Flyover on Outer Ring Road - Details?

If 4-5 of us write to BDA asking for the design of the two flyovers, I am sure we will hear back. From what I have followed of the project, it seems to me that they have glossed over transparency norms to get this done fast. Going by that observation, very little chance they we will get to influence the designs in anyway at all.

But let us ask for it. I picked out some email addresses from BDA website (http://bdabangalore.org/c...) and just sent email to comissioner and engineer member requesting for the designs. Or else, RTI the last route. Also, there are some phone numbers on http://bdabangalore.org/e... that you can call.

Here is what I wrote (to em [at] bdabangalore.org and com [at] bdabangalore.org), look fwd to others joining in.

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Subject: Design of upcoming ORR Flyovers at Ibulur and Agara

Dear sir,

Congratulations on taking up the new flyover projects on Outer Ring Road. Some of us who are residents or frequent users of Ibulur and Agara Outer Ring Road are very curious to see the detailed designs and future traffic flow plans for these two new flyovers. It will be great if you can upload the designs on BDA website. Otherwise, if you can mail the documents to us, we will try to put them up on bangalore.praja.in.

regards,

xxxxx

Now the long wait...

Ravi

Thanks to Comissioner, BDA for this prompt reply.  Always good to know someone is listening.

Ravi

Sad that while at least two organizations have obtained the flyover designs via RTI, BDA has still not uploaded these on their website. Nor has the design been made available near the work sites (they recently put up project details - two small yellow color boards - at both work sites).

Perhaps BDA wants to make more people write RTIs to them, it could help them raise their RTI compliance scores - 3 on 3, ye ye!

I think there should be a provision in RTI law saying that all "successful" RTI replies must be proactively made available to the public.

These are extracts from Citizen matters magazine. A picture of the Agara flyover is included, but not the one at Iblur (there are obviously some errors with the dimensions quoted).

The Agara project consists of two flyovers. While the width of one measures 3.5 meters, the other is 5.5 meters. In between the flyovers are the bus lanes which are 0.6 meters wide. One of the bus lanes will be directed towards Iblur and the other towards Silk Board. On either extreme are service roads, each measuring 0.6 meters in width. The entire length of this flyover is about 900 meters. Specifications of pavements on the service road have not been mentioned though they do figure in the drawings. Also, no bus stop has been indicated in this drawing as in the Iblur project. According to Prem Kumar, Assistant Executive Engineer, BDA , the space below the flyovers will be utilised for landscaping. Narnampatti points out that there are no markings for a pedestrian crossing in both the plans.

Comparing the two drawings (general alignment), the Agara drawing does not mention any contractor while the Iblur one mentions the contractor to be Nagarjuna Construction Co. Limited. There is also a difference in the terms used for bus lanes. While the Agara plan refers to them as bus lanes, the same is called BRTS lane in the Iblur plan. Also, the Agara junction has two flyovers because of the number of cross roads at the junction, whereas there is only one flyover at Iblur junction because there aren't as many cross roads.

The Iblur project includes a right carriageway (flyover) which is 11 meters wide, left carriageway (grade level road) which is 13 meters wide, two Bus Rapid Transit Systems (BRTS) lanes, each measuring 3.5 meters in width and a service road which is 6 meters wide. The length of this entire stretch is 642 meters. One bus bay is indicated in the drawing, which is 2.5 meters wide. Vijay Narnampatti, architect and member of Hasiru Usiru, says that a circle at the junction that leads to Sarjapur might be a good idea. “A large circle at this junction will help keep the traffic moving. An underpass like the one at Mekhri Circle will also help. This will avoid the need for a signal at this junction,” he explains.