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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
 Posted - 03/15/2009 : 20:10:49
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Mixed News Items 15-Mar-2009
DMRC imparts training to Bangalore Metro engineers
New Delhi | Sunday, Mar 15 2009 IST
http://news.webindia123.com/news/ar_showdetails.asp?id=903150479&cat=&n_date=20090315
After providing consultancy services to various Metros across the country, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has started imparting training to the staff and executives of other metros in the country.
The DMRC provided one-month training to engineers from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) who had come to New Delhi to get a first-hand account of the functioning and working of Delhi Metro, DMRC Spokesperson Anuj Dayal said in a statement here today.
During the course of their training module at the Delhi Metro Training School,which ended this week, they were given exposure to the functioning and working of the Metro, the latest technology used here, the telecom and signaling system, over-head electrification and round-the-clock power supply, emergency systems, construction methods, apart from a tunnel visit at the Race Course Road Metro
Station which is under construction. This outdoor site visit provided them with a chance to see the working of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).
The engineers were also taken for a night visit inside the underground metro corridor at the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station where they had a rare opportunity of visiting an operational underground metro corridor to understand various technical aspects and handle emergency situations.
The authorities at the Delhi Metro Training School are also planning to introduce specialised training programmes for the staff and employees of other Metros coming up in cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and new line in Kolkata, depending upon their requirement.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2009 : 01:27:26
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BMRCL : Metro: tenants pay the price as landlords cede property
http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/21/stories/2009032159690300.htm
Nearly 650 traders on Mahakavi Kuvempu Road have been displaced
Heavy price?: A view of Mahakavi Kuvempu Road at Rajajinagar in Bangalore. The stretch looks bare after trees were axed and buildings razed to start work on Namma Metro.
BANGALORE: Mahakavi Kuvempu Road (MKK Road), the lifeline of Rajajinagar — one of the oldest residential areas of the city — is not the same anymore. The road now looks awfully bare and wide after several trees — many of them massive and decades old — were axed and hundreds of buildings razed to the ground between Chord Road Junction and Devaiah Park for the Namma Metro project.
It is not just felled trees and razed buildings: fortunes of hundreds of businesspersons, most of them small-time traders who had been doing business ever since Rajajinagar came into existence, have nosedived to a point of no return. With over 150 properties having been acquired by the BMRCL and being demolished, nearly 650 traders on this stretch have been displaced. MKK Road falls under the North-South Corridor of Namma Metro between Hessarghatta Cross and Jaraganahalli.
Though BMRCL has adopted an innovative concept of offering relocation
compensation to tenants, it does not even meet a fourth of the relocation cost.
Take the example of V.M. Anand, proprietor of Anand Textiles at
Mariyappanapalya, who is offered around Rs. 3 lakh relocation compensation.
Having done business for three decades, he is now paying a rent of Rs. 10,000 for a 750 sq ft premises. If he wants to move into a premises of the same size,he has to pay at least Rs. 30,000 rent and advance of Rs. 5 lakh, which he cannot afford.
Similar is the case with Satya G. Karanth, proprietor of S.K. Leathers, a footwear shop near Devaiah Park. For the 200 sq ft premises, he had paid Rs.70,000 advance and is paying a rent of Rs. 4,250. He may get around Rs. 1 lakh compensation to relocate. However, the new premises he intends to shift costs him Rs. 4 lakh towards advance and Rs. 30,000 advance at Seshadripuram.
“Even if I relocate to another place at triple the amount of the relocation compensation paid by BMRCL, I will not get the same customers and it will take at least five years to build a new customer-base,” said Mr. Anand, who is also president of the MKK Road Residents and Traders Association.
On the other hand, owners of Venkateshwara Book Stall at Mariyappanapalya will not get any relocation compensation as only the “chajja” of the building will be razed. Janardhan, brother of Venkatesh, the owner, said BMRCL would pay
compensation only if they completely vacate the premises. “It is foolishness
to relocate a live business,” he said.
“We fought a losing battle after BMRCL succeeded in dividing the displaced persons on the grounds of landlords and tenants,” Mr. Anand said. Landlords were too happy to receive compensation over and above the prevailing market rate even as they “got rid” of old tenants who were paying “less” rent at a single stroke, he said.
