CRS - Campaign to send 100 Petitions to CM asking for immediate approval
Dear Prajagale,
Time has come for all of us to join and support the 'Namma Railu' team in demanding immediate approval to the 'Commuter Rail Project'. Namma Railu team is starting a campaign for sending at least '100 Petitions' to Chief Minister and other government machinery. Please help NR team in this effort.
Draft of the petition and the contact email information is available @
Directions to Send the petition to CM
- You may copy and paste the contents from the draft in a new word document.
- Fill in your information where ever required.
- Save the file. Review once again to make sure there are no typos. If any edit them and save it again.
- Print, sign and Post it via Registered Post to CM's address given below:
The Hon. Chief Minister,
Government Of Karnataka,
Room No. 323,
Vidhana Soudha,
Bangalore-560001
Ph: 22253414, 22253424
Email IDs of Karnataka Chief Minister
The state Chief Minister is one entity who alone can decide the fate of CRS implementation. Let us start writing to him letters, emails and persist with our demand for early implementation of CRS in Bengaluru.
As our friend, a Praja member Navin Chandra had said, "...Transportation is not a technical problem. It is not an infrastructure problem, It is not even a financial problem. Most often it is a political problem..."
How true it is. CRS now is a political problem and only politician can make it happen. Therefore lets start putting pressure on politicians by contacting them over phone, emails and writing formal letters to them. Lets start with our Chief Minister.
Do not wait any more. Start sending letters, emails. Target is 100 Petitions.
After sending the letter/email, leave a comment, so that count is visible to all.
On behalf of NR Team,
Syed
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Comments
I have sent mine, count is 001!
I have sent mine. Looking forward to the remaining 99.
So the count is 001
-Syed
I have sent mine as well long back, count is 002
Now the count is 002.
Looking forward for remaining 98.
Deepak
I have sent mine as well long back, count is 005
I have sent 3 from 3mail accounts
Now the count is 005.
Looking forward for remaining 95
Hkg
I have Sent Mail, Count is 006
I have sent mail and as well as posted the link on my facebook wall, hoping for support.
Thanks,
Rohith
Count me
I have sent the mail and will be sending hard copy in a day.
Looking ahead for more people to do this.
sanjeev
I too sent
I sent mail to the CM and other relavent ministers in center and state.
The count is 008 !
Thanks to all the Praja members who responded to teh call and send in their Email/Petition to CM.
So for the count is - 8, need another 92 to make it 100.
Pls send in your petitions if haven't send in yet.
-Syed
CRS, Count 009
I have sent today.
K.V.Pathy
me done too 010
the big 10! :P
btw..will the CM's office spare any time for this or will this be called spam?
count 011
have sent a letter... also forwarded to friends to insisting to send the same.
sent... 012?
sent... 012?
Sent ...013
Sent to 10 different recipients, but the one sent to transport secretary has been returned undelivered.
sent ...014
Mailed out the petition on behalf of RAAG today. Will follow up with hard copies later in the day.
sent ...018
4more from my freinds Harsha, Kumar, Chethan & Srikanth. Thanks to them for sending mails as well as Hard copies.
Hkg
Sent 2 reminders to CM and Rajeev Chandrashekhar!
Haven't seen any reply to emails to CM. Since my first email, I have sent in 2 more follow up emails. Till date no response.
In addition I sent an follow up email to Rajeev Chandrashekhar too.
-Syed
RTI may be required to get the reply
I think we need to file RTI to know what action they have taken on our e-mail petition.
Regards,
Hemanth
got reply from CM office when I talked about Hubli Local Train
When I did't not get reply for the Bangalore Commuter Rail from CM office, then I sent request to him to take up the Hubli - Dharwad Local Train 25 Kms on existing track, got immediat reply and they forwarded the mail to IDD to look into the requirement.
That means they are reading our mails and not replying on Bangalore Commuter Rail.
Also it seems last week Tumkur MP Mr G S Basavarj had met the CM and given in writing to speed up the Commuter Rail approval, it seems, CM directed CS to look into the issue why its pending.
So we need more and more MP's and MLA's to ask CM to send proposal to Center for further action.
Not a bad idea!
hemanth,
Agree. Not a bad idea to file an RTI. Let me know if you would like to take a lead on that.
-Syed
20 Emails to MPs, Ministers, Railway Board, SWR Sent!
Just to be on record, today I have sent about 20 emails covering MPs from Bangalore, Union Ministers, Party Leaders (BJP, Congress), Railway Board, SWR, Sam Pitroda and Prime Minister.
Here is the List of people who I have sent Email petition for CRS:
Let see how many would even acknowledge this email.
-Syed
Status of my emails !
