This thread is to discuss about Urban Planning, Civic issues etc etc

^^
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/6381/bda2015.jpg
http://www.bdabangalore.org/pdfs/brochure.pdf

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/5320/bda2015m.jpg
http://www.bdabangalore.org/pdfs/brochure.pdf

BDA 2015 masterplan

good report, numbered places. it says ORR commenced in 1994 and finished in 2002..
http://www.vestianglobal.com/IT_ITeS_Growth_Corridor_Series_Bangalore_ORR.pdf

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/8413/44972882.jpg

Krishna won't quench Bangalore's thirst
TNN, Feb 1, 2011, 12.55am IST
BANGALORE: Even as BWSSB had proposed to get water from Krishna river to meeting the drinking water needs of Bangalore city, the irrigation department has rejected the idea on grounds of not being viable.

Instead, the department plans to draw water from Ettinahole near Sakleshpur in Hassan district and supply it to Bangalore district.

Water resources minister Basavaraj Bommai ruled out diversion of Krishna water to Bangalore. "There is no such proposal before the department. For Bangalore, we are thinking to draw from Ettinahole. The expert team has said it is feasible to get water from Ettinahole to meeting drinking water needs of Bangalore and Chikkaballapur districts. The department will conduct detailed project report (DPR) to figure out cost factor," he told reporters here on Monday. Ettinahole is a tributary of Hemavathy river.

The government is faced with legal hurdles on drawing more water from river Cauvery to Bangalore. With Tippagondanahalli (TG Halli) reservoir being almost dry, the government is looking to new water sources to quench Bangalore's thirst.

The state government in November, 2010 passed order to identify alternative sources of water supply to Bangalore. An expert committee headed by former BWSSB chairman G N Thyagaraj was constituted for this purpose. At present, the city is facing a shortage of 225 million litres of water per day (mld). It is expected to go up to 1,030 mld by 2036.

While getting water from Krishna river was one of the proposals, BWSSB chairman P B Ramamurthy in his presentation to chief minister B S Yeddyurappa recently had proposed that the alternative sources of water for Bangalore were, 12 tmcft of water from Hemavathy (200km) or 6 tmc of water from rivers in Western Ghats (360km) or 45 tmc of water from Mekedatu (70km).

Read more: Krishna won't quench Bangalore's thirst - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Krishna-wont-quench-Bangalores-thirst/articleshow/7400241.cms#ixzz1CgKiM0ow

hookah (http://www.hookahmake.com) ,hookah wholesale,lowest prices best qulity at http://www.hookahmake.com

Rs 4770 for overall development of Bangalore (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/140657/farmers-get-loans-one-percent.html)


*31 Km network of monorail in Bangalore
*Potable water supply at Rs 3384 crore
*BDA to form three new layouts
*12 parks and entertainment centres to be developed
*Sculpture park to come up on an eight acre plot
*International conventional centre near BIA at Rs 150 crore [not required]
*Rs 350 crore for BBMP
*Elevated road from Minerva circle to Hudson circle via JC road [1.5km]
*10 new vehicle parking lots
*4 super speciality hospital in four zones of the city under PPP
*10 Bus stands to be built in BBMP area
*Tax hiked for Bangalore turf club

state budget

Short of cash, BBMP rules out TDR bank (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Short-of-cash-BBMP-rules-out-TDR-bank/articleshow/7566271.cms)
TNN, Feb 25, 2011, 12.07am IST
BANGALORE: If you lose property for road widening, you should sell your TDR certificate to a builder. Because the BBMP has expressed its inability to create a TDR bank.

"We have no money to buy TDRs. A TDR bank will not be created because of the financial constraints we are facing," BBMP commissioner Siddaiah said in the council after a heated debate on Thursday.

"TDR has been accepted on the outskirts of the city. Almost 32.5 lakh square feet of land, worth Rs 320 crore, has been acquired through TDRs. We could not have done this by giving compensation," the commissioner said.

It may be recalled that BBMP's major works standing committee chairman H Ravindra had earlier said a TDR bank would be created and the Palike would buy TDRs from property owners.

A Ravindra, adviser to the CM on urban affairs, is holding talks with experts on issues related to TDR.

CORPORATORS CLUELESS

Even corporators are clueless about the BBMP's road widening project. Congress corporators raised serious concern over the plan. "About 3 lakh property owners whose houses have been earmarked for acquisition are tense. BBMP must take a stand and stop road widening in core areas. BBMP has taken two years to widen just eight roads. How can more than 200 roads be widened at a time?" asked Jayamahal corporator N K Gunashekar.

Some roads near Yelahanka widened by BBMP do not even fall under its limits. TDR certificates have not been issued to the property owners because the same land has been acquired by BDA for the Arkavathy Layout, said Nagapura corporator S Harish.
till now i could not understand what this TDR is :lol:

Bangalore by the quirky numberlore (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIBG/2011/02/25&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00202&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T)


• Every week, 1 MNC wants to set up a business in Bangalore, which already has 700 MNCs and 2,000 IT/ITES companies

• The population of Bangalore, with 800 sqkm area , increases by 1.5 lakh every year. This means: Every 365 days, population of the size of a district like Gadag is added to Bangalore.

• Bangalore has 38 lakh vehicles. Every year, 1,500 vehicles are added to the city’s congested roads.

• Bangalore needs 1,200 million litres of water every day. Only 900 million litres is supplied, leaving a deficit of 300 million litres

• 140 tonnes of carbon monoxide pollutes the air every day

• 3,500 tonnes of garbage is produced daily; 9% is plastic.

• Every day, 3 tonnes of plastic e-waste is dumped.

• 10 tonnes of biomedical waste discharged from Bangalore hospitals every 24 hours

• Of 16 lakh families living in the city, 4 lakh stay in rented houses. 2 lakh families live in Bangalore’s 540 slums.

• 2,200 suicides are reported every year — 4 times more than the national figure, mostly caused by family disputes.

Source: Commerce and industries department

Credai to beautify City
Bangalore, Feb 27, dhns:

The chaotic junctions of Bangalore and many public places would get a new look as the Confederation of Real Estate and Developers Association of India (Credai), Karnataka has agreed to spend on beautifying the City.

The Credai office-bearers, however, refused to undertake beautification of lakes, arguing that many of them are disputed sites.

Sources in the Palike said the promises came during a meeting of the Credai office-bearers and BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah on Saturday.

The delegation led by Credai president Sushil Mantri agreed to the proposal and asked Siddaiah to hand over to them the list of junctions he wanted them to develop.

Siddaiah also asked the Credai members to beautify lakes as many lakes were spoilt by builders in the City. He also asked them to stop letting sewage directly into the lakes as it would pollute water bodies.

DHNS (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/141674/credai-beautify-city.html)

^^ Junction improvement by private people :banana: the trend is catching up..


The delegation led by Credai president Sushil Mantri agreed to the proposal and asked Siddaiah to hand over to them the list of junctions he wanted them to develop.

Credai to beautify City


DHNS (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/141674/credai-beautify-city.html)

Does it involve only lakes? What else can they beautify? Sidewalks turned into boulevards perhaps...

Still a positive move.

‘Belaku' scheme at your doorstep

Staff Reporter
Bescom's exchange offer: CFLs at Rs. 15 a piece for incandescent bulbs
— Photo: K. GOPINATHAN
http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/01/images/2011030163580501.jpg
Initiative:One of the beneficiaries (left) receiving CFL lamps from Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Labour Minister B.N. Bache Gowda during the inauguration of the ‘Belaku' scheme in Bangalore on Monday.

Bangalore: Want to switch to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) but are reluctant to pay over Rs. 100 for each piece? The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company's (Bescom) ‘Belaku' scheme is the answer.

Under the scheme, the power utility, in exchange for incandescent bulbs of 100 watts, 60 watts and 40 watts, will provide four CFLs to each household at the rate of Rs. 15 per lamp. This unique scheme was launched by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa here on Monday.

He said that if the 98 lakh homes in the State switch to CFLs, a saving of 3,000 million units a year would be possible. This would result in the State exchequer making an annual saving of Rs. 940 crore. He said by September 30, the scheme would be implemented across the State. To begin with, it would be implemented in the eight districts coming under Bescom.

Mr. Yeddyurappa said that CFL manufacturers must work with the Government to popularise their products instead of inflating the prices with an aim to make a profit. “This scheme must become an ‘andolana' (revolution). Government employees, women's groups, self-help groups, schools and colleges must voluntarily switch to CFLs. More awareness must be created on the benefits of switching to CFLs,” he said.