Endorsing his views, Mr. Karanth said the compensation offered to landlords was too handsome to refuse. On the other hand, tenants have been paying through their nose to get relocated and start business from the scratch.
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irse
Forum Admin
India
553 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 05:07:08
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Delhi Metro trains Bangalore Metro engineers
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090316/delhi.htm#11
New Delhi, March 15
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has concluded a specialised training
programme for engineers and staff of the Bangalore Metro, an official said here
today.
After this, the DMRC is looking to introduce at it's training school in the
capital specialised requirement-based programmes for staff of other Metro rails
in the country.
"After providing consultancy services to various Metros across the country, the
DMRC has started imparting training to the staff and executives of other Metros
in the country," said DMRC spokesman Anuj Dayal.
The DMRC provided one-month training to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC)
engineers, who had come here to get a first-hand account of the functioning and
working of the Delhi Metro, Dayal informed newspersons.
irse |
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 03/23/2009 : 20:22:36
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http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Mar172009/city20090317124529.asp
As traffic-weary Bangaloreans prepare to welcome Namma Metro, the project
appears to crawl in its journey to meet deadlines, says S Praveen Dhaneshkar
A year behind schedule, the city's flagship "Namma Metro" project is slowly gathering pace to meet its operational deadline of December 2010 / January 2011.
Cutting through the bustling commercial and residential neighbourhoods of the city, covering a total distance of 33 kms across a North-South and East-West corridor, the project is expected to substantially reduce vehicular traffic once it is operational.
However, Bangaloreans will have to endure months of hardship before the Metro dream becomes a reality. The project is a year behind the schedule on Reach 1, the original schedule for completion on M G Road was December 2009. In 2007 the BMRCL had announced that it would complete all works on M G Road in December, but it had to announce a fresh deadline after delays, such as land acquisition
on CMH Road and the slow pace of construction, default in performance by Navayuga Engineering Ltd, the contractor who was awarded tender on this reach.
Deccan Herald takes a relook into the progress made on different reaches and vast corridors Namma Metro would traverse to offer seamless and faster connectivity to the traffic weary Bangalorean.
Work on the 7 km elevated section in Reach 1 (Byappanahalli to M G Road) that began in January 2007 is expected to be over in December 2010, while on Reaches 2, 3 and 4 (the full network) is expected to be commissioned by September/October 2012.
On Reach 1, viaduct works are underway on M G Road and foundation works are nearing completion in CMH Road. Works in the stretch between Halasuru police station and Trinity Circle has also started. The piers (concrete pillars) have come up in full length at 69 locations.
The casting of grider segments by the BMRCL is also progressing well, with 332 segments already cast out of the total 1929. Erection and testing of launching girders have also been completed on this reach by erecting four spans on M G Road (Trinity Circle towards Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium). Public sector Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) will be manufacturing the rolling stock (stainless
steel coaches) for the project.
Namma Metro coaches
*Each train will consist of three coaches (2.88 m wide) to start with when commissioned. The train can accommodate a total of 1,000 persons. The coaches will be light weight modern coaches and will be later augmented to six - the carrying capacity of a six coach train will be 2,068 passengers. The coaches, with stainless steel shells will be air-conditioned and have self-closing automatic doors.
*The Bangalore Metro has been designed for a capacity of 40,000 PHPDT (Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic). The number of passengers expected to travel on the metro everyday is estimated at 10.20 lakhs in 2011 and 16.10 lakhs in 2021.
will be 28 minutes. The system is designed for a maximum train speed of 80 kmph.
Snapshot of Namma Metro progress
Reach 1: Contracts have also been awarded for construction of six elevated metro stations on this reach viz S V Road and Ulsoor at a cost of Rs 75.77 crores to IVRCL Infrastructure Ltd and, CMH Road and Byappanahalli at a cost of Rs 92.5 crores to IVRCL-CR 18G consortium. Meanwhile, construction of the metro depot at
Byappanahalli has also begun in earnest at land on the erstwhile NGEF, with land formation work and boundary wall going on. Tenders for construction of metro stations on M G Road will also be awarded shortly.
