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Steel Flyover from Rajbhavan to Hebbal - Political Objectives rules over public Utility

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Written By kbsyed61 - 21 June, 2016

Bangalore Infrastructure Bengaluru Analysis Flyovers and underpasses flyover

The news about GOK's brazen attempt to go ahead with the 6.7 KM STEEL FLYOVER project connecting Rajbhavan to Hebbal is hogging all the news headlines in past few weeks.. Barring few, everyone from citizens to architects, Urban Planners to Activists are up in arms against this project. But nothing seems to deter the state government from going ahead with the project.

Taking a dispassionate view of the project might need some answers which the GOK has not been able to provide,

1. What is the problem that GOK is trying to solve by constructing a FLYOVER?

2. Where is the Public Consultation process undertaken by the implementing agency BDA?

3. Is there a feasibility study done prior to decision to take up this project? Is it available for public?

4. Is there a DPR done for this project? If yes why isn't available for public scrutiny?

5. Has the state government or BDA done a traffic analysis to account for the future growth?

6. Can the state government fund this project 100% without having to rely on center?

7. Does the feasibility study covers the detailed analysis of alternatives that could mitigate the traffic congestion problem that state govt is trying to solve?

 

If the sole purpose of this project is to decongest the traffic to KIAL airport on Bellary Road, surely state government / BDA has not done its homework well. Well state government should take the blame for not taking up any infrastructure development projects to provide alternate routes in the city to reach KIAL. It has been 8 years since the KIAL airport began its operations, Bellary Road has remained the only access point to KIAL.The bDA/ State government has not taken up the alternate routes like,

1. Via Nagwara Road

2. Via Hennur

3. and starting suburban train services with a Halt at the Trumpet.

Going by the facts available in public domain, there is no justification for this project. As the Union Minister Shri. Gadkari said, flyovers do not solve traffic problems. They do not help reduce congestion, but increase congestion. Ging by the BDA record for unprofessional, flawed designs, even this project has the same future. The ultimate sufferers would be we the ordinary citizens.

Certainly this project is not in public or Bengaluru's interest? Then for whose interest this project is being taken up against the public opinion?

News links

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/steel-flyover-on-airport-road-will-be-a-reality/article8716144.ece

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/others/Airport-ride-may-take-longer/articleshow/50722725.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/A-1350-crore-flyover-we-could-do-without/articleshow/52825749.cms

http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31806&articlexml=CONNECT-METRO-TO-BIA-Steel-flyover-wont-bridge-21062016004017

http://blog.propgod.com/road-users-woes-on-steel-flyover-at-chalukya-circle-bangalore/

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/552360/bda8200ignored-public-opinion-aesthetics-steel.html

 

COMMENTS

Railway Operations

Naveen - 27 June, 2016 - 06:13

there a lot of industries in Chikkaballapur and Kolar and most of the people working here find it difficult to reach their work place. Do we build a metro to these towns to solve commuting issues?

I can find flwg trains to Chikballapur /Kolar :

From Bangalore:

1) 76551/KSR Bengaluru - Kolar DEMU (Via Chik Ballapur)  (0830-1300 hrs)

2) 76505/Bengaluru Cantt. - Kolar DMU  (1755-2015 hrs)

3) 56525/KSR Bengaluru - Kolar Passenger (UnReserved)  (via Chikballapur, 1810-2100 hrs)

To Bangalore:

1) 56526/Kolar - KSR Bengaluru Passenger (UnReserved)  (via Chikballapur, 0755-0945 hrs)

2) 06596/Chikballapur - Yesvantpur DEMU Special  (1240-1425 hrs)

3) 76552/Kolar - KSR Bengaluru DEMU (Via Chik Ballapur)  (1555-1800 hrs)

 

Proper integration fo suburban rail with metro shall ensure that people shall use trains instead of buses. What is required is proper integration and co-ordination and not operation in Silos!

We know the way Indian railways functions, firmly chained to a low-service, low-priced equilibrium, mired in politics and being used for gaining political advantage, the entrenched focus being more on production rather than service. Rigidities in control, procurement and incremental development due to low financial capacity have all combined and created a formidable barrier to change that is very hard to break. This approach may have been acceptable in the past when majority of passengers were captives interested mainly in low fares, but this is no longer the case now.

The new central govt has just announced that future rail budgets would be included as part of the main budget, thus delinking railways from politics to some extent, for a start. The focus to unshackle railways from outdated heirarchial practices will take time and sustained effort, but there is some recognition of the need for change. The arrival of metro systems has further eroded public perceptions in suburban rail systems whilst providing opportunities for certifying of metro rail systems by officials from railways to take pot shots and also for railways to demand their "pound of flesh" for right of ways, permissions, etc making co-operation a one way street, generally.