Minister for Energy, Food and Civil Supplies Shobha Karandlaje said that research has shown that use of incandescent bulbs was one of the contributing factors to global warming. “LED and CFL technologies are hailed as ‘green' alternatives. Several countries have banned the use of incandescent bulbs. We must also follow suit and switch to CFL,” she said.

She said that the Centre's ‘Bachat Lamp Yojana' also envisaged making use of CFL popular.

“However, after both the Union and State governments stressed on use of CFL, the manufacturing companies have increased the prices. This is affecting the implementation, as consumers are wary of the high price tag. To control the price raise, the CFL manufacturing companies and Government must have a dialogue,” she said.

She added that Bescom employees, who will have their ID cards, would go door-to-door to sell CFLs at Rs. 15 in exchange for the incandescent bulbs.

The Hindu (http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/01/stories/2011030163580500.htm)

Karnataka govt says it cannot slake Bangalore’s thirst (http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_karnataka-govt-says-it-cannot-slake-bangalores-thirst_1514364)

Bangaloreans better brace for severe water shortage this summer. The state government has admitted that there are limited options for supply of water to the city. S Suresh Kumar, minister for the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), said that providing adequate supply, especially to Bangalore east, north and north-west, would be hard.

Kumar was speaking after the matter was raised in the legislative assembly during question hour by Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy. He expressed helplessness, and admitted that despite the efforts of the BWSSB, meeting the city’s demand for water entirely would not be possible. He assured the assembly that a meeting of city MLAs would be convened to address the problem.

Among others highlighting the problem of water in the city were NL Narendrababu, KJ George, NA Haris and other city MLAs.
Replying to concerns raised by the MLAs, Kumar said, “Yes, there is a water problem. We are attempting to solve it, and we have a three-pronged strategy. First, we will take steps for equitable distribution of water; second, we will expedite work on the Cauvery 4th stage II phase; and third, a committee will explore alternative sources of water.”

The minister added that although the Cauvery 4th stage II phase project was approved in 2006, work on it did not begin until 2009. Under the earlier schedule, work was supposed to be completed by March 2012. Measures have now been taken to speed up work, and it could be completed by the end of this year, the minister said. “With this project, we will bring 500 million litres per day (MLD) of additional water to the city. It could take care of half the city’s water problem,” he said.

Last year, the BWSSB attempted to address the water shortage by digging borewells. That did not solve the crisis, as the water table had sunk, and many of the borewells ran dry. However, the BWSSB minister has not ruled out digging even more borewells this year.

“If necessary, we will dig some borewells and also take measures to supply water through tankers. To solve the Bangalore city water problem permanently, we have set up an expert committee headed by former MD of the BWSSB, BN Thyagaraj, to identify alternative water sources for Bangalore. It has sought 18 months to submit recommendations,” Suresh Kumar said.

Replying to a query, the minister also said that measures are being taken to fill the Tippagondahalli (TG) reservoir from other sources, as at least a third of the city’s water concerns could be taken care of by a filled up TG Halli tank. He added that the city had already crossed the maximum allocation possible from Cauvery River, so it would not be possible to seek a bigger allocation for the city from the Cauvery.

George recommended that dedicated power lines supply adequate power to water pumping stations, as shortage of power could aggravate the water crisis.

That plan would have really solved our water crisis. hmmmmm :ohno: Well I'm glad Karnataka has BJP working for it. A lot of things are happening!! Just need to make rain water harvesting compulsory and things should be a lot better

BWSSB to make rain water harvesting mandatory

First Published : 22 Feb 2011 02:36:43 AM IST
Last Updated : 22 Feb 2011 09:30:35 AM IST

BANGALORE: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is planning to enforce the implementation of rain water harvesting drive among citizens. If residents fail to install the mechanism, then BWSSB would penalise, said BWSSB chief engineer Narayana.

Speaking at a panel discussion on ‘Potable Water in Bengaluru: Today and Tomorrow’ organised by Citizens’ Voluntary Initiative for City of Bangalore (CIVIC) here on Monday, he said that he recognised the failure of earlier drives to make RWH system mandatory but this time, the drive would be taken to completion.

Also, he warned parties drawing water from supply areas and selling it to non-supply areas and added that the tankers carrying such water would be seized.

Representatives of several residents’ welfare associations raised questions on the feasibility and sustainability of several projects announced by the board to meet city’s water demand. They also questioned privatisation of water and pointed out that it was against the provision of basic rights in the Constitution. Further, they demanded an explanation for lack of policy on usage of ground water and pro-poor water supply policy.

While BWSSB officials were not able to provide any satisfactory answers, they said that several policies were lying in ‘cold storage’ waiting for the nod from the government. The other speaker, activist Rajendran Prabhakar, criticised the privatisation of water supply in the state. Efforts to privatise water supply in the city too was taking place covertly with BWSSB participating in a meet of private companies, he added.

Express News Service (http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/bwssb-to-make-rain-water-harvesting-mandatory/250223.html)

'Just 13,000 people to manage city, we need more'

TNN | Mar 5, 2011, 05.26am IST


BANGALORE: Though the city has grown from 225sqkm to 800sqkm, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is still woefully short-staffed. There are only 13,000 people, including pourakarmikas, to manage the entire city, says BBMP.

BBMP special commissioner K R Niranjan said on Friday: "The city corporation has 111 hospitals, 1,140 parks, 136 schools, 154 playgrounds and 10,121km roads and 569 slums, both notified and non-notified slums. But there are only 13,000 people to manage this." He was speaking at the second GIREM (Global Initiative for Restructuring Environment and Management) Bengaluru Smart Future City.

During the discussion on micro-governance, Niranjan pitched for junior engineers and health inspectors taking charge of matters of micro governance.Sudhir Sethi, founder, chairman and managing director, IDG Ventures India, suggested more call centres should come up in BBMP to provide services at the ward level. "Local resident welfare associations should be involved for better administration," he said.

Traffic management

Sethi suggested they should demarcate parking space with parking lines to enable people park vehicles scientifically. By improving public transport, they have to levy central business district (CBD) tax on private vehicles and this would reduce congestion.

BBMP special commissioner said that they planned to levy parking fees but the council came down heavily stating it was an unpopular measure.

TV Mohandas Pai, director-administration, education and research, finance, HR, Infosys Technologies, said his five important steps for better infrastructure would be: Create groups and mobilize people for action; demand better governance by implementing the Kasturirangan report; long-term plan to set right urban transport by deploying 4,000 buses and improve quality of roads and support Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited implement the Metro project.

Multi-mode system

Multi-mode transport transit system would be implemented in December. KSRTC managing director Gaurav Gupta said work on the Rs 1000-cr project would begin by December 2011. By next March, people would be able to know details about bus service on their mobiles. The KSRTC is working towards implementing a system for better interface with commuters.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Just-13000-people-to-manage-city-we-need-more/articleshow/7630650.cms)

Mohan Pai kindly concentrate on Infy,City planners know what to do best for the city.You may shift your base to Pune.:)

BWSSB comes up with a plan to make future beneficiaries pay
Cauvery water for new areas, but at a price
Bangalore, May 3, DHNS:

The residents of 110 villages newly brought under the Palike limits will get Cauvery water for a price.

The BWSSB has planned to collect beneficiary capital contribution from future consumers. According to the Rs 2,379-crore project chalked out by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the 110 villages cover an area of 225.22 sq km and require an average 150 lpcd (litre per capita per day) after the operationalisation of Cauvery IV stage II phase from March 2012. Consumers with any building on 30x40 sq ft site and above will have to contribute for the project.

Of the total project cost, the Board has proposed to mobilise Rs 2,023 crore through loans from the Central government-sponsored programmes such as Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission or World Bank or Japan International Cooperation Agency. However, a Cabinet approval is required to go ahead in this regard, a BWSSB officer said. The State government will contribute Rs 178 crore as its share. The grand plan has come up even as the Greater Bangalore Water Supply and Sanitation Project taken up by the Board in 2004 is still underway.

The Board has estimated the population in the project area at 4.73 lakh and the requirement of water at 71 MLD (million litres per day). It has also been estimated the population would go up to 16.31 lakh by 2041 and the water requirement to 241 MLD.

The 110 villages come under six former urban local bodies; Byatarayanapura - 26 villages, Mahadevapura- 23, Bommanahalli-33, Rajarajeshwarinagar - 17 and Dasarahalli - 11 villages. Sewer pipes for 225 sq km will be laid in the area.