Reach 2: On this Reach (Magadi Road to Mysore Road Terminal), BMRCL has begun road widening for traffic management between Magadi Road and Mysore Road terminal and entrusted works to Karnataka Land Army Corporation that is in progress. Demolition of structures/buildings are also underway with 98 percent of work completed.
Reach 3: Along this Reach (Swastik to Yeshwantpur), construction of via duct covering a length of 5100 meters, excluding the station area has begun at a cost of Rs 209 crores. BMRCL has also commenced shifting of utilities by respective civic departments from Rajajinagar station to Yeshwantpur Station on this reach.
Reach 4: On this Reach (K R Market to R V Road terminal), tenders have been awarded for design and construction of via-ducts to Nagarjuna Construction Company Ltd at a cost of Rs 150.63 crores. Utility diversion of BSNL, BWSSB, BESCOM and KPTCL is also in progress, with trial trenching completed.
Long History of Metro
*Several Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) proposals for Bangalore have been in the pipeline for over 25 years.
In 1982, a study suggested that the MRTS should have a route length of 12.20 km and pegged the cost at Rs 239.15 crores.
*In 1983, the Metropolitan Transit Project, an organisation of Indian Railways, prepared a feasibility report for provision of suburban rail services on existing lines, a circular railway of 57.9 km, metro system on two corridors, in Phase-I 12.9 km from Rajajinagar to Jayanagar and in Phase - II 11.2 km from
Hudson Circle to Krishnarajapuram. In 1988, a World Bank aided study was carried out by RITES and the study recommended a Commuter Rail System along with improvement of road transport system.
*Later, in 1994, the Bangalore Mass Rapid Transit Limited (BMRTL) was
incorporated by the State government to implement the Mass Rapid Transit System.
BMRTL in turn asked the IL and FS to carry out a feasibility study for LRT System on Public-Private Partnership. However, though the partner was selected, the project did not take off. Later, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in partnership with RITES prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Bangalore Metro Rail, Phase I in 2003 at the instance of the government. It proposed two double line corridors: East-West (EW) and North-South (NS) with a total length
of 33 km.
*The Bangalore Metro Rail finally took shape with the Karnataka government
clearing the project in March, 2005 and the Union government giving its approval
in April, 2006. The BMRTL was then renamed as the Bangalore Metro Rail
Corporation Limited (BMRCL) as the project began in January 2007.
The facts
33 km
*Byappanahalli to Mysore Road 18.1 kms, Yeshwantpur to R V Road 14.9 kms 9.3 km
*North extension to Hesarghatta Cross by 5.6 kms, South Extension to
Puttenahalli by 3.7 kms 6,395 cr
*Project cost in 2005 will escalate to more than Rs 8000 crore when completed in 2010
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2009 : 10:30:40
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SBC : Metro to get delayed further?
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Metro+to+get+delayed+further?&artid=YCEs5BSzuZM=&SectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ==&SEO=
02 Apr 2009 09:09:00 AM IST
BANGALORE: The wait has been prolonged. The Metro rail construction work at Vidhana Soudha-High Court area is expected to be delayed by two to three months.
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), the implementing agency of the metro rail project, has written to the State government and to the Karnataka High Court that it would start work in the high-profile and hightraffic area.
Earlier, the BMRCL had publicised April 9 as the date for starting work in underground section. The date still holds and the work would start, but only on paper. Only the tender for work would be finalised on April 9.
However, BMRCL maintains that the work is on schedule.
MD, BMRCL, N Sivasailam, said: “Tender for work in underground section was supposed to be finalised on April 9. BMRCL has been waiting for the approval from the government and the High Court. Meanwhile, in anticipation of approval, BMRCL has already floated the tender which has to be finalised on April 9. The
valuation of tender is to be sent to the Japan Bank of International
Co-operation (JBIC), which is a funding agency (through senior term debt) for the project.” The contractor is expected to be ready for work by May 15 and civil work would start in about a month after that. “If BMRCL doesn’t receive approval from the government and the Court to start work in the Vidhana Soudha area, work on other segments of underground section can start,” Sivasailam said.
