelaws continue to place emphasis on the old system and no new enforcement mechanism has come into place.

"Our assistant revenue officers (AROs) will report to the zonal deputy commissioners for any violations they come across," says Mr. Jennu.

Most hoardings do not conform to the restrictions specified in the licences.

They violate restrictions on dimensions, heights or distance between two hoardings. The punishment for violators, under the new byelaws, is Rs. 1,000 a day if advertisers continue to display advertisements after the expiry of licences. The BMP has recommended a fine of Rs. 5,000 a per day if agencies put up hoardings without licences. But when an advertising agency earns up to Rs. 12 lakh a month on one hoarding, on roads such as Brigade Road and Mahatma Gandhi Road these fines prove to be a pittance, sources at the BMP say.

No height restrictions

Traffic experts are of the opinion that height restrictions are a must for hoardings.

M.N.Sreehari, Chairman of Traffic Engineers and Safety Trainers (TEST), says hoardings above the eye-level could cause road accidents.

However, the new byelaws list about 72 roads in zone D, which is restriction-free. What this means is that the height of the hoardings can be anywhere between 5 feet to 50 feet from ground-level on heavy traffic roads.

BMP plans to develop 18 parks in Lakshman Rau Boulevard

BMP plans to develop 18 parks in Lakshman Rau Boulevard

The Hindu
BANGALORE: Residents of Jayanagar now have another park in their area. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), which has planned to develop 18 parks in the two-km Lakshman Rau Boulevard, has completed work on the third park. Work is going on at the remaining parks.

Jayanagar MLA Ramalinga Reddy formally inaugurated the park on Wednesday.

The beautifully landscaped park has a musical fountain, a gazebo, a canopy, and a separate play area for children.

According to an official in the BMP's Horticulture Department, the two-km stretch of the boulevard is being developed at a cost of Rs. 3 crore. While ornamental saplings have been planted, the civic body plans to grow medicinal plants at the park.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Greater Bangalore, weaker revenue

Greater Bangalore, weaker revenue
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The government decision to merge the seven CMCs and a TMC around the City with Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) to create one Greater BMP would not facilitate focused growth due to huge discrepancy in development. Further, City MLAs prefer forming three city corporations.

Rajajinagar MLA N L Narendra Babu said that Greater BMP would entail a higher number of wards while the statutory provision puts the ceiling at 100 wards in any city corporation.

“As of now, BMP has 100 wards and doubling its jurisdiction would require higher number of wards. The government seems to be doing this only to get more funds from the Centre. But large grants to a single civic body is not wise,” he said.

Babu also said that the government had not discussed the options with city MLAs and was going by the advice of the officials.

The current BMP area of 220 sq km would shoot upto 736 sq km after the merger and the revenue would go up by a mere 10 percent. This only could make matters worse as the government grants to BMP have not been adequate. Out of the Rs 1,500 crore budget allocations, the civic body receives a little over Rs 100 crore as grants.

The rest of the funding is from the own revenue of the BMP and from external borrowing. The merger would only make the BMP a bigger borrower with low creditworthiness.

Instead, two separate corporations - Bangalore North and Bangalore South - could be formed to include the seven CMCs and the Town Panchayat so that the financial management becomes easier. This would also facilitate the administration to focus on specific problems in each of the three corporations.

On the other hand, another City MLA feels that Bangalore will collapse under its own weight if the merger comes through. He feels that the CMCs should be strengthened and be elevated to the status of City Corporations so that they can develop on their own.

Parking complex takes motorists for a ride

Parking complex takes motorists for a ride
new Indian Express

BANGALORE: The multi level car-parking complex built by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) on J C Road has become a fleecing centre as the contractor charges much above the prescribed fees.

There is no notice board mentioning the fees fixed by the civic body and the contractor collects the fees according to his wishes; Rs 10 per hour and Rs 60 for 12 hours for four-wheelers. For monthly pass, he charges Rs 800.

Local businessman Ramesh feels that putting up a board informing the tariff would ease the problem.

Ganeshan, who visits a bank near the complex, said that though the complex provided much needed parking space in the area, BMP should monitor it closely.

But the civic body has its own problem on the complex. BMP Joint Commissioner (West) M A Khalid said that the contractor had also defaulted on the fee he has to pay to the civic body. “BMP deducted the dues from the security deposit. We will soon issue a notice to him and take appropriate action,” he said.

As long as the tussle between the BMP and the contractor continues, the motorists would continue to suffer.

Memories of Vidhana Soudha through these lens men

Memories of Vidhana Soudha through these lens men
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Vidhana Soudha is a must-see place in the itinerary of most visitors to the city. The sprawling building oozes grandeur and overlooks a dignified red building.

The setting reminds one of an Indian king looking down upon colonial remnants. A cursory glance around the place can get the visitor a glimpse of the present rulers of Karnataka.

Vying for attention amidst all the grandeur and dignitaries are lensmen with cameras hanging from their necks like ID cards.

Photographers Srinivas, Lokesha, Somashekar and others gift the visitors memories of the permanent kind. But more importantly they also give the visitors magic, a face peeping out of the dome of the Vidhan Soudha.

A piece of paper that captures them with the High Court looming in the background.

And this piece of memory is on sale for Rs 30 and delivered in a couple of hours. But if you have a train to catch, then the photographers are happy to mail them to you. Not the e-way but through India Post.

These photographers have not learnt their skills from any institute but directly on the field. They cannot afford any sophisticated software to give the finishing touches on photo shop but rely on inexpensive filters and cameras purchased from Gandhi Nagar.

The trade has been passed on through generations though none among them knows who started it all. But, most of them acknowledge that it is a trade practised in the family, village and friends.

They have grown bigger and more organised from where they started off. They now have a union of their own, but recognition is awaited. Says Somashekar: “You need a licence in order to click photographs here and inside the Cubbon Park. But when they started issuing licences indiscriminately, we hired a lawyer and won a stay order. As a result, no new licence has been issued during the past six years.”

The number of photographers have been stagnant at 30 for six years, but even they don’t get sufficient work. “In the beginning visitors were allowed on the premises of Vidhana Soudha. So we used to assign ourselves places such that we were well spread out. There was no trespass into each other’s business. But due to security reasons they don’t allow visitors inside anymore. So, as you can see, we are all on the road,” chuckles Srinivas.

He is not exaggerating. On the small stretch in front of Vidhana Soudha one can see all the thirty photographers jostling for space and attention. Quarrels break out very often. But ask them about it and they close ranks. Says Somashekar: “It is normal for some misunderstanding to erupt. But we do not fight. If we are not together then we cannot survive here.”

For all the toil and marketing skills they earn about Rs 150 on an average day and Rs 300 if it is a habba. With no other skills and mouths to feed, survival of the fittest has become a harsh reality for them.

Traders protest metro, bandh on Thursday

Traders protest metro, bandh on Thursday
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Members of the CMH Road Traders Association have decided to close their shops and business establishments on Thursday, to protest work on Metro Rail alignment that is expected to begin soon.