Bangalore, March 15, 2011
Plastic ban in city from today (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Bangalore/article1539824.ece)

From Tuesday, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will seize plastic bags less than 40 micron in thickness within its jurisdiction, Commissioner Siddaiah told presspersons here on Monday.

With the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) setting a March 15 deadline to implement the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2009, the BBMP's technical staff will randomly test bags being sold and seize them if they don't measure up.

“While the enforcement authority will be the KSPCB, the BBMP will be responsible for safe collection, segregation, transportation and disposal of plastic,” he said.

Ruled out

KSPCB's Chief Environmental Officer M.D.N. Simha ruled out the postponement of the enforcement date. He claimed that no application has come to the KSPCB for renewal of registration, as required by the rules.

“If the manufacturers don't comply, KSPCB is empowered to issue closure notice, cut off power and water connections and, in extreme cases, prosecute,” he said.

Plastics manufacturers directed a volley of questions at Mr. Simha.

Karnataka Plastic Manufacturers' Association president Chandra Mohan wanted to know how KSPCB would help the traders and manufacturers liquidate the current stock of plastics that are less than 40 micron in thickness.
‘Not clear'

A representative from the Peenya Plastic Manufacturers' Association said the rules for multi-layer plastic bags were not clear.

Mr. Simha urged the manufacturers to submit a representation to the KSPCB, which would then seek a clarification from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.
one and half months since ban. i see only thick plastic bags now, and shopkeepers even charge 2 rs extra for that. i think this must have reduced plastic usage much in city :cheers:

Yes its reduced a lot. Shopkeepers now ask if you have got any bag, earlier by default used to pack in plastic bags. :cheers:

i push the cart all the way to my car and pour all the stuff in it :-)
b/w beware of these shop marts - Total/Spencers these guys sell expired food items.

Producers fined for sticking ads at wrong places (http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/producers-fined-for-sticking-ads-at-wrong-places/276490.html)

BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara Palike (BBMP) has fined 11 film producers for sticking movie posters illegally in Gandhinagar.
This came a day after the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce Chairman Basanth Kumar Patil assured the Palike about complete cooperation on the issue. Patil had promised they would not carry out any action that would spoil the beauty of the city.
Deputy Mayor Harish said the KFCC made a request for 1,000 billboards and so far 80 locations have been identified for the same. He asked them to use the space for their posters.
Lingegowda (Hori), Shilpa Ganesh (Cool), MH Sunil (Dhool), Shankar Gowda (Kempe Gowda), Jayanna (Johny), Parvatamma Rajkumar(Hudugaru), Ramya (Sanju Weds Geetha), H M Krishnamurthy (Devadas) and Rakshitha Prem (Jogayya) have been sent notices under the Karnataka Open Place (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1981.
A case has been registered against the producers in Upparpet police station.

Encroachments cleared

The BBMP has cleared out shops and other encroachments on Guthalli main road footapth on Friday. The illegal encroachments came into light during a commissioner’s inspection.
He immediately directed officers to remove them. Executive engineer (Malleshwaram) carried out the operations with the help of prahari teams and cleared out the shops to ensure smooth movement of pedestrians.

KSIIDC GAIL JV for gas supply in Bangalore City

Karnataka State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corp and GAIL India have signed a joint venture agreement to jointly pursue natural gas distribution business in Karnataka. The agreement will lead to the formation of a joint venture company which will have an authorized share capital of INR 100 crore.

The company in a statement said that GAIL will hold 26% equity in the company, while KSIIDC will have 24% stake. The balance 50% equity will be held by financial institutions, Investors and strategic partners.

The company will focus on setting up of natural gas infrastructure in industrial estates, city gas distribution networks, distributed power generation projects in industrial areas and gas distribution infrastructure downstream of trunk lines in the state of Karnataka.

CGD networks cater to the requirement of piped gas for homes and fuel for CNG-run vehicles.

Gail India's trunk pipelines will supply gas to the city. GAIL is implementing the 1,413 km Dabhol (Maharashtra) -Bengaluru (Karnataka) pipeline at an investment of INR 5,000 crore with a design capacity of 16 MMSCMD.

GAIL is also implementing the 1,114 km Kochi - Koottanad - Mangalore - Bengaluru pipeline, at an investment of INR 3,300 Crore with a design capacity of 16 MMSCMD. Both these pipelines are scheduled to be completed by FY 2012-13.

Source (http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/KSIIDC_GAIL_JV_for_gas_supply_in_Bangalore_City/209195.html)

BBMP razes illegal slum houses (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/BBMP-razes-illegal-slum-houses/articleshow/8868321.cms)
TNN | Jun 15, 2011, 11.54pm IST
BANGALORE: Following directions from the high court, the BBMP on Wednesday demolished 11 unauthorized houses of a slum situated between Domlur-Koramangala Ring Road and Amarjyothi Layout.

Members of Amarjyothi Residents' Welfare Association had filed a petition, seeking to provide a link road to Amarjyothi Layout. The unauthorized houses were coming in the way of the link road. The demolition was carried out in the presence of BBMP commissioner Siddaiah, MLA NA Haris and BMTF police. BBMP also assured rehabilitation to those who lost their houses.
:applause:

BBMP must not demolish slum houses without having a clear cut idea of where people who are poor will stay in Bangalore. Mumbai for example has the highest slum population but it is the nation's commercial capital. As Bangalore grows, the demand for labour will increase and most probably slums will also grow with it.

BBMP must not demolish slum houses without having a clear cut idea of where people who are poor will stay in Bangalore. Mumbai for example has the highest slum population but it is the nation's commercial capital. As Bangalore grows, the demand for labour will increase and most probably slums will also grow with it.

They're doing slum rehab for the genuine dwellers - the 14 slums clusters that came up near marathahalli are all Gypsy migrants from other states - who are running beggary/prostitution rackets.
These "new" slums have no sympathy in mumbai either - where only pre-1995 slums are given slum rehab packages!!

the rest were warned that setting up slums on public/private land HENCEFORTH is ILLEGAL - and they're evicted based on the LAW - not arbitarily!!
These slums should be evicted without prejudice. We shouldnt have to wait like hyenas and THEN realize "oh there's a Dharavi in Bangalore!!!".
Think about it - if you bought a piece of land which was notified by BDA - and then found out its stuck in litigation because a slum cluster came up on it overnight and local politicians won't let you touch it!! Would you take a moral stand about humanity?? NO - you would run from pillar-to-post screaming they STOLE your land!!

thats what slums are - land stealers - in the guise of poverty and vote bank!! They're NOT part of the demographics we should feel sympathy for- the real sympathy should go to our villages and kasbas where real poverty exists - they're feeding us for pittance and not moving to the cities !!

They're doing slum rehab for the genuine dwellers - the 14 slums clusters that came up near marathahalli are all Gypsy migrants from other states - who are running beggary/prostitution rackets.
These "new" slums have no sympathy in mumbai either - where only pre-1995 slums are given slum rehab packages!!

the rest were warned that setting up slums on public/private land HENCEFORTH is ILLEGAL - and they're evicted based on the LAW - not arbitarily!!
These slums should be evicted without prejudice. We shouldnt have to wait like hyenas and THEN realize "oh there's a Dharavi in Bangalore!!!".
Think about it - if you bought a piece of land which was notified by BDA - and then found out its stuck in litigation because a slum cluster came up on it overnight and local politicians won't let you touch it!! Would you take a moral stand about humanity?? NO - you would run from pillar-to-post screaming they STOLE your land!!

thats what slums are - land stealers - in the guise of poverty and vote bank!! They're NOT part of the demographics we should feel sympathy for- the real sympathy should go to our villages and kasbas where real poverty exists - they're feeding us for pittance and not moving to the cities

!!


I completely agree with you, even if they rehabilitated, then also they will remain to stay in slums in the city centres by letting out their rehab homes. This is what so called "POOR" wants. Everything for "FREE":nuts:

I agree and disagree. As Bangalore grows its needs in terms of labour: maids/drivers etc keep growing. To take an example. Say 10000 professionals come to Bangalore. Over a period of time, they settle in the city, buy/rent flats and live here. They would need people to provide them services of different kinds. If you buy a flat you need people to construct that building. You need maid servants/hair cutters/cooks/sweepers/plumbers/carpenters etc and so on. The question is, where are they going to stay? Given the abysmally low stock of low cost housing in Bangalore/India the options are limited. Either they stay very far away from the city which puts pressure on the public transport network. Or they stay close by-but that requires low cost housing near their places of work. In the absence of this, slums are almost inevitable.