Traffic diversion Sivasailam said: “A full-fledged traffic diversion plan for area in the vicinity of the Vidhana Soudha is ready after many rounds of discussions between BMRCL and the traffic police. However, to implement the diversion plan, BMRCL has to lay some new roads, which involves civil work in the vicinity of the Vidhana Soudha and the High Court and hence need the court’s and government’s permission.’’ Sivasailam said that the BMRCL
would notify details on the diversions a week before the ground work commences.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 04/04/2009 : 19:46:56
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[red][]BMRCL has planned a tunnel below the pedestrian underpass at KR circ
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr32009/city20090403127858.asp
Metro may run into fresh trouble
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) are now engaged in a critical coordination struggle.
Reason: The Palike has begun work on a pedestrian underpass near KR Circle, but BMRCL wants the project to be taken up only after a Metro Rail tunnel is dug at the same spot.
Letters are going back and forth between the two agencies. The BBMP intends to create the pedestrian underpass between M S Building and the BESCOM office on the other side. The Palike wants a crossing on Post Office road that also falls in the alignment of the Metro project. “We had suggested BBMP that it would be much better if the tunnel was constructed before the underpass was built,” a top BMRCL official told Deccan Herald.
Officials optimistic
According to Metro Rail officials, the tunnel would be 8 to 10 meters below the ground level. It would be under the BBMP underpass, which would require a minimum overhead space of five meters.
With the precast elements for the underpass now being already constructed, it is not sure whether the Metro construction would proceed smoothly through K R Circle. But the Metro officials sounded optimistic. “We do not think that there will be any problem with the Metro tunnel construction.” The underpass is supposed to be three meters of hollow lane.
BBMP commissioner Subramanya said that there had been a round of discussion between BBMP and BMRCL on the issue.
It was ratified that if the BMRCL work was to be carried out, it would be done with care even if the pedestrian underpass was to be created near K R Circle and on Post Office Road.
“We have plans ready and will go ahead as scheduled for the convenience of the people,” he said. Currently the BMRCL is going to invite tenders for the construction of these Metro tunnels and hope to see the work begin by October-November 2009.
Vehicular underpass
Meanwhile, yet another vehicular underpass is being created at KR Circle for traffic from Vidhana Soudha to Nrupathunga Road. The Rs 2.5 crore work on the underpass began on Wednesday with the magic box already being placed. “We should be able to complete the underpass in the next 20 days,” said a BBMP official.[red] |
Edited by - S.ravi on 04/04/2009 19:50:15 |
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 04/11/2009 : 04:03:22
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Metro's chronic acquisition ache Topic List < Prev Topic | Next Topic >
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http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Metro%E2%80%99s+chronic+acquisition+ache&artid=MMJkkJ/0FmM=&SectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&MainSectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&SEO=BMRCL,Bangalore&SectionName=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ==
10 Apr 2009 11:06:37 AM IST
The Metro rail project is in fresh trouble, on Maha Kavi Kuvempu Road in
Rajajinagar this time. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), the
implementing agency of the metro rail project, is having a tough time in the
process of acquiring a building near Navrang Theatre notified for acquisition.
The tenant of the building, a public sector bank, is unwilling to vacate the
premises, saying that the bank was not given any prior notice in this regard and
has moved the court to get a stay order.
However, BMRCL officials said that the proposed acquisition was notified in the
state gazette. Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) also notified
the proposed acquisition September last year, follwing which the bank published
advertisements in newspapers seeking a suitable place to shift the Rajajinagar
branch, said a senior BMRCL official.
“Any delay in acquisition of buildings would delay the project in Reach III
(Swastik to Yeshwanthpur). The present alignment of the rail network has already
been approved at all stages and it cannot be changed now. The alignment and
necessary acquisitions have been publicised.
And, any objections at this stage would not only cause delay in the project
execution and would serve no other purpose. People’s co-operation is crucial
for a mass public transport system like Namma Metro,” said a BMRCL official.
