Bangalore Namma Metro Updates

[rsrikanth05]

They should make the restrooms pay and use.
Use the metro smart card if needed for entry and exit.

They should something at SV Road station. Plenty of space under the station.

[gurupr29]

Source : Vijay Karnataka E Paper

[gurupr29]

Summary :-

1> The sub contractor "Bhoomi" has given assurance to give 10 lakhs rupees to the boy.
2> The boy age is 20 not 15/25
3> Plastic surgery has been done on the left hand side.

[rsrikanth05]

Well, atleast something has been done.

[pandian12]

TODAY'S PAPER » NATIONAL » KARNATAKA
April 26, 2012
Railways and BMRCL reach compromise over land lease

ANIL KUMAR SASTRY
SHARE · PRINT · T+

Work in progress for the construction of the underground station of Namma Metro at the Mahatma Gandhi Railway Colony.— Photo: K. Murali Kumar
The wrangle between the Railways and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd., (BMRCL) over leasing railway land for Namma Metro underground works has reportedly been settled with the former agreeing to permit BMRCL to continue with the work after making part payment of additional lease rental.

According to BMRCL Chairman and Union Urban Development Secretary Sudhir Krishna, the railways has agreed to permit underground construction work around Majestic areas pending final settlement of the dispute.

Mr. Krishna, who was in Germany on Wednesday, told The Hindu over phone that BMRCL would make a part payment of balance licence fee as demanded by SWR. BMRCL has paid Rs. 94 crore to the South Western Railway (SWR) even as the SWR has sought Rs. 125.7 crore as balance fee. Mr. Krishna said a meeting was held between the officials of the board and BMRCL in Delhi on Monday to sort out the issue. BMRCL has agreed to pay Rs. 21 crore as part payment, a source said. SWR General Manager A.K. Mital told The Hindu that he has not received any official communication from the Board so far. “We too are for speedy completion of the underground metro work. However, certain formalities have to be completed (to part with railway land) as per Board's directive,” he said.

On Tuesday last, the SWR evicted BMRCL's men and machinery from its land off Platform Road when the latter attempted to go ahead with the construction.

The SWR had said BMRCL has not paid the balance fee and the Railway Board had not given any direction to allow construction without receiving any payment.

BMRCL requires railway lands at three locations — Mahatma Gandhi Railway Colony for construction of the “City Railway Station” underground station; Supervisors' Training Centre for tunnelling and off Platform Road for construction of the down-ramp for North-South corridor's tunnel.

The SWR has allowed BMRCL to go ahead with work at M.G. Railway Colony, whereas work at two other sites is yet to start for want of payment of balance licence fee.

In all, SWR will be offering 22,908 sq m land permanently and 9,346 land temporarily for the Namma Metro work in these locations.

Policy issue

Sources in SWR said BMRCL in Monday's meeting pressed more for a change in Board's policy to lease out railway land to government department/ corporations for public purpose than on the calculation method adopted to decide the lease rental. While the initial calculation had pegged the total lease rental at Rs. 219 crore, revised calculations put this amount at Rs. 175 crore.

Way-leave facility

BMRCL had been arguing that the SWR should not consider portions of tunnel and cut-and-cover stations as permanent ceding of railway land and they should be treated as way-leave facility. As such, the lease amount payable would be just Rs. 44 crore, it had claimed.

However, sources in the SWR disputed this claim and said the land above tunnels and underground stations cannot be used to construct multi-storeyed buildings and hence should be treated as permanent ceding.

ANIL KUMAR SASTRY
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle3354709.ece

[suraj.shekar]

Many thanks for the update Pandian. This news item is not seen in any other media sites. So Hindu is truly “Staying ahead of the TIMES!”
Quite a relief that the SOS message from Sivasailam has reached the relevant ears and is addressed in the right earnest.

However, found this point in Mar 12 newsletter of BMRC:

Tunnelling work in the East-West Corridor is going on safely at all locations barring one location in Railway Land at the Supervisor’s Training Centre (STC) area. Communications have been addressed to Ministry of Railways, Government of India to work in railway lands at the Supervisor’s Training Centre (STC) area. Approval is awaited shortly since the policy decision of Govt. of India on lease of Central Govt. lands for infrastructure projects of State Govt. & State PSU’s has been cleared a couple of weeks back

If this policy was cleared, then whats the fuss all about? Probably cleared but not published & circulated? That is what I can make out from the below quote.

SWR General Manager A.K. Mital told The Hindu that he has not received any official communication from the Board so far.

Quoting this from the executive summary of BMRC newsletter of Apr12-

“Ministry of Railways , Government of India has instructed General Manger– SWR, Hubli to accord permission to BMRCL to carry out the UG works at STC area and SBC Yard for the Pocket track and the Under Ground Metro station named Bangalore City Station on 29th of February 2012. Formal approval is yet awaited”

Can’t understand what is this formal approval and official communication? Looks like its a bond paper signed in green ink from the ministry babus and despatched safely in the IR bullet trains, then unloaded and routed thru our fully automated post offices, delivered to door by bicycle!
Shilaayuga practices in Kaliyuga

[suraj.shekar]

Policy issue

Sources in SWR said BMRCL in Monday's meeting pressed more for a change in Board's policy to lease out railway land to government department/ corporations for public purpose than on the calculation method adopted to decide the lease rental. While the initial calculation had pegged the total lease rental at Rs. 219 crore, revised calculations put this amount at Rs. 175 crore.