Here is the status of my emails to PM, CM, MPs, Railways:
Alternate Email Ids of Karnataka CM !
Dear Prajagale,
It seems like nobody looks at Karantaka CM's official email ID 'chiefminister@karnataka.gov.in'.
Instead try using these email IDs.
-Syed
Auto reply from CM's alternate Email Ids!
Received an auto reply to my emails to CM's alternate email Ids as listed in above comment.
Here is the auto reply from CM:
Thanks for contacting us and we will get back to you at the earliest.
Thanks with regards Jagadish shettar
P C Mohan Bangalore Central MP office confirmed about receiving
I called Bangalore Central MP office and confirmed about the mails received about the Commuter Rail.
Lets see what other MP & Offices will they reply with some action
Sent hard copy
Please up the count by 1. I think it is 19 now.
Sent...20
Sent ....20?
Sanjeev & Praja in TOI today for CRS
Praja, an NGO working on civic issues, has commenced an online campaign to send 100 petitions to the chief minister to start the CRS with the given infrastructure, now that the project studies done by RITES indicate so.
“As the chief minister is the only one who can give the nod, we decided to campaign for implementation of the project. Funds allotted by the infrastructure development department (IDD) during the 2009-10 and 2010-11 budgets for this project are reserved by CM and can be released to railways to start more works in other parts of the corridor,” said Sanjeev V Dyamannavar, member of Praja, closely associated with the CRS project.
more here
Sent..21
Sent.. Email..
Regards,
Balakumar K
Sent...22
Sent email to CM.
Das
Great, the count is increasing day by day!
Friends,
First of all thanks to all of you who sent in your emails/Hard Copies. As of now the count is 22. I am sure in coming days it will be target count fo 100.
Those of you who sent in emails to CM, pls send 2 more reminders to the following address as a follow up:
Email IDs of Karnataka Chief Minister
Once again my sincere gratitude to all the Praja Members and Friends who responded to my request. Thank you.
-Syed
Great work, Syed !
I got an autoreply to my email from IDs 2 and 3. I also posted about this on Facebook with:
1. A brief comparison between CRS and Metro.
2. Link to the Praja CRS page
2. Request to email a petition, with your original text uploaded to my Slideshare page.
Yes, we are getting attention and ppl knowing abt it
Yes, we are reaching out to more and more people day by day.
FB namma railu page also got 108 LIKES till now, and its increasing gradually day by day.
I hope, TOI and other newspapers cover CRS frequently and with the important facts and realities.
Deepak
Sent an email to Nandiesha Reddy!
Having lost in posting a comment on Nadiesha Reddy's FB page, Sent an an email with CRS FAQs in Kannada.
His email address is - nandiesha@yahoo.co.in
-Syed
One more email petition to MLA Krishna Byre Gowda!
Sent one more email petition to Byatrayanpura MLA Shri. Krishna Byre Gowda.
-Syed
More emails sent to MPs, MLAs, Politicians!
More email have been sent to:
+1
Sent the email to CM. Would send the registered post soon. How about filing RTI to know the status of CRS this as well? Does it come under purview of RTI?
Now its time, we should look for RTI with CM / CS
With current situation in Karnataka / Bangalore, its better to get status thru RTI only and reason for delay from GOK??
+1 sent The count is 24
+1 sent
The count is 24 now.
response from CM's office
Response received from CM's office to my letter on behalf of RAAG (check my post of 20th Sept, above), essentially stating that the UDD has been asked to do the needful in the matter. Scanned copy may be accessed here
Time for an RTI to UDD based
Time for an RTI to UDD based on this letter. Will revert.
Some users sharing their experience on Commuter Rail
Thanks to Shande
http://www.naanushande.com/2012/08/majestic-to-whitefield-by-train.html
RTI Questions for IDD, GOK?
Herewith sharing the RTI questions framed by our Praja member Naveen.
RTI questions
Adding recommendations /amendments:
I have requested a meeting
I have requested a meeting with DULT this week, should we wait before we shoot of the RTI or go ahead nevertheless? We address this to UDD or IDD or both?
RTI re.CRS
I think we can wait to file the RTI till after the meeting - we may get some information based on which we can add or modify questions as necessary. RTI can be filed with BMLTA, IDD & DULT.
DULT not giving meeting time
Even after repeated calls to their office, not even single time had any inclination to have meeting on commuter rail inspite of the mail received for the meeting request.
Even Urban Development reply on the subject :
Dear Sri Sanjeev,Your mail has been forwarded to Principal Secretary, Infrastructure Development
Department (O-22035085). In future , you may kindly contact IDD department.
