COMMENTS

In my post of 28th Oct (scroll above to read), I had expressed a hope that the govt's steely resolve to 'elevate' us all may have slackened, at least a bit, going by the NIE report on the possibility of its having dumped the Minerva circle - Hudson circle fly-over. But, while that one's fate is unknown, there are plenty more "infra-structure projects" in the pipe-line, some already in progress, as may be seen here.  

All in all, the vision for Bengaluru, as perceived by the powers that be, appears to be based on the Houston model, the picture below (from Houston - check Ravi's post of 4th Mar, '09, scrolling above) giving a graphic indication of things to come.

Well, our Nayandahalli junction is already looking like this (much cruder, perhaps), right? But, now such sights are going to be the order of the day even in the very heart of the city.

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The opposition to the proposed steel flyover is likely to take a toll on another similar steel bridge that was proposed to come up on JC Road. Cost escalation by the bidder is also another reason.

- - - BBMP sources are now giving a different version. “Till recently, that was the plan. After approval from the state government, the work order would have been issued. But after seeing the massive protest against the proposed steel flyover on international airport road, we may now reconsider the plan,’’ said a senior official.

For the full text of the report (emphasis added by me) in the New Indian Express, click here.

Well, just as well.

With over 3,000 people coming onto the roads, and over 40,000 recording a loud "NO" in a poll, the government is obviously convinced of the sincerity of the genuineness of the protest (against the Chalukya circle to Hebbal steel flyover - check here), even though the chief protagonists would like to remain in denial.

We, in Praja, have been critical of both right from day one.

If not for the massive protests, the protagonists, led by the Bengaluru Development minister, would perhaps have liked to build an exclusive elevated steel city for the the "khaas aadmi", pushing the "earthlings" literally to the ground.

Thank God for the awakened city Civil Society. Perhaps, time to take charge now.

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Murali, I just think traffic density could come down on JC Road once the southern arm of Namma Metro opens.

This is just a guess. One would have do a lot of research on the ground to understand as how to Metro would impact the lives of South Bangaloreans.

Peenya, a major economic centre will become easily accessible to residents of Jayanagar, Banashankari, JP Nagar and Basavangudi. 

For starters, our Basavangudi MLA could park his car at home and travel to Vidhan Soudha by Metro and lead the way. 

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What Bengaluru needs now is a plan that looks 50 years ahead, say Prakash Belawadi and Naresh Narasimhan, in their joint rejoinder to the interview of RK Misra published on Citizen Matters.

For the full text of the interview, click here.

The full text of Mr R K Misra's interview is accessible here. The most glaring part of Mr Misra's approach becomes obvious from the statement "In a city like Bengaluru, where people are able to afford travel by cars, they are even ready to pay toll if you provide them a good traffic-free road". Essentially, he wants to make room for the close to 60,000 vehicles onto our roads every month, even as it is already log-jammed by the existing 66 lakh odd vehicles, of which the proportion of cars is on a steady ascendency (check here).   

I had mentioned about the our pursuing the Houston model in my post of 8th Nov (scroll above, to read). Well, that indeed seems to be the vision that R K-ji seems to have sold George-ji. The talk about the "consortium led by US firm AECOM is now in the final stages of preparing the (Rs 11cr) DFR" fits in with that.

Well, the two ji's may be sold on their vision; but, as Naresh has pointed out, they contradict the The National Urban Transport Policy 2014 (NUTP 2014) that the country has chosen to abide by. George-ji better take note.

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To be built at a cost of Rs. 134.89 crore, the flyover with 7.5 metre carriageways on either side, will link Minerva Circle to Kasturba road (2.25 km), Minerva Circle to Kempegowda road (2 km) and RV Road to Nrupatunga road, completely bypassing the busy Hudson Circle.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/366301/decongesting-hudson-circle.html

As we know bridges only shift congestion..so instead of stopping at Hudson circle, Kasturba road will get clogged and so will KG road..the govt still wants to promote personal vehicles (no PT/bus allowed on the steel bridge)

Wonder when they will learn..when they do, they will have a huge ugly structures which they cannot live with nor demolish it!

Metro is planned to be a game changes on this route..only if they could wait till it opened to re-asses the needs then!

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