Really appreciate this initiative by BMRC. High time the railways understand the value and urgency of urban infrastructure projects. Would make sense if all these SPVs- BMRC, CMRL, HMRL, Mumbai Metro1, Jaipur MRL, Kochi MRL form a (kind of) consortium or a lobby and take it up together with the ministry and press for policy revisions or special provisions for metro projects. This is applicable not only for railways but other ministries where they struggle at present to get clearances. Else all metrorail projects will keep facing the same problems..

[naveen_blr]

Originally Posted by Bombay2Calcutta

Sakaal Times

NCP agrees to elevated Metro

Special Correspondent
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 AT 01:08 PM (IST)
Tags: NCP, Pune metro, Ajit Pawar, Congress, PMC
PUNE: Deputy Chief Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar, in a sudden turn around, has conceded to the Congress-backed elevated Pune Metro, admitting that the underground one could indeed prove too expensive to become a reality.

The deputy chief minister had earlier, during the campaign for the civic elections, made light of the Congress allegations on cost escalations for an underground metro.

The metro is likely to get a nod at the next cabinet meeting scheduled to be held soon after the state legislature session, Pawar said during at a meeting in Mumbai on Monday.

The minister's move could be an attempt to preempt any embarrassment for himself after he realised that Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is indeed going to announce the elevated metro, political observers said.

NCP city unit president and newly elected Rajya Sabha member Vandana Chavan said her party did not mind withdrawing its opposition to the elevated metro if it brought relief to the common man.

“Experts have told us the underground metro could cost as much as Rs 10 per kilometre, which is way beyond the means of the common people. Apart from the three times cost escalations, the maintenance too could be high to manage, Chavan said adding that her party was still ready to hear anyone who could come up with a way to bring down the cost of the underground metro.

“The elevated routes have proven to be a disaster in Bangalore and Mumbai. Pune needs to learn lessons from their mistakes,” Pawar had said during the electioneering

He even said that being the State's finance minister, he was politically strong enough to take care of any escalated costs for the Metro project.

Nationalist Congress Party spokesperson Ankush Kakade says there is no need to read too much into the NCP's change of stance on the Metro. “We have done it on several issues earlier and there is nothing wrong in bowing down to the opinion of experts. After all we are not the experts on the issue.”

On his party's vigorous campaign on the underground metro during the the civic elections, Kakade said it would be naive to believe that such a stand had brought his party any votes.

EMBARRASSMENT
The minister’s move could be an attempt to preempt any embarrassment for himself after he realised that CM is indeed going to announce the elevated metro, political observers said.

The elevated routes have proven to be a disaster in Bangalore

What does she mean by that?

[blrsri]

Originally Posted by naveen_blr

The elevated routes have proven to be a disaster in Bangalore

What does she mean by that?

The pillars are a serious eyesore..it has completely marred MG roads identity..and many other places in blr..also there have been huge delays in construction..navyuga contract etc..

However tend to disagree that UG is not viable due to costs..going UG compares very well with the elevated ride cost wise..considering land acquisitions and other factors in total cost..and going UG is the best thing to be doing for the future of this city..

[gurupr29]

source: DH

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...sume-soon.html

The months-long spat between the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and the South Western Railway (SWR) over the lease of railway land near Majestic for metro work has come to an end.

B L Yashwant Chauhan, BMRCL public relations officer, told Deccan Herald on Thursday that Metro work would resume in Majestic (off Platform Road) once the BMRCL received a letter in this regard from the Railways.

He declined to give details of the settlement formula and the corporation’s mode of payment to the SWR.

Sources in the SWR said the BMRCL had agreed to make a part payment of a balance fee of Rs 20 crore demanded by the Railways.

A senior SWR officer said the BMRCL could carry on with work once the formalities were completed.

However, Suvankar Biswas, PRO, SWR, said he was awaiting an official communication from higher authorities on the settlement of the issue between the South Western Railway and the BMRCL.

The Metro Rail Corporation has already paid the SWR Rs 94 crore, but the Railways had stalled the Metro underground construction work in some areas around Majestic, including off Platform Road, as the BMRCL had not paid the balance fee of Rs 125 crore.

Eviction of workers

On April 17, railway security personnel evicted BMRCL workers and equipment when they arrived to resume work in the area. SWR officials had then said the Railway Board had not granted BMRCL permission to carry on work as it had not paid the balance fee.

On Platform Road, the BMRCL needs land for the construction of a down-ramp for the North-South corridor; in Mahatma Gandhi Colony, land is required for building an underground station.

Some space of the Supervisor’s Training Centre is also required for tunneling works. While work progressed in Mahatma Gandhi Colony, there was a dispute over space at the other two locations.

Around 23,000 square metres of railway land has been allotted to the BMRCL permanently in these areas, in addition to around 9,000 square metres of temporary space.

