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Mysore airport delay - any update?

Aviation

As per a TOI report in January, NBCC (National Buildings Construction Corporation) which was scheduled to complete the civil works and hand them over to AAI by January end had asked for an extension, and Mysore MP C H Vijayashankar had asked NBCC to get done with work by February-end and latest by mid-March. By work, he had meant ATC and terminal building.

Mixing "what" and "how" - Mysore water supply protest example

Governance

Not writing this to take sides in the recently lit 'protest' over supposed privatization of water supply at Mysore. Good friend Vinay forwarded this article from Star of Mysore which goes by the title "Intellectuals oppose Tata deal"

KR Puram bridge area - Good going traffic police!

Traffic

OMR Ped 1I have waited to post this, 3 weeks to be precise because I want. After after our street photography adventure at OMR/ORR junction, I have been noticing a few changes at this junction of junctions.

Waiting for the new Reva?

Pollution

The advertisements of electric bikes and scooters were everywhere when petrol prices were up in the sky. I wonder how are the sales now. Reva too was running ads back then, but no big news about them recently either. Talking of Reva, after reading around a bit (because I was considering buying it), speaking to a few folks who have also been interested, and two owners, here is what I learned:

Tried office commute using Big10 - a report

BusPublic Transport

Big10 inside 28.22 am - Wife dropped me at the main road outside our complex, a Big 10 was waiting right then and there. Even better, the driver stopped for me to save me a 50 m walk till the bus stand. Good or bad, I wonder, but I did say thanks to him.

Good response to Karnataka's Mega PPP on Roads

Infrastructure

In this round-up report today ("States pip NHAI in PPP road projects"), Biz-standard reporter Anirban Chowdhury has updates on Karnataka's mega PPP initiative to improve state's highways.

BBMP - More magic boxes coming!?

View from the Palace cross roadWhat exactly would be "precast RCC box segments of size 6m x 4.5m x 1m". Magic box, isn't it? Saw some tenders from BBMP calling for work to prepare "vehicular underpass" using these precast RCC segments at Mysore Road Deviation Junction. See the BBMP Ad for yourself:

The hardships of changing a bus

BusPublic Transport

Vasanth's Big10/ORR buses comment, and seeing a bus stop near silkboard junction move farther from the flyover prompts me to repeat a point made earlier.

Sewerage system for suburban areas

Don't see any mention in mainstream papers yet, but last week I noted four big BWSSB tenders (see below) for work to provide sewerage system for suburban areas (CMCs) of Byatarayanpura, Dasarahalli and Mahadevpura. Its about Rs 180 crore worth of work, and I really wish some of us took the same interest we do in detailing Rs 20-30 crore worth flyover projects. What exactly is BWSSB doing here, who are the consultants, who is reviewing their plans and appreciating/criticizing their good/bad work?

KR Puram meeting - pics

TrafficTraffic jamsPedestrian Infrastructure

7 of us showed up, 6 in one batch and 1 on his own (came to know later) for this event. Met Kannan for the first time and speaking to him made it clear that he has given detailed thoughts to possible solutions for this chaos. He will soon be scanning and posting his sketches here.

Meeting near KR Puram bridge (Feb 7)

Pedestrian Infrastructure

ORR KR Puram 4One suggestion from Safe Passage folks (CKannan, psaram, sheragu) was to organize a street event at the spot. Lets try it this Saturday (Feb 7, 10 AM). This isn't a protest - no holding-placards or slogan shouting type of stuff. Lets do some street photography, scan the area for all possible violations of (IRC) road building, design, signage standards, discuss solutions on the spot.

BBMP's RTI system - when?

About two years ago, when BBMP website was revamped, they had promised an online complaints/grievance management system. The "coming soon" notice stayed on the website for about six months, and then was replaced with simple email ids for complaints and suggestions. Similarly, there has been a pending promise for an online RTI system.

Exciting - Karnataka's own NHDP !!

Infrastructure

KSHIPI am a bit surprised that mainstream media is yet to show serious interest in a PPP proposal to develop 66000 kms of roads in Karnataka. I first heard about this mega plan about two months ago, and finally, yesterday, half page ads appeared in newspapers with more details. Sounds exciting isn't it, promise of connectivity, and its about the whole state, not just Bengaluru. Call it Karnataka's own NHDP of sorts. Plan is to modernize roads, not build greenfield roadways. Highlights, here they are:

Open Space Bonus for Bengaluru City

Open Space BonusWhen there is little "free" land available in Bangalore urban and peripheral areas, how do you encourage creation of public space? Large parks and lung spaces is one thing, 'small' public spaces another. Think a little extra width for pedestrians. Think extra bus bays on private spaces. May be some lawn space and plazas along the high density roads to reduce the action on the shores of the "corridors".

The joys of crossing a road

InfrastructurePedestrian Infrastructure

ORR KR Puram 4The pedestrian chaos at ORR-Old Madras Road interchange can'tt be stated in words, so I tried this video last week (find it below). The place is a live example of collaboration, lack of it rather, between multiple sarkaari bodies. Bring this up with a babu in Bangalore and instead of ideas or initiatives, you will get stories of how things can only fall between NHAI, Railways, BDA, and the Traffic Police but not improve. Oh yeah, the job of taking initiatives is best left to the citizens.

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