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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
 Posted - 05/16/2009 : 08:33:39
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Bangalore Metro Rail has awarded 3 separate contracts to Punj Lloyd, a leading engineering construction major of the country. The scope of work includes construction of two elevated metro railway station at MG Rd and Trinity Circle and provision of viaduct within the stations, construction of three elevated stations at Mysore Road terminal, Deepanjali Nagar and Magadi road and in another contract involves construction of 3 more elevated stations at Rajaji Nagar, Malleshwaram and Kuvempu road. The construction work is expected to be completed by 22 months and the contract is worth of Rs.3080 million.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/18/2009 : 20:11:46
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Metro: HC to hear case on tree felling today
BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court is slated to take up on Tuesday public interest litigation (PIL) petitions challenging the proposal of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to fell trees on Nanda Talkies Road from South End Circle to Rajalakshmi Kalyana Mandira in Jayanagar.
A Division Bench comprising Justice N.K. Patil and Justice V. Jagannathan is expected to hear the petitions filed by several residents of Jayanagar challenging what they said is one of the best tree-lined avenue in the city.
When the case was initially filed, an earlier Division Bench headed by Justice N. Kumar had stayed the tree felling on the road till May 13. However, the case was not posted after that date and this would be the second time it is coming up for hearing.
Permission
BMRCL is arguing for permission to not only fell the trees but also prune many, which it says are coming in the way of the project alignment.
Environmentalists and residents have opposed the alignment on the road as well as felling of trees in Lalbagh.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2009 : 09:20:52
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Citizens differ over Metro
http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/1101-bengaluru-metro-alignment-\nanda-road
Some citizens believe Metro will help, while others continue to protest against the tree felling and the lack of transparency and democracy in Metro decisions. Meanwhile the project document raises many questions.
19 May 2009, Citizen Matters
N Sivasailam, BMRCL chief, explained Metro's position to a group of citizens waiting to hear him out, while those against the tree felling and metro's way of functioning voiced their protest. However, on the question of the Metro using the Lalbagh and R V Road, the Metro's own Detailed Project Report and Sivasailam’s explanations do not sit well together.
The morning of Saturday, 9th May, saw a motley crowd of hundreds assemble along RV Road (popularly called Nanda Road) in Jayanagar. Two events were being held simultaneously. The first had been called by Jayanagar MLA Vijaykumar, who at the behest of Citizen’s Action Forum and some Jayanagar resident welfare associations (RWAs), had invited N Sivasailam, Managing Director (MD), Bangalore Metro Rail Corportation Ltd. (BMRCL), to talk to residents about the impact of
Namma Metro on trees along Nanda Road.
The second, a protest meeting had been called by the coalition Hasiru Usiru (HU), media collective Maraa, women’s organisation Sanmathi and the Lakshman Rao Park Walkers Association.
N Sivasailam, MD of BMRCL (in cap) talking to residents (While the protesters were against the tree felling and at being denied a say on
something that is going to affect their lives so drastically, the general sentiment of the RWA members seemed to be that the Metro is needed to improve the traffic situation.
The presence of two groups with divergent viewpoints explained the unusual sight of banners proclaiming "We support Namma Metro", hanging next to banners about saving trees and exhorting Metro to go underground.
Saturday morning’s meeting between two distinct groups saw plenty of drama. Said an indignant Subhadra Venkatappa, Jayanagar resident and Prof Rajeev Gowda’s mother, “I didn’t come to all those protests. We need the Metro to improve the traffic.” Added an agitated Anil Gupta, who lives along Nanda Road, as he chastised a protester, “You should have said this four years ago."
Narayan Margasahayam, 83 years old, seemed largely okay with the current plan but was miffed at not being included in the decision-making: When Sivasailam said "all designs were finalised", he shot back: "But without the consent of the public."