The Association wants the State Government to change the alignment from CMH Road and Indiranagar to Old Madras Road, so that there is less demolition of buildings.

“We have nothing against the Chief Minister. Our demand is that the alignment be changed in the interest of a large number of traders on CMH Road,” Association president Imtiyaz Ahmed said.

Earlier, when traders and residents of Indiranagar opposed the alignment, the State Government had constituted an expert committee headed by Justice Shivashankar Bhat. The Committee had turned down the traders’ demand and recommended that that the alignment can include the CMH Road.

The Government and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) have made it clear that there will be no change in the alignment. The BMRCL has also worked out a compensation plan for the people who will be affected by the project.

The ground work for the project is expected to start soon. BMRCL is in the process of finalising the general consultant to assist the Government agency to implement the biggest-ever single infrastructure project in city.

‘Bangalore should be more stranger-friendly’

‘Bangalore should be more stranger-friendly’
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Students of the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media (IIJNM) feel that the State Government should take steps to remove the ‘language barrier’ faced by people who are new to the city.

Broadcast journalism student Sudipa Chakraborty says, “Most of the buses have name boards in Kannada. Only a few have Kannada and English ones.”

Her classmate Priya Randhawa adds: “The city has people from various parts of the country and we cannot expect all of them to know Kannada. I feel some of the name boards should be in English.”

Both say that bus drivers and conductors should be given training in different languages including English and Hindi, as non-Kanndigas find it tough to communicate with them.

Another student, Rapti Bhaumick thinks that the city’s infrastructure requires a major overhaul.

“The corporation should erect street lights in ill-lit and desolate areas and not just on the major roads. Potholes should be removed,” she adds.

Shlesha Salvi is unhappy with the “unnecessary one-ways in the city,” and lack of dustbins in several areas.

Another suggestion by these youngsters was to increase the number of prepaid auto counters in various parts of the city.

“We see prepaid auto counters only near airport, bus-stands or railway stations,” said Akshata Rao, “There should be many more to prevent auto-drivers from over-charging us.”

Most felt that more police personnel should be deputed to patrol the city, especially in isolated areas on the outskirts of the city.

IIJNM students and a private television channel are gathering views from Bangalore’s citizens on how to improve the city’s sagging image.

Handle with great care

Handle with great care
The Times of INdia

The idea had sparked a decade ago. Then it found abode in the cold storage until Monday, when chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, after a meeting of the cabinet sub-committee for Greater Bangalore, announced the three options. TOI TEAM catches up with the who’s who of Bangalore City to find whether the second spark will really ignite Greater Bangalore


All around Bangalore, there has been no proper control over development, everyone is doing his own thing. There is no enforcement of the master plan for the region, the CMCs are also not very serious about plan proposals.

If the entire area comes under one strong planning authority, development will be more
effectively regulated. In my opinion, instead of one plus one or one plus two, one unified authority is better from the point of view of extending infrastructure and effective control.

Why should it be unwieldy? The area of the Mumbai, Kolkata corporations, even Hyderabad-Secunderabad is bigger and are they not managing well? What is required is strengthening of the organisation appropriately.

Bangalore is seeing continuous growth, if it has to grow in a particular direction, it is better if it is contiguous. There will be no coordination problems and better planning of facilities.

— SC Kari Gowda (member and former chairman, Institute of Town Planing (India), Karnataka chapter).

The Greater Bangalore is a much needed and long overdue one. “It will herald a new beginning for the development of Bangalore. A bigger entity will have the luxury of a bigger budget, could bring in more work efficiencies, and help install and implement better systems that build infrastructure.
— MA Vakil, chairman of Vakil Housing

Do you want Bangalore to become bigger than Mumbai? The Greater Bangalore idea proposes just that — to increase the urban sprawl.

With the present CDP allowing more FAR (floor area ratio) in the outer areas than in the inner areas, the periphery will naturally get congested. In such a situation, the Greater Bangalore concept proposes to expand the area from present 225 sq km to 700 sq km which is a definite no-no.

With outer areas getting greater FAR, the urban sprawl is on the rise which is bringing in heavy traffic into the inner city areas. This is because of bad planning.

Given the circumstances, the concept is unacceptable as the population density will be high; agricultural lands will be killed and will result in terrible urban sprawl.
Instead the government should look at selfsustaining satellite cities which are at a distance of about 60 km from Bangalore.
The optimum expansion of Bangalore should be about 350 sq km and rest of the development should be concentrated in satellite cities. Already it takes us two hours to commute in Bangalore, what will happen after we make the city three times larger?
Not only in terms of commuting, but also in terms of administration. All this will go haywire
— George K Kuruvila, urban planner

It is difficult to jump to a conclusion on this issue as all three plans have both plus and minus points. The idea is to merge the municipal councils and bring the management and administration of the whole thing under one body. If there is a unified authority, there is no confusion over jurisdiction. There is continuity in developmental works and responsibility is pinned.

The only thing to be seen is whether it will be too unwieldy. This can be tackled by strengthening the body with both resources and manpower and whether such resources are available.

The advantages of two or three bodies is more compact jurisdiction, it can provide competition among the three and inspections will be easier. But today, it is all economies of agglomeration — investments and development will be easier on a larger scale. For this, urban management and reforms are needed — what are the powers that the mayor enjoys, will he be an executive body and accountable to the people?

I think, ideally, there should be a single new authority that should coincide with the area covered by the BDA. For the Bangalore rural district, a regional plan should be in place.
— A Ravindra (deputy chairman, State
Planning Board)

BMTC’s medicare a great hit

BMTC’s medicare a great hit
The Times of India

Bangalore: Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s (BMTC) medicare special buses that have been on the roads for a week have seen good response.
Three mini-buses which span major hospitals — including government hospitals — in the city operate from 8.30 am to 7 pm, with a frequency of around two hours. These buses start at platform 1 at Kempegowda Bus Station.
The first bus covers St Martha’s Hospital, Mallya Hospital, NIMHANS, Kidwai Institute of Oncology, St John’s Medical College and Hospital and Narayana Hrudayalaya.
The second covers Bhagawan Mahavir Jain Hospital, Al-Ameen Hospital, Haji Sir Ismail Sait Ghosha Hospital, Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, Manipal Hospital, Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences and Vaidehi Hospital.
The third bus covers Victoria Hospital, Vani Vila Hospital, KIMS, Bangalore Hospital, Sanjay Gandhi Accident Hospital and Research Institute and Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology.
The fares are priced between Rs 3 and 8, making it affordable for even the poor. A long seat is also placed in each bus for patients who want to lie down.
OTHER SPECIALS
* The ladies’ special bus has seen moderate response. BMTC officials plan to step up services and encourage women and children (under 12) to use these bright pink buses.
* Ring Road services to and from Uttarahalli with a 20-minute frequency has eased out commuting in the city. The route covers Banashankari, Padmanabhanagar, Chikkalasandra, Kadirehalli, Jayanagar and Monotype

Zip on Bangalore-Mysore road from tomorrow

Zip on Bangalore-Mysore road from tomorrow
Deccan Herald

Finally the 112 km four-lane Bangalore-Mysore road will be thrown open to the public on August 31, one month before Dasara, by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in Mysore.


