Commute

On the afternoon of 28th april 2014, I had set myself the task of observing two street corners at either end of Noronha road at Russell market in Shivajinagar - a corner at the Broadway street end and a corner at the St.Mary’s Basilica end (Fig.1). I am reproducing here what I noted and what I sketched there. These were ordinary activities. They probably happen everyday. I observed the urban space – how the vendors create their informal selling spaces on the street and how walkers/shoppers enter these selling spaces and engage in a bargain, a conversation or a purchase.…

Government of Karnataka has issued a clarification detailing the reasons behind their decision to install a steel flyover from Chalukya circle to Hebbal flyover. Unfortunately it is a purely one sided rationale without any comparative study of alternatives. Citizens’ Action Forum has worked out an alternative which is far more comprehensive, less disruptive and genuinely sustainable. This solution will not only help the airport passengers to have a hassle free journey but also help in resolving the traffic problems faced by commuters in the city.One of the main objections to the construction of steel flyover from Chalukya circle to Hebbal…

To: His Excellency, Sri Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, Governor of Karnataka Your Excellency, As a forum named Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB), now representing thousands of concerned citizens, with numbers growing by the hour, we approach you to intervene in a serious matter. As you are aware, Sir, the Government of Karnataka proposes to build a steel flyover from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal flyover, with connecting ramps on Race Course Road, Palace Road, Vidhana Soudha Road and Raj Bhavan Road. The project envisages a 6.7 km stretch of a six-lane steel flyover to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 2,200…

The steel flyover will pass through this road. Pic: Shree D N To all those who insist on going ahead with the steel bridge... in the hope that good sense prevails: The issue regarding this bridge is becoming more heated as the days go by. As I see it, the matter will get uglier as both sides have their view points and arguments in place. So the best way to resolve this is to throw up all the pros and cons and see which comes out on top! The bridge will cut the journey to the airport and from North…

To Sri Siddaramaiah Hon’ble Chief Minister Govt. of Karnataka Vidhana Soudha Dr. Ambedkar Veedhi Bengaluru - 560001 Dear Sir, Subject:  (1) Our objections to the steel fly-over from Chalukya circle to Hebbal junction and (2) Our suggestions on the alternative use of Rs. 1,800 crore for de-congesting traffic and for human development and social infrastructure for Bengaluru Greetings from CIVIC Bangalore! We have been working since 24 years on urban governance and the Rights to Food, Health, Education, Livelihood and Social Security of the urban poor. Whenever we propose that money be set aside for human development measures, which are…

Traffic on Ballari road on a normal week day. Pic: Balaji Ganesan Civil Society activists in Bengaluru are opposing the Government's decision, to build a Steel Flyover from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal Junction. As someone who supports the causes pursued by many of these activists, I'm surprised by the protests against the Steel Flyover project. Is the Civil Society working against itself, jeopardising several of the causes we have been pursuing? Do we risk wasting the opportunities provided by this steel flyover project, to improve civic amenities in this part of Bengaluru? People’s flyover, not VIP flyover To begin with,…

Google Earth image of Hebbal traffic choke point. Why are citizens opposed to #SteelFlyover? A lot of people have asked during the week, "why are you so opposed to the steel flyover?" I've said to many of them, in reply, that they should pause and think about that question. The answer should be quite easy to spot, especially since so many people have been saying it again and again. They used other words - about governance, and design, and planning, and due process, and a lot of other things that can confuse the issue. But those are the vocabulary of…

Owing to public pressure, Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) has uploaded more details on the steel flyover, including the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the BDA's proposed steel flyover from Chalukya Circle to Hebbalon Bellary Road late on Friday night (October 14, 2016). The same information was earlier denied when Namma Bengaluru Foundation had applied for it under RTI. 3D animation for the proposed project: 2D simulation video for the proposed project: Link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Caq0Swx_46M Here is the copy of the Detailed Project Report. [embeddoc url="https://citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/BDA-Detailed-Project-Report.pdf" download="all"] More clarifications on the project [embeddoc url="https://citizenmatters.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Update-on-the-Elevated-Road.pdf" download="all"] List of trees to…

Much has been written, in social media circles, against the expensive, potentially ugly steel bridge that is going to come at a cost of Rs 1800 Cr (estimated) to the public exchequer of the state of Karnataka. There are additional costs of course, trees, precious, full grown trees that have to be chopped off. Aesthetics. A steel structure... don’t get me wrong, I am an engineer, I love steel...is going to snake through town from Chalukya circle to Hebbal flyover. Beautiful heritage buildings and land. Compelling arguments have been made by many people along these lines, and they are right.…

Bengaluru has the most active citizenry any city can dream of. There are sustainable transport advocates, public transport activists, runners, cyclists, environmentalists, civic activists, anti-corruption activists, urban planners, architects, artists, political activists, public policy experts, resident welfare associations - you name them, you have them here. And the steel flyover coming up on Bellary Road has united them all in protest, under the banner 'Citizens Against Steel Flyover'. A human chain event has been planned this weekend on October 16th, 2016, from Chalukya Circle to Hebbal, to oppose the steel flyover. A team of citizen activists is mobilising people across…