Industry Wants Local Trains from E-City to Heelalige

Electronics City Association promises to take care of Heelalige station if facility is provided


Industries in Electronic City have been pushing for local trains between Bengaluru City and Heelalige, which is about 4 km from the IT hub. The Electronics City Industries Association (ELCIA) has offered to take care of the maintenance at Heelalige railway station.Software giant Infosys has been pursuing the subject with the railway higher-ups for the past few weeks after its founder NR Narayana Murthy first came up with the idea last year.

Murthy even discussed it informally with the Centre recently.

Heelalige comes on the Bengaluru-Salem section, and ELCIA thinks it can be exploited further. The association plans to rope in transport utility BMTC to run feeder services between Electronic City and the railway station.

“I recently met Railway Board officials in Delhi, and they have agreed to consider our proposal,” Infosys executive vice-president Ramadas Kamath told ET. Heelalige is about 40 km from the city railway station.

The 900-acre Electronic City is home to IT and manufacturing companies like Infosys, Wipro, TCS, Tech Mahindra, HP, 3M, Tejas, besides several SMEs. According to a note Kamath handed to the railway minister recently, the industrial estate accounts for .

`40,000 crore of turnover, has 180-plus firms and employs 125,000 people directly, and about one lakh indirectly. The estate, which is growing at a fast pace, has fuelled growth of a larger ecosystem including hospitals, shopping arcades and residential areas in the vicinity.

“Local trains to Heelalige will help people living in north and central Bengaluru in a big way. They now commute for two hours or more one way to reach their offices. The train connects many IT hubs including Sarjapur, Marathhalli,“ said Rama NS, CEO at ELCIA.

According to her, railways would just need to augment its existing infrastructure so that the section can take additional trips. “The railways could increase the number of trips and the number of coaches during peak hours,“ she said.

“The local train option presents an immediate, doable and relatively low-cost solution to address the traffic challenges of the city,“ Ka math added.

Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) AK Agarwal, however, reasoned that the Bengaluru City station was already choked, and Bengaluru-Sa lem section has scant spare ca pacity during peak hours.

“The Bengaluru-Heelalige is single-lane and, non-electri fied with its morning slots ful ly occupied,“ he said. The railways, according to him, is running two commuter trains from Bengaluru to Hosur in the morning stopping at Heelalige. “There are no additional paths available for running extra commuter trains,“ he added. Bengaluru and Yeshpanthpur together handle 205 train arrivals and departures a day.

The city is also connected to Electronic City by an elevated expressway. “The time has come for us to plan for multi-model transport system as in Hyderabad.

This will help people commute faster and lessen congestion on roads,“ Kamath said. It may be recalled that DV Sadananda Gowda had, in his railway budget, set aside ` . 1 crore for feasibility study for a circular train system in Bengaluru.

Just 3.1 km add-on road to NICE, but it will be tolled too

Elevated road will commence just 500 metres away from where the Sirsi Flyover ends, at Padarayanpura Junction, cross BHEL Circle, and connect to the existing NICE Road

A 3.1-km-long elevated road has been proposed to be built by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise, better known by its acronym NICE, after Sirsi Circle. The road will connect the traffic to and from BGS Flyover, also known as Sirsi Flyover, to the existing NICE Corridor (The NICE-Mysore expressway and the NICE peripheral road) which is already tolled. Now, NICE promoter Ashok Kheny is planning to have a toll for this 3.1-km add-on road too. 

It has been decided that the construction for the elevated road, just 500m from where the Sirsi Flyover ends at Padarayanpura Junction, will commence this year. 

"I am spending Rs 300 crore for the 3.1-km long elevated road and it is my right to collect the toll. Those who use this road will have to pay toll," NICE managing director and MLA Ashok Kheny said. 

Kheny claims that the elevated road is part of the project framework agreement signed between the then Janata Dal government and NICE on April 3, 1997. "The elevated road is part of our old project and the reason to approach BBMP was to avoid future conflict," he added. 

He also claimed that the elevated road won't come under BBMP jurisdiction. "It falls under the Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC), which was notified by the then government on July 13, 1999, itself." 

NICE has sent the proposal to BBMP's Major Road's Infrastructure Department, seeking structure plan approval. As planned, the 3.1-km long toll road will start from Padarayanapura Junction, near Idgah Masjid. 

Once the elevated road is constructed, a motorist coming from the Town Hall side and heading towards Mysore Road can climb onto the Sirsi Circle Flyover as before. Those who want to use the toll road can get on the NICE Road, while others can use the service road below to continue along the toll-free Mysore Road. Motorists coming from Chamrajpet 1st Main Road will also be able to climb up the ramp to the NICE Road. 