Finally the 112 km four-lane Bangalore-Mysore road will be thrown open to the public on August 31, one month before Dasara, by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in Mysore.

Incidentally, the inauguration comes about a year late – the previous Congress-JD(S) coalition government had promised to open the four-lane road before Dasara last year. While that did not happen, this year’s Dasara too comes with new promises: The Karnataka Road Development Corporation is planning to complete town works in Ramanagaram and Channapatnam before the tourist season sets in, in September-October. KRDC is also all set to venture into new projects - upgrade the existing four-lane to six-lane between Jnanabharathi Circle near Kengeri to Bidadi and Srirangapatnam to Mysore Ring Road; and create bypasses across four towns, namely Channapatnam, Ramanagaram, Maddur and Mandya. Bidadi and Kengeri will be taken up for bypass work in the second phase.

“The six-lane road will be made by creating service lanes on both sides of the road. Survey work is on between Mysore and Bangalore, and land acquisition process has commenced at the Mysore-Srirangapatnam stretch. The six-laning work is expected to cost Rs 18 crore. We will shortly call for tenders,” said Ramesh Jalaki, Managing Director, KRDCL. As for bypass work, only the Detailed Project Report has been prepared till now and the schedule and funding details are yet to be finalised, Mr Jalaki added. All these works will be taken up in a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) basis.

“We did not have a Dasara deadline last year”: “99 per cent of the work is over, except for some asphalting work near Channapatnam which will be completed by August 31,” he revealed.

When questioned on the delay in completion of the four-lane road, which was promised to be over by last Dasara, Mr Jalaki said there were no deadlines fixed for 2005. “We commenced work in April 2004, and our scheduled date for completion was June 30, 2006. We completed almost as per schedule,” he said.

MAIN FEATURES OF 4-LANE

*Total effective length: 112 km

*Project estimated cost: Rs 330 crore

*Improved curves: 76

*Bus bays: 59

*Truck bays: 5

*Land acquisition: 100 acres

*Major junctions: 7

*Major bridges: 6

*Road Over-Bridge: 2

*Minor bridges: 40

*Culverts: 291

*Median plantation: 1.2 lakh

*Cost of land acquisition: Rs 15.47 crore

*Cost of utilities like power and water: Rs 35.22 crore

Pitching for mono rail

Pitching for mono rail
Deccan Herald

Pitching for mono rail, Metrail India director Rehan Khan said that his company, as per Karnataka Government's request, has proposed an initial alignment of 90 kilometres of mono rail network along with 33 kilometres of metro rail, on Monday. He was presenting a talk on 'Mono Rail vs Metro Rail' at a programme organised by the Rotary Club of Bangalore, Indiranagar.

Khan added that the network can be extended by Metrail to a minimum of 500 kilometres, and without any government funding. Among other salient features, he noted that the estimated project cost for the mono rail project will be Rs 50 crore per kilometre, the turning radius will be 20 metres (against 180 metres for metro rail). The project will be completed in 18-24 months. Khan said the focus of mono rail will be to provide maximum network as a feeder system.

Rebutting claims made against the mono rail by E Sreedharan, Managing Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation recently, Khan said that mono rail cannot be dismissed as "amusement park riders". "Just because mono rails are used in amusement parks, it does not mean that they cannot be used as mass rapid systems in cities. Cities like Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo have used mono rails effectively in congested areas," Khan said.

Bangalore-Mysore journey to be faster

Bangalore-Mysore journey to be faster

The Hindu

The new highway will be thrown open to traffic tomorrow The highway to be commissioned tomorrow will reduce travel time to 2 hours

# A detailed project report has been submitted to upgrade the road from Jnanabharati to Srirangapatna Circle from four-lane to six-lane
# This will include service lanes on either side of the roads for slow traffic


BANGALORE: The four-lane highway between Bangalore and Mysore would be thrown open to traffic on Thursday, said Ramesh Zalki, Managing Director of Karnataka Road Development Corporation. It will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Mr. Zalki said the new highway would reduce travel time between Bangalore and Mysore from three-and-a-half to two hours. Nandi Infrastructure was also building a road between Bangalore and Mysore, but it would a toll road, he said.

A detailed project report had been submitted to the Government to upgrade the road from Jnanabharati to Srirangapatna Circle from four-lane to six-lane.

Service lanes

This would include service lanes on either side of the roads for slow traffic, he added. Mr. Zaki said that detailed project reports had also been prepared for developing bypasses from Mysore Ring Road to Kengeri, Bidadi, Ramanagar, Channapatna, Maddur, Mandya and Srirangapatna. The State Government had taken up the project to widen the 112-km. road between Bangalore and Mysore in 2004 when the density of traffic on the highway became very high. This not only prolonged the journey time, but also contributed to accidents, he added. Traffic density on the road is now estimated to be 18,000 to 20,000 passenger vehicles a day.

"With a median in between the widened four-lane highway, which is designed for speeds of 100 km an hour, people can glide into Mysore in two hours," Mr. Zalki said.

The first phase of the project — 62 km from Jnanabharati to Maddur — was entrusted to Brindavan Infrastructure Company on a deferred payment basis. The cost of the phase was Rs. 188 crore.

Second phase

The contract for the second phase from Maddur to Mysore Ring Road to Soma enterprises for Rs. 116 crore, he said.

Work on both the phases had almost been completed. But some work still need to be completed in Ramnagara and Channapatna, Mr. Zalki said.

The project would involve construction of four major bridges over Lokapavani, Cauvery and Paschimavahini rivers, and 23 minor bridges, straightening of 19 curves and 22 bus bays, he added.

Four-laned Mysore highway to be upgraded to six-lane

Four-laned Mysore highway to be upgraded to six-lane
New INdian Express

BANGALORE: The Karnataka road development corporation limited (KRDCL), which has successfully completed four-laning of the Bangalore-Mysore state highway, proposes to upgrade it into a six-lane road.

''Since there are many complaints of accidents taking place on the newly developed road, it is proposed to upgrade the road to six-lane by building service lanes on both the sides,'' KRDCL managing director Ramesh B Jalakki told newspersons here on Tuesday.

The proposed six-lane road would be between Jnanabharathi and Bidadi, and Srirangapatna and Mysore ring road and Bypassess would be laid to Kengeri, Bidadi, Ramanagara, Channapatna, Maddur, Mandya and Srirangapatna towns and service lanes on either sides, he added.

The KRDCL had recently completed the 112-km Bangalore-Mysore road at a cost of Rs 330 crore.

Mr Jalakki said it was proposed to take up 12 other projects, of which six would be built on build operate and transfer (BOT) basis. The cost of the projects to be built on BOT basis would be known only after completion of the ongoing survey. The projects include Dharwad-Ramnagar-Goa road (61 km), chikkanayakanahalli-hassan (90 km), waghdhari-ribbanapalli (140 km), Kumata-Tadas (136 km), Mandya-Hadagali (64.4 km) and Badami-Bhanapura (75 km).

