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Race Course shifting from CBD - replacement?
Written By Vasanthkumar Mysoremath - 3 April, 2009
Civic amenities Bangalore environment Trees suggestion Race Course
Hurrah - Great News - Bangalore Turf Club being shifted.
With every change of Government, shifting of race course was having a 'blow hot, blow cold' affair. Now it looks like (to be seen) it is coming to a logical conclusion. This 99 acres of prime land is an eye sore for a garden city. One look from the fly over near Ananda Rao circle reveals how barren the race course land has been converted into, the central portion dug up for housing hundreds of horses in their stables with their top covered with abestos sheets that become extremely hot during sunny days and spew hot air/carbon dioxide thereby creating a hot air syndrome all around the periphery.
My request to authorities is that before any arbitrary political decision is taken, it would be better to invite citizens to give their suggestions because politicians will be here today and gone tomorrow but it is the people who have to live with what is dished out to them without a vision or a futuristic ambience. This scenario should not be encouraged.
My suggestions -
(1) out of 99 acres of land, cardon off 80 acres to create a carbon sink/mini organic forest - plant such species of greenery that uses maximum CO2 that is being spewed in the Central Business District; also other species that produce flowers, fruits and seeds, herbal and aromatic varieties that attract birds, bees, insects and to make up for the loss of huge rain trees that have been destroyed and uprooted the nests etc., of avion and animal kingdom;
(2) in the rest of the land towards Gandhinagar Flyover near Mahatma Gandhi statue, create underground parking facility and plan a hanging garden over the concrete tops with fountains and greenery.
(3) If feasible, a Heli-pad may be planned to cater to the VVIPs etc., whose visits have been creating chaotic traffic conditions affecting the normal life of the common man.
Others may also like to offer their suggestions. Praja can consider moderating this sensitive issue.
-Vasanthkumar Mysoremath
[Moderator's note: Title was edited, please keep post titles short and brief, thanks.]
COMMENTS
swamy - 3 April, 2009 - 08:20
Why helipad and all, there is jaaga in vidhan-vikas soudha, make it there.
Another park is too much, cubbon park is there only.
Make a modern tourist attraction, a Karnataka Culture Center to showcase Karnataka history - small models of Belur, Hampi etc, IMAX movies to show history (from Satavaahanas to Vijayanagar to Tippu), and tourist landscape (Ghats, Rivers, Falls)
Whole Culture Center should be made in green way, with forest look.
Ultimately, make one fantastic nodale beku place in Bengaluru.
Other idea - School of Planning and Architecture. It is needed.
mcadambi - 3 April, 2009 - 08:39
All ideas here - by Vasanth, Swamy can easily be accomodated.
In Bhubaneshwar, a herbal medicinal plant park based on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's plan was inaugurated with success.
I am sure Shri Vasanth's idea of have a large park with the kind of flora he mentions is appropriate for the CBD.
In addition, we should also contemplate opening Karnataka Culture Centre on the samelines of Dakshin Chitra in Chennai.
A Supreme Court Bench based on our Indian architecture, with emphasis on Karnataka style, should also be inaugurated. Infact the idea of having Supreme Court Benches in all state capitals has been pending for a long time.
This supreme court bench should be grander than the Vikasa Soudha.
But then, i also wish the Bangalore Turf Club very good success in setting up a new Turf in Chickkajala.
I wish they too have an international standard Turf Club. Kingfisher Derby is a well followed event around the world and we should have a Turf Club of International Standards as well.
School of Urban Planning a must
mcadambi - 3 April, 2009 - 08:41
Perhaps the CiSTUP - Centre for Sustainable Transport and Urbanisation set up in IISc could be shifted to the Race Course in a larger and more expanded campus dedicated to training urban planners, town planners for the needs of the nation.
Having a school of urban planning is critical for our nation and very important for our city.
Vasanthkumar Mysoremath - 3 April, 2009 - 16:54
Dear all,
Land in namma Bengaluru is so scarce and unavailable for our future generations. When we get a chance to retain a little piece/peace of land right in the heart of the CBD, should we think of constructing some monstro-city concrete structures that serves a very meagre percentage of our population? Right now, we owe our existence to three things in this world - air, water & energy. It is our duty to protect and preserve these life saving elements for posterity. Only if we are alive, we can improve the world and the living conditions of the masses. If they are corrupted, polluted and destroyed without concern for the future, then we are failing in our duty to stem the rot that has already set in, in this delicate world of ours.
Think about utilising the Race Course land with these elements in mind.
With due regards and respects to the delicate world we are living in.
- Vasanthkumar Mysoremath
idontspam - 3 April, 2009 - 07:25
... I second this proposal. As long as atleast 70% is going to be a forest we can put the rest to any other use. Like you mention the greens have to stake claim to this 70% now and start negotiations with the govt.
Oh wait! this will not happen because the greens are busy fighting the PT system and saving a few trees here and there. Like the saying goes they will miss the forest for the trees
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