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Core Ring Road (ICCR) as BRTS

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Written By Transmogrifier - 1 June, 2008

Traffic Bangalore BMTC BRTS public transport

Any new developments regarding the Core Ring Road (ICCR)? I was looking through a couple of BBMP design documents (alignment etc.) that silkboard posted here quite a while back on his blog from BBMP.

A couple of thoughts on the present BBMP plans before I make a few suggestions.

  1. For the large part this looks more like an Intermediate Ring Road than a Core Ring Road. There are extensive residential/business areas within the proposed ICRR/CRR loop. If I lived in Frazer Town and I was to get to Lalbagh, I would still have to slog my way through traffic even with the ICCR/CRR.
  2. It does not connect with either of the major Railway Stations and the Subashnagar bus stand. This gains more importance as we hope to (eventually) get a Commuter Rail Sysytem (CRS).
  3. Of course as tarlesubba pointed out earlier though making it three levels is ridiculous.

First some ideas on the design angle

  1. Given our constraints on carriageway width and ROW it might have to go vertical (but only 1 level). 6-lane divided carriageway (wherever possible) and 4 lane everywhere else.
  2. At absolutely every stage in the ICCR, center lanes to serve as BRTS (additional width needed for bus shelters).
  3. ICCR should be access-controlled with significantly higher tolls at the limited number of CBD exits.
  4. Intersection free with a design speed of 60km. Design should incorporate existing interchanges to maximum use and also facilitate integration with planned elevated roads.
  5. Roads underneath to have footpaths and bicycle lanes

Finally a small note on the alignment. how about the following route (map follows in a couple of days)

Palace Road-Millers Road (till Cantt Station underbridge)-Basaveshwara Main Rd-St. John's Church Rd-Kensington-Rd-Bhaskaran Rd-Old Madras Rd-Richmond Rd-Rajaram Mohan Roy Rd-District Office Road-Palace Road

Innovative alternatives can be used to. In some sections the ICRR/CRR can also go belowground (albeit with significant cost- aka Boston's Big Dig. Road can also be made in Let's toss these ideas back and forth and hoprefully soon enough we can move the idea to BBMP itself.

transmogrifier

COMMENTS

buses

tsubba - 1 June, 2008 - 12:48

transmogrifier how about buses at the level below? easy on the passengers. unless you are talking about long haul buses.

ICRR and public transport?

silkboard - 1 June, 2008 - 15:22

I don't think the idea was floated with bus transport in mind. but wouldn't go as far as saying this is a car-lobby thing. You do need 'corridors' to move goods, and cars/vans across and deeper into the city - basically to segregate long distance traffic from short haul ones. But these big elevated road projects should get lower priority than public transportation projects.

I am guessing that the goal of this 'road corridor' through the city would be to 1) take people going across town quickly through the heart of the city without requiring them to skirt around via ring roads, or to 2) drop people deeper into the city from outskirts. When seen that way, ICRR just by itself (an island) is pretty pointless. Like you said - it has to be networked with other 'corridors'. Connect it to something like BMIC Link road, or to that planned elevated road from Silk board junction to Shoolay circle, or an extension of the elevated road being done over Tumkur Road (Nelamangala tollway). I think CTTP does have some of these things on mind.

However, easing Frazer Town to Lalbagh road commute via BRTS route touching ICRR sounds interesting, lets see your route maps. CTTP doesn't talk of any BRTS routes inside the city (all are either on or outside of ORR) because of the assumption that dedicated lanes aren't possible in the interior city. But looking at the magic boxes, our planners should think again.

Anyway. I think its time we question each and every transportation project that doesn't do anything substantial for the cause of public transportation. I say "susbtantial" because we will be told that all new roads are available for use by the buses as well, and just that argument is not good enough.

Frazer Town to Lalbagh road commute via BRTS !

kbsyed61 - 1 June, 2008 - 15:49

SB,

 Do you have the route details for commute from Frazer Town to Lal Bagh via BRTS?

Syed 

 

Buses (at v/s above grade)

Transmogrifier - 2 June, 2008 - 23:49

tarlesubba 

I did think of buses at the level below, but that defeats the purpose of a BRTS (if the buses have to deal with traffic, lights etc.).

If you have it above grade all you need is the design to incorporate a shelter and stairs (and an elevator for the physically handicapped?). With the inner two lanes designated as BRTS, you can share the shelter and stairs with bi-directional bus flows. Traditional flyover design always leaves vacant spaces between its support pillars. These staircases could utlilise that area and connect with short-trip regular BMTC buses at grade.

transmogrifier 

PS: I tried to draw this out on Google Sketch but eventually gave up in frustration :)

ICRR and the lobbyists

Transmogrifier - 3 June, 2008 - 00:25

silkboard, 

I'm beginning to feel that the best way is to work with the lobbyists and not against them. Ask Tata/AL/Volvo (and others) to compete on the BRTS angle of the bid... in return for using their higher end buses for the project (aka Curitiba, Brazil).

I also agree with you completely on how the ICRR is a double edged sword. Planners just need to play it carefully and hope that it serves the first and not the second part of your argument. One way that we can prevent everyone from coming all the way in to city using the ICRR is to limit the CBD exits (and heavily toll that exit. For e.g:

  1. Cantt Station: exit/entry ramps
  2. Wheeler Road: exit/entry ramps
  3. Ulsoor Lake (near the Phillips office): exit/entry ramps
  4. Football stadium: exit (toll)/entry ramps
  5. Vellara junction: entry ramp only
  6. Hudson Circle: exit (toll)/entry ramps
  7. Palace Road/KG Road: exit (toll)/entry ramps
  8. Palace Road/Raj Bhavan Road: entry ramp only

transmogrifier

ps: I still need to post those maps! 

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