He said the corporation, since its formation in 1999, had completed 15 works, including construction of bridges and roads at a cost of Rs 1,705.44 crore.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

New garbage contracts smell of foul play

New garbage contracts smell of foul play
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Even as the new garbage contracts await government approval, the terms of the contract have contradictory ‘terms’, which the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) seems to have overlooked.

Twenty of the thirty packages of the new contracts have been assigned to Mavallipura landfill as disposal site but the BMP has not yet completed works on the landfill despite Supreme Court order. The civic body seems to be in hurry to put the cart before the horse.

These twenty packages account for about 6 lakh households and about 60 per cent of 2005 metric tonnes of waste generated every day. The government approval of BMP proposal may only serve the contractors not citizen, as the garbage has nowhere to go.

What is more interesting is that the terms of agreement of the contract specify that if the contractor dumps the waste in any site other than the designated place, he would be imposed a penalty of 100 percent of service charge.

Clause 8.3 also says that BMP can terminate the agreement for any default of the contractor. But BMP has sanctioned the contracts at double the existing cost without looking into practicability.

Apart from the households, the contractors are also expected to clean the commercial establishments everyday; about 90,000 in number along with roads, burial grounds, vacant sites and BMP buildings.

Only other disposal site designated by the civic body is the one operated by Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC), which would be used by 10 packages generating about 800 tonnes per day. However, the KCDC has no facilities to handle such huge volumes.

While BMP sources say that Mavallipura landfill would be operational by December, they have no arrangements to dump the waste till then but the civic body is in a hurry to get the new contracts approved at a cost of Rs 90 crore a year.

BMP Commissioner K Jairaj maintained that he would go by the government’s decision. “The proposal was approved by the Council and the urban development department has forwarded it to the CM,” he said.

Festival fallout: Roads turn litter bins

Festival fallout: Roads turn litter bins
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: A day after the city celebrated ‘Ganesha Habba’, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) is working hard to clear the waste dumped on city roads. The waste accumulated after the festival is ten times more compared to the daily waste dumped on roads.

BMP Deputy Commissioner (Health), Manu Balliger told this paper that the BMP has taken up a drive to clear out decorative wastes, accumulated from the houses.

“We have been receiving complaints from the residents and also from busy market areas like K R Market, Russell Market and Malleswaram. The officials are taking adequate measures to maintain the cleanliness of the city. Areas like Jayanagar, Indiranagar and Koramangla are our prime focus at present,” he added.

In spite of providing mobile immersion vehicles, people have not come forward to make utmost use of it. The BMP faces similar problem every year.

BMP Chief Health Officer, Dr. Vijaya Lakshmi said that garbage clearance team is working in shifts in some parts of the city.

“It is not only the duty of the BMP but also of the residents to make adequate use of the mobile immersion tanks and garbage disposal lorries, rather than disposing the waste on the roads,” she said.

The civic body is taking all possible measures to keep the city clean, Baligar added. On Monday, the Additional Commissioner had convened a meeting of the department officials to discuss about measures to be taken to ensure that the waste is collected and disposed off in a scientific manner.

Karnataka one up in big-buck battle

Karnataka one up in big-buck battle
Deepa Balakrishnan
CNN-IBN


Bangalore: The Karnataka government has been receiving a lot of flak for its anti-investment attitude of late.

Therefore, on Monday, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy decided to make amends and gave 40 major investment projects the green signal in one go.

Considering that the state has been at the receiving end of severe criticism for failing to attract investment, this move takes competition between southern states to a new level.

The projects aimed at getting over Rs 62,000 crore in investment would essentially focus on building Special Economic Zones, development of the already booming IT sector, biotech, textiles, petrochemicals and manufacturing sectors.

Nearly 18 projects of the proposed 40 will be regarding the IT sector alone, with an investment of Rs 18,894 crore and nearly Rs 14,000 crore of the total investments are in and around Bangalore.

“Tata Consultancy Services, the Hindujas, MRPL, Mangalore refinery are the main companies investing Rs 40,000 crore. The total investment of Rs 62,000 crore will employ six lakh people,” Kumaraswamy announced.

However, the bonanza comes with a precondition.

“When we give permission, it will be with one condition - preferably give employment to Kannadigas,” Kumaraswamy said.

However, with 40 new projects being given approval at one go, the question is, where's the land for all this in the choked city?

However, the government has an answer to that one - go to the districts. Bidar in north Karnataka is being developed as an industrial hub. It's just two hours from Andhra Pradesh’s capital Hyderabad – revving up the already neck-to-neck competition between Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S R Reddy was in Bangalore just three months ago to woo investors away from Bangalore. So was Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

For the moment though, Kumaraswamy isn’t letting it go so easily.

Greater Bangalore coming

Greater Bangalore coming
To Embrace 7 CMCs, 1 TMC; Panel Will Study 3 Options
The Times of India

Bangalore: In what will be the Karnataka government’s ‘major expansion’ plan, Bangalore is set to take its long-neglected cousins on the outskirts — the seven city municipal councils and one town municipal council — into its fold. In the coming months, the 225 sqkm of the BMP area will be expanded to 696 sqkm.
A thought that’s cooking over a decade is set to concretise. After a meeting of the cabinet sub-committee on Greater Bangalore headed by CM HD Kumaraswamy, the government on Monday announced it has three options. The first option is to merge seven CMCs, one TMC and panchayats around Bangalore with BMP. The second is to form North and South city corporations by including the respective areas in these zones. While the government did not spell out the areas that would form the part of proposed North and South corporations, it is very clear about the Greater Bangalore plan. The third option is to have a single city corporation authority.

To work out the modalities, the government has constituted a high-level committee headed by CM’s principal secretary Sudhakar Rao, who has been asked to submit a report within three days. The recommendations will be discussed by the cabinet sub-committee and a decision taken within a fortnight.
“To the existing 225 sqkm of BMP area, the urban local bodies will be added and the city will be expanded to 696 sqkm. A report will be submitted by the committee in the next couple of days,” Kumaraswamy told reporters.

With the developments, the elections to the BMP wards due in November are likely to be postponed. The five-year term of the BMP Council will end in November and in case the election process gets delayed, then the government will have to appoint an administrator till such time the council is elected. The government will also inform the State Election Commission about the developments.

Kumaraswamy said the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority has begun a survey for establishing the proposed five satellite towns around Bangalore city.

The CM, on Independence Day, had promised to create a Greater Bangalore to upgrade infrastructure facilities in and around Bangalore city.

Money order
According to govt estimates, BMP requires Rs 5,200 crore for upgradation of infrastructure in the city limits
Requires at least Rs 10,000 crore to create infrastructure for 696 sqkm after the merger of CMCs and TMC with BMP
Government cannot depend on property taxes alone to mop up revenue as tax collection in CMCs/TMC is abysmally poor
Authorities have to start work from scratch as urban local bodies have poor infrastructure Welcome to Bengaluru
Bangalore: We could well say ‘good morning Bengaluru’ from November 1. While the CM is optimistic of meeting this deadline, the bureaucrats are skeptical. If the government has to gallop towards this deadline, it may have to take a leaf out of Mumbai and bulldoze its way through.