Demolition of buildings, road widening work by Karnataka Land Army Corporation
Limited, shifting of utilities by the departments concerned is under way in
Rajajinagar area.
History of acquisition problems Probl ems related to acquisition of private
buildings are not new to Namma Metro. Metro rail projects, at one point of time,
had as many as 20 writ petitions against it, most of them relating to
acquisition. The High Court of Karnataka recently heard and dismissed many of
these cases including construction of station at Trinity Circle.
However, construction of MG Road metro station at Plaza Theatre is still under
litigation though the contact for construction of this station has been already
awarded.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2009 : 08:52:07
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Punj Lloyd wins Rs. 308 crore orders
http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/17/stories/2009041755381400.htm
NEW DELHI: Punj Lloyd has bagged three orders worth Rs. 308 crore from the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) for construction of eight metro stations. With this, the order book of the company on consolidated basis has gone up to Rs. 24,492 crore. Construction work in the first phase would comprise double line electrified North-South and East-West corridors.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2009 : 11:03:15
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'Power' house halting Metro in its tracks
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=%E2%80%98Power%E2%80%99+hous\e+halting+Metro+in+its+tracks&artid=ydJjv8DRZDk=&SectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ==&SEO=National%20College%20Circle
27 Apr 2009 04:08:00 AM IST
BANGALORE: Between the National College Circle and Vasavi Vidya Niketan close to the National College flyover, stands a quiet old building.
There are reasons to believe that this building with high compound walls and white iron gates, could be one of the epicentres of the wide-scale protests against the Metro Rail work.
A black granite slab, with the name ‘Chandra Nursing Home’ carved on it sits on the right side of the gate and on the left a board reads Dayabhavan The property, with a huge old house, a newer fancy three-storeyed building, several trees- mango, jackfruit and coconut- belongs to the family of D Hemachandra Sagar, the BJP MLA from Chikpet constituency.
This property falls in the way of the Metro Rail alignment between KR Road and RV Road terminal via Lalbagh and has been notified for acquisition. The powerful family, however, has not vacated the property despite the fact that the deadline set by the Karnataka Industrial Area development Board (KIADB) to hand over the
possession of the property expired over six months ago.
Hemachandra Sagar also was one of the first elected representatives to support the protests related to the Metro work in this reach. November last year, when some NGOs (including Hasiru Usiru and its supporters) protested against the Metro work through Lalbagh and RV Road, the MLA joined them.
Sagar also demanded Metro rail to go underground across the city.
Interestingly, in his constituency Chikpet, the Metro rail has been planned to go underground.
The Dr H Narasimaiah flyover, popularly known as the National College flyover, has occupied the first natural right of way for the metro alignment in the area.
Therefore, the Metro rail cuts through the private properties on the right (from Vasavi Vidya Niketan to National College) to get onto KR Road. The MLA’s property is one amongst these properties that the metro alignment cuts through and have been notified.
While the ‘power’ house is still to be vacated, most of the neighbouring properties have already been acquired for Metro work.
A branch of Vijaya Bank, right next to the MLA’s property, has also vacated its premises for Metro.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 04/28/2009 : 09:37:15
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BMRCL : State rules out changes in metro rail alignment
http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/28/stories/2009042859400300.htm
Decision after high-level meeting with Centre
State Government cannot affect changes in alignment unilaterally
Consent for land in Lalbagh was given during President’s Rule
Bangalore: Much to the chagrin of some important political leaders, particularly those in the ruling party who have been backing the demand for changes in the metro rail alignment, the State Government, which has held discussions with the Union Government, has ruled out any change in the track alignment.
The Bangalore Metro Rail is a Centre-State project and changes in alignment cannot be effected by the State Government unilaterally. It is another matter that the details of the Government’s discussion and stand on alignment have been kept a closely guarded secret since general elections are presently on and the demand for changes has come about from a section of the people residing in
the Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency.
Sources in the State Government told The Hindu that a high-level meeting was held here recently in the background of the change in alignment being sought. The conclusion at the meeting was “the Detailed Project Report for the Bangalore Metro Rail prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is final. The alignment for the Southern Line (Reach 4 of phase one) has been finalised after
considering all other alternatives including techno-economic and environmental considerations”.