As Vijayakumar together with Sivasailam and his band of Metro engineers walked into the site of the future Jayanagar Metro station near 30th Cross, they were bombarded with questions by people concerned about their parks. “Why can’t the Metro go via KR Road?” thundered one. “How many trees are going to go here?” questioned another. A heated war of words ensued between those wanting to hear out Metro officials’ plans and those wanting answers immediately,until finally, questioners from HU and like-minded organisations were shouted down and literally shunted out.
MLA Vijaykumar talking to residents in Jayanagar, Metro chief Sivasailam is on his left
As the demonstrators retreated to the adjacent park to continue their protests with songs and slogan-shouting, other residents, most of whom appeared to favour the current alignment, accompanied Metro officials on their site visit. Capt. Doddihal, Chief Engineer, BMRCL, and Sivasailam, explained that 8.5 meters of park land on either side of Nanda Road would be taken up for two stations, the
so-called Jayanagar Station at 30th Cross and the RV Road Station near 40th Cross.
"We also want trees and beauty in the stations,” said Sivasailam, “but it is not possible to build stations without cutting trees.” According to him, trees along the alignment between stations would mostly be pruned and not cut, a pronouncement that was met with applause by the crowd. He said 188 trees would
be cut along RV Road, of which only 41 would be cut along the viaduct, and the remaining to make way for stations.
“No vendors, no shops, no parking in any of the stations here,” said Sivasailam, Metro Chief on Jayanagar station.
The Jayanagar station would have a generator room at one end, said Sivasailam, but there would be “no vendors, no shops, no parking in any of the stations here,” he emphasised over and over. He also said that there would not be any bus stations, only 3 bus bays on either side of the road at each station. These would not affect traffic on the main road, nor would service roads be affected
in any way, he said to more cheers from the listening crowd.
Alternatives not possible
In response to a question by Citizen Matters on the feasibility of the KR Road alignment, which HU has suggested as an alternative straight alignment that would spare both Lalbagh and Nanda Road, Sivasailam dismissed it as techno-economically impossible, elaborating that it was not possible to take the Metro along KR Road since ridership was lower there than in the current alignment.
To further questions by Citizen Matters on the possibility of underground stretches, Sivasailam responded, "The government in its wisdom has decided the Metro will be above-ground," adding, "You would need 30 feet by 30 feet areas for service areas, ventilators would be required, air-conditioning ducts… 3-storeyed structures would need to be built… more land would be needed and more trees would be cut."
As several citizens asked repeatedly about trees, Sivasailam said he would have Metro-affected trees colour coded, with one colour for trees to be cut, one for those to be pruned and a third for trees that fell within the project area but which would not be cut.
Clash of two opinions
At the end of the walk down to 40th Cross, Metro officials and MLA Vijaykumar returned to address the protesters waiting at 32nd Cross Park. Tense moments followed as the early morning clash between pro- and anti-current alignment groups was replayed. Several protesters reported being intimidated and threatened into silence by some members of the Federation of Jayanagar Resident’s Associations.
After a brief speech by Leo Saldanha of Environment Support Group and HU, MLA Vijaykumar urged the protesters to meet with BMRCL officials in their office to get their doubts cleared. Prof BK Chadrashekar addressed the restive crowd, saying that while the Metro was important for Bangalore, it needed to be discussed properly in the legislature. He expressed his disappointment on the
chief minister ruling out changes in alignment and also echoed the idea voiced by many residents of having only one station along Nanda Road as a means of reducing the amount of parkland affected.
Sivasailam then took the mike, sparking off a flurry of questions from the protesters. “How did you give Lalbagh and Cubbon Park to the Metro? Ordinances are only for emergency situations,” said one. “How would you feel if the Metro went over your house?” screamed another excited protester. An equally angry N Mukund, of Citizen’s Action Forum and the Jayanagar 5th Block Residents Association responded, “Why are you asking him these things? Ask
pertinent questions.”