BMP lets down Indiranagar residents on idol immersion

BMP lets down Indiranagar residents on idol immersion
Deccan Herald

Indiranagar residents did not get to immerse Ganesha idols in the mobile tank, as promised by the Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BMP), on Sunday.

BMP, supposed to provide mobile tanks in nine places for idol immersion on Sunday, apparently forgot to include Indiranagar in its list. It woke up to this lapse when it received several calls by the residents and was prompt to make up for it. But, not in the required fashion.

Deccan Herald found at 100 feet road six barrels of water in a makeshift pandal instead of the promised mobile tank.

Only four idols had been immersed till 8 pm. According to Assistant Executive Engineer Chennamaregowda, he had received no communication from BMP for a mobile tank.

“I got a call on Monday morning from my seniors asking me to mobilise six barrels of water,” he said, and added: BMP did not inform either the Health Department or the Engineering Department in this regard. He said he had been asked to retain the provision for one more day. “On Tuesday again we will open at 11 am and people can immerse idols till 11.30 pm,” he said.

Drunken workers

Also, three of the four workers, who came to put them, were drunk, though the AEE seemed not to take notice of it. A passer-by, taken aback by this, said the department, instead of doing “such a shoddy job”, was better off not having done it at all.

BMP area In-Charge Somshekhar said there was confusion regarding shortage in providing the tanks, “and in the process forgot all about Indiranagar. We could make up for it by placing the barrels.”

Unflattering numbers

In west zone 2,865 idols were immersed , while in South the number was 1,200.

Traffic snarls before airport terminals quite taxing

Traffic snarls before airport terminals quite taxing
Deccan Herald

The HAL Airport has over the years emerged as a landmark that shapes Bangalore Standard Time and the traffic pattern in its ever-cluttered neighbourhood. The familiar bumper locks and traffic snarls on the Airport Road are now getting replicated, right in front of the airport terminals. And the bottlenecks are just getting bigger.

“During weekend evenings, the rush becomes too hard to handle. More often than not, people who drive down to see passengers off keep moving around to find parking space, halting traffic movement in front of the terminals,” says Anurag, a financial consultant and a frequent flier.

By 6 pm, traffic in front of the domestic and international terminals shifts modes, from busy to chaotic. The vehicles roll in by the dozens and by the time the passengers and companions step out and unload the baggage – well exceeding the stipulated 90-second alighting time – the driver behind is honking away. “When people carry a lot of luggage, the alighting time gets extended and things get out of control at times,” says a security officer at the airport.Interestingly, even as the race for space is on in front of the terminals, you can spot the stray autorickshaw or car parked right in the middle of the rush. When Deccan Herald visited the airport at around 7 pm, cars were even parked diagonally to the line of vehicles taking shape behind. There were also drivers chatting away on mobile phones, before leisurely, reluctantly making way for the other cars. No security or traffic official was in sight.

Taxi rush

The way out, is no easy way out either. While cab drivers – some of them reaching out for the luggage in an overt display of service – continue to stir a hurried welcome, taxi movement outside the terminals redefines chaos.

On the other side of the rush – during the evening peak hours, when parking space becomes coveted – you can spot drivers taking a nap in cars parked in the lot for long hours.

Meanwhile, it’s road rage of a different kind on the other side, with speeding cabbies honking and gesturing at passengers tagging along baggage on their way out. It’s the Airport Road situation, just extended.

PRE-PAID PROMISE

The pre-paid autorickshaw counters at the City Railway Station have helped in doing away with pricey drivers and “double-meter” bargains. Though the drivers are still caught up with the canvassing routine, the passengers don’t seem to mind.

Pre-paid counters could still be a long shot for the HAL Airport, that is already strapped for parking space. However, with traffic snarls, the order of the day and the new international airport in Devanahalli a good two years away, even stop-gap arrangements shouldn’t hurt.

Merger could mean 140 wards, cash-rich BMP

Merger could mean 140 wards, cash-rich BMP
deccan Herald

The government proposes to finalise by November 1, whether to merge the BMP with the seven CMCs and one TMC or bifurcate BMP, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said here on Monday.

If the decision is taken by November, the BMP and CMC elections, scheduled in December and January respectively, will be postponed till February, at least.

Following a cabinet sub-committee meeting on the Greater Bangalore project, Mr Kumaraswamy said the three proposals related to the issue - merging of all municipal bodies, division of Bangalore into two zones and creating two municipal bodies in addition to the BMP - will be discussed by an expert committee headed by Mr Sudhakar Rao, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister. The expert committee has been instructed to submit its recommendation within two-three days. The recommendations will be discussed in the next cabinet sub-committee meeting to be held within 15 days, Mr Kumaraswamy added.

Mr Kumaraswamy said they were aiming at announcing their decision before the corporation elections are held. He said they are updating the Election Commission about their plans and the delimitation processes that will follow, to make the merger possible.

Health Minister R Ashok, who is a member of the cabinet sub-committee, said if everything goes according to schedule, delimitation will be completed in one month’s time and Greater Bangalore would be ready for elections by February 2007.

Mr Ashok added that the Karnataka Municipal Act will be abandoned and a new municipal law enacted for Bangalore, that will be “one of its kind in India”.

Sources reveal that the consensus among politicians and officials is for creation of a unified municipal body. If Bangalore is consolidated under a single local body, it will encompass an area of 696 sq km and include about 140 wards.

“Opinion is tilted towards creating a single body because Bangalore has become a brand and people do not want it to be divided. We will have to consider the mindset of the people before arriving at a decision,” explained Ashok.

The Minister said that the merger will be beneficial for BMP’s treasury, due to the high revenue potential of areas located on the City’s outskirts, where most of the IT zones are located. “I will be calling a meeting of all City MPs and MLAs soon to discuss the proposals with them,” Ashok added.

Mysore Road to get grade separator

Mysore Road to get grade separator
Deccan Herald

Aimed at easing the traffic flow on the Bangalore-exit stretch of Mysore Road, a grade separator is being built at the junction of Mysore Road and Outer Ring Road at Kengeri (Kengeri Satellite Town Road turn).

Aimed at easing the traffic flow on the Bangalore-exit stretch of Mysore Road, a grade separator is being built at the junction of Mysore Road and Outer Ring Road at Kengeri (Kengeri Satellite Town Road turn).

The Rs 23-crore project is being handled by the Karnataka Road Development Corporation.

It is billed to be completed within the next 15 months.

Amidst pouring rain on Monday evening, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa unveiled the foundation stone for the grade separator project.

According to KRDCL, which also executed the four-laning of Bangalore-Mysore Road, the grade separator will essentially avoid the present criss-crossing at the Mysore road junction.

Salient features

*Ramp I is grade separated. It will take off from the left carriageway of Bangalore-Mysore road and join the ring road after crossing the main road.