With reference to the land (1,135 square metres) in the periphery of the Lalbagh Botanical gardens which has been granted for the project, it has been clarified: “The Government has thoroughly examined the requirement of land in the western periphery of Lalbagh and has approved the grant of land for the construction of
a railway station. The land shall be utilised only for providing access of the metro rail from and to the railway station and construction of staircases for the emergency evacuation of passengers, if need be (as required under the fire safety norms). At this stage of the project execution it is neither possible nor
desirable to change the alignment”.
Asked for his reaction to the stand of the Government, N. Sivasailam, Managing Director, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation, told The Hindu that the project was under execution as per the Detailed Project Report and was on schedule. Demands
for changes in the alignment were there from across all areas. “It is our duty to execute the project as promised to the people. Around 0.001 per cent of the land in the periphery of the Lalbagh Botanical gardens has been earmarked for a railway station and work has commenced,” he said.
The consent for the strip of land in Lalbagh was given during the President’s Rule in the State in early 2008. Following the decision, the Karnataka Parks Preservation Act was amended through an ordinance and Government orders were subsequently issued.
It is understood that the BMRCL has also sought 40 acres of land at Kinmiki village along the Mysore Road for construction of housing quarters for the crew and other staff of the metro. The requisition for this piece of land is now before the State Revenue Department.
In another development, the Government is also stated to be seized of the matter relating to the huge advertisement revenue that would be generated by the metro rail. Advertisements would be permitted all over the piers and the viaduct apart from the metro rail stations. With the metro project largely coming up on the
BBMP lands, the BBMP has also sought a share of the advertisement revenue while the BMRCL has claimed that it should be granted permission to enjoy the full advertisement revenue.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2009 : 10:31:20
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http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Metro+runs+into+tree-huggers,+again&artid=uzsDw07Brig=&SectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ==&SEO=
04 May 2009 11:08:02 AM IST
BANGALORE: Metro rail work was hindered in the Lalbagh area late on Sunday night. Members of Hasiru Usiru protested when after a Eucalyptus tree was chopped and another eucalyptus tree was being felled.
Around 10 members of Hasiru Usiru protested the felling of trees. Later, ACP, Jayanagar, Rameshchandra arrived at the spot and ordered that the work be stopped. He also ordered the vehicles, meant to carry the chopped trees, to be moved away from the spot.
Vinay, a member of Hasiru Usiru, said: “They were felling a tree inside Lalbagh and a resident of this area informed us around 9.45 pm. The BMRCL is going ahead with felling of trees despite Minister for Transport, R Ashok’s assurance that no metro work would be carried out in Lalbagh area till May 16.’’ “We informed the Jayanagar MLA, BN Vijayakumar, who called the police. The police reached the spot. However, the work was stopped only when the
ACP of the area arrived at the spot.’’
BMRCL stand
MD, BMRCL, N Sivasailam, (from New Delhi) told The New Indian Express: “Yes, the work in Lalbagh area is on and will go on. The protestors can keep protesting but the work will go on.We have clarified the issue earlier and have nothing more to say on this. Metro works 24X7 to meet deadlines.
“The BMRCL has been following all the rules and government orders in proceeding with the work. Action will be taken against the culprits in accordance with law,’’ added Sivasailam.
Sivasailam clarified that the trees being felled were Eucalyptus trees, which do not require any permission to be felled as they do not fall under the purview of the Trees Act. A government order has granted 1,135.18 sq mt land to the BMRCL and allowed for the chopping of 19 trees, which include 18 eucalyptus trees.
BMRCL has acquired the land from the Department of Horticulture. Chief Engineer, Reach IV, BMRCL, Captain Doddihal, who was present at the spot, said that night time was chosen to fell the trees to avoid disruption of traffic and inconvenience to the commuters and residents of the area.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2009 : 20:12:26
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BMTC, Metro may join hands
8 May 2009, 0001 hrs IST, TNN
Print Email Discuss Share Save Comment Text:
Bangalore : BMTC and the Bangalore Metro service are likely to merge in future to facilitate smooth transportation in the city.
