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Written By Devesh - 25 September, 2008
Bangalore Bengaluru Namma Metro Media Reports BMRC Stations Metro Rail
I was supremely disappointed on reading this story in today's Deccan Chronicle. A quid pro quo with Bangalore for an elevated metro was to have good looking stations. Now we are going to get eyesores up in the sky, and are not even sure if there will be basic ameneties like lifts and escalators. Can someone on Praja explain the structure of BMRCL and what options we have to force them to stick to their original ideas. There must have been some clause in the concession to prevent deficiency in service and aethetics. http://www.deccan.com/Bengaluru/City/CityNews.asp?#Metro:%20BMRC%20on%20cost-cutting%20spree Bengaluru Sept. 24: The much-touted plan by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd high-tech and aesthetic stations on MG Road is not likely to materialise. The BMRCL, which is in cost-cutting mode has been doing a complete turnaround to shelve the earlier plan and have no frills stations. “The present design for all the six stations on Reach One — M.G. Road station at Plaza, station opposite Nalli Silks, Trinity station, CMH Road, Old Madras Road station and Byappanahali have been shelved. All six stations will be ordinary with absolutely no frills. In fact, the earlier proposal had suggested an estimated cost of Rs 10 to Rs 12 crore on each station which was designed by RITES and leading architects of the city. Now the authority wants to spend only Rs 1 crore on each of these stations in a bid to save as much as Rs 50 crore,” said the officer. The authority is also having second thoughts over redoing the promenade which saw over a dozen heritage trees being removed. When contacted, BMRC managing director N. Sivasailam, said, “I don’t know. I cannot answer. There is a board meeting on September 27 and the board will decide as to what to do with the designs and stations. I cannot comment as of now.” According to the earlier plan, all stations were supposed to have distinct, unique architectural features with multiple escalators for entry and exit, kiosks for ATMs and ticketing, coffee shops, bookshops, souvenir shops, lifts with Braille buttons, signage conforming to international standards, heritage of Karnataka depicted in the form of art works and murals, CCTVs for total surveillance, smoke and fire sensors apart from utilities including automatic fare collection. Now, that’s history. Metro: BMRC on cost-cutting spree
Devesh Agarwal
COMMENTS

Tragically short sighted decision
ashwin - 26 September, 2008 - 14:33

kbsyed61 - 26 September, 2008 - 15:36

tsubba - 26 September, 2008 - 17:31
i can appreciate that the BMRC wants to optimize costs. But the promenade on MG Road is a landmark for Bangalore. BMRC would earn a lot of good will from the public if it returns the promenade, which remains one of the few public spaces in bangalore, in good and usable condition.
about the architecture itself, a few landmark locations perhaps the BMRC can respond to. at places like CMH Rd the facade would be covered by neighbouring buildings, and rationalization is perhaps welcome, but at important places like MG road, Jayanagar stations, where the facade of the station would standout perhaps the stations could be resonant with the local aesthetics.
stairs are more robust and energy efficient, but elevators are convenient for physically challenged. perhaps, they can comeup with graded slopes for access. i am pretty sure, there are cost effective designs that can balance the two. just make sure that the physicaly handicapped and the elderly can access it.
i dunno how to say this nicely, but a robust, functional and appropriatetly aesthetic facility is mch more important than flashy, statement making facility.
then ofocurse, i would urge BMRC to be aggressive to coverage and to be a aggressively pursue every single kilometer of coverage they can obtain. we are a circular land locked city. need more than the radials.

NECESSITY OF AESTHETIC & EXQUISITE METRO STATIONS
ssheragu - 27 September, 2008 - 06:38

1 crore? 10 crore? - confusing news
silkboard - 28 September, 2008 - 15:47
I am confused now. I saw the RFP/tenders for 3 more stations in papers today - the cost mentioned for 3 stations is Rs 111 crores. Whats this 10 crore and 1 crore Deccan Herald article is talking about?
We are clearly mis-informed here, or those tenders are inflating costs.
I will pull those BMRCL tenders out from papers (scan) and put up a separate post to express my cost confusion.
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