Responding then to queries on alternative alignments, Sivasailam said that the BMRCL was “only an implementing agency, not an alignment-deciding agency. The government has accepted this alignment for the present, so we will be going ahead with this.” He added that the present alignment had been chosen as being
most cost-effective based on ridership, constructions costs and land
acquisition.
Not according to the written word
However, as Leo Saldanha later pointed out, several of Sivasailam’s
explanations are at variance with Metro’s own written plans. A Detailed Project Report (DPR), prepared by BMRCL’s consultants Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in 2003, lays out the blueprint for Namma Metro. In contrast to Sivasailam’s assertion of no parking areas at stations, the DPR says, “Integration areas are required at stations”; integration areas are explained as areas for bus and car parking and approach roads. The DPR also lists how much area will be required for scooter, car and auto parking in each
station. For example, though only 3 bus bays and no parking is said to be required at Lalbagh, 250 meters of parking area is stated to be needed at the Jayanagar station.
As per the Detailed Project Report of the Metro, some of the highest traffic densities are seen at Tumkur Road, Bellary Road, Hosur Road, Koramangala Ring Road and JC Road, none of which are going to be served by the Metro. So on what basis did DMRC decide on the alignment? The DPR does not say. Further, in contrast to what Sivasailam claimed, the DPR has not considered the KR Road alternative at all. However, surveys of traffic density were carried out which do not exactly corroborate Sivasailam’s statement of lower ridership on KR Road. According to the DPR, the average daily traffic at KR Road was 52,621 vehicles, and at RV Road, was 52,870 vehicles, a negligible difference.
Other DPR figures on traffic density raise more questions. For example, some of the highest traffic densities are seen at Tumkur Road, Bellary Road, Hosur Road, Koramangala Ring Road, and JC Road, none of which are going to be served by the Metro. So on what basis did DMRC decide on the alignment? The DPR does not say.
While no alternative is mentioned to having a station at Lalbagh, an alternative to Nanda Road was considered, viz., from Southend Circle to Jayanagar via 11th Main and thence to JP Nagar. Comparing this with Nanda Road, the DPR says “Ridership on the corridors is more or less similar. However, the alignment in JP Nagar comes to an (sic) dead end with no possibility for its extension in the
future.” As Saldanha says, this does not seem logical since the alignment could go either left or right at the end of 11th Main, just as it can go either way at the end of 40th Cross on RV Road.
But crucially, the DPR goes on to state: “Enough space for stabling of rakes in JP Nagar area is not available” whereas “the RV Road alignment is straight with sufficient land on both sides of the road for stations, integration areas, receiving substations and stabling of rakes.” Elsewhere, the report reiterates, “Sufficient space is available on both sides of the
(RV) road for making terminal facilities.”
Given that with the extension of the Metro to Putenahalli, RV Road station is no longer a terminal and will not require land for stabling rakes, it is not clear if it is still necessary for the Metro to go through RV Road.
“If BMRCL doesn’t follow the DPR, which plan are they following? How are people supposed to know their plans if they won’t consult the public in making these plans? And if they make unilateral plans, how do we know if they will follow them?" – Vinay Sreenivasa of HU
Vinay Sreenivasa of HU voices concerns over these discrepancies saying, “If BMRCL doesn’t follow the DPR, which plan are they following? How are people supposed to know their plans if they won’t consult the public in making these plans? And if they make unilateral plans, how do we know if they will follow
them?"
Steaming ahead
Meanwhile, Namma Metro steams ahead regardless of protests. Soil testing work on a Phase 2 connecting Puttenahalli with NICE Road and RV Road with Electronic City has already begun in earnest. According to Sivasailam, DMRC is preparing the DPR for these stretches. “Public consultations will be held after the DPR
is ready,” he said.
Concurrently, opposition to the current alignment along RV Road continues to spread. HU, Maraa, Sanmathi and the Lakshman Rao Park Walkers all plan to continue with different protests, aiming to get the government to take note of widespread public opposition to the current alignment. A group of artists, meanwhile, is contemplating exhibitions to highlight the potential loss of parks and trees. Musician Ricky Kej’s short music video calling for an underground
Metro has aired on TV.