Kheny said, "We will ensure hassle-free traffic for the people of Bangalore. We will ensure that there is no conflict during the construction, and for that particular reason we wanted to co-ordinate with BBMP. We sent the proposal for structural plan, which has been approved by the BBMP Council and by the Mayor. Now if some standing committee wants to sit on the proposal by opposing it, let them do it. We have got approval from the Supreme Court and no one can stop us from taking up the project." 

Kheny claimed that the existing NICE road has eased lots of traffic congestion. "Presently we have 70,000 daily vehicle users of our existing road. Just imagine if NICE Road weren't there the traffic situation in the city ," he said. 

Kheny has an alternative proposal. "Instead of implementing this project, vehicles coming from core Bangalore can climb onto the existing Sirsi Circle Flyover and can further continue along the NICE Road till Tumkur Road, from where we will provide connectivity to Bellary Road. The proposal is pending before the government seeking approval for extension of NICE Road from Tumkur Road to Bellary Road." 

When contacted, BBMP commissioner M Lakshminarayana said, "I have not signed any agreement for the collection of toll. Nor has the BBMP signed any agreement with NICE. Whatever decision has been taken by the BBMP Council will be forwarded to the state government. I cannot say anything on it."

Rs 500 crore for road development works in Bangalore

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike:

1. Development of arterial, sub-arterial roads to be taken up at Rs. 500 crore
2. Widening of important roads as per Master Plan 2015 at Rs. 300 crore
3. Construction of RUB/ROB in collaboration with railways at Rs. 200 crore
4. Development of 12 main roads under TenderSure at Rs. 300 crore
5. Development of backward areas under erstwhile CMCs, TMC within BBMP at Rs. 250 crore
6. Construction of grade separators at important junctions at Rs. 200 crore

Bangalore Development Authority:

1. Construction of Peripheral Ring Road at Rs. 5,800 crore with JICA assistance
2. Construction of underpass at Goreguntepalya at Rs. 125 crore under JNNURM
3. Elevated corridor from ALISDA, near Jalahalli, to BEL Circle at Rs. 191.86 crore under JNNURM
4. Elevated corridor from Basaveshwara Circle to Hebbal junction at Rs. 1,100 crore

Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board:

1. Detailed project report to be prepared for providing water supply to 110 villages in BBMP area
2. 74 km sewer lines to be strengthened in 2014-15 with 50 per cent funding from KUIDFC
3. Existing 180 MLD waste water treatment plant to be up upgraded to 300 MLD
4. 108 waste water treatment plants of one to two MLD to be set up during 2014-15

Swastik-Peenya Metro stretch to open by month-end

Decks have been cleared for the launch of Namma Metro’s commercial operations between Swastik and Peenya through Yeshwanthpur by this month-end. 

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has received the much-awaited certificate from the Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS). BMRCL officials are now confident that the commercial operations will begin on the 11.5 kilometre stretch by the end of February. 

Last month, the corporation received the Research Design and Standards Organisation certifications. This had enabled them to ply the Metro at a speed of 80 kmph on this stretch.

While BMRCL MD P S Kharola confirmed the CRS certification and the imminent launch of commercial operations, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told the Assembly that steps would be taken to start the operations at the earliest.

The 11.5 km stretch between Swastik and Peenya is almost double the distance covered the existing purple line linking MG Road and Baiyappanahalli stations. The new stretch had missed two earlier deadlines, but BMRCL had assured to open the line for public by February end.

The stretch, covering Reaches 3 and 3A between Peenya and Swastik is expected to be one of the busiest routes. BMRCL has estimated that the average daily ridership would be in the order of 45,000-50,000. 

It is learnt that BMRCL will ply 20 trains on the stretch, completing the journey in 10 to 12 minutes. During the trials, the trains had completed the full distance of 11.5 km in eight minutes at the speed of 90 kmph.

Meanwhile, work on Reach 3B between Peenya village and Hesaraghatta Cross station is also underway. Ninety-nine per cent of the work pertaining to viaducts is complete. The corporation said work was in full swing on Reach 2 between Magadi Road and Mysore Road. About 75 to 85 per cent of overall works have been completed at these stations. 

The work status of the stations on Reach 4 between K R Market to Rashtriya Vidyalaya is as follows: Ninety-eight per cent completed in KR Road, 97 per cent in Lalbagh, 86 per cent in South End Circle, 88 per cent in Jayanagar, 86 per cent in R V Road station. All viaduct works and 65 per cent of the station works on Reach 4A (Rashtriya Vidyalaya Road to Puttenahalli Cross) have been completed

Bangalore infra is set to get a 9,477-cr push

Roads To Get A Shine;Beer To Get Costlier 

The Karnataka government seems to be recognizing that Bangalore,the states cash cow,needs more attention than what it has received in recent years.And the recognition could not have come sooner,considering the states growth rate has been slowing.

Chief minister Siddaramaiahs budget presented on Friday lined up projects worth Rs 9,477 crore,to be implemented through the BBMP and the BDA.Last year,this figure stood at Rs 5,540 crore.

