Work on Bangalore's Third Elevated Road Takes off

Elevated road to BIAL in the making
A signal-free corridor comprising a stretch of elevated expressway, four underpasses and two flyovers at a cost of Rs 600 crore will be built connecting Hebbal flyover to the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA).Officials said the Rs 600-crore project has a 24-month deadline and will allow motorists to reach the airport within 15-20 minutes from Hebbal, as against 45 minutes now. Notably, it will be the first six-lane elevated highway corridor in the city.

Currently, Bangalore has two elevated corridors — the Electronics City expressway and the Tumkur Road expressway — both of which are four-lane. The airport expressway will be built on a single pier. NHAI officials said, “Six-lane flyovers are constructed on two piers. However, with improved technology, we are set to construct it on a single pier. The advantage is it takes up less space

Renders and Alignment of High Speed Rail Link

 

Features of the HSRL
Design Speed: 160 kph
Operational Speed: 140 kph
Average Speed: 85 kmph
Seating arrangement: Transverse
Capacity of 6 car unit: 421

Inter-Modal Transit Centre Subash Nagar-Majestic Bangalore

The total site area is 40 acres which is owned by KSRTC.
BROAD SCOPE
The scope broadly include the following:-
1. General & Site Preparation works
2. IMTC Building
The IMTC area comprises the following facilities at various levels:
• KSRTC Terminus at +1 Lvl
• BMTC Terminals at basements in two lvls
• Waiting lounges
• Reservation counters
• Dormitories
• Offices
• Crew rest rooms
• Baggage Despatch Section
• Shops
• Restaurants
• Passenger lounges
• Technical areas, stores
• Technical infrastructure
• Security systems
• BMS systems
• Glass and maintenance equipment
3. Iconic Tower on the northern part of the site (55 storied tower)
4. Commercial Developments on the south- western part of the site.
5. Idle parking between the iconic tower and the KSRTC terminal.
6. Two depots, one for BMTC and another for KSRTC.
7. Integration of the bus terminals with the proposed mass transit system and the city railway
station.
8. Parking facilities
9. Landscaping
10. Services

4.5-km elevated stretch of Tumkur Road thrown open to traffic

Distinguishing Features 

• Bangalore's 2nd Elevated Road 
• Total Length of thesix-lane expressway – 19.1km with 4.5 kms being elevated stretch
• Cost of Project :720 Crs

 

Zoom on Elevated Hosur Road

According to the Bangalore Elevated Tollway website, the Rs 775.7-crore project is being executed through a special purpose vehicle, BETL, created by joint venture partners - Maytas Infra, Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) and Soma Enterprises (SEL).
FEATURES

REVERSIBLE LANES
As the traffic flow in the morning peak hours is towards Electronics City and in the reverse direction in the evening, NHAI is going in for a reversible lane system. Five lanes will be reserved in the direction of Electronics City in the morning and five in the evening in the opposite direction.

BIG BROTHER
According to NHAI officials, CCTVs will be installed along the elevated road. Cameras will keep tabs on vehicular movement and will be of assistance to various departments like the police, excise and sales tax. While two CCTVs will be installed at the either end of the 9-km elevated stretch, seven CCTVs will be installed at Bommanahalli, Garvebavipalya, Kudlu Junction, Singasandara, Naganathapura, HP gate and Electronics City.

VMS ASSISTANCE
If you are on Hosur Road and confused over which road to take (the ground-level stretch or the elevated one), VMS (variable message signs) will come to your assistance.

NHAI officials said, “Probably for the first time in India, VMS will make its debut on Hosur Road. VMS comprises programmable traffic control devices which display messages composed of letters, symbols or both. It provides real-time information on the traffic situation to motorists with the objective of improving operations and reducing accidents. It also guides drivers in changing travel speed, lanes or routes.”

EMERGENCY CALL BOXES
There will be 24 emergency call boxes (12 on either side) on the Hosur Road stretch from Silk Board junction to Attibele (near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border). The boxes are activated the moment someone opens the door and presses a button inside.

The caller is immediately connected to the HTMS (Highway Traffic Management System), which works 24x7. The system can identify the location of the caller even if there is no verbal communication. The call boxes will have important numbers and will prove invaluable in emergencies related - accidents, fire and crime.

WHAT IT OFFERS
CCTVs to cover entire stretch of expressway
Highway Management Information System
Electronic toll collection
Emergency call box
Meteorological details

TRAFFIC BLOCKS TO GO
Bommanahalli
Garvebavipalya
Kudlu Gate
Hosa Road
HP gate

LONGEST FLYOVERS
PV Narasimha Rao highway: 11.3 km
Electronics City: 9 km
Chennai: 16 km
Tumkur Road: 4.2 km
Bandra-Worli sea link: 5.6 km

PROPOSED TOLL
Attibele Electronics City
Two-wheeler: Free Rs 15
Auto: Free No entry
Car: Rs 20 Rs 30
LCV Rs 30 Rs 40
Bus/trucks: Rs 50 Rs 70
HCV: Rs 105 Rs 140

8-laner to ease traffic at Okalipuram

Cabinet okays long-delayed Rs 115-crore project

The State Cabinet on Tuesday approved the long-delayed project to ease traffic congestion at Okalipuram near Majestic. The Rs 115-crore project entails construction of a eight-lane corridor connecting Okalipuram junction with Khoday Circle (also Fountain Circle), thus making the Bhashyam Circle-K R Circle stretch signal free. In addition, the Railways will construct a road underbridge on the stretch connecting Okalipuram with Malleswaram, Law Minister S Suresh Kumar told reporters. According to the plan, the 6.60-km long corridor will have service roads on either side. An 18-month deadline has been fixed for the project. As much as 12,818 sq metres of Railway land and 251 sq metres of private land will be acquired for the project.