A group of people, including former Deputy Mayor Rame Gowda and industrialist Mahavir Ranka, had challenged the ordinance transferring 1135 square meter of Lalbagh to BMRCL for a station. On 7th May, the High Court issued a stay on tree felling in Lalbagh and RV Road.
In the meantime, Abhijit Shashidhar, a Jayanagar resident, together with the petitioners and some friends, has decided to bring NRIs who grew up in Jayanagar into the protests. “We want the world to know what is happening in Bangalore,” he said. The informal group also plans to seek expert help to work out technical details like the incremental cost and possible financing of having an underground Metro along RV Road. “The government has to look into the matter seriously,” says Shashidhar.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2009 : 10:19:15
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In HC, BMRCL defends cutting trees
20 May 2009 10:13:15 AM IST
BANGALORE: Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) justified its stand in the High Court Tuesday on cutting of trees on Lalbagh Road for implementing metro project.
In its objections, BMRCL stated that 188 trees would be cut and 202 trees would be pruned from K R Road stretch to R V Road terminal. After obtaining permission from BBMP, the trees would be cut.
“To cut eucalyptus trees on Lalbagh Road, permission is not necessary,” BMRCL said.
The trees have been felled only based on the specific project, which is neither arbitrary or illegal. The claim of the petitioner that the railway station at Lalbagh would destroy the vegetation and bird life only surmises and is without any basis, BMRCL clarified.
“The extent of damage is extremely negligible in the project which is undertaken for the benefit of the public.
not be overlooked while examining the grievances of the petitioner,” it argued.
There is no proposal for creating parking zone and malls in the Lalbagh station. The project is being implemented in a fair and lawful manner and grant of interim order should not be considered, BMRCL requested.
The metro project covers a length of 33 kilometres in two corridors at an estimated cost of Rs 6,395 crore in five years, BMRCL stated. The Lalbagh garden spreads over 242 acres. Out of this, 1,135 square metres have been identified for Metro station, which is only 0.12 per cent of its area, BMRCL said.
Meanwhile, one more petition was filed in the High Court challenging the act of Metro on cutting trees on Lalbagh road. Environmental Support Group, a city-based NGO and others have filed the writ petition. After hearing the petition, a division bench headed by Justice N K Patil issued notice to the government and BMRCL.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2009 : 10:27:25
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Bangalore Metro: More questions than answers
Vinay Sreenivasa of Hasiru Usiru introduced the workshop and pointed out that a major issue with the metro's published plans is that the impact of constructing metro stations has largely gone undocumented. He said that based on an analysis of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), it seemed that major parts of the Lakshman Rao Park will make way for surface-level Metro infrastructure; including stations, an electric sub-station, and perhaps even shopping malls to help the
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) recover costs. He said that the RTI responses indicate that 323 trees will be felled (though the BMRCL in a recent press conferences has revised that figure to 188). He presented the following time line of events (reported in the Deccan Herald, Apr 28, 2009), as an illustration of the undemocratic methods underlying the decision making process.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2009 : 19:55:01
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Metro: bad roads hit motorists
http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/21/stories/2009052159630400.htm
BANGALORE: Bangalore Metro has been in news for tree felling over the past few weeks.
This time around, people who live and work near the construction site on Mahatma Gandhi Road have raised their voice against Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL).
They claim that moving around in areas near the construction site has become a challenge.
“It is terrible. Even going to the opposite side of the road takes ages,” said Vilas V. Alur, Manager of KBM’s Computer World, a store on Mahatma Gandhi Road. It is just as risky to walk on the non-existent footpaths on the stretch.
“Being an area with prominent hotels and offices, many VIPs frequent the area.
