Metro digging work on ITPL road, Whitefield !?

silkboard - 26-AUG-2010

Did anyone else notice the serious digging work going on around ITPL/Mahadevapura main road? This isn't some here and there soil testing type thing, they are making a continuous long trench on the north sidewalk of the main road going to ITPL. What's up? Phase-1 extension till ITPL - just can't be? Or has Phase-2 work begun now? Could be something else. Some pictures:

Updates from BMRC meeting

Naveen - 21-AUG-2010

The meeting was delayed & began only at 4.40PM since BMRC officials were busy till then. Flwg items discussed & status advised by BMRC :

1) BMTC feeder services will be operated upon commissioning of Metro for 3km distances from all stations. Ticketing will be made common for feeder buses & Metro. Smart cards with online recharge facilities will be made available.

Meeting with BMRC, Friday

Naveen - 18-AUG-2010

Some of us at Praja are planning to go meet Metro officials this Friday, 20th/August. Those interested to join in may leave a note here. We will not be able to take more than 5 people along, so please respond soonest since we have to resort to 'first come first serve' basis & give priority to more senior praja members.

Delhi/Mumbai get wider spans...not Blr why?

srinidhi - 19-MAY-2010

 To expedite the process and make it more cost effective, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is making use of gigantic 25 metre-long girders to join spans on elevated stretch of the section.

‘‘The cost of construction with the existing 3-meter spans works out to Rs 24 crore per km, while the 25-meter ones cost Rs 19 crore per km. So using the bigger spans will result in a saving of nearly Rs 5 crore per km,’’ said a DMRC official.

It  looks like this..

The bigger spans work out to be more economical and also speed up pace of the construction. Officials said it takes about a week to join the space between two pillars using segmental construction while the bigger spans can be put in place in just one day.

Public Transport Promotion Ad Agency

Vasanth - 18-APR-2010

 LA Metro had appointed an Ad Agency and created various ads to promote the use of public transport. As part of Bus Day campaign, can we have similar such ads in local TV and News Paper.

LA Metro: Promoting Mass Transit from EMBARQ Network on Vimeo.

Effect of Metro stations on adjacent roads

muthusubs - 16-MAR-2010

The metro work is underway on main roads in most part of Bangalore. The metro stations that are to be constructed are significantly wider than the main track. Will this not create bottlenecks on adjacent roads? For example, there is a metro station being constructed on Old Madras Road near the 80ft road junction. The Old Madras road which is wider on either side of the station suddenly becomes very narrow leading to frequent traffic jams here. Even after the construction of the station, the road width isn't going to change and this can be a serious problem later on. 

Consider the Vijaynagar main road. If the Metro station is constructed near the Bunts Sangha, it will almost be as wide as the road today. How can  the width of the roads be made uniform throughout?

Is this something that BMRCL is thinking of? In addition, the presence of a station will require rickshaw stands and bus stops nearby which means the roads have to be wider in these places. On the contrary, the station makes the road narrower. This is definitely a double whammy. 

BMRCL Ph II DPR route?

srinidhi - 11-MAR-2010

Naveen presented a good summary of his meeting with BMRCL

One thing that came of that was the DPR for the phase II was in the final stages and would be out soon..there are already questions on

Land Acquisition for Metro UG Stretch - expect more delays?

Ravi_D - 2-MAR-2010

Metro Soil Testing 2010 - Phase 3?

Srivatsava - 27-JAN-2010

All,

I have noticed metro soil testing at various locations in Bangalore this month.

Mid-last year, there was one round of soil testing done and the DPR for Phase-2 was to be out in aug/Sep 2009. Seems like thats still pending.

Is Monorail still on for Bangalore ?

Naveen - 25-JAN-2010

This report in DH states that the Scomi Engineering /Geodesic Techiques tie up is pitching for Bangalore Monorail on BOT basis (build, own, transfer), whose first phase of execution will see $2.4 billion investment.