Commute

Read in-depth reportage, explainers and analysis of urban transportation challenges and solutions. Traffic congestion, modes of public transit such as the bus, Metro rail or suburban rail, sustainable mobility, government policy and citizen demands are at the core of these articles. Explore articles on various initiatives to improve the state of commute: from ride-sharing services to pedestrian-friendly streets and cycling infrastructure, to proposals for improvement of congestion-related problems in local neighbourhoods. You can also find explainers on transport-related services like getting a Drivers License or a No-Objection Certificate.

I am a resident of a quiet neighbourhood at Vijaya Bank Layout, Bannerghatta road since 2007. Most of you might have heard about it. It is very popular for its Ayyappa Temple and its quiet environment. But this harmony was destroyed when I saw my home located in 1st Main road and several other houses  were marked by BBMP officials for the road widening project.I am not the only one , but several hundreds are suffering from the same problem. Most people here have used all their savings to buy this property which costs a fortune just because it has…

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Bangalore Metropolitan Transportation Corporation (BMTC) provides city and suburban bus services in Bangalore. Here is some info to help you start using BMTC buses. Are their helplines to help me find my routes? What are the various BMTC routes? Regular routes, Big10, Big Circle, Inner Circle, Vajra Premium Services, Airport services How much should I pay for tickets? How and where can I get bus passes? Are their helplines to help me find my routes? BMTC Hot Line numbers: 1800-425-1663, 1266 (BSNL Only) and 22029935 They provide information on routes and bus pass information. It is available 24x7. What are…

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It is great to see that work on the Whitefield railway overbridge is finally picking up speed. However, I have a different concern.Train parked right in the middle of the road. Pic: Suruj BhuyanThe railway authorities have taken the liberty of parking the trains anywhere they wish to. Pic: Suruj Bhuyan.People climbing up in between two bogies in order to cross over. Pic: Suruj Bhuyan.‹ › $(document).ready(function(){ $('.carousel .carousel-inner .item').first().attr('class', 'active item');}); Since the railway gates are now closed temporarily due to the overbridge construction, the railway authorities have taken the liberty of parking the trains anywhere they wish to.…

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This is the letter sent to the BBMP Commissioner on March 14th 2010. Dear Sir, It is observed in our area and confirmed by residents that while digging roads for the purpose of asphalting, workers using JCBs (earth movers) are showing exorbitant arrogance towards woes of residents.   Telephone cables and slabs placed by residents in front of their houses are unnecessarily removed even when the same is not coming inside the portion for asphalting and not replaced after the work. This puts lot of inconvenience and expenditure to hapless residents. No responsible official are available at the time of…

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The wait is almost over – after years of staring at the ramps of the Whitefield-Kadugodi railway bridge that went nowhere, we are happy to report that the first piece of steel girder over the rail lines was put in place at 1.30 am on March 26th, 2010. The sandblasted and painted steel girder section installed across the ramps, above the electrical lines. Pic: Satinder Randhawa. The work of placing the steel girder over the Whitefield Railway overbridge started just past midnight after the electric lines were disconnected from mains over most of the tracks. Two tracks on the Sai…

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With the public objecting to a recent move to pull down old bus shelters and replace them with new ones, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has now ordered the private firms (who were awarded the contracts) to stop dismantling these shelters temporarily. (Bus shelters are also called bus stands.)In a decision taken about ten days ago, after media reports and objections from citizens, the advertisement department of the BBMP has decided to first conduct an inspection before proceeding with the work. Says Hari Narayan, Assistant Executive Engineer, Advertisement department, "We have told them not to dismantle until joint inspection.…

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The latest realistically estimated date for the opening of the Whitefield railway overbridge is June 1st 2010. On February 19th, a new contractor, Banashankari-based KPR Constructions took over the unfinished project. KPR Constructions, which takes on Railways contracts along with sister concern Balaji Builders, is headed by N Kumar, Managing Partner. A steel girder segment at the Kadugodi yard next the Whitefield Railway Station has been painted as part of readying for launch. Pic: Subramaniam Vincent. Speaking to Citizen Matters from Hubli on the telephone, Vijay Kumar, Chief Administrative Officer, South Western Railway, said the bridge will be ready "in…

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Bus day again

If you didn’t convert to a bus commuter last month, here is another chance. BMTC has solicited citizen support and cooperation for March Bus Day on Thursday, 4th March 2010, after a moderately successful first time event on February 4th.  BMTC says they have taken into account feedback about February Bus Day and have made arrangements for a better experience for March Bus Day. They have added new routes and new corridors.This time, BMTC is focusing on the following five corridors of the city, where buses will ply more frequently: •    Old Madras Road•    Banerghatta Road•    Old Airport Road •  …

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The issue of road widening promises to get more charged as residents, traders and property owners of Dr Rajkumar Road threaten to take out emotive protests against the BBMP’s development plans for the road. This 5 km stretch of road in northwest Bangalore, from Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Factory Ltd to Prasanna Theatre, has been earmarked by BBMP for construction of a signal-free corridor. The property owners and tenants along Rajkumar Road, led by Citizen’s Support Group (CSG) Dr Rajkumar Road, are calling the plan an “urban disaster,” and are opposing the road widening project with the argument that road…

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