The state of the roads in this part of town paints a bad picture. Bad roads and increasing traffic have made life for motorists and pedestrians hell,” said S.Uday Kumar of Karthik Group of Companies, adjoining the Oberoi Hotel.
However, a spokesperson for BMRCL reiterated that the corporation had taken steps to ensure that neither motorists nor pedestrians were affected by the work. “The claim that people are not able to cross the road is unfounded,” he said.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2009 : 19:58:25
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http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/21/stories/2009052159430400.htm
BANGALORE: Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on Tuesday submitted to the High Court that it would fell 188 trees from R.V. Road to Vasavi Samudaya Bhavan (under Reach-R4) for the metro project.
This is apart from pruning 203 trees on the stretch.
BMRCL made this submission when the court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by Environment Support Group (ESG), Leo Saldanha and Hasiru Usiru against felling of trees in Lal Bagh and Lakshman Rao parks and the park space adjacent to K.R. Road.
The petitioners contended that BMRCL had gone ahead with felling of trees in and around Lal Bagh without obtaining permission under the Town and Country Planning Act.
Besides, the Comprehensive Development Programme (CDP) drawn up by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) had not declassified part of Lal Bagh for the metro project.
A Division Bench, comprising Justice N.K. Patil and Justice V. Jagannathan, which heard the petition, asked both the State Government and BMRCL to file affidavits detailing the exact number of trees that would be cut in and around Lal Bagh, including R.V. Road and Nanda Talkies Road.
The Bench ordered issue of notices to several respondents and adjourned the case to May 21.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2009 : 20:00:22
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http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/21/stories/2009052159440400.htm
Lal Bagh and other stations on the stretch will not have the facility
BANGALORE: Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on Tuesday said there is no proposal to create parking zones and malls in the metro railway station to come up at Lal Bagh or in any other stations on the stretch.
BMRCL made this submission before the High Court of Karnataka when it filed a statement of objections in a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by Mahaveer Ranka and others of Jayanagar challenging its (BMRCL) decision to acquire part of Lal Bagh and fell trees on Lakshman Rao Avenue from the South End side.
The statement said the Lalbagh station is coming up for the benefit of the public and it is necessary for the metro rail project. It said the decision regarding location of the station was arrived at after a detailed survey and planning.
It described as false allegations by the petitioners that the Lal Bagh station would slowly kill the botanical garden as only a small part is being acquired. It said Lal Bagh comprises 243 acres and only 1135.18 square metres are being acquired.
The traffic demand for the metro was arrived at after using projections developed by the Central Road Research Institute.
Under this system, Bangalore Metro will carry a peak-hour, peak-direction load traffic of 40,000 persons.
BMRCL put the cost of the metro rail project at Rs. 6,395 crore, including cost escalation of five per cent a year.
It said there is no question of changing the alignment now as work has
commenced. It said there is no acquisition of private property for metro stations coming up at Lal Bagh and R.V. Road. It said acquisition of land would be more if the stations were planned underground.
A Division Bench, comprising Justice N.K. Patil and Justice V. Jagannathan, directed the parties to file their objections to the BMRCL statement and adjourned further hearing of the case.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2009 : 09:37:53
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Realign Metro to save temple'
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=%E2%80%98Realign+Metro+to+save+temple%E2%80%99&artid=BC1pNdnYTDM=&SectionID=Qz/kHVp9tEs=&MainSectionID=XT7e3Zkr/lw=&SectionName=UOaHCPTTmuP3XGzZRCAUTQ==&SEO=Minister%20for%20Housing%20and%20Endowment%20Krishnaiah%20Sett
23 May 2009 08:01:03 AM IST
BANGALORE: Minister for Housing and Endowment Krishnaiah Setty on Friday said that the Endowment Department has written to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited seeking realignment of Metro near the Banashankari temple as the Metro passes through the age-old temple.
Speaking to the media at Banashankari temple on his inspection visit to the temples where renovation and development works are undertaken by the government, Setty said that the Endowment Department had objected to the alignment of the Metro and had sought realignment.