Regards,
(Dr.Amita Prasad)
Principal Secretary,
Urban Development Department
Now IDD, DULT & UDD have to work closely to get the approval from GOK. Way the mail has been replied, looks like this COmmuter Rail is no one Baby in GOK. As DULT is not having time to move further.
metro 2nd phase or CRS
looks like it is a bad timing for trying to get the state government interested in CRS when they have committed huge amount for the 2nd phase of metro (around 30% of 26,100 crores) and the misguided project to connect city and airport in the pipeline. in order to bring CRS into play, the first thing to be done is to end the city- airport project. a PIL would be essential in order to get the BMRCL to drop any work on the project (including the preparation of project report)
Once that is out of the way, i think, CRS will be have its day.
Bottomline
Ultimately CRS is a train & metro is a train. What is it that the metro to the airport will achieve that the CRS cannot? The surface CRS tracks can be used to achieve the same end far cheaper than the elevated metro tracks will achieve.
If its about the quality of rolling stock go ahead & procure a fancy rolling stock for the airport service to run on the CRS line.
If its about changeover, All CRS lines intersect with Metro lines at atleast 1 point. & CRS lines cover the complete IT belt including industrial areas.
If its about avoiding change overs even in Metro lines change overs have to be done.
So what is it that makes Govt do metro when other alternatives are possible? BRT is possible with what like 18 lanes or something on that road now. Tram trains are also possible on the same BRT corridor. So why the fascination with elevated concrete structures? GoK, explain so we understand, we are not dumb we will agree if it is reasonable.
DULT reply on meeting : 17th Nov'2012 at GOK level to finalise
DULT has replyed on the status of RITES report : 17th Nov'2012 meeting called to finalise the COmmuter Rail with DULT, IDD & UDD of GOK.
This proposal should get cleared from GOK and should go to GOI by 1st week of Dec'2012 so that this can be pushed in Rail Budget.
Called IDD Secretary and Tumkur MP
As the earlier mail forwarded to IDD by UDD, then called IDD & they confirmed that Principal Secretary / UDD has called meeting on 17th Nov'2012 at GOK level.
Also called Tumkur MP and requested him to take up this project seriously with Minister for Infrastructure Devel Dept.
Lets see what happens after this meeting.
Meeting with Stakeholders in a week - DULT !
Source - DNA India
"...“After a draft report was submitted by Rites, we had given our comments. Now that they have submitted the final report, we’ll convene a meeting to examine it with other stakeholders,” Majula V, chief commissioner of the directorate , said..."
Top Brass from SWR to participate in nov 17th Meeting!
Source - Deccan Herald
"...In an interview with Deccan Herald, Agarwal explained challenges that the SWR is facing. Commuter rail project The State government will have a meeting with the SWR top brass on November 17 to discuss the final study report of the Rs 9,000-crore Commuter Rail Project.
Rail Indian Technical and Economic Services (RITES) has submitted a feasibility study report to the State government for the implementation of the project. A new terminal facility will be created on the land where Binny Mills currently stands. The government needs to acquire the land and hand it over to SWR for the construction of the facility. The new terminal will have a double discharge facility (platform on both sides of coaches)..."
Follow up email sent to Principal Sec, UDD!
With upcoming meeting on CRS in mind, tried to sent another petition Via fax. But for some reason, even after many attempts couldn't sent the fax. Not sure if the Fax machines are working in GOK offices. In any case, as a last resort finally sent the petition via email.
Here is the content of this email:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Amita Prasad, IAS
Principal Secretary, UDD,
Government of Karnataka
Madam,
Subject: Namma Railu, Commuter Rail Service In Bengaluru (CRS)
Happy Diwali to you and your family. I hope that the festival of lights bring joy, prosperity and good luck through the rest of the year.
I am herewith following up on my earlier emails to you requesting for early approval to ‘Commuter Rail Service’ (CRS) Project proposed for Bengaluru. It has been quoted in media that, a meeting under your leadership has been scheduled for this Saturday Nov 17, 2012 to consider the 2012 RITES Report on “Implementing Commuter Rail Service in Bengaluru”. In this regard I would like to submit the following for your perusal and favorable action to push for the final approval of this project.
I would like to bring to your attention to a recent news blog that was quoted extensively in social media. The blog is about how people in absence of a regular commuter/sub-urban rail service are using the long distance train for their daily commute, though very inconvenient in schedule and frequency. Added to that, they are taking chances of getting off train while it slows down. Here are some highlights of this blog.
Source - http://www.naanushande.com/2012/08/majestic-to-whitefield-by-train.html
“…It’s yet another usual day in Bangalore city with traffic snarls at all business hubs. Somewhere between KR Puram and Whitefield Railway behind one of largest housing complