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BBMP and advisers - Sankey Tank Road Widening
Written By acoward - 29 June, 2011
Bangalore Bangalore governance governance BBMP BBMP urban development urban development Road widening Road widening Citizen Reports Citizen Reports Sankey Road Sankey Road
Dear Praja friends, as you already know, these are the days of advisory councils and committees. Their grip is complete, top to down, one advisory council is sitting at national level (NAC), and we also see and hear of a few at the lowest (our city government) level.
I am here to write about BBMP's technical advisory committee, mention of which I saw in today's DNA Bangalore newspaper. A column was authored by Dr Ashwin Mahesh, who has been listed as a member of "BBMP's technical advisory committee".
In the column, Dr Mahesh is critical of BBMP's Sankey Road widening project. Everyone is advised to read the column I am mentioning to confirm what I am saying here is right - Dr Mahesh, a member of BBMP's Technical Advisory Committee is strongly opposing Sankey Tank Road widening project, and also BBMP's approach to similar projects.
Now, my questions to you all, BBMP, and Dr Mahesh
Questions specific to the committee (to BBMP, and Praja friends)
- What is the role and purpose of BBMP's Technical Advisory Committee
- How many members does it have
- How many of BBMP's projects have these "members" advised on
- How much remuneration and what perks are paid to the advisers?
- Who pays this? If BBMP, then what budget does the money come from
- What are the responsibilities of the advisers on this "committee"
- Who bears accountability on quality and bias aspects of advice that the committee offers? Advisers? Or BBMP? What I mean is, if some advice offered is accepted and later found to be disastrous, will BBMP keep the blame, or passed to the advisers?
- If the committee members are being openly critical of some high visibility projects like Sankey Tank Road widening, why do you still have them on it?
Corresponding questions for Dr Mahesh
- Are you "inside" BBMP or "outside" BBMP?
- Is it true that most of your advice is turned down by the BBMP? That is the feeling one gets after reading your articles in newspapers etc related to local projects?
- If above is not true then are there examples of advices that you offered and BBMP did not turn down? Would you be open to sharing the "hit rate"?
- In case the hit rate is low or very low, if BBMP anyway doesn't follow your advice on contest-ably futile projects like Sankey Tank Road Widening, why are you still on this "committee"?
- What responsibilities do you carry as member of the committee? Advise on a specific number and type of projects? Attend a specified number of meetings?
My dear friends, learned sirs and madams, judging by blogs and comments here, many of you know Dr Ashwin Mahesh. Would you be able to get some answers to above. Just like you all, I also want to understand account-abilities in functioning of BBMP.
My questions are simple and genuine. I share them here anonymously so that these are not seen to be personal.
love bangalore,
RFOB (a Real Friend of Bangalore)
COMMENTS
idontspam - 21 September, 2011 - 08:17
I have scoured the net for plans but all I get are news reports where the reporters themselves havent bothered to understand what exactly BBMP is planning to do. Such a shame.
Mwm_mute - 22 September, 2011 - 11:05
As a non-expert, I can see that CNR Underpass will go the Mwm Circle underpass way. The at-grade roads for left/right turns will just be wide enough for a bus to wriggle through. The Ypr bound traffic will start massing at the next traffic junction. The planners have probably not factored in the pedestrians - BHEL/IISc goers beware.
Public consultation is probably too much of an ask, shouldn’t JNNURM at the very least mandate that the plans be put on a website for all to see?
rs - 23 September, 2011 - 08:17
In fact I think this CNR Rao underpass will be a complete disaster. Already - since they opened up the road, it is impossible to exit from IISc - since there is a continuous flow of traffic. Also there is a jam caused at the Maramma Circle ( technically CV Raman circle ) entrance, since traffic is flowing continuously.
Let me bet that in a year or so, when they finish the work, they will put a signal at Maramma circle as there will be a huge jam caused by the fact that traffic has to cross directions there. All this while, since traffic inflow was regulated there was a break in the flow which allowed traffic to cross. Now that has been eliminated.
In a year after that, they will decide that they need to build an underpass there and screw up Malleswaram traffic for a couple more years. Meanwhile, they will cut off all the trees in the area.
As I have said on several occasions, a way to at least reduce this mess is to change the directions of Margosa and Sampige roads. But nobody in power seems to care - its much more lucrative to have to build underpasses - `everybody' benefits - from the contractors to the tree mafia.
I dont think there is any hope for Malleswaram any more.
The fundamental problem in this country is that people havent realised the difference between selfishness and elightened self-interest. People do things - life scams, take on useless projects, park badly - essentially out of selfishness. If instead they realised that if they did things out elightened self interest they would benefit more in the long run.
For example, parking on the footpath. People do this because it is convenient. But what happens. Pedestrians are forced to walk on the road. This causes the road to become effectively smaller. This causes traffice to get jammed up. Which finally inconveniences the person who parked on the footpath since he is stuck in a jam - perhaps for a much longer period than it would take him to park elsewhere legally and walk a few metres.
Ramesh
Mwm_mute - 20 September, 2011 - 08:19
Just wanted to poll the collective wisdom of Prajegalu on the CNR Rao underpass, which has been under construction for more than a year. I have not be able to visualize the plan, despite passing by the excavation on numerous occasions.
It looks like traffic proceeding from Maramma Circle towards Ypr will have a free passage. What is troubling therefore is another ramp being built for the traffic coming in from Mekhri Circle. I would greatly apprecite if someone could resolve my little confusion. Thanks.
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