*It will be a cable stayed bridge with no external support at the centre of the road.

*Ramp II is also grade separated ramp. It will take off from ring road and join the Bangalore-Mysore road on its left carriageway. It will carry the traffic from Ring Road headed towards Mysore.

*Ramp III will connect Mysore Road to Ring Road for traffic from Mysore.

*Ramp IV is grade separated. It will connect Ring Road to Bangalore-Mysore Road for traffic headed towards Bangalore.

Helmet rule again deferred

Helmet rule again deferred
Deccan Herald

The Karnataka Government has further deferred the implementation of the mandatory helmet rule by a month. The date for implementation of the rule — that makes helmets compulsory for two-wheeler riders and pillion riders — is now October 1. Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the decision came in the wake of the State Government’s decision to file a review petition in the High Court.

Kuaraswamy through the review petition, the Government proposed to clear the prevailing confusion among the public with regard to the rule — including the clause that makes helmets mandatory for pillion riders. Through the review petition, the Government will seek another month’s time before implementation of the rule, he added.

Kumaraswamy lays foundation stone for grade separator

Kumaraswamy lays foundation stone for grade separator
The Hindu

The Chief Minister did not address the gathering as it started raining



GREATER BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa looking at a model of the grade separator at the foundation stone laying ceremony in Bangalore on Monday. — PHOTO: K. MURALI KUMAR

BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday laid the foundation stone for the Rs. 23-crore four-ramp grade separator at the Bangalore-Mysore Road and Outer Ring Road (ORR) Junction near Kengeri.

The Chief Minister could not address the gathering as it started raining.

He left the venue immediately after the ceremony.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Minister for Health and Family Welfare R. Ashok and Minister for Science and Technology Ramachandra Gowda were present.

The work is being taken up by the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd. (KRDCL).

It is being implemented by Nagarjuna Construction Co. Ltd. The project has to be completed within 15 months.

A 375-metre Ramp 1 takes traffic from Bangalore on Bangalore Mysore Road towards the ring road with a "U" turn where vehicles can cross the highway on a grade separator to join the Outer Ring Road with a ramp.

Vehicles from the Outer Ring Road towards Mysore can take a right turn on a 570-metre Ramp 2 to join Bangalore Mysore Road after crossing the highway on a grade separator.

A 275-metre Ramp 3 will facilitate traffic from Mysore Road to join Outer Ring Road with a grade separator ramp after a left turn. Traffic from Outer Ring Road would take a left turn on a grade separator and join the Bangalore Mysore Road towards the city on a 130-metre Ramp 4.

The carriageway on the grade separators and ramps is nine metres wide.

BMP to distribute one lakh seedlings

BMP to distribute one lakh seedlings

The Hindu

Bangalore: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) will distribute nearly one lakh seedlings from September 15 to October 30 as part of the "Vanamahotsav"a celebrations, a press release from the civic body said.

Different varieties of seedlings would be distributed to schoolchildren and citizens, the release said.

The BMP Commissioner K. Jairaj ordered that surroundings of parks be cleared of debris, footpaths in need of repair attended to and trees planted along railway lines.

`Suvarna Bangalore'

This is part of the "Suvarna Bangalore" celebrations of the BMP and would be completed in the next three weeks, the release added.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Helmets must for pillion riders

Helmets must for pillion riders
Police Chief’s Order At Odds With Minister’s Assurance
The Times of India

Bangalore: To wear or not to wear helmets, that’s the dilemma two-wheeler pillion riders have been thrown into. Within 24 hours of home minister MP Prakash declaring that the state will appeal against the Karnataka High Court order of making helmets mandatory for pillion riders, Bangalore City police commissioner N Achutha Rao has threatened action against those violating the rule.
For the record, helmets are a must for both rider and pillion rider from Sept. 1. But the government is seeking a review of the order to relax the law for pillion riders. On its part, the police commissioner’s office issued a press note on Saturday, justifying the reasons for making helmet compulsory. Following an earlier HC ruling and on recommendation from the police on the accident rate involving two-wheelers, the state issued an order on June 29 making helmets mandatory.
The order states: “Every rider and pillion, while riding a motorcycle of any type — motorcycles, scooters and mopeds irrespective of break horsepower of the vehicle within the limits of Bangalore City — shall wear protective headgear of such quality (ISI specification) as it will reduce head injuries to riders of twowheelers resulting from head impact with effect from Sept. 1.’’
Following this, the traffic policemen have been directed to act against those who violate this order. A fine of Rs 100 will be collected from the rider and pillion if found not wearing ISI-mark helmets, a police officer said.
When asked about the home minister’s assurance on exempting pillion riders from wearing helmets, the police said: “As per the order which is in force, we are duty bound to initiate action against offenders. After the state goes in appeal against the present order and if the court exempts pillion riders from wearing helmets, we will not book cases against them. Till such time, we have no choice.’’
The existing government notification makes helmets mandatory for both riders and pillion riders.
Home minister says govt will appeal to HC to relax the rule for pillion riders.
Bangalore police chief says action will be initiated against pillion riders not wearing helmets.

Skywalk opposed

Skywalk opposed
Deccan HErald

Residents of Indiranagar staged a protest against the proposed skywalk, in the city on Saturday.

Residents of Indiranagar staged a protest against the proposed skywalk, in the city on Saturday. The residents under the banner of Social Amenities Association are opposed to the project as they claim that the overbridge would serve no purpose.

They have submitted separate memoranda to Commissioners of BMP and BDA and ACP (Traffic), in this regard,

Traffic diversions for civic work

Traffic diversions for civic work
The Times of India

Bangalore: To facilitate civic work on Wind Tunnel Road, traffic police have imposed restriction on traffic and have made alternate arrangements from Saturday.
* Vehicles coming from Airport Road and proceeding towards S R Layout, Vinayaka Nagar and Texas Instruments can take Wind Tunnel Road. Whereas, vehicles heading towards Kempapura, Challaghatta, Nagasandra and Intermediate Ring Road should stop near ISRO junction on Airport Road. They should travel on Airport Road and take a left turn near Airport Road-100 Feet Road junction and then enter Intermediate Ring Road.
* With the exemption of vehicles moving towards Challaghatta, Kempapura and Nagasandra via Intermediate Ring Road and IBM Road, other vehicles heading towards Airport Road should stop near the U-turn on Intermediate Ring Road (Hero Honda showroom) and turn right near Indiranagar-100 Feet Road.

Encroached property worth Rs 70 crore recovered by BDA

Encroached property worth Rs 70 crore recovered by BDA
Deccan Herald

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) took possession of a property worth Rs 70 crore on Saturday.

The property (Survey No. 20), spread across eight acres and 34 guntas in Konanakunte village, Banashankari V Stage, was illegally occupied by land-grabbers.

The encroachers had also built 14 compound walls, asbestos-roofed sheds and six RCC buildings.

However, a task force headed by H S Revanna, Superintendent of Police, K L Srinivas Rao, Executive Engineer, South division demolished the structures and took possession of the property and also fenced it.