Setty informed that a total of 34,000 temples maintained by the government in the state would be renovated and developed at a cost of Rs 900 crore in the next four years by the Endowment Department.
When asked about the source of funds for the renovation, Setty said that the department has Rs 300 crore and the government will provide the rest.
“The income generated by these temples would be used for the works,” the Minister added.
Setty further said that Banashankari temple would be developed at a cost of Rs 8 crore and it may need another Rs 1.5 crore for the completion.
He added that Shree Kukke Subramanya temple would be developed at a cost of Rs180 crore and the department has already issued work order for Rs 60 crore works.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 05/28/2009 : 10:28:26
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Metro to put Soudha off track, temporarily
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/bengaluru/metro-put-soudha-track,-temporarily-704
Bengaluru, May 22: The Metro Rail project is set to affect the Vidhan Soudha.
Three statues of Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr B.R. Ambedkar and Subhash Chandra Bose which are now on the lawns, will be moved further towards the Soudha to enable the BMRCL dig a tunnel for the Metro. This was decided at the state Cabinet meeting here on Friday.
“The relocation is a temporary measure till the tunnel is dug. Experts feel the statues could suffer damage during the digging of the tunnel using heavy equipment. So we decided to relocate the statues as a precautionary measure,” rural development and panchayat raj minister Shobha Karandlaje told reporters.
The Cabinet also decided to allot 1,500 acres of land to Indian Institute of Science at Khudapur village in Challakere taluk of Chitradurga district for advanced research activity. Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa had announced this at the valedictory function of the centenary celebrations of IISc when President Pratibha Patil was present.
The Cabinet decided the toll for roads which are proposed to be developed under the PPP model. Light motor vehicles will have to pay 65 paise per km on afour-lane road while it is 50 paise per km on a two-lane road.
“For light commercial vehicles, the toll will be Rs 1.05 for a four-lane and 75 paise for a two-lane road. Buses and trucks will have to pay Rs 2.20 per km on a four-lane road and Rs 1.50 on a two-lane road where as heavy earth moving equipment the toll is Rs 3.45 on four lane and Rs 2.75 on two lane,” she added. In all, about 15,000 kms of roads that connect district headquarters with hobli centres will be developed to the standards of national highways.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/04/2009 : 03:04:15
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HC admits plea against metro station
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/04/stories/2009060459190400.htm
BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday admitted an appeal by three residents of Bangalore against a single judge order that had found no infirmity in the acquisition of land on Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bangalore, for the Bangalore Metro project.
The appellants — M.V. Muralidhar, Badarinarayana Kaikani, both of Cubbon Road,and Sadat Ali Khan of Richmond Road — had challenged the acquisition of their land at Trinity Circle for the Namma Metro project. The appellants said the acquisition of their lands was by Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) for Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), which is implementing the project. They said another station was coming up at the site of
erstwhile Plaza cinema and there was no need to have a station at Trinity Circle. They said a single station could be set up at Mayo Hall, which they said was the centre of Mahatma Gandhi Road.
They said the single judge had rejected their petition. They urged the Bench to stay the acquisition. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran, and Justice V.G. Sabhahit admitted the petition and asked it to be posted with similar matters.
In a related case, a Division Bench comprising Justice V. Gopala Gowda and Justice Ravi B. Malimath on Wednesday posted to Friday petitions by Environment Support Group (ESG), Leo Saldanha and Hasiru Usiru, challenging the acquisition of land at Lalbagh and felling of trees on R.V. Road, Lakshman Rau Avenue and K.R. Road by BMRCL. Advocate-General Uday Holla defended the project saying that
once the metro becomes operational, lakhs of vehicles would be off the road.
Besides, only a small portion of Lalbagh had been acquired for the project and only Nilgiri trees were cut.
The Bench posted the case to Friday.
