BIAL Connectivity Updates Jan 2008

* Deccan's Helicopter Service To BIAL
* Center Agrees To Airport Expressway & PRR in principle.
* Bangaloreans Disaaprove Of Both The Airport Expressway & The PRR Both in principle and in concept.

Deccan's Helicopter Service To BIAL
Source: Hindu ( Deccan to launch copter service in Bangalore )

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The Deccan Aviation to launch a helicopter shuttle from the city to carry passengers to the new international airport which will take about eight minutes from the central business district and about 20 minutes from the Electronic City which houses IT giants such as Infosys and Wipro.

Capt Gopinath said the passengers can board the helicopter at the helipads located in UB City, Palace Grounds and at the Electronic City. The helicopter shuttle will start on March 30 this year, when the international airport will be officially opened for traffic.

“The helicopter service will be for those who are not price conscious but for those for whom time is money,” Capt Gopinath said.

Initially, the airline plans to use two Bell seven-seater helicopters to carry passengers and more will be pressed into service once the traffic increases.

Both Air Deccan as well as Kingfisher Airlines will also start city check-ins for their passengers who will also be taken to the airport in special buses.

Center Agrees To Airport Expressway & PRR in principle
Source: Deccan Herald (Green signal for expressway)

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The Centre has agreed in principle to implement the proposed expressway to the new international airport and the peripheral ring road in Bangalore. The final decision in this regard will be taken on January 23 when a meeting of National Highway Authority (NHA) officials has been convened. The State Executive Committee headed by Governor Rameshwar Thakur recently decided to handover these long-pending projects to NHA.

While the State Government proposes to acquire the land, the project will be implemented by NHA.

Besides, to ensure smooth traffic flow to the new airport, NHA has plans to construct additional flyovers, underpasses and service roads, wherever necessary, on the existing six-lane road from Hebbal to Devanahalli.

Bangaloreans Disaaprove Of Both The Airport Expressway & The PRR Both in principle
Source: Deccan Herald ( Expressway plan comes in for flak , PRR: Owners refuse to part with property )

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Airport Expressway
Protesters against the proposed expressway from Outer Ring Road to international airport raised their voice on Tuesday, targeting the purpose behind the 21.2-km road.

Around 500 affected villagers, NGO representatives and other protesters — under the banner of Devanahalli Airport Expressway Association — came together at the Hennur traffic signal on ORR to slam what they called a project that would “waste” public money.

“While we are also concerned about the lack of connectivity between the City and the airport, the focus should be on ensuring multi-connectivity to and from all directions, since the airport is required for all the Bangaloreans,” said Raja Reddy, who helmed the protest.

Representatives of the affected NGOs including Home of Hope, Karnataka Rehabilitation Centre and Kutumba also joined in the protest. The protestors claimed that the road would displace thousands of people and around eight NGOs, apart from damaging the Challakere and Boyalahalli lakes. The affected property owners are also planning to file two more Public Interest Litigations opposing the road.

Protesters have suggested as alternatives widening and strengthening of existing feeder roads and an elevated dedicated highway on Bellary Road. Reddy said Tuesday’s protest was more about Bangaloreans protesting a non-viable project than affected villagers protesting loss of property.

The protestors later went to Raj Bhavan and sought the Governor’s intervention.The expressway is proposed to pass through villages including Banaswadi, Challakere, Horamavu Agara, Kylasanahalli, Dodda Gubbi, Chikka Gubbi, Bagalur and Byrathi. The road has been making news after property owners alleged that its alignment was changed five times. The State had recently handed the road over to the National Highways Authority of India.

PRR
Property owners affected by the proposed Peripheral Ring Road (Part I) have reiterated their opposition to the long-pending road, citing concerns over human displacement and lack of administrative transparency.

Members of the Telecom  and Maruthinagar Second Division Nivasigala Kshemavridhi Sangha on Wednesday sought “justice” and claimed that the Bangalore Development Authority had changed the road’s alignment to suit the interests of politicians and influential persons. On July 3, 2007, the BDA had issued a final notification to acquire 1,810 acres of land for the road (Part I)  on Tumkur Road, Old Madras Road and Hosur Road.

The allegations come a day after those protesting against the proposed expressway from Outer Ring Road to Devanahalli raised similar concerns. The State had recently handed over both the PRR and the expressway to the NHAI.

The property owners from more than 25 villages - including Madanayakanahalli, Kempapura, Harohalli, Venkatala, Kogilu, Bidrahalli and Sulakunte - said that the road could lead to a “Nandigram-like” situation. “The road will displace thousands of people and affect the livelihood of hundreds of farmers,” said the Association’s President Shankar.

The protesters claimed that the alignment was changed from the original alignment “in collusion” with politicians and well-connected people. The protesters also pointed out that the 117-km road, in its present alignment, would affect the Arkavathi riverbed in five villages. The members of the association are planning to brief K H Muniyappa, Union Minister of State for Road Transport, on the issue.

Source: Deccan Herald epaper Jan 11, 2007 Underpasses to be ready by Feb

*		Palike has decided to complete two underpasses within January 31.
*		Work on Cauvery Junction underpass will begin on January 16,and be completed on January 19
*		Work on Windsor Manor underpass will begin on January 28 which be completed byJanuary 31