The BDA has also cancelled some allotments in Arkavathy after finding that the applicants had furnished false declarations.

During a scrutiny of site allotments, the BDA came across such discrepancies and decided to also compel the applicants to forfeit the initial deposit.

Some of the cases identified by the BDA are - applicants for 50x80 dimension sites - Manju Rakesh Batra, Site No. 69 in Arkavathy 7th Block, P Vijayalakshmi, Site No. 190, 8th Block, V Ramesh Babu, Site No. 394, Arkavathy 7th Block, Jyothishankar, Site No. 293, Arkavathy V Block, Rukmini, Site No. 285, Arkavathy V Block. According to the BDA authorities, the scrutiny will continue.

BMP’s drive for a greener Bangalore

BMP’s drive for a greener Bangalore
Deccan Herald

The City may soon turn greener while its dry fountains will come to life, if the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) delivers on its promises.

BMP Commissioner K Jairaj, who reviewed development works in the City on Saturday, hoped to give a new look to the City during the ‘Suvarna Karnataka’ year.

“To this end, more than a lakh saplings will be distributed to schoolchildren and citizens between September 15 and October 30,” he said.

The BMP’s top priorities are: Beautification of parks, repair of footpaths, ‘revival’ of fountains, greenery along railway tracks, repair of arterial and other important roads, clearing of encroachment along footpaths, besides removal of posters, banners and hoardings.

Confiscated

The BMP has ‘confiscated’ nine pushcarts for illegally occupying the footpath on the Wilson Garden vegetable market road (health ward 62) at Hombegowda Nagar. It has also recovered the administrative charges of Rs 1,600 from the offenders.

“The drive to clear encroachments on footpaths, roads and public places will continue and heavy penalty imposed on offenders,” warned Mr Jairaj.

Auto lanes to ease traffic

Auto lanes to ease traffic
Deccan HErald

The City Traffic Police will enforce dedicated autorickshaw

lanes on Cubbon Road and parts of Queen’s Road from Sunday.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M N Reddi said on Saturday that the move was being taken up as part of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s 10-point programme to ease traffic in the City.

Mr Reddi said that from Monday, parking would be banned on JC Road and Seshadripuram I Main Road. While motorists on JC Road could use the BMP parking lot on the road, conservancy lanes could be used by motorists on Seshadripuram I Main Road, Mr Reddi said.

Life at Bangalore rly station

Life at Bangalore rly station
Deccan Herald

It’s 6.50 pm. And the vendors around the City Railway Station are just getting set for another busy evening. From CDs to wallets to woollen caps, the products come across a wide spectrum.

It’s 6.50 pm. And the vendors around the City Railway Station are just getting set for another busy evening. From CDs to wallets to woollen caps, the products come across a wide spectrum.

The market, however, is as makeshift as it can get. Right in front of the entrance to the station, a young man sits on the footpath gorging on his plateful of ghee rice, while another – metres away – urinates on the station wall.

It’s just another day for the passengers who walk in and out of the station. Many of them seem to have come to terms with the situation. “Over the past two or three years, the station surroundings have become extremely unclean. There seems to be no check on the small-time vendors around the station,” says Padmanabhan, a passenger.

With more vendors setting shop on the station fringes, the number of visitors to the neighbourhood areas has increased.

On a visit to the station, Deccan Herald came across four men – in about 20 minutes – who had come by for reasons other than boarding a train or seeing someone off. Many of these walk-in visitors gather around to smoke, spit gutkha all over the place, grab a bite at one of the nearby eateries or hang out in the sub-way close to the station.

The sub-way, a hawkers’ haunt, sports a perpetual bustle in the evenings. As the rush dwindles towards the night, groups of smoking, chatting men take over.

“They may not be a threat to the station’s security but during nights, these groups are a cause of concern for people who don’t take vehicles to go in or come out of the railway station, or the nearby KSRTC bus station,” reasons Narayan, a City-based auditor and regular traveller.

The disregard for hygiene and public etiquette is not entirely a spin-off from the business boom around the station.

A pay-and-use toilet in the station compound doesn’t seem to have made a difference to some passengers, who walk out of the station and urinate on the footpath and station wall. The station lawn, close to the wall, is not beyond access to the passers-by either.

A part of the iron grill fence has been broken. And that explains the number of men on the lawn; some chatting over peanuts and some sleeping on a rubble of plastic, in a drunken state.

High and night to go: Within the station compound, drunkards looking for cover – and a good nap – are a regular sight in the evenings.

While the security men keep vigil close to the building entry points, restrictions don’t seem to matter to those who find space in the lawn and taxi lots.

When Deccan Herald visited the premises, the autorickshaw stand near the pre-paid counter had at least two drunken men in an abusive mood, even as passengers were queuing up at the counter.

Idol immersion: cranes to be deployed at tanks

Idol immersion: cranes to be deployed at tanks

The Hindu

They will be stationed at Sankey, Yediyur and Ulsoor lakes

Bangalore: This time around, Bangaloreans will not be allowed to immerse Ganesh idols in lakes themselves; a machine will help you do that.

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) will station a crane at each of the three lakes in the city — Sankey, Yediyur and Ulsoor. Large and medium-sized idols, with a height minimum of 3 ft, will be placed on a specially created crane operated platform to help in the immersion of the idols directly into the section of the lake, reserved for it. Divers around the immersion pond will help facilitate the exercise.

This initiative from the BMP comes after a man died in an accident during immersion last year. The Lakes Development Authority has also cautioned people against getting into lakes and tanks to immerse idols and avoid accidents.

The cranes will function from August 27 to August 29. However, it could be extended if the number of people coming to immerse the idols is significant on other days. Mayor Mumtaz Begum and Deputy Mayor M. Lakshminarayana inspected the crane at Ulsoor Lake on Saturday.

Stating that the idea of having cranes was good, Ms. Begum said it would help in the orderly immersion of idols.

The cranes are on hire and it will cost the civic body about Rs. 20,000 every day. Idol immersion: cranes to be deployed at tanks

Staff Reporter

They will be stationed at Sankey, Yediyur and Ulsoor lakes

Bangalore: This time around, Bangaloreans will not be allowed to immerse Ganesh idols in lakes themselves; a machine will help you do that.

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) will station a crane at each of the three lakes in the city — Sankey, Yediyur and Ulsoor. Large and medium-sized idols, with a height minimum of 3 ft, will be placed on a specially created crane operated platform to help in the immersion of the idols directly into the section of the lake, reserved for it. Divers around the immersion pond will help facilitate the exercise.

This initiative from the BMP comes after a man died in an accident during immersion last year. The Lakes Development Authority has also cautioned people against getting into lakes and tanks to immerse idols and avoid accidents.

The cranes will function from August 27 to August 29. However, it could be extended if the number of people coming to immerse the idols is significant on other days. Mayor Mumtaz Begum and Deputy Mayor M. Lakshminarayana inspected the crane at Ulsoor Lake on Saturday.

Stating that the idea of having cranes was good, Ms. Begum said it would help in the orderly immersion of idols.