Why does Mumbai have so many slums? The answer is simple: it is the nation's commercial capital. As a city grows economically its need for labour, particularly cheap labour, keeps growing. Most of our metros need a constant flow of cheap labour to keep them ticking. Mumbai has as many slums as it does the sheer scale of economic activity requires that many people willing to work for low wages.

Like it or not, people will keep migrating to Bangalore. Infact migration may even increase as non-IT industries also grow. If the state governments in Karnataka and elsewhere don't create low cost housing, slums will almost definitely grow. Just look at Mumbai-all the attempts to demolish slums have ultimately proven to be of no use.

Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) to construct 30,000 housing units for the economically weaker sections this year alone.

BDA has already earmarked two sites at Valagerahally and Nandini Layout to construct apartments with 512 and 144 units respectively.

As per the MoU, BDA will operate and execute the projects on the lands owned by BDA and HUDCO and will formulate projects on consultancy basis including preparation of DPR, planning/architectural design services, consulting management and provide loan assistance based on specific project requirement.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/176925/bda-construct-30000-low-cost.html

Massive Bengaluru project has Rs.1000 crores to offset TDR failure


The High Court's dismissal of the midnight tender case has cleared the path for BBMP to initiate mega makeovers for Bangalore. The long list has new roadwidening, signal free corridors, elevated corridors and more.

http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/pics/0004/5019/ifr-RRPOA-public-meeting_pic_article_pic_article.jpg
BBMP has taken up road widening work up again and talk of TDR is afloat. But for the first time the agency is saying that if the people do not want TDR, financial compensation may be offered.

K R Niranjan, BBMP Special Commissioner, says, "In core areas we can minimise road works by doing junction improvement etc. But in outer areas these works are necessary and land will be obtained through TDR; but if public do not accept TDRs we need to have reserve funds for acquisition."

Road widening in outer areas is part of the ship load of projects worth Rs.22000 crore that are slated to go into the city council for approval soon. This giant project had been stalled for the last one-and-half years in the midnight tender case in High Court. The case was dismissed in March, allowing BBMP to go ahead with the projects.

The Ring Road Property Owners Association, Bangalore. It was partly due the sustained hitting back by associations such as these that BBMP as well as the state cabinet has been forced on the backfoot on the roadwidening-TDR proposition. File pic: Chetan Boray.

These works include widening of 90 roads at the cost of Rs 2350 cr in the new BBMP zones - Bommanahalli, Rajarajeswari Nagar, Mahadevpura, Byatarayanapura and Dasarahalli. Of the 90 roads, 58 are arterial and 32 are sub-arterial roads.

Though HC dismissed the case, BBMP would place the project in Council once again for its approval. BBMP Commissioner H Siddaiah says, "The projects are now before BBMP's Standing Committee for Major works. Once the committee approves it, it will go to the Council."
The projects
1) Making 12 corridors signal-free covering 122 kms - Rs 2500 cr
2) Road widening in new BBMP zones – Rs 2350 cr
3) Construction of elevated via ducts – Rs 2178 cr
4) Railway over/under bridges – Rs 355 cr
5) Elevated road over Storm Water Drains (SWDs) at KH Road-Koramangala National Games Village (5 km) and Rajiv Gandhi Circle,Sheshadripuram-Mysore road (10 km) – Rs 900 cr
6) Remodelling of SWDs in new zones – Rs 6600 cr
7) 200 Skywalks along signal free corridors – Rs 600 cr
8) 200 pedestrian subways using precast RCC segments – Rs 200 cr
9) Elevated corridors from Madivala to Hebbal and from Vellara jn to Kundanahalli – Rs 3000 cr
10) Lake and park improvement – Rs 1000 cr
11) Improving markets and building new ones – Rs 1300 cr
12) Land acquisition cost if TDR scheme fails – Rs 1000 cr
Total – Rs 21983 cr, rounded off to Rs 22,000 cr
The case against BBMP was that it invited prequalification tenders for the projects in September and October 2009 when the Council did not exist, and that it had also violated many tender procedures. The PIL also alleged that state government deliberately delayed BBMP elections to give away contracts for major projects. Despite HC's directions in 2008 and 2009 to hold elections, government held elections only in March 2010.

The HC dismissed the case based on Government's response that the elections were delayed due to expansion of BBMP. HC ruled that only the delay in holding elections was not enough to prove any wrong motive on government's part. And on the allegations that the tender process were not followed, Court ruled that the mentioned procedures applied only at the actual tender stage and not during prequalification.

The prequalification tenders were approved by Dilip Rau, the Administrator appointed by state government. Prequalification is done to screen applicants for their ability to execute the project, based on past performance and resources; it precedes the actual tender process.

The PIL was filed by former Mayors P R Ramesh and M Ramachandrappa, and former KSRTC Chairman T Prabhakar. Respondents for the case were BBMP and state government.

Other than road widening, the prequalification notices included projects for signal free corridors, construction of railway bridges, elevated corridors, skywalks, subways, markets etc. It also sets aside Rs 1000 cr for land acquisition during road widening in case TDR scheme fails. The combined cost of all these projects is Rs 22,000 cr, as per BBMP documents. Niranjan says that Rs 6,000 cr may be required for land acquisition during road works such as widening and signal-free corridor projects, though only Rs 1000 cr has been allocated for this.

After Administrator approved the project, the cabinet and state government approved them. State government issued a Government Order approving the projects in December 2009. (All BBMP projects costing more than Rs 5 cr should be approved by state government as per Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act, 1999 (Transparency Act)).

BBMP completed the prequalification process in December - of the 21 firms that applied, 20 were qualified. After this BBMP invited technical and financial bids from the selected agencies. By then BBMP had received the PIL notice challenging the process.

On January 12, 2010, BBMP opened the technical and financial bids and negotiated with applicants. The PIL was heard on January 21, during which BBMP assured the court that the procedures will be stopped. The project has been on hold since then.

Though the case was dismissed by HC, Ramesh says that he would approach the Supreme Court. "The points raised in the case still stand, and we plan to go to SC if BBMP takes up the project again. We are waiting to see what action BBMP will take," he says. Ramesh and Ramachandrappa were members in the last Council (whose term ended in 2006), but are not Council members now. ⊕

http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/3254-rs1000-cr-offsets-tdr-failure-in-rs22k-crore-project

Cycle choice for our crowded cities

With Washington DC promoting bicycles majorly for connectivity, can crowded cities such as Bangalore look at the possibility of replicating the idea? Let's take a look.

Several public interest bodies have been urging the city fathers of Bangalore to think of mass transport and eco-friendly private vehicles such as bicycles for last mile connectivity. But not much effort was seen on this front. Now that a Metro network is emerging in the city, the eco-friendly bike should also be thought of as an alternative to two- and four-wheeled automobiles for easy transportation.

A proposal to this effect by the public interest forum Praja is currently under consideration by the Department of Urban Land Transport in Karnataka (DULT), the new avatar of the BMLTA, for the central business district in Bangalore. Praja wants a dedicated bicycle track on the roads and place for bike docking stations.

Civic authorities in Bangalore need to take a cue from Washington DC which has launched a programme to make bicycles available to those who chuck cars in the core areas of the business district.

Bikeshare booths

A number of ‘bikeshare' booths have popped up all over Washington during the last nine months. The ‘Capital Bikeshare' programme was launched in September 2010 with feedback from an earlier 2007 pilot project, signalling a positive response from users. Embarking from the Metro at DuPont Circle, at the Capital Bikeshare station currently operated by Altabikes company, the Operations Manager, Eric Gilliland, explained the salient features.

The company has currently made available 1,000 bicycles for hire by users who ride them to their destination and leave them at the next such station. The sturdily built bicycles, imported from Canada, are available at 29 booths named ‘docks', located mainly around Metro (underground train) stations, malls and major office complexes. Users are supposed to buy tickets similar to ATM cards which are issued once the buyer's credentials are established. The bicycles are released with insertion of cards into the docks.

The tickets are priced at $5 a day or $15 for five days. Monthly and annual rental cards work out much cheaper and entice the users to opt for longer periodicity. However, the user can ride free for the first 30 minutes while longer use attracts additional charges on the ticket. The docks are solar-powered and even a four-hour solar heating in 24 hours is sufficient for locking mechanism of the docks to remain efficient.

Gilliland says bicycles from some of the busier stations are picked up fast with arrival of trains.

