Ring Roads - whats up BMRDA?

silkboard - 1-APR-2008

Bengalooru - Nelamangala Tollway on NH4

silkboard - 7-DEC-2007

Saw two interesting bits in papers about this project. About a week ago, newspapers carried a list of land properties along NH4/Tumkur road that could be acquired for the project. And today, one newspaper has an ad insert that says - "Navayuga Engineering Co. Ltd.

Airport for sale at Puttaparthi - interesting?

silkboard - 4-NOV-2007

In case you guys missed reading this story (Business-Standard 31st Oct), Sai Baba's airport which is only 70 km from Devanahalli is up for sale. What if a big name corporation buys and develops this airport and the sorrounding region? Bad news for BIAL?

Bangalore and Ribbon Development

silkboard - 7-OCT-2007

Bangalore's peripheral areas all messed up? Blame it on Ribbon Development. Let me introduce you to a term very relevant to the congested sprawl that our city is witnessing. Simply put, Ribbon Development means building shops and houses along the roads radiating from a town. If you were to look at Bangalore from the skies and track recently laid or widened major arterial roads leading out of the city, you would notice that almost all big ticket construction/development happens solely along (rather right on top of) these roads.

Do me another favor. When on the periphery of Bangalore, try take a left or right out of any big radial road. This is most likely what you would see [pictures below]. Pathetic roads, poor quality of construction and even narrower streets if you were to venture into a "layout".

DLF to build a 'new Bangalore' at Bidadi !

silkboard - 2-OCT-2007

Looks like DLF is all set to translate BMRDA's satellite town vision into reality. As per today's newspapers, BMRDA is going to award the contract for building a Knowledge City at Bidadi to DLF. The project involves an investment of Rs 60000 crores!! Here are some interesting snippets pulled out from the media reports this morning:

Hubli-Bangalore-Mysore, Full Speed Ahead!!

tsubba - 17-SEP-2007

It is the season of big plans, UP has announced a staggering 1000kms of 8 lanes expressway running the entire length of the state from east to west. Not to be outdone, inspired by a CII proposal for a Mumbai-Bangalore-Chennai high speed freight corridor, the KA state government has tossed in the idea for a high speed passenger corridor in KA, that'll do Bangalore-Hubli in 2 hours, Bangalore-Mysore in 40 minutes. This, apparently, is the "Just In Time" concept to de-congest Bangalore.

Mysore highway upgrade - service lanes and bypass roads

silkboard - 14-AUG-2007

So it is action time for another round of upgrade to Bangalore Mysore state highway. As per this KRDCL tender, the work is worth 795 crores, and:

"The work includes Construction of Service roads all along the existing 4-laned Bangalore-Mysore Road Excluding Town Limits of Kengeri, Bidadi, Ramanagara, Channapatna, Maddur, Mandya and Srirangapatna where bypasses are proposed to be constructed as part of the scope. Also the work includes widening of the 4-laned road to 6-lane from chainage 11.60 Km to 33.00 Km."

Whitefield and connectivity

silkboard - 9-AUG-2007

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When Marathahalli bridge construction work was in full swing (it still is), and we were struggling to cross the run-down work site, I was thinking about connectivity problems of this east-of-Bangalore suburb. When I say Whitefield, I mean the whole Mahadevpura, Hoody, ITPL, Whitefield, RG Halli, Brookfields, Kundalahalli region.

Biding for Bidadi vs SEZ at Nandagudi

silkboard - 23-JUL-2007

Did you notice how quick this Nandagudi SEZ thing is moving!? After state government's nod over a month ago, It got central government's clearance last week. HDK is all for the project and has been defending it no end.

Now, head a bit south-west to Bidadi. Apparently this huge integrated township project got a poor response. DLF is the only one left biding for Bidadi Integrated Township Project (BITP) now.

Satellite towns

silkboard - 27-JUN-2007

I think these projects aimed at developing satellite and peripheral towns around Bangalore are critical for long term health of the metro region. If done right, these integrated towns (Bidadi, Ramanagaram, Nandagudi) could wean businesses and residents away from central areas of Bangalore. How is that for de-congestion?