Commute

Three years after it’s launch, Bengaluru’s popular BIG-10 arterial route service is going upscale. Starting May 4th, BMTC is rolling out AC Volvo versions of BIG-10 along three routes, to complement the current non-AC services. Fourth of every month is observed as Bus Day in Bengaluru to encourage public transport. Starting May 4th, BIG-10 Volvo AC buses are going to run along Hosur Road, Bannerghatta Road and HAL Airport Road/Whitefield Road.  G-3’s AC version, will run from Shivajinagar Bus Station to Electronic City and will be called AC-3.  Likewise, G-4’s AC version, running from Shivajinagar Bus Station to Bannerghatta National…

The MG Road metro station will soon have two restrooms - one near Anil Kumble Cirlce, and the other next to the station at the start of boulevard.Restrooms will be for three categories - men, women and disabled. BMRC had initially said that the stations do not need restrooms as the time of journey is very short. "The decision to start restrooms was taken after continued demand of citizens," says Ravi Prakash, Manager PRO at BMRC. One restroom each is planned for Ulsoor and Swami Vivekananda Road stations, but tenders for these have not been finalised. MG Road and Bayappanahalli…

 We are a city of very knowledgeable people. We know exactly where we are, and we don't need to be informed about our whereabouts by some stupid signboard. In fact, the signboard is only there to stick posters on, and inform people about other events or goods on offer....until such time as those posters are legible. If a newcomer comes to Bangalore, s/he, too, will know instantly, just by looking at the name board, that this Billposterpuram or Stickernagar or Advertisment Layout.Of course...with maps on one's mobile phone, and being online all the time....name boards are now a quaint relic from…

Governments may come and go. Land grabbers may be arrested and jailed. But the daylight robbery of auto drivers will still continue. In Chennai, you may have come across slightly different-coloured autos displaying the words ‘Tourists friendly’ and you may think these autos would charge you as per meter, or if not, reasonably. But these auto drivers are as bad or as good as others of their tribe. Of late I am shuttling between Chennai and Bangalore too often, so much so that I have become a frequent train traveller and can claim rebate in fare if the railway ministry…

On March 20th, BDA filed its objections in High Court on the Agara-Sirsi Circle signal free corridor PIL. Koramangala 3rd block RWA and others had filed the case last month, specifically asking for work in four Koramangala junctions to be stopped, and HC had ordered a stay on the works. At several places in its objections filing, BDA has gone so far as to say that residents' concerns are imaginary. Sarjapur road dug up for construction of grade separator. File Pic: Deepthi M S BDA has presented copies of approvals for the project given by Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) of…

The auto fares in Bengaluru have been revised as on 12 March, 2012. Are the auto drivers happy? No! Neither are the commuters. Around 2.5 years ago the minimum fare used to be Rs 14 and the Auto LPG gas price was Rs 37.33 per litre and now when the gas costs around Rs 49 per litre, the minimum auto fare still remains Rs 20.But fare hike is not the only issue here. Auto drivers refuse rides all the timeThe auto drivers toil and work hard but most manage meagre earning of Rs 250 a day. The commuters however think…

BDA can no longer work on the five grade separator projects planned in Koramangala. On February 27th, High Court ordered a stay based on a PIL filed by Koramangala residents. Pic: Deepthi M S Residents had been in discussions with BDA for over six months to re-consider flyover and underpass projects at Koramangala water tank, Krupanidhi college, 80-feet road - Sarjapur road intersection and Jakkasandra junctions. These works alone cost Rs 120 cr. This is part of the larger signal-free corridor project from Agara to Sirsi Circle, planned by BBMP in 2009. The project is implemented by BDA.Residents had filed…

The traffic near the erstwhile High ground Police Station refused to move. It was already eleven in the morning and I had set up an appointment to meet Archana Prasad, Jaaga's founder, at 11.30. As the clock ticked away, I couldn't help but smile at the tailormade situation for the topic I was to discuss with her. Art by Indo-German artists. Pic: Poornima Dasharathi The Directorate of Urban Land Transport(DULT) had partnered with Jaaga to explore alternate non-motorized transport solutions for Malleswaram. The project named "Malleswaram Accessibility Project" had an objective surveying the existing modes of transport and the commuting…

The Bellary road toll fee protest might have fizzled out quietly, but what may have gone unnoticed was the use of forceful language in the transport union's flyers.The Federation Of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agent Association chose strong and retaliatory language at NHAI's decision to impose tolls. They termed it 'A daylight robbery by NHAI' in their flyers.The association further claims in its flyer as to how NHAI has violated its own rules by setting up a toll gate within 10kms of the BBMP limits and by collecting toll fee before the completion of the road."It is in their…

Ranka Colony road, off Bannerghatta road, is a good example of the city's horrendous infrastructure. There are at least ten apartments, with around 2000 flats, along the road. This road has been in poor condition since the last 10 years. Rainwater would enter apartments, rising up to seven feet high, damaging parked vehicles and entrapping residents. Over the years BBMP has dug the road many times, but never fixed it. BBMP again dug up the road last year, which has only caused more trouble. A 1600-m storm water pipeline is being laid along the service lane from Bannerghatta main road…