In order to equalise the distribution, ‘rebalancer' trucks are deployed to physically move the bicycles from depositing stations to demand points.

All bicycles are insured against accident or theft. However, only in three cases, the bicycles were reported missing and were relocated as kids had picked them up for fun rides.

During the nine months, only six collisions or crashes have been reported, none of them fatal.

No helmets are required in the DC area. iPhone applications enable the operators to locate the missing bicycles as well as availability of excess ones at particular stations.

No class barrier

Martin, a business representative, who has been using a bicycle for the last three months, says he requires it to move 20 blocks every day and saves substantially with the help of the $37 annual card of Bikeshare.

According to Gilliland, the gender ratio reveals 60:40 men vs. women users. Bikes are used by company directors, managers, courier boys, mailmen etc.

For any such programme to succeed in the Indian context, the people would need taming their vanity more than the availability of the infrastructure. Humble bikes, of course, are no substitute for social prestige associated with cars.

The Hindu (http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/homes-and-gardens/article2353765.ece)

^^ hottege hittilla, juttige mallige huvu :bash:

Sattelite Towns

The Minister of State for Urban Development, Shri Saugata Roy informed the Lok Sabha today that the Ministry of Urban Development is running a pilot scheme for Infrastructure Development in satellite town around mega-cities. The pilot scheme supports development of infrastructure facilities related to Solid Waste Management, Water Supply and Sewerage in the selected towns to channelize their future growth and ameliorate pressure on mega-cities. It also provides for implementation of reforms such as e-governance, property tax, double entry accounting, creation of barrier free built environment and energy & water audit.

The eight satellite towns identified for implementation of the scheme are Vikarabad (Andhra Pradesh), Sanand (Gujarat), Sonipat (Haryana), Kankapura (Karnataka), Vasai-Virar (Maharashtra), Sriperumbudur (Tamilnadu), Pilkhua (Uttar Pradesh) and New Town (West Bengal).


http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=74601

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Pavement driving

Taking the shortcut

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With vehicles parked on the pavements, where should the pedestrians go?

Stuck in a traffic jam at peak hour? Certain drivers in the City have devised a creative solution to this routine problem – when the traffic on the road refuses to move, hop on to the pavement instead. In fact, witnessing motor bikes and occasionally even cars driving across short stretches of the sidewalk has become distressingly common.

Metrolife speaks to a few commuters in the City to find out about their take on the issue.
Mohan Kumar, a retired businessman, obviously feels very strongly about this
subject.

“The way people drive in this City can make life extremely difficult for pedestrians. They drive onto pavements and refuse to stop if they see people walking in front of them. As a senior citizen, I can tell you that these drivers have no consideration whatsoever for the old,” he says. Chandrashekar, a student who has just completed his BE, agrees that this problem has become rampant. “I don’t own a vehicle myself, so I end up walking a lot.

I’ve noticed that a lot of drivers get onto pavements, especially in crowded areas like MG Road. It’s a huge headache for pedestrians, who have to navigate their way even on the sidewalks,” he complains.

However, not everyone perceives these pavement trespassers as a serious annoyance. Venkatesh, a student of Chitrakala Parishat, says he has noticed a lot of such cases near the Bangalore Golf Course, but believes that at times such drastic steps are necessary.

“I go around the City on a motorbike, and I can vouch for the fact that the traffic on the roads can get really bad. I understand that it’s an issue for the pedestrians, but sometimes drivers don’t have an option if they’re under a time constraint,” he says.

Praveen Sood, the Additional Commissioner of Traffic Police, agrees that this is a distressingly common problem. “The problem is that drivers in this City do not have any patience. Such cases take place most often where there is a long queue in front of a traffic signal. Everyone wants to be first, so a driver who is fifty metres behind the signal might try speeding past on the pavement. It is absolutely unethical and unacceptable behaviour,” he says.

And what is the traffic police doing to curb this problem? Sood maintains that a very strict line is taken with such offenders. “Any driver who is caught cutting across a footpath is booked for two penalties – they are not only booked for driving on the footpath but also booked for dangerous driving, since such behaviour seriously endangers the lives of pedestrians for whom the footpaths are meant for,” he says.

The fine for driving on a footpath has been fixed by the government at Rs 100, and the fine for dangerous driving is Rs 300.

DHNS (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/185295/taking-shortcut.html)

BBMP must take cue from HDMC,where they have launched operations against commercial buildings who have failed to provide parking space in their building's basement.

Works to start next Month- Namma Palike will beautify the circles.Each circle/junction will have a theme.

AWESOME Bharati Cement PPP

Jn0uj9W9l9s&feature=relmfu

http://www.deccanheraldepaper.com/pdf/2011/08/25/20110825a_003100009.jpg

Guys you know who is Manjunath Naikar? He is the same boy who acted in Swamy and friends/Malgudi days :)

http://cms.mumbaimirror.com/portalfiles/1/82/201003/Image/280310/12-01.jpg

No drainage facilities for new housing projects in Bangalore

New housing projects in the state will not get any drainage facilities from the state because the government is expecting the developers to set up Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to reuse treated water.

Stating that the state will soon introduce a rule in this regard, minister for environment, ecology and ports Krishna Palemar said that all new housing colonies, gated communities and high-rises built on over 50,000 sq ft of carpet area will have to install their own STPs. He said that the government could not go on creating streams of sewage flowing out of every city and village.

Vrishabhavati River was in a poor condition because sewage was allowed to flow into it, Palemar said.

He said the government could not allow another river meet the fate of Vrishabhavati and was thus introducing the rules regarding STPs. Palemar said every city was growing in length and breadth and high-rise buildings seemed to be the future of housing in cities such as Bangalore, Mangalore and Mysore.

He said the urban development authorities of these cities would be directed to modify their rules to ensure that no big housing project was cleared unless it comprises an STP.

The rules will be framed by State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, headed by Srinikethan, chief of chemical engineering department at National Institute of Technology, Surathkal. Once the rules are finalised, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and respective cities’ urban development department will have to clear the housing project.

DNA (http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_no-drainage-facilities-for-new-housing-projects-in-bangalore_1580983)

Good move,I think Surat has implemented this,When I stayed in a housing complex in Magadalla in Surat, I saw these huge housing complexes had their own STP:cheers:

Flaws galore in ’15 plan, but BDA thinks of 2035 (http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIBG/2011/10/08&PageLabel=5&EntityId=Ar00500&ViewMode=HTML)
Agency Already Set To Draw Up Roadmap
Sunitha Rao R TNN

Bangalore: An agency which has failed to fairly act on an existing master plan is now proposing another one for the city, that too 24 years down the line. While it’s critical that nodal agencies charged with the city’s development take a futuristic approach, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA)’s decision to prepare a Revised Master Plan 2035, seems isolatory and ad hoc as it will address only parts of the issue and not take a holistic view.
With the Revised Mater Plan 2015 itself coming under flak, BDA has invited expression of interests (EOI) for shortlisting of consultants within India and abroad to draw up a roadmap for the city in 2035.
October 24 is the last date for receipt of pre-qualification bids. Though the master plan should be revised once in 10 years and ideally the authorities should have taken up RMP 2025, the BDA website has called for EOIs for RMP 2035.
However, according to urban experts, BDA is not the competent authority to do a comprehensive development plan for Bangalore which is growing by leaps and bounds.
“If BDA does city planning, the focus will be only on infrastructure, whereas there is a need to look into aspects of health, education and water situation. BMRDA has proposed the Metropolitan Planning Commission bill, ABIDe the Bangalore Regional Governance Bill. The government is considering both proposals. Once these are okayed, BMRDA becomes the planning authority and not BDA. BDA authorities should have waited till the fate of these proposals are decided,” said Ashwin Mahesh, ABIDe member and urban expert.
According to urban planner Vivek Menon, BDA lacks the vision and depth to carry out RMP 2035. “What we need is a centralized agency that ensures coordination between civic agencies for successful implementation of the urban development plan. Going by Bangalore’s rapid development, the revised master plan should have been seen in 10 years’ window. Going by our experience of RMP 2015, civic agencies have pathetically failed in their ability to deliver infrastructure works in the desired manner as they have hardly set interim milestones. BMRDA’s Metropolitan Planning Commission bill aims to bridge this gap between planning and execution,” Menon said.