Disposed of
Justice Mohan Shantangouder disposed of a petition by Shivaramaiah of
Srirampuram who had challenged the acquisition of his building on Mahakavi
Kuvempu Road at Srirampuram for the metro project.
Mr. Shivaramaiah claimed that the land was acquired by the KIADB without giving him adequate notice. Moreover, the acquisition proceedings were flawed and illegal.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2009 : 01:21:34
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HC declines to pass interim order on tree-felling for Metro project
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/07/stories/2009060760890300.htm
Decision to cut trees in and around Lalbagh, R.V. Road challenged
‘BMRCL had not obtained permission of Tree Officer before cutting trees’ Metro project is non-polluting and is in public interest: Advocate-General
BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Saturday refused to pass any interim order on public interest litigation (PIL) petitions by environmental groups that had challenged the decision of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to cut trees in and around Lalbagh, R.V. Road, K.R. Road and Lakshman Rao boulevard in the city.
A Division Bench comprising Justice V. Gopala Gowda and Justice Ravi B. Malimath heard petitions by Environmental Support Group (ESG), Leo Saldanha, and Hasuru Usiru against the felling of trees for the Metro project.
The petitioners said the State had not seriously examined the feasibility of taking the Metro underground in stretches which had a large number of trees. They said acquisition of buildings and felling trees could be minimised if the Metro went underground.
They said the BMRCL had not obtained permission of the Tree Officer before felling trees. Moreover, the Ordinance promulgated by the State Government to take over part of Lalbagh and Cubbon Park had lapsed.
They said there was a need to strengthen the public transport system, but this should not be at the cost of the environment.
Rebutting all these allegations, Advocate-General Uday Holla, appearing for the State and BMRCL, said trees could be replanted but fossil fuels could not be renewed. He said once the Metro became operational, it would take away eight lakh vehicles from Bangalore roads.
Metro, he said, was totally non-polluting and it was in public interest. He said BMRCL had already planted 15,000 saplings and would plant more in the coming days.
The court then sought to know why BMRCL and the State had not framed any rehabilitation scheme for persons, particularly petty shopkeepers and small businessmen, affected by the project.
It said when the BMRCL Managing Director had attended a Lok Adalat, he had refused to agree to come up with a rehabilitation scheme for those displaced or affected by the project. The Advocate-General said he would ensure that a comprehensive scheme was prepared.
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike said the Tree Officer had been deputed by the Forest Department and that he would take a final decision on the total number of trees to be felled.
It said the Tree Officer would tag in different colours trees to be felled, pruned and saved.
The Bench, while rejecting the interim prayer for halting tree-felling, reserved orders on the petitions.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2009 : 18:51:27
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Local people fret as Metro work slows down
Residents apprehensive whether BMRCL will complete the civil works on Reach 1 as per schedule
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Owners of property on CMH Road were paid a pittance as compensation
BMRCL Managing Director N. Sivasailam is confident of completing the work on time
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Hindrance: Work on the Metro has been proceeding at a snails pace on CMH Road in Bangalore.
BANGALORE: Barricades were placed on CMH Road from its junction with Old Madras Road some eight months back for the Namma Metro work and residents of the area wonder whether the barricades will remain there for ever.
Despite the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., (BMRCL) replacing the contractor in February this year citing delay in construction of the viaduct on Reach 1, the work appears not to have picked up. Local people are apprehensive whether BMRCL will be able to complete the civil works of the Metro on Reach 1 (between Byappanahalli and the Cricket Stadium) by December 2010, as per its revised schedule.
Parking area
As work was not taken up for months together in this locality, the barricaded area on CMH Road has become a free parking lot for many while two and four-wheeler users navigate narrow strips of the road on either side of the barricade with great difficulty. Irshadulla, who was selling granite and marble and ceded one of his two properties for the Metro, said except placing the barricades some eight months ago, no work has been done in the area.
