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Metro PH 2 routes optimal?
Written By srinidhi - 3 January, 2012
Bangalore Namma Metro Analysis Routing phase II
From DH today:
The State Cabinet is likely is give its nod for taking up Phase-2 of Namma Metro at its meeting on Tuesday.
Covering a span of 72 km, Phase-2 of Bangalore Metro is expected to cost around Rs 25,000 crore. Phase-2 will be an extension of all the four present reaches of Phase-1. In addition, it will have two new lines –– one from Jayanagar to Electronics City via Jayadeva Hospital, BTM Layout and Silk Board and the second from Nagavara to Gottigere via Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
In the east-west corridor, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited, which has prepared the Detailed Project Report, recommends that the Phase-1 network be extended up to Whitefield from the existing terminating point at Baiyappanahalli in the east (15.5 km) and up to Kengeri from the terminating point near Nayandahalli on Mysore Road in the west (6.5 km).
Similarly on the north-south corridor, it suggests that the network be extended up to Bangalore International Exhibition Centre from Hessarghatta Cross (3.8 km) in the north and up to Anjanapura township from Puttenahalli Cross in the south (6.3 km).
The new line between Nagavara to Gottigere will run for 21.1 km and will have 20 stations. The new line between R V Road – Bommasandra will run for 18.8 km and will have 15 stations.
What is the traffic study supporting these new routes and extensions? how is it integrating with other modes of transport?
There is lot of secrecy in the way the DPR is being handled..one reason cited is this information would give rise to land grabbing etc along the proposed metro routes..but this is anyway gonna happen..
What about public involvement in the DPR process?
DMRCL is no way a competent authority to write DPR's as they are the least c onnected to the round realities and do not understand patterns in commuter movement..why not thrash out the routes in public..have a meaningful discussion and then go for implementation..
ITPL integration came as an after thouht while implementing phase I, whereas it was the obvious choice of commuters even before phase I started..wouldnt it have been better to have the termination of the line at white field with the shed and other facilities on the out skirts of the city?
This way the land at BYP/NGEF could have been better used considering its proximity to city cbd!
Coming to the new line too..though I am from Blr south, I do not see any sense in the Jayanagar to Electronics City via Jayadeva Hospital, BTM Layout and Silk Board route..instead the IIM-Nagavara line could have turned into BTM atJayadeva and turn into Madivala at SIlkBoard..this way it would have catered to HSR layout and other catchment areas...
From SIlkBoard..a BRTS is the best option now to head to EC..if the elevated road was not constructed..a metro line all the way would have made sense..but with the BETL in place..its best optimally used instead of building a metro all the way!
There are way too many questions to be answered with the new routes..hope some one in the govt has the sense and patience to question BMRCL!
COMMENTS
How the Hanging Bridge will be handled?
Vasanth - 5 January, 2012 - 22:32
Have a doubt on the alignment near Hanging Bridge and KR Puram Railway Station Hanging Bridge.
Naveen - 3 January, 2012 - 09:02
Sri - sure looks like you have serious doubts about the establishments ! I have been following this & will give you my opinions, as I see them ...
What is the traffic study supporting these new routes and extensions? how is it integrating with other modes of transport ?
Coming off from a 1994 study for ELRTS, a 2003 study was made by DMRC & this was followed up with CTTP-2007 by RITES - see this thread for full details of all studies. Routes had been recommended from Electronic city to Yelahanka (via Nagwara) & also from Bannerghatta National park.
There is lot of secrecy in the way the DPR is being handled
Study reports were available on public domain - I had copies of all of them (still have some).
What about public involvement in the DPR process?
I think DPRs are based on heavy civil & construction engineering that cannot easily be understood - I had earlier had a peek at the ph-1 DPR consisting of some 3-4 volumes of books.
DMRCL is no way a competent authority to write DPR's as they are the least connected to the round realities and do not understand patterns in commuter movement..why not thrash out the routes in public..have a meaningful discussion and then go for implementation..
I think an experienced agency that is capable of evaluating traffic study report/s would qualify to prepare detailed DPRs. Route recommendations were probably refined by BMRC based on CTTP & other studies & DMRC probably prepared DPRs since they have experience in making recommendations for the various challenges that would normally be encountered with heavy viaduct & tunnelling construction.
ITPL integration came as an after thouht while implementing phase I, whereas it was the obvious choice of commuters even before phase I started..wouldnt it have been better to have the termination of the line at white field with the shed and other facilities on the out skirts of the city?
ITPL is not the only place that needs to be connected & it might seem like an obvious choice for a Metro route to tech workers working there. However, the city has several such activity centers where there is similar, if not more demand (Mysore rd, Peenya, EC /Bommasandra, ORR-south east, newly emerging Sarjapur rd, etc, not to mention Majestic, Cantt, etc) -- & priorities might keep shifting as & when new developments take place.
I was equally surprised & had figured that the NS line could have run on Hosur rd rather than Kanakapura rd, & the EW line could have commenced at Whitefield.
To secure loans & approvals, it takes a lot of time to first prepare traffic studies, then get govt approvals & then approach financial agencies to secure loans on the basis of these studies endorsing financial viability. Meanwhile, demographics within the city might have changed & I think this was probably why ITPL was not included - Bangalore is a case in point where priorities have kept shifting each few years.
Several more depots might come up - Byp was probably convenient since govt land was available & it is also within easy commute distance for workers.
I do not see any sense in the Jayanagar to Electronics City via Jayadeva Hospital, BTM Layout and Silk Board route..instead the IIM-Nagavara line could have turned into BTM atJayadeva and turn into Madivala at SIlkBoard..this way it would have catered to HSR layout and other catchment areas...
Well, traffic studies also indicate that Bannerghatta rd needs mass transit.
From SIlkBoard..a BRTS is the best option now to head to EC
Again, traffic studies indicate that BETL alone would not suffice & a Metro route was warranted, as per CTTP-2007 report.
srinidhi - 3 January, 2012 - 12:45
@Naveen - CTTP looks fine because it has been prepared in extensive detail..but as you know..the metro route is not exactly matching the proposals..
As I see, you have used words like probably for DMRCL's job, which is exactly what it is. We do not know what they have considered and how! Public debate is completely missing..
Coming to EC connectivity, as you know BETL is going under loss even today because of low patronage..they will take a long time to get the adequate number of users on to the road..so putting a metro will totally kill it!
Most important thing is integration with other modes to transport...this is totally missing now with the current implementation..!!
As a side thought..if they can plan a depot in whitefield or Kengeri(cheaper there)..they can as well move all the infra at BYP to that place and use the real estate at BYP to build something useful as its closer to CBD!
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