The dilemma for GoK has been to deal with Bangalore's heavy traffic congestion on top priority through a metro rail system whilst adopting a strategy of pressing for a suburban rail service through the railways, time-consuming as it is bound to be (as per past experiences country-wide - including various phases of MUTP-Mumbai and MMTS-Hyderabad, let alone other informal systems). GoK, not owning nor having much say combined with the realities of an insufficient and highly restrictive city rail network has only relegated the suburban system to one of lower priority, "whenever it comes through".

In the ensemble that may evolve with changes over efflux of time, it can only be hoped that it evolves primarily in public interest and results in better co-operation between state and railways, though so far there has been no co-ordination, yet.

DH Editorial Opposes this flyover!

kbsyed61 - 21 June, 2016 - 15:01

Source - Deccan Herald

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/553432/drop-anti-people-airport-flyover.html

"...The proposed 6.5 km, six-lane steel flyover from Chalukya circle to Hebbal junction in Bengaluru is not just an unwise and wasteful project but one which can do actual harm. This meddles with the natural flow of traffic, which basically is the movement of people, down below. The aim of the flyover is to connect the city’s central business district to the international airport. There were other plans for this which were either dropped or failed.

This too will not help, and should be dropped because it is riddled with problems and deficiencies, and ignores alternatives which are cheaper, better and more viable. There is no public interest involved and it seems other interests were at play when it was given the green signal. Flyovers everywhere have proved that they are no solution to traffic problems. They only shift congestion and chaos from one spot to another. The K R Puram flyover which was once touted as the ultimate remedy for Old Madras Road’s ills has only worsened the gridlock there. The faulty design of Richmond Circle flyover has not solved the problem of congestion faced by connecting roads. The National College flyover was built when there was no need for it and despite local residents’ opposition. The Sirsi Circle too has not helped matters.
 
Both ends of the proposed steel flyover will sink in whirlpools of traffic, the road below will shrink and the approach roads will choke. Experts have voiced their concern over the ill-thought out project. The estimated cost of Rs 1,350 crore is a criminal waste of public money and is too high for a single project of dubious utility, serious side-effects and disruptive consequences. And where will so much money come from? The Central funds have dried up. The people will have to pay for it, which will make it a paid private highway. Public roads and public transport are the best means to beat traffic blues. A venture which throws public transport out of gear and inconveniences the public is not good, and should be opposed. There has been no public debate on a project which costs so much and affects the lives of people in many wrong ways. 
 
The state government is pursuing this project when there is a viable alternative route which can be developed at less cost and will serve the airport and the people better. A multi-mile steel contraption rising over the roads will also spoil the aesthetics of the city.
 
It will be a why in the sky with no good answers. The Congress government, led by Siddaramaiah, should listen to the experts who are stridently opposed to this project, and drop this anti-people project at once. .."

Why not a surface level light

amithpallavoor - 22 June, 2016 - 15:26

Why not a surface level light rail system/ tram all the way upto the airport on the same route? 

The magix boxes are to be dismantled. The only issue shall be the archaic Mekhri circle underpass and the iconic Windso Manor Underpass.

According to Sudhindra Rao, the person who had authored an article on the feasibility of trams for Bangalore if GOK decides to go for tunnel hybrid train system then the existing structures could be retained and a light rail system could become a reality.

L&T can surely build a light rail system when they can handle Hyderabad's Metro. Now, the question is "How come L&T has quoted so low for the construction of a steel flyover"

 

 

Six trains per day shall

amithpallavoor - 27 June, 2016 - 07:07

Six trains per day shall solve the problem?

 

I agree with you. We have

amithpallavoor - 27 June, 2016 - 02:57

I agree with you. We have seen failures of Delhi Ring Railway and MRTS beecause of lack of integration.

Under the current circumstances it is next to impossible to build stations within CBD. However, a few stations still have land for development to be carried out.

Jnanbharathi lies in close proximity to the proposed metro station and there is a lot of government land around the station to carry out development.

It is not about airport, there a lot of industries in Chikkaballapur and Kolar and most of the people working here find it difficult to reach their work place. Do we build a metro to these towns to solve commuting issues?

Proper integration fo suburban rail with metro shall ensure that people shall use trains instead of buses. What is required is proper integration and co-ordination and not operation in Silos!

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