TIMES VIEW
Planning is absolutely critical to manage the mega city that Bangalore will be in future. But BDA’s decision to draw up a master plan for 2035 seems like a case of putting the cart before the horse. Its track record in implementing the existing master plan hasn’t been stellar. Also by definition, BDA’s master plan will address only one aspect: infrastructure. City planning ideally has to include other critical governance parameters like delivery of services. A nodal agency which takes a holistic view of what Bangalore requires in another quarter century would be in a better position to postulate a 2035 master plan.

’15 Plan is wishlist
The controversial Sankey Road widening itself is a testimony to the flaws in the Revised Master Plan, where randomly the road width was mentioned as 30 metres. When BBMP started widening the stretch, there was vehement public opposition. Residents objected to such roadwidening decisions being taken without public consultation. “RMP 2015 is like a wishlist, than a plan. The RMP is not clear about the strategy of functioning. It does not give a yearwise action plan. Planning involves a time table and not just outcome. Thus RMP 2015 has hardly achieved anything,” said Ashwin Mahesh.

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Urban experts feel BDA is not the competent authority to do a comprehensive development plan for Bangalore which is growing by the day. If the agency does city planning, the focus will be only on infrastructure, whereas there is a need to look into aspects of health, education and water situation
Our urban expert mn sreehari is missing from article :lol:

Bangalore: Cycling Enthusiasts Rejoice, Dedicated Cycle Lanes Coming up

Published Date: 12 Nov, 2011 (10:44 AM)
Bangalore, Nov 12 (IANS) The experience of the US and years of advocacy by groups of cycling enthusiasts in the city is behind a dream-come-true project in this traffic-cramped tech hub-dedicated cycle lanes.

Work on this began Nov 9 and, by February next year, Jayanagar, a sought-after upscale residential area in south Bangalore a decade ago but now a fast-growing commercial hub as well, should have clearly demarcated bicycle lanes covering a total length of 42 km.

Jayanagar has been chosen to experiment with dedicated lanes for the eco-friendly transport mode as the area has over 50 educational institutions - primary schools to colleges. It also boasts of being home to India's IT icon N R Narayana Murthy.

"We are indeed very happy that this process has begun and we look forward to the cycling lanes being ready by February 2012," Sridhar Pabbisetty of Ride A Cycle Foundation (RAC-F), which played a major role in helping design the lanes, told IANS.

The dedicated lane will come at a cost of over Rs.25 million and is being prepared by the BBMP (Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palkie or Greater Bangalore City Corporation) with the active involvement of DULT (Directorate of Urban Land Transport), a Karnataka government department.

The persistent campaign by RAC-F led the DULT to engage Gubbi Labs, a private research collective that works on issues ranging from sustainable ecosystems to livable settlements, to prepare a report on what all needs to be done to have bicycle lanes for the motorised vehicle-saturated tech hub.

The Gubbi Labs, which has many cycling enthusiasts, came out with a report detailing the needs, identifying the roads, the signages to be put up, responsibility of BBMP and Bangalore traffic police, among other things, to make the project a success.

The Jayanagar experiment is based on the Gubbi Labs report which drew on the experiences and suggestions of New Hampshire's Nashua Regional Planning Commission and the United States Department of Transport.

Bangalore traffic police and BBMP have a critical role to make the Jayanagar experiment a success, the report notes.

For its part the Ride-a-Cycle Foundation has taken upon the task of creating awareness about the bicycle lanes and sensitizing and motivating the user groups - students and residents of Jayanagar - on its benefits.

The plan to have dedicated bicycles lanes in Bangalore has not come a day late. The city has around 8.5 million people and its motorized vehicle population is nearly four million, i.e., one vehicle for every two people. It is increasing manifold by the hour as around 1,000 vehicles are added to the city's already congested roads every day.

In such a scenario, it was time the city unabashedly adopted the Nashua Regional Planning Commission's Mission Statement of 2005.

The statement says, "The NRPC Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan will identify planning, development and implementation policies that will bring about change to both the transportation system and to public behaviour, resulting in a bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly region and the increased use of non-motorized travel for everyday transportation."

Supplementing this will be the US Department of Transport's 2010 plan to make transportation programmes and facilities "accommodate people of all ages and abilities, including people too young to drive, people who cannot drive, and people who choose not to drive."

:banana:

^^ these lanes will be discontinued like dedicated auto lanes they did after getting enough cursing from ppl. in the days of road widening they are narrowing it :bash:

The project at a cost of Rs 3,400 cr will solve water woes in B’lore

Cauvery IV phase work ready by Mar 2012: Suresh Kumar

Malavalli (Mandya dist), Nov 22, DHNS:
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Urban development minister Suresh Kumar assured to complete the Cauvery IV phase works, before March 2012, as scheduled.

Addressing media persons after reviewing the ongoing works of the unit situated at Torekadanahalli in Malavalli taluk on Tuesday, he said the project is being taken up at a cost of Rs 3,400 crore and will meet the demands of drinking water of Bangalore.

Works are being taken up on a war footing to complete the works by March 2012 and he has visited the spot several times to review the works, which will complete before the beginning of summer.

The works was limping since the past 25 to 30 days due to shortage of sand and deputy commissioners of Mandya and Ramanagar have been directed to arrange for sand, he added.

Comparing the ongoing works with the sinking of borewells in Bangalore, he said that digging borewells amid the thick density of vehicular traffic is a herculean task.

Suresh Kumar said that it is not possible to supply water to the villages where the water pipeline passes through, under the project.

Replying to a query, he said MLA Narendraswamy had briefed him about the same but practically it is not possible. The Bangalore water board has been directed to make alternate arrangements to supply water to these villages. Apart from this it has also been directed to supply water by laying MS pipeline, he added. Senior officials of Bangalore Water Board also accompanied the minister.

DHNS (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/206748/cauvery-iv-phase-work-ready.html)

Round and about - Soak in its old-world charm


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The Hindu SUNNY SIDE UP: Scenic sunrises, sunsets and spotting of rare brids is characteristic to this neighbourhood. Photo: Murali Kumar. K


The neighbourhood fascinates nature lovers, morning walkers and photographers
Rajarajeshwarinagar, which was once a beautiful valley surrounded by hills, is today a bustling residential area with several schools, colleges, companies and nursing homes.

The area, south-west of the city, got its name from the goddess, Sri Jnaneshwari Rajarajeshwari, whose temple, constructed in the late 1960s, is located a kilometre from the imposing arch on Mysore Road. This arch was built by the temple trust and was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. Rajarajeshwarinagar is primarily divided into the Ideal Homes Township, BEML Layout, BHEL Layout and Pattanagere. The Ideal Homes Township, which was developed by the Ideal Homes Society in the late 1970s, is the first set of houses you will stumble upon on entering the area. The BEML Layout is dotted with parks, hotels, tree-lined avenues and shopping complexes, while the BHEL Layout mainly houses the employees of the company. Pattanagere, on the other hand, retains its old-world charm and is reminiscent of the Mysore of old. Rajarajeshwarinagar, which was once considered far away from the city, has become a much sought-after address, especially for those who want to escape city life. Sandwiched between the Bangalore University Jnanabharathi forest on the north and the Turahalli forest on the south, experiencing misty mornings and picturesque sunsets are a daily affair here. Since it was planned and approved by the Bangalore Development Authority, there are plenty of parks in the area. A 9-km-long Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor link road, which starts from PES College junction and stretches to Somapura junction, fences an entire section of Rajarajeshwarinagar.

CLUSTER OF VILLAGES

It's hard to fathom but Rajarajeshwarinagar was earlier a cluster of villages, namely Kenchanahallii, Pattanagere, Halagevaderahalli and Chennasandra. The main occupation of the residents was growing ragi. In the 1970s, groundnuts were grown near the Rajarajeshwari temple, and children often spent their time playing in the fields. Rajarajeshwarinagar became a full-fledged suburb by the early 90s, by which time most of the layouts had come up. The area is well connected by public buses and has also become a nerve centre for students and young professionals, having as many as six engineering colleges (PES, RV, GAT, RNSIT, JSSATE and SJBIT), a Teacher's Training Institute, the Bangalore University Campus, and the software technology park (Global Village).

The consequence has been the mushrooming of hostels, paying guest accommodations with bed and breakfast arrangements and good rental returns for house owners. Manipal Hospital and BGS Health City are the two major hospitals in the vicinity.

However the Vrishabhavathi, which was once a source of clear drinking water, is today contaminated with industrial, agricultural and domestic effluents from central and western parts of Bangalore. And work on ongoing projects at arterial roads like the Mysore Road and Outer Ring Road junction at Nayandahalli has led to traffic congestion and road blocks.