[naveen_blr]

Originally Posted by blrsri

The pillars are a serious eyesore..it has completely marred MG roads identity..and many other places in blr..also there have been huge delays in construction..navyuga contract etc..

However tend to disagree that UG is not viable due to costs..going UG compares very well with the elevated ride cost wise..considering land acquisitions and other factors in total cost..and going UG is the best thing to be doing for the future of this city..

we would have got metro after 2017 then .Period.
Cost 3 times current cost. People are not fools to take up elevated when underground is cheaper.
Between even i would be very happy to see nothing on the ground while the city commutes under.

[gentem]

cost is not 3 times but 1.5 times. That aside going underground in CBD and elevated elsewhere is the best option as done in delhi and bangalore And bangaloreans want to experience underground metro which will be missed by hyd ppl.

[blrsri]

Originally Posted by gurupr29

source: DH

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...sume-soon.html

The months-long spat between the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and the South Western Railway (SWR) over the lease of railway land near Majestic for metro work has come to an end.

B L Yashwant Chauhan, BMRCL public relations officer, told Deccan Herald on Thursday that Metro work would resume in Majestic (off Platform Road) once the BMRCL received a letter in this regard from the Railways.

He declined to give details of the settlement formula and the corporation’s mode of payment to the SWR.

--.

Fail to understand the secrecy everytime..arent these corporations fromed by the govt itself and aint the govt because of us?

[rsrikanth05]

Originally Posted by blrsri

Fail to understand the secrecy everytime..arent these corporations fromed by the govt itself and aint the govt because of us?

Ideally govt data in a democracy should be in public domain. Like in the US.

[gurupr29]

Source : The Hindu

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle3361693.ece

Space between metro pillars becomes dump yard for Lakshmipuram residents

After they were used as undesignated parking lots on C.M.H. Road, the space under the pillars of Namma Metro is now doubling as garbage dumps. Pedestrians should not be surprised if, say, a pair of slippers fall from nowhere on their head, as happened to this reporter. Clearly, the footwear had done its time, and bingo! off it flew in an arc, glancing an unwary head.

In yet another case pointing to the Bangalorean's abysmal civic sense, residents have been throwing their garbage below the metro viaduct at Lakshmipuram, which leads to Ulsoor.

Futile fencing

To counter illegal parking, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) had fenced the pillars recently. But people appear to have found a way of breaching this too. The shops located on the main road bear the brunt of such callousness. Not only do they have to put up with the unpleasant sight of dumped garbage, but the accompanying stench also has dented their business. Stray dogs pull and tear plastic covers, further spreading the refuse. Shopkeepers have to pacify annoyed customers who complain about the foul smell and mess.

Not BBMP's fault

For a change, they don't blame the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Suresh, owner of a medical shop, blamed residents. “People get up late in the morning by which time the garbage collectors would have left. They then dump their garbage near the metro pillars,” he said.

Balaji Singh, a pawn broker, said: “We can't blame the BBMP as the cleaners come every day. The road is littered by indifferent residents.”

When this reporter spoke to a few residents, they feigned ignorance and said they didn't know who the culprits were.

“The officials must put up boards saying ‘Don't throw garbage',” suggested Lakshmi P.J., resident as well as an owner of a TV repair shop.

Filling the gaps

A spokesperson of the BMRCL said he was not aware of the garbage menace here. “But now that we have got to know about this issue, we will take the initiative to prevent garbage being dumped there,” he said. He added that the gap between the pillars is being filled with mud to create little green patches.

When the BBMP spokesperson was contacted, he said: “It is very sad that though every day there is door-to-door garbage collection, people do not use this facility.”

[rsrikanth05]

Passing the buck again.

[suraj.shekar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKtGhHQDv0k
Copyright: Nat Geo-BIG BIGGER BIGGEST

Watch this marvellous video on evolution of Tunneling technology thru' the lens of the best photographers accompanied with the voice of the best narrators..
Absolutely engrossing especially for the tech savvy..

[anil29]

Originally Posted by suraj.shekar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKtGhHQDv0k
Copyright: Nat Geo-BIG BIGGER BIGGEST

Watch this marvellous video on evolution of Tunneling technology thru' the lens of the best photographers accompanied with the voice of the best narrators..
Absolutely engrossing especially for the tech savvy..

Fantastic video, quite educating.
Many thanks Suraj

[ullasavadan]

Originally Posted by suraj.shekar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKtGhHQDv0k
Copyright: Nat Geo-BIG BIGGER BIGGEST

Watch this marvellous video on evolution of Tunneling technology thru' the lens of the best photographers accompanied with the voice of the best narrators..
Absolutely engrossing especially for the tech savvy..

Fantastic video and thanks Suraj for sharing it. Now we can understand the hidden surprises that are attached with tunnelling which makes it difficult to stick to its deadlines.

[Abhishek901]

Originally Posted by gentem

cost is not 3 times but 1.5 times. That aside going underground in CBD and elevated elsewhere is the best option as done in delhi and bangalore And bangaloreans want to experience underground metro which will be missed by hyd ppl.

It is 3 times. And you can stop unwanted and unhealthy city comparisons.