The cranes are on hire and it will cost the civic body about Rs. 20,000 every day.

BMP's garbage tenders yet to get Government's nod

BMP's garbage tenders yet to get Government's nod

The Hindu

The BMP Council approved the fresh tenders on June 15

# Clearance is expected soon: BMP official
# Under the new contract, the city's roads will be cleaned with the help of machines

BANGALORE: Two months after the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) forwarded its new garbage tenders to the State Government for approval, it is yet to get the green signal from the Government.

After a delay of over one year, the BMP Council finally approved on June 15 fresh garbage tenders for collection and transportation of municipal solid waste and street sweeping in the city.

Cleaning of the city will be handed over to the new set of contractors only after the Government approves it.

Sources in the BMP told The Hindu that the civic body was doing its best to get the tenders approved at the earliest.

"It is likely to be approved in two or three days," a top official pointed out.

Pointing out that BMP Commissioner K. Jairaj had been following up the matter at the government level, the official said that approval might be accorded soon.

Reason for delay

While the sources said that the delay was because the file pertaining to garbage tenders was forwarded to the Government only in mid-July, BMP officials said Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who also holds the Urban Development portfolio, had not been able to study the subject because of his busy schedule.

This apart, after Lakshmi Venkatachalam took over as Principal Secretary (Urban Development) from the former Secretary Shamim Banu, the matter had to be pursued from the beginning, the sources said.

Under the new contract, citizens will see the city's main and arterial roads being cleaned with the help of machines.

Mechanised sweeping, night cleaning and use of compactors to compress garbage for transportation without spilling garbage on the roads are some of the major highlights of the new tenders. These have been allotted in exclusive packages to eight contractors.

Though the term of the existing garbage tenders ended on June 1 last year and the BMP called fresh tenders only in December. The existing contractors were asked to continue cleaning activities till further orders.

The civic body, which is spending Rs. 38 crore annually on the present contracts, will spend Rs. 90 crore a year for cleaning under the new contracts, which have been allotted in 32 packages.

This amount includes labour and transportation charges, service tax and other charges.

Besides, 63 more health wards have been included in the private contract system and 9.5 lakh houses in 245 health wards will be covered under the new contracts. Now private contractors are collecting garbage from 6.8 lakh houses in 182 heath wards.

The delay in approval has irked both the elected representatives and the present contractors. While corporators are only hoping that the new contracts will come into force by November, when their term ends, the contractors are worried over the increasing fuel costs.

"We have been continuing work at the same old costs for the last one year. We had asked the BMP to pay us 35 per cent more to bear the fuel costs. But the officials have been assuring us that the new tenders will come into force soon," a spokesperson from the Bangalore Mahanagara Swachate Lorry Maalikara Mattu Guttigedarara Sangha said.

Dedicated bus lanes to be back

Dedicated bus lanes to be back
Deccan Herald

A few failed attempts notwithstanding, the “dedicated bus lane” will make a re-entry on the gridlocked City roads.

A few failed attempts notwithstanding, the “dedicated bus lane” will make a re-entry on the gridlocked City roads.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force, along with the Bangalore Development Authority, plans to introduce a bus corridor on the 30-km stretch connecting the Central Silk Board Junction to Hebbal on the Outer Ring Road. It is likely to be implemented in the next four to five months.

According to Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) Managing Director Imtiaz Ahmed, the corridor will have two lanes and is likely to be located along the central median. RITES and the Infrastructure Development Corporation of Karnataka (IDECK) are conducting technical and cost studies of the planned route. To be modelled on the lines of the Bus Rapid Transport System planned for New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Indore, the lane is proposed to be kept on the right side of the carriageway to reduce interruption to other moving traffic.

“With Bangalore’s traffic being mixed in nature, buses should be removed from the rest to ensure faster travel. As autorickshaws and private vehicles stop at the left hand side of the road, we propose to design the corridor towards the centre,” Mr Ahmed said.

Barriers will be installed to prevent intrusion by other vehicles into the corridor.

Decision regarding having the lane on the left-hand side or right-hand side of the carriageway will be finalised at a coordination meeting likely to be held among the Urban Development Department, BMTC, BDA, IDECK and RITES shortly.

Meanwhile, BMTC Chief Traffic Manager Dastagir Sharief has suggested that service roads that run parallel to the main road on this stretch could be utilised for forming a dedicated corridor.

However, Mr Ahmed said that the RITES might not recommend such a design as it wanted to retain the nature of ‘neighbourhood’ service roads and not convert them into a corridor.

Hi-tech traffic junctions

Uniquely designed traffic junctions will be set up to ensure faster pass-through for buses. Stoppages will be located near junctions, and junctions will be designed to allow 2.5 metres width of the dividing median for bus stops.

“We are looking at creating a bus laning system that will encourage people to switch from private vehicles to public transport. This lane will make buses move faster and will be convenient for commuters,” said Mr Ahmed.Dedicated bus lanes to be back
By Shubha Narayanan
DH News Service Bangalore:
A few failed attempts notwithstanding, the “dedicated bus lane” will make a re-entry on the gridlocked City roads.

A few failed attempts notwithstanding, the “dedicated bus lane” will make a re-entry on the gridlocked City roads.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force, along with the Bangalore Development Authority, plans to introduce a bus corridor on the 30-km stretch connecting the Central Silk Board Junction to Hebbal on the Outer Ring Road. It is likely to be implemented in the next four to five months.

According to Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) Managing Director Imtiaz Ahmed, the corridor will have two lanes and is likely to be located along the central median. RITES and the Infrastructure Development Corporation of Karnataka (IDECK) are conducting technical and cost studies of the planned route. To be modelled on the lines of the Bus Rapid Transport System planned for New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Indore, the lane is proposed to be kept on the right side of the carriageway to reduce interruption to other moving traffic.

“With Bangalore’s traffic being mixed in nature, buses should be removed from the rest to ensure faster travel. As autorickshaws and private vehicles stop at the left hand side of the road, we propose to design the corridor towards the centre,” Mr Ahmed said.

Barriers will be installed to prevent intrusion by other vehicles into the corridor.

Decision regarding having the lane on the left-hand side or right-hand side of the carriageway will be finalised at a coordination meeting likely to be held among the Urban Development Department, BMTC, BDA, IDECK and RITES shortly.

Meanwhile, BMTC Chief Traffic Manager Dastagir Sharief has suggested that service roads that run parallel to the main road on this stretch could be utilised for forming a dedicated corridor.

However, Mr Ahmed said that the RITES might not recommend such a design as it wanted to retain the nature of ‘neighbourhood’ service roads and not convert them into a corridor.

Hi-tech traffic junctions

Uniquely designed traffic junctions will be set up to ensure faster pass-through for buses. Stoppages will be located near junctions, and junctions will be designed to allow 2.5 metres width of the dividing median for bus stops.

“We are looking at creating a bus laning system that will encourage people to switch from private vehicles to public transport. This lane will make buses move faster and will be convenient for commuters,” said Mr Ahmed.