BBMP's Koramangala flyover - wanna track it to death?

This proves there can be an MORTH/IRC+ (even though this clause is probably used for MORTH/IRC-) as long as deviations are documented. I need this validated. If you remeber this was one of my questions to Sudhir. I am waiting for him to get me answers from his friends and send me IRC 36 specs. He hasnt gotten around to it yet.

First up, lets take interest in this thing. Unplanned growth has taken a visible toll of Koramangala over last 7-8 years. I assume there will be a lot many aggreived citizens aka potential activists there. Even otherwise, email and phone are enough to do the tracking and follow up here.

So far, nobody has shown interest in tracking this. I have some other Praja projects (somebody calls them 'prajects') on hand, or else I would have. Waiting for 2-3 folks to take up this 'experiment'.

Now, responses to some comments above. Ramesh_mbabu, so right, and that is what the hard thing is - how do you such things in "democratic" way. Poll in local area will cover local interests better than long term city's interests. Even otherwise, not many realize that flyovers are wasted investments over long term.

To me, the right way for BBMP to do this is to send out an RFP asking for solutions to the root problem which is - how to speed up long distance traffic that goes through Koramangala. When asking for a design for the flyover, BBMPhas already "assumed" a solution.

In democracy, we need polls etc to agree on the problem. Lets have a referandum at Koramangala, what are the problems for the area (ward 68). Options could be

• short haul commute
• long haul commuters corwding ward 68
• Noise and dust due to traffic
• Parking problem
• Pedestrian issues, etc, etc

Now, if Ward 68 votes for short haul commute and problems created by long haul commuters as the top 2 problems, then BBMP needs to send out an RFP detailing the problem and asking for solutions. Detailing the problem is something people can be engaged in. Once you put out the RFP, solutions will come in - some will say flyover, some will say a new Koramangala by-pass road via a shortcut from Ejipura to ORR, some will say dedicated bus lanes to discourage cars and autos, some will say monorail. Some will say a flyover near Sukhsagar, and not near 100 ft road, some will say 10 more signals on Inner Ring Road. Whatever.

Bottomline, solutions are to be provided by experts, not popular opinions. BBMP isn't the expert, and flypver is the popular opinion, and an "assumed" solution.

Back to this post - RFP is already out. Street protests against the flyover will not help, we will be seen as villains. Best we can do is to track this in great details. What say?

Number 1)

When it comes to commuting to those offices in Domlur, usage of public transport is alarmingly low. There isn't even a decent bus stand on Inner Ring Road near the Embassy complex. And even after you get down at the present bus stand, you still have a long walk to endure. Net net? A big no when it comes to persuading public to use buses to go to this complex.

So, what do we do? Some commute time Vajras to a bus stand on Inner ring Road. Couple these with a shuttle service connecting the bus stand with the deeper reaches of Embassy complex.

Number 2)

Indiranagar to Electronics City or south west Bangalore traffic (J P Nagar, Jayanagar side) traffic uses IRR and must pass through Koramangala. Many will suggest either a new alternative road (skirt around Ejipura/Agara to join ORR), or an elevated section to bypass ground traffic from Ejipura till St Johns. BAD IDEA!

So? CTTP already talks about a high density bus corridor from Indiranagar to E-City. We have discussed the route here on Praja as well (here it is - Indiranagar to E-City). Its time to start thinking about a "light weight" rapid bus corridor. (leight weight = a bus corridor which is mostly mixed mode, but some priority to buses at identified choke points, for ex: a magic box only for buses at Sony World junction)

So here I am - at least took a shot at two solutions with long term approach. But we know what will happen. One set of flyovers will start from Ejipura side. And another will start from Madivala side. More flyovers will surface with time, perhaps 4 or 5 would result over next 5 years providing a perfect sine wave ride to car happy commuters.

To think that some serious CEOs from IT world live in Koramangala, at times I am surprised at the decay the place has witnessed over last 6-7 years.

Devesh - CityConnect has a project running to get buses going to Domlur/Embassy complex. Do you want to pitch in with some BCIC weight to that project?

Not an expert on IRC as there is just too much stuff in there. I wanted to just validate one thing and here it is

While IRC is used as an excuse to not do certain things, I can say none of the streets in Bangalore follow ALL IRC specs. I am not sure if there is database of all the roads with their capacity, specs and classification to enable proper planning and validate if they follow IRC or not. There is ample scope to accept Praja suggestions and implement within the ambit of IRC. We can use IRC codes to validate praja suggestions before putting them across to the various people