BMTC chief traffic manager K S Vishwanath announced this on Thursday during a talk on `Bus transportation in Bangalore'. "People have to use the bus to reach the nearby Metro station. So, it is likely that BMTC and Bangalore Metro may merge in future.''
Another new scheme to be implemented is construction of 10 traffic transit management centres (TTMCs) across the city, to be developed as a traffic hub with multiple civic utilities.
"The TTMCs are funded by JNNURM; they will be spread across 5 acres with bus depot, station, parking, and space for commercial purposes. We will add 500 more Volvo buses to the existing fleet, and 1,000 BMTC buses this year," he said.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 10:51:54
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: Bangalore: Activists fight damage done for Metro
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bangalore-activists-fight-damage-done-for-metro/92131-3.html
Fri, May 08, 2009 at 16:25
Bangalore: Environmentalists are up in arms against the Metro Rail Corporation's bid to take over green areas. The activists are fighting to save the 250-year-old Lalbagh Botanical Gardens.
Trees over 60 years old fall in less than 60 minutes as environmentalists watch in pain.
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation is using parts of the historic Lalbagh gardens - the city's oldest garden built by Tipu Sultan and his father more than two centuries back.
Advocate, Environment Support Group Sunil Dutt Yadav said, “By way of an ordinance, they've got the Parks and Open Spaces Act amended. Now the legality of that act is still open to question but the larger issue is whether a portion of a historical and monumental park such as Lalbagh can be bartered away for compensation.”
But passions will not stop the cutting of 188 trees identified in and around Lalbagh.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 10:54:48
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HC directs metro rail corporation not to fell trees http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/569118/National/1/20/1
May 8, 2009
Bangalore, May 8 The Karnataka High Court has directed the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) not to fell trees in the area dotting Lal Bagh, a famous botanical garden which is one of the landmarks of this city.
A Division Bench, comprising Justice N Kumar and Justice Keshavanarayana, hearing a petition filed by one Mahaveer Ranka and others, ordered that trees from Lal Bagh West gate to Rajalakshmi Kalyana Mantap on R V Road in Jayanagar should not be cut until further orders.
The bench adjourned further hearing to May 12.
Justice Kumar observed that the court will not come in the way of implementing the metro project but did not want trees to be felled unnecessarily.
The court refused to pass a written order on a plea by BMRCL for pruning trees, to permit movement of excavators for the metro work, but gave an oral instruction to go ahead if necessary.
The petitioners had challenged the BMRCL action of felling trees in Lal Bagh, contending that it violated the Karnataka Tree Act.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2009 : 01:32:15
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Metro: objective is to maintain beauty of stations
BANGALORE: The Metro Rail has been in the news for a while now, for different reasons. With environmentalists protesting against the alignment, much of public opinion has been against Metro. This is probably what made N. Shivasailam, Managing Director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL), attend an interactive meeting organised by the Jayanagar Residents Association on Friday. The meeting was aimed at making people aware of the Metro and its implications on the environment.
Addressing the residents Mr. Shivasailam said: It is possible to have a Metro city alongside a garden city. Both can co-exist.
Asserting that the main objective was to maintain the beauty of the stations, he said that the green cover around the stations would be maintained.
The foliage around the stations would be kept as it was even after the construction, he said. He said that fountains and other attractions would be added to enhance the beauty around the stations. Ensuring that the axed trees would be replaced, he said that 15,000 trees had been planted since the last three years.
Mr. Shivasailam also explained that the station walkways would be disabled-friendly. Even the visually challenged commuters would be able to access the stations conveniently.
The programme, which served as a platform for discussion between the residents and the BMRCL officials, raised many questions with members of the audience suggesting whether some roads would be taken off the Metro alignment.
Can we avoid R.V. Road Station? asked one of the residents, to which Mr. Shivasailam replied that it was difficult to avoid any station.
You must consider taking the Metro underground. Although it is expensive, it is a one-time investment that would protect the trees and our heritage, said Dharma Somashekar, a resident.
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Bangalore Metro
