metro

The Metro is becoming a reality. The first leg is getting ready. The trial run has begun. The stations are getting ready. The foot over bridge is nearing completion at many stations. The stations have been named sensibly. The glass facade is being errected at many stations. The appearance is one of class and style that every Bangalorean can feel proud of whether or not he belongs to Karnataka.Now comes the risk. Political groups and anti social elements who are used to damaging public property have another beautiful target. It is very essential that apart from the government and civic…

Confusion prevails among Bannerghatta road residents, after BBMP announced its road widening plans. Though notices were issued to many occupants along the road last year and markings made on walls, no work was undertaken due to compensation-related issues. Constructions galore BBMP plans to widen the 7.4 km stretch between JD Mara junction (where JP Nagar ORR intersects Bannerghatta road) to Koli Farm Gate after NICE ring road. According to BBMP's Major Roads department, the road will be widened from the existing 25-30 m to 45 m. Project is estimated to cost Rs 250-300 cr. Widening will start at Jedimara junction,…

"First they said that our apartment was illegal. When we showed our property documents, BBMP engineers said that it wouldn't matter because we had to give up our land for road widening anyway," says a resident of Rashi Pride apartments on Nyanappanahalli main road, BTM 6th stage. This relatively quiet road located in BTM 6th stage has been in the news lately because the residents raised their voice against BBMP's coercive tactics for land acquisition. Apartment marked for road widening on Nyanappanahalli main road in BTM 6th stage. Pic: Sreenandan A V The resident, who does not wish to be…

A family coming out of Namma Metro Coach, showcased on the MG Road. Pic: PeeVee aka Perumal Venkatesan. Bangalore Metro or Namma Metro is scheduled to start its first phase of operations from Dec 2010. To familiarise and to promote the trains among general public, BMRC is showcasing a metro coach on the MG Road, just next to Anil Kumble Circle. As expected, the coach attracted lot of visitors and this image shows one such family, on their day out. ⊕

We usually notice them at construction sites of private or commercial buildings or public infrastructure projects. They often speak different dialects of Telugu, Oriya, Hindi or a mix of these or other languages. And their kids (sometimes only partly clad) play in the sand or water lying around. A few of them live in tin shacks, thatched huts or tarpaulin tents nearby. Or in similar accomodation by the roadside elsewhere, commuting in open trucks or by walk to their place of work. These people are among those categorized as the unorganized sector. And are typically daily or weekly wage labourers…

Namma Metro's construction on M G Road has stopped for a couple of weeks, according to a reliable source at BMRCL. This is because a private property next to Nalli Silks on M G Road is under litigation i.e., the owner of the property has a personal litigation going on about the property itself. There is a court stay on the property for two weeks, following which, the construction will begin again. Ongoing construction is causing noise disturbance for residents living within a few feet of the work. Pic: Zainab Bawa. On CMH Road also, construction has stopped as of…

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is currently involved in a litigation against the Traders' Association of Chinmaya Mission Hospital (CMH) Road. The traders' filed their case in November 2006. Their main prayer to the court has been to change the alignment of the Metro from CMH Road to Old Madras Road. Their central concerns have been the losses to their businesses arising from the Metro and its compensation package, and the government's ignoring at least one major report recommending that Old Madras Road is a better option for aligning the Metro. The message seems clear and present. Pic:…