Roads are the big beneficiary.Bangaloreans will welcome that,considering that even arterial roads are in a miserable condition.

The proposed allocation for city roads has risen by 66%,to Rs 500 crore,compared to last year.Theres another Rs 300 crore for 12 main roads to be built under the Tender Sure model that specifies a certain high quality,and an equivalent sum for widening important roads.

There is evidence of greater seriousness about building the Rs 5,800-crore Peripheral Ring Road (PRR).The PRR,which skirts the city between Hosur Road and Tumkur Road via Old Madras Road and Bellary Road,will reduce traffic entering the city.

As usual,the budget has proposed to tap alcoholic beverages to rake in more funds.Liquor bills at bars,restaurants,star hotels,clubs and lodges will now attract a 5.5% VAT,in addition to the existing 4.94% service tax.

45 roads to be developed under TenderSURE

The project will be undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 600 cr

The BBMP has decided to develop 45 roads covering 72 km under the TenderSURE (Specifications for Urban Road Execution) scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 600 crore. 

These roads will cost three times more than the normal tar roads, and require minimum maintenance and last for a longer period, about 20 years.

“The government has already sanctioned about Rs 200 crore, the rest the Palike will pool in,” said BBMP Commissioner Lakshminarayana. Work on the TenderSURE roads that have been designed by a City-based NGO will be executed by private builders. Civic agencies including BWSSB and Bescom will work on a common platform with the BBMP to ensure that the plan is properly executed.

Lakshminarayana said there will be uniform pedestrian walks, cycle paths, utility depths and bus bays, which will ensure that the roads are maintained well for long. A separate channel would be created for all the utilities to be laid under the roads, by digging either side of the road. 

Will take one year

“To lay normal roads, it takes a week’s time, while construction of road under TenderSURE will take a year. Once these 45 roads are built, we will take up another 30 roads,” he explained. The NAPC has been assigned the task to lay seven roads covering a stretch of 9.15 km. “The plan was sent to the Cabinet thrice and was sent back without approval. The fourth time the government accepted the proposal,” he said.

Kiran Mazumder Shaw of Biocon said no one came forward initially when the tender was floated. “Capital investment to build such roads will be higher. However, it is going to give us back much more,” she said.

“It is for the first time in the country that any government has taken an initiative to re-design roads similar to the one in front of the UB City,” said Shaw.

Ugandhar Dhanyamraju, Chief Operating Officer, NAPC, said every effort will be made to ensure minimum inconvenience is caused. “Stretches as small as 500 metres would be dug at once and most work will be done only in the night,” he said. 

Dhanyamraju said that the entire month of December would be spent on micro-planning to look into the strategies such as traffic diversions, prioritising the roads and other associated aspects. “We hope to begin with St Marks Road,” he added. The NAPC will use an electro-magnetic sensor to mark the utilities. 

On a pilot basis

Swathi Ramanathan, an architect from Jana Urban Space, who has designed 12 roads, said that the project was started in 2009. “Warton Road and Vittal Mallya Road were taken up on a pilot basis. Even now, you can see how the roads are,” she said. 

MLA Haris said they would have skywalks with escalators near schools to ensure safety when the work is on.

As the work progresses, it will be updated on the website www.ichangemycity.com, which will also act as a forum for the people to post their problems.

CNR Rao Circle underpass to be ready by January

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner M Lakshminarayana has said that the CNR Rao Circle underpass will be completed by the end of January 2014.

During the inspection of the underpass along with other BBMP officers on Monday, Lakshminarayana said the work had gained momentum after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s inspection in September: “The project is being jointly executed by the East Coast Constructions and Industries (ECCI) and Madhava Hytech at a total cost of Rs 30 crore. Work amounting to Rs 21 crore has already been completed.” He also said the carriageway of the underpass connecting Malleswaram and Yeshwantpur will be operational within the next 15 days. 

The Commissioner also inspected Okalipuram junction where a signal-free corridor project has been proposed. He said the State government has given its nod for the project and soil testing activity for the project had begun. “We have obtained permission from Anil Kumar Agarwal, Division Railway Manager (DRM), South Western Railways and Rs 70 crore has been deposited with the Railways,” Laxminarayana added.

Chairperson of BBMP’s standing committee for major works B Somashekar, who was present during the inspection, told Deccan Herald: “The CNR Rao underpass work started in the year 2010 and was supposed to end by December 2013 as per Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s directions. 

However, due to factors like rains and problems with the previous contractor, the project was delayed. About 70 per cent of the work has been finished. Once the Y-shaped underpass is operational, it will ensure smoother traffic flow towards Yeshwantpur-Malleswaram and Yeshwantpur-Mekhri Circle.We are sure that the project will be completed by January.”