Allabaksh, a hardware merchant in the area said after barricading, the left out road was not properly done. As a result, heavy water logging occurs whenever it rains, he rued. One of the trenches has become a cesspool because of the possible damage to a sewer line and the whole area stinks, said Mahaveer Chand, another trader in the area.
Mr. Irshadulla and Mr. Allabaksh also said owners were paid a pittance towards compensation for acquisition of the property. While the prevailing market price was not less than Rs. 10,000 a square feet in the locality, owners were paid around Rs. 2,000 a sq. ft.
In February this year, BMTRCL offloaded Navayuga Engineering Company from the responsibility of a major portion of the work on Reach 1 following delay in execution of the viaduct work. BMRCL said the contractor substantially defaulted in the performance of casting of segments for viaducts and launching of segments on Mahatma Gandhi Road. Eventually, the work of casting of 584 segments for Pier 1 to 26 (Byappanahalli to Old Madras Road Station) and Pier 117 to 154 (S.R. Road to Trinity Circle) was awarded to Gammon India.
BMRCL Managing Director N. Sivasailam was, however, confident of completing the work and launching the trial run by December 2010. He told The Hindu that the curve at the junction of CMH Road and Old Madras Road needed portal piers and the contractor was in the process of arranging pier shutters.
Mr. Sivasailam said of the 16 piers in the locality, work on seven had been completed and the remaining would come through shortly. Regarding the cesspool, the Managing Director said it would be filled up once the pier came on the location.
On the other hand, work on launching of girder segments on M.G. Road is in full swing and 339 segments have been cast as against 1,929 segments. In all, 17 spans have so far been erected on the stretch between Trinity Circle and M.G. Road.
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2009 : 18:23:09
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Addressing a press conference here to unveil the 100-day Action Plan, Union Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy said the new criteria for allocation of funds under the JNNURM would qualify towns with a population of five lakh for funds, instead of the earlier 10 lakh population criteria. The move will add 28 new cities to the existing 65 cities.
Financial assistance
Mr. Reddy said the Ministry had decided to provide financial assistance to metro projects including those in Bangalore (42.3 km at Rs. 8,158 crore) |
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S.ravi
Advanced Member
India
4205 Posts |
Posted - 07/06/2009 : 19:55:23
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Metro underground station to be built; traffic to be diverted
BANGALORE: Your journey to Bengaluru International Airport from the southern and the south-eastern parts of the city may just get delayed in the months to come.
For, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) will be closing down the entire Minsk Square area for the construction of the Cricket Stadium Underground Metro Station.
Thus, traffic from Cubbon Road and Queens Road will have to make a detour towards T. Chowdiah Road and further to Bellary Road even as traffic from Infantry Road towards south and south-east Bangalore will be diverted to other roads.
The cricket stadium station is one of the eight underground stations proposed by BMRCL, the other being Vidhana Soudha, Central College, Majestic (two stations), City Railway Station, Chickpet and K.R. Market.
Financial bids for underground tunnelling and stations have been sent for evaluation of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and tenders are likely to be awarded soon.
Since the station construction involves cut and cover method, the area between BSNLs Bangalore Telecom District Office and the Central Revenue Building/ HAL Corporate Office will be cordoned off to facilitate the work.
According to a tentative plan, traffic from Cubbon Road towards Vidhana Soudha/ Raj Bhavan will join Mahatma Gandhi Road taking a left turn at BRV Junction and then turning right at Anil Kumble Circle.
At Queens Junction, vehicles will enter Cubbon Park and move towards Press Club and join the Dr. Ambedkar Veedhi after the Election Commission Office and the old KGID building.
While vehicles going towards Vidhana Soudha and K.R. Circle could take a left turn, vehicles going towards Raj Bhavan could do so taking a right turn.
On the other hand, vehicles from Infantry Road will continue to ply on Bhagwan Mahaveer Road and take a right turn on Cunningham Road to join Cubbon Road.
A small carriageway will be provided near the HAL Corporate Office for those vehicles moving towards Queens Road.
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Bangalore Metro