Tender process

The Palike council has already approved the project and pre-qualification tender process has been already initiated. The work will commence very soon, the minister said. Of the Rs 115 crore, Rs 57.50 crore is meant for the corridor, Rs 28 crore for deposit with the Railways for constructing the road under bridge, Rs 20 crore will be deposited with Bescom and BWSSB for utility shifting and Rs seven crore will be spent on service roads. Okalipuram area, which has two railway bridges at close distance, is one of the major traffic bottlenecks in the City. Residents of Rajajinagar, Basaveshwaranagar and Vijayanagar have been finding it tough to reach Majestic and areas beyond it. Though the BBMP had planned the project about six years ago, the State Government had sat on it since then. The major hurdle was taking over land belonging to Railways. “The Government has recently entered into an agreement with the Railways which will be given alternative land,” Suresh Kumar said. The Cabinet also approved Rs 1,564-crore plan of the BBMP to develop infrastructure facilities like roads in the newly-added areas. Under the plan, the BBMP wants to raise Rs 860 crore from various commercial banks. The Cabinet has allowed the Palike to raise Rs 200 crore as the first installment, Suresh Kumar said.

*A 6.60-km eight-lane corridor between Okalipuram junction and Khoday circle

*12,818 sq metres of Railway land and 251 sq metres of private land required for the project

*18-month deadline set for the work

Decks cleared for HSRL

The Union Government has finally given its nod for implementing the High Speed Rail Link (HSRL) project to Bengaluru International Airport.

The Central government is likely to be an equity partner in the Rs 6,689-crore public-private-partnership (PPP) project. The 33-km HSRL route originates from Police Parade ground on M G Road and terminates at BIA. “The permission has been granted for the project under the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, which allows operation of a mass rapid transit system (MRTS) in the Bangalore Metropolitan Region limits. The Union government has also evinced interest to invest in the project. With this, the project has crossed all legal hurdles. It will now be taken up on a fast track,” said Principal Secretary to Department of Infrastructure Development (IDD) V Madhu. Like the Namma Metro, the HSRL too was planned under the Mysore Tramway Act. Though the Tramway Act is a State legislation, amending it to allow operation of HSRL in rural areas is a lengthy and cumbersome process, as it has to get the assent of the President of India, he added. As per the Tramway Act, a MRTS can be operated only in the Corporation limits. The HSRL has to operate out of BBMP limits - beyond Yelahanka - to Devanahalli. The state government, as a result, requested the Centre to allow it to implement the project under The Metro Railways Act. Loss of face The government had to suffer loss of face as it failed to finalise the tender process due to legal hurdle in 2009. As many as five consortiums, comprising big companies, had been shortlisted in the Request for Qualification (RFQ) process in 2009. The shortlisted consortia are: Reliance Infrastructure and CSR Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Company of China, Larsen & Toubro and Transco Ltd, ITD-ITD Cementation joint venture (Italian–Thai Development Public Company and ITD Cementation India Limited), Pioneer Infratech and Siemens Project Ventures Gmbh and Lanco Infratech and OHL Concesiones of Spain. Besides, the State had to bear huge burden in the form of cost escalation of the project, due to the Centre’s delay to clear the legal hurdle. The cost of the project went up to Rs 6,689 cr from the initial estimate of Rs 5,700 cr.

Bangalore will become the third Indian city after Kolkata and Delhi to start operating Metro Train Services Commercially

 The dreams of tens of thousands of traffic-weary commuters in Bangalore to travel by the metro rail came closer to reality on Monday when Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) conducted the longest yet technical test run of the train.

People looked up to see the train, with three coaches in tow, cruise on the new tracks between the Byappanahalli and C.M.H. Road stations, a distance of about 2 km, on Monday afternoon, marking a major milestone on the road to the metro in Bangalore.

Restricted speed

The train, which moved at a restricted speed of 25 kmph, also did the second test run on the same tracks with several BMRCL workers on board. “It passed off well. We did not encounter any teething problems. The train ran for 8 km and we are satisfied,” BMRCL spokesperson B.L. Yasavanth Chavan told The Hindu. “Along with the tracks, we had to check the third rail, which is adjacent to the main tracks, used to energise the train,” he added.

 

Bangalore International Airport terminal expansion work from May

The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) will commence work on the proposed expansion of terminal-1 at the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) from May next year.