But this green pocket with its hilly terrain, spectacular sunrises and spotting of bush birds is so quaint that once you enter the imposing archway, those traffic snarls become a distant memory.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article2694892.ece


One of the finest and most beautiful modern layouts of Bangaluru :cheers: Love this layout

Parking needs space research

G Manjusainath

The State capital, with highest vehicle population in the country, lacks a policy on the crucial issue thus denying it the Central funds to put up necessary infrastructure for parking. Mysore shows the way by putting in place a policy.

Two-wheelers parked choc-a-bloc on a City road. DH PhotosFor a City that is bursting at its seams with a whopping 42 lakh vehicles -- 12 lakh of which were added in the last three years alone--you would think a well-planned parking policy would be in place to streamline the maddening rush. But that is not the case, and what you have is an absolute lack of order on the roads, with the commuters and traffic police alike struggling to find space for regulated parking. It has been a free for all, with unauthorised parking agents ruling the roost.

Each year, an estimated three lakh vehicles are added to the City’s traffic. While the traffic police are opting for one ways and widening of roads at the cost of trees, the problem of addressing parking has taken the backseat.

Take the case of Jayanagar. Hotels that have mushroomed in and around the area have added to the parking woes. Once known for wide roads with enough space for parking, Jayanagar is gradually slipping into chaos. Banashankari Junction is another example where shopkeepers and their customers park their vehicles on the road, adding to the congestion.

Half of the road in Yaarab Nagar is occupied by the motor mechanics choking traffic flow. Lack of a parking mechanism has led to a pellmell in Gandhi Bazaar. The case of Chickpet market is the worst among all. Vehicles parked on both sides of the road constricts the already congested streets. Traders at Chickpet are also not happy. A local trader, Gyanchand Jain said the scene would have been different if the parking arrangement at the KR Market was improved. And these are just examples.

It may be hard to believe that Bangalore, which was never meant to be a metropolitan City, today has the highest vehicular population in the country, and lacks a parking policy. Unlike other cities of its size, anyone can park anywhere in Bangalore, and get away without paying any fee.

The JnNURM solution

Lately, the State government woke up to find out a solution. Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM), the Centre allots funds for the cities to build infrastructure for parking space. The assistance comes with several riders. The Centre wants the State to have a strong and working parking policy, that mandates a price for parking vehicles at public places. To avail the Central Fund, the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) of the State government has come out with a parking policy for Bangalore too.

Some of the contents of the parking policy is congestion tax, involving private players to build multi-layer car parking complex, regulation of on-street and off-street parking, hiring empty sites on rent for parking, developing autorickshaw stands, constructing truck terminals and zoning system for collecting parking fee.

“The guidelines for collecting fee can be prepared if the BBMP Council passes the parking policy. There are suggestions for certain corrections in the policy, which we are working on,” says a BBMP Engineer Basavaraj Kabade.

What is more interesting is that there used to be some mechanism to collect a parking fee before 2006, but suddenly the system was abolished. Now the Palike says it is working on it.

Manohar H N, a commuter, said parking in thickly populated places and Central Business Districts like Chickpet and Avenue Road is a big challenge.

“Because I know places where I can park vehicles in busy areas, I do not face too much problem. But I have seen people facing tough time to park vehicles. There must be some arrangement like multi-layer vehicle parking in densely populated and commercial areas,” says Manohar. He was, however, not in favour of parking fee in the City.

Policy imperative

A senior BBMP officer, requesting anonymity, said the Palike can demand money for the multi-layered car parking (MLCP) from the Centre only if there is a parking policy. Under JnNURM, the City can get 50 per cent of funds from the Centre, 15 per cent from the State and the rest by the civic body. In its policy, the Palike has proposed automated MLCPs at 23 locations and to utilise parking space at Gandhi Bazaar, Freedom Park and some other open spaces.

Even though the State capital is yet to implement a parking policy, Mysore has already adopted a parking policy and become eligible to draw Central funds.

Shailendra Singh, Special Officer, DULT, emphasises that a parking policy for Bangalore is a must to guide the off-street parking than on-street.

“There are many recommendations in our policy including zoning system to collect parking fee. Now it is up to the BBMP to decide when and how it would pass a resolution related to the parking of vehicles,” says Singh.

However, the policy seems to be caught in conflict of interests and its fate is hanging in balance.

While on the one hand, the City needs a parking policy to decongest many important roads, the ruling BJP in the BBMP as well as in the State is not keen on implementing the policy for one strong reason.

“Our policy is clear. We don’t want any parking fee. Parking in the City should be free of cost. We do not want to bring back a system we had fought against some years ago,” says, Deputy Mayor, S Harish.

He says the Palike has plans to end the parking woes, which includes parking space beneath the playgrounds.

However, Ashwin Mahesh, a member of ABIDe Task Force says the time is ripe to have a parking policy according to which people should not be allowed to park vehicles at public places without any fees. “Parking at public places should be used for private benefit. If it is allowed then there should a mandatory price for it,” he adds.

http://www.deccanherald.com/images/editor_images1/2012/01/03/city-skywalk-domlur.jpg
A skywalk with an escalator, an elevator and perhaps even a café on the Inner Ring Road in Domlur may not be far from becoming a reality if the Palike allows the Embassy Property Developers to have its way.

The design and plan for the skywalk, set to come up opposite Dell India office on the Inner Ring Road, was presented by Embassy Property Developers before a few officials of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike at Hotel Leela Palace on December 28.

The Rs 5.5-crore project, to be entirely funded by the private builder, also includes beautification of the area beneath the Domlur flyover into a garden-cum-recreation space at a cost of Rs 3 crore. The skywalk will have an escalator and an elevator on both sides of the structure that will provide access to the top, apart from a spiralling emergency staircase.

Amit Ahuja, Manager (Corporate Affairs), Embassy Developers, told Deccan Herald that a Singapore-based firm had been chosen to implement the design of the project.
“The entire cost of the project will be borne by us and the BBMP has no role to play in it. This will make it easy for the Palike to allow the project,” said Amit.

Part of the project involves planting 12 different varieties of trees. The landscape design concept submitted by the Embassy group shows a parking space for 30 vehicles, entry-exit gates, sculptures, bridge-over-nala, water features, lawn and recreation spaces.

However, the bone of contention between the BBMP and Embassy is the advertisement rights and a few other trivial issues.

B T Ramesh, engineer-in-chief, BBMP, said: “While Embassy wants a minimum 10-year advertisement rights on the hoardings on the skywalk, the BBMP is yet to accept the proposal. The Palike is figuring out if it can do so on a revenue-sharing basis.”

Officials in the BBMP claim one faction is strongly opposed to the idea of escalators for skywalks. They feel such structures will pose risks to users — senior citizens slipping and falling while climbing; and saris, skirts and lungis getting stuck in the escalator.
Domlur corporator Geeta Srinivas Reddy says projects, which beautify the area and help pedestrians and residents, should be encouraged.

“I was very keen on implementing this project in Domlur. Now, all that remains to be solved is the ad rights, which the BBMP will have to decide in one of the council meetings,” said Geeta.

The corporator feels the Palike should relax rules for private firms which come forward to build such projects for the benefit of the people.

According to Embassy, the project will be completed in about seven months once the BBMP gives it the green signal.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/216357/sophisticated-skywalk-come-up-domlur.html

They feel such structures will pose risks to users — senior citizens slipping and falling while climbing; and saris, skirts and lungis getting stuck in the escalator.

:rofl::rofl:

I can’t take on corporators: Municipal corporation chief (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/I-cant-take-on-corporators-Municipal-corporation-chief/articleshow/13403283.cms)
TNN | May 23, 2012, 06.05AM IST
BANGALORE: Nothing can define the piecemeal contract mess better than this: the BBMP commissioner's helplessness.

On Tuesday, MK Shankarlinge Gowda said he cannot take on corporators and politicians. When his attention was drawn to the list of 101 piecemeal works to be taken up by contractors in Chokkasandra, Rajgopalanagar, Hegganahalli and Peenya Industrial Area instead of giving them under e-procurement, he shot back: '' Why are you asking me? Questions on piecemeal work must be addressed to the mayor and corporators. It is not easy to stop this and I can't take on corporators and MLAs. I am aware there will be hanky-panky in these but at least some work will happen. If I stop them, they allege the commissioner hasn't done any work. This is a limitation and we have to work amidst it,'' the BBMP chief told TOI.

On Tuesday, the Palike published a list of 101 piecemeal works and invited tenders from registered contractors. It has been alleged that an unspecified number of core works has been split into piecemeal works to evade e-procurement. Rules say that if a core work costs more than Rs 20 lakh, it must be covered under e-procurement . To evade e-tendering , contractors used to split the work and ensure they were estimated well below Rs 1 lakh, the limit two years ago. In e-tendering , contractors make sure their own cartel participates so that there is no competition while bidding. However, in e-procurement , any eligible contractor from any part of the world can bid and get qualified in the global tendering process, which the contractors avoid.

BBMP scam probe

The government on Tuesday told the high court that a preliminary inquiry by the technical and vigilance cell will be a better option than asking an agency to probe alleged irregularities in 26 engineering divisions of BBMP. The government advocate told the court that entrusting the probe immediately will prove an exhaustive exercise in the light of no specific instances/allegations involving to these divisions.

TIMES VIEW

That the BBMP chief himself can't take on corporators shows the extent of the rot in the civic agency. It's an open secret that work tender means money. Contractor-corporator nexus in circumventing the e-tendering and e-procurement process for works defeats the purpose of transparency and accountability. BBMP must abandon the current practice of awarding piecemeal contracts which is synonymous with corruption. It should consider giving long-term contracts to experts to ensure quality of work and accountability.
Already bbmpt doesnt have money, moreover corruption :bash: but in a democracy bbmp commissioner should work as per orders of elected representatives, this can be challenged in court, but times view in this regard is rather misplaced..

May 20, 2012 at 12:34pm IST
Jayalalithaa writes to PM again on water dispute (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jaya-writes-to-pm-again-on-water-dispute/259649-62-128.html)
CNN-IBN
Chennai/Bangalore: A day after raising the Cauvery water sharing issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Sunday took on Karnataka over yet another river issue.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on Sunday accused Karnataka of planning to build check dams across Ponnaiyar River and sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to advise it against going ahead with the work.
"The Government of Karnataka has proposed to construct check dams and diversion structures across the Ponnaiyar River which is causing great alarm and apprehension in Tamil Nadu," Jayalalithaa wrote in her letter to the PM.

Noting that the river, flowing through Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Cuddalore, was the "lifeline" of the people in these districts, she said it irrigates an ayacut of nearly four lakh acres.
"Any attempt to withhold the flows by constructing check dams and diversion structures across the river will be a serious breach of the existing Inter-State Agreement on this issue. I request you (PM) to kindly intervene and advise the Government of Karnataka to stop the execution of any check dams or diversion structures," the letter read.
"This will also be a body blow to the farmers of Tamil Nadu besides affecting the basic drinking water supply position", Jayalalithaa wrote in the letter.
She accused the Karnataka government of neither seeking the consent of Tamil Nadu nor furnishing any information about the details of the scheme as sought by the state. Tamil Nadu had urged Karnataka not to commence any work without its consent.
In her earlier letter to Manmohan Singh, Jayalalithaa had charged Karnataka with "unjustly utilising" Cauvery water and asked him to convene a meeting of the Cauvery River Authority to discuss the issue.
However, Karnataka has rejected her charge and opposed the demand for CRA meet, saying the state was ensuring release of water in excess of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's order.

State to seek Centre’s help for Pinakini project (http://www.deccanherald.com/content/251730/state-seek-centres-help-pinakini.html)
P M Raghunandan, Bangalore, May 23, 2012, DHNS :
Tamil Nadu has opposed the plan

The State government decided to go ahead with the controversial project to utilise sewage water that flows in the erstwhile Dakshina Pinakini river on the outskirts of Bangalore for recharging ground water.

It has also sought the Centre’s assistance to implement it, despite strong opposition from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

The State Minor Irrigation (MI) department has drawn up a Rs 42-crore proposal to implement the project under the Centre’s Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP).

The lift irrigation project envisages filling of 29 minor tanks in and around Chikkaballapur and Hoskote towns, by diverting sewage water from Sameatanahalli tank which is part of the Dakshina Pinakini valley (also called Varthur valley), official sources said.

South Pennar river

Dakshina Pinakini river is known as South Pennar river in the downstream of Tamil Nadu.
The river dried up about three decades ago, and mainly sewage water generated from Bangalore city now flows in its valley.

This water is unfit for any use in Karnataka. But it is used for agriculture purposes in Krishnagiri and surrounding areas in Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka wants to utilise the water to fill up its tanks near the parched Chikkaballapur and Hoskote towns and improve the ground water table.

Jayalalithaa had recently written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention to stop Karnataka’s plan.

She had alleged that Karnataka is taking up construction of check dams across South Pennar river and claimed that it would affect lakhs of people in Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvnnamlai, Villupuram and Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu.

Objection

Earlier, Member of Parliament from Krishnagiri E G Sugavanam had raised objections against the project in Parliament during the budget session in March this year.

According to official sources, the MI department has proposed the project to be implemented under the AIBP based on the guidance of Union Minister for Corporate Affairs M Veerappa Moily, who represents Chikkaballapur in Parliament.

If approved under AIBP, the Centre will bear 90 per cent of the project cost, while the State will share only 10 per cent.

The MI department wanted to implement it using its own resources as per the original plan.

Sources said the Union Minister has taken keen interest on implementing the project, which will improve ground water table in and around Chikkaballapur.

Meeting

He recently held a meeting with the officials of both the State Minor Irrigation department and the Central Water Commission (CWC) in Bangalore and directed them to soon convene the high-level Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting to approve the project.

Technical Advisory Committee comprises officials of both State MI department and CWC.

Once TAC gives its approval, the project will be placed before the Centre seeking its assistance, official sources said.

This apart, Tamil Nadu in its reply to Sugavanam’s queries on the proposed project, the State MI is learnt to have clarified that it has no plans to construct any check dams.

It has also learnt to have said Dakshina Pinakini river no longer exists as it has dried up three decades ago.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike may finally get its hands on Electronics City (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Bruhat-Bengaluru-Mahanagara-Palike-may-finally-get-its-hands-on-Electronics-City/articleshow/15299909.cms)
TNN | Aug 1, 2012, 01.20AM IST
BANGALORE: The Silicon Valley of India is all set to come within the limits of Greater Bangalore. On Tuesday, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike council passed a resolution to this effect.

The entire Electronics City, including its three stages, will be added to BBMP's limits. Currently, the industrial hub is part of Anekal taluk on the outskirts of Bangalore.

The BBMP aims to mop up an additional Rs 300 crore as revenue through this move. "Villages such as Konappana Agrahara, Dodda Togur, Golla Halli, Balaji extension, Shikari Palya, Thirupalya, Neeladri Nagar, Bettadasapura, Huli Mangala, Govinda Shetty Palya, Krishna Reddy extension, Neo Town, Shanthi Pura, Veerasandra industrial area, Veerasandra village that are spread across the three stages of Electronics City will be added to BBMP limits," said M Nagaraj, BJP, who read out the resolution.

The issue was raised by Yediyur corporator N R Ramesh. "It's an area of 440 acres and has a built-up area of over 3 crore sqft. In order to evade paying tax to BBMP, Electronics City Industries Association had misguided the urban development department during the delimitation process in 2008. BBMP is providing basic amenities to Electronics City, but gets no revenue benefits," said Ramesh.

"Bangalore's largest mall-cum-township is coming up at Electronics City. Spread over 120 acres, the township is likely to house 139 retail units and residential units. While providing basics amenities for such townships, BBMP must get revenue benefits," he added.

The resolution witnessed no objection from opposition party leaders. "It's a welcome move. This should have taken place long ago. All those who commute to Electronics City for work are Bangaloreans. But the revenue benefits are being enjoyed by the village panchayats," said M K Gunashekar, opposition party leader.

The resolution will be sent for government approval and becomes operational only after getting its nod.

What BBMP gains

BBMP can mop up a minimum of Rs 300 crore from industries and posh residential units in and around E-city once it's added to BBMP limits. There are 187 IT/ITES companies in E-City.

Association speak

Ever since Keonics handed over Phase1of Electronics City 20 years ago, we have been managing the industrial area with minimal maintenance charges collected from companies. Companies are paying property tax to the local panchayats namely Konappana Agrahara and Doddatugur. ELCIA understands the requirements of companies with regard to housekeeping, estate maintenance, water, power, waste management and security and we have handled it well. Many national and international organizations have shown keen interest in our best practices. The state government should grant industrial places like Electronic City the status of industrial township under the state's law and promote proven self-governance.

-- NS Rama, CEO, Electronic City Industries Association