The expansion work, to be completed in 18 months, would be carried out at a cost of Rs1,000 crore to enable the airport handle 17 million passengers a year. Currently, the airport handles 10.6 million passengers a year.

Marcel Hungerbuehler, president, BIAL, said that the invitation for expression of interest for the terminal-1 expansion work was out and the bidding process was currently on. “Once the tenders are finalised, which is expected by the end of February, we will commence the construction work by May,” Hungerbuehler said.

The expanded terminal-1 will be spread over an area of approximately 1,34,000 sq m from the existing 72,000 sq m.

Designed by HOK, along with several leading international architects, planners, urban designers, landscape architects and engineering consultants, the expanded T1 sports an enhanced elevation with modern design.

In addition to the approved design, the BIAL has also launched a campaign — Smile Bengaluru — which seeks ideas from citizens, passengers and employees on what they would like to see at the expanded terminals. Over 1,000 comments have been posted so far. The comments can be posted on www.smilebengaluru.com

Artist's Impression After Expansion

Present Status Of  BIAL

Bangalore Aviation Sector grows 23% to surpass Chennai and become third largest airport in India

On the back of strong economic growth in the region, Bangalore has grown its passenger traffic 23% to 11.24 million for calendar 2010 surpassing Chennai to become the third largest airport in the country. For the last five years, Bangalore had been leading Chennai as the third largest in domestic passenger and freight traffic, but this year in May the Bengaluru International Airport has helped the city reach the number three slot in overall passenger traffic.

The passenger traffic in the last quarter was 3.06 million and just six days ago, on December 17, the airport handled 38,134 passengers, the highest ever reported since airport opened in May 2008.

Flight movements grew 8.2% to reach 110,437 averaging 312 movements per day and airlines fly to 30 domestic and 19 international destinations from Bangalore. Air Asia, Air China, Silk Air, Qatar Airways, and FedEx commenced operations to Bangalore during 2010.

The Best Managed Airport in India
The entry of the GVK group has energised airport operations which were facing a resource crunch. The airport won the title 'Best Managed Airport in India' in the CNBC AWAAZ Travel Awards 2010.

The airport operations group led by President Marcel Hungerbuehler and Director Hari Marar have been pushing for continuous improvements in efficiency. The airport maintained flight punctuality of over 85%, within 15 minutes of the scheduled time of departure. Baggage delivery has averaged six minutes from arrival time of aircraft on stand, for the first bag. Check-in wait times too are short at two and a half and four minutes for domestic and international flights respectively. ( Read related story on the airport operations control centre.)

However, the management of the airport is going to have to work extra hard with government agencies to reduce the lines and wait times at immigration and to some extent security.

Air Cargo
With the resurgence of manufacturing activity in the hinterland, the airport's two cargo operators Menzies-Bobba Aviation and Air India-Singapore Airport Terminal Services (AI-SATS) saw an impressive 33% growth over last year to 210,000 metric tonnes. FedEx Express commenced direct flights to Bangalore and one can look forward DHL following suit, considering it has a major operations hub at the airport along with partner Blue Dart.

Due to the nature of its high-technology, pharma, food, floriculture, aviation and precision engineering industries, Bangalore has always led India in percentage of GSDP shipped by air. The local Customs commissionerate has traditionally been highly efficient compared with the rest of the country and many an industry from as far away as Chennai has considered importing cargo via Bangalore due to it faster clearing times.

The future
Based on economic projections and the accepted rule of thumb that air traffic grows at twice the GDP growth rate, one can safely estimate a growth of 15% year-on-year for the next two years.

Bangalore Aviation readers may recall the over-crowding in the departure halls soon after the airport opened in 2008 when traffic was at 10.3 million. The economic slowdown of 2008 and 2009 provided a breather to then promoters of the airport, but they chose not to invest in terminal expansion when they had the time.

Luckily for Bangalore, the airport operating company Bengaluru International Airport Limited, was acquired by the GVK group. The re-jiged management led by Managing Director Mr. Sanjay Reddy has fast-tracked the expansion of the existing terminal which is expected to be completed by 2012 and will increase the capacity by about 35%. See photos and video of the proposed expansion.

Indian carriers miss the international bus
The economic slowdown of 2008 and 2009 saw a 20.5% year-on-year contraction in domestic passenger traffic, while international traffic grew at 6.68%.

Despite this strength in international passenger traffic, while Indian carriers are increasing their domestic operations to capitalise on the growth, the three Indian carriers with significant international operations, Jet Airways, Kingfisher and Air India, have largely chosen to ignore Bangalore for their international operations, handing over the international passenger market to foreign carriers. Emirates still remains the largest carrier to Bangalore with 20 wide body operations per week, followed by Lufthansa, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Air France and DragonAir.

Abu Dhabi based Eithad will commence a daily Airbus A320 service to Bangalore joining Qatar Airways to complete the gulf carrier troika.

The airport authorities are hopeful of snagging Thai Air Asia, Thai Tiger, DHL cargo, TNT cargo, China Southern and ANA, though I doubt Thai Tiger, TNT cargo and All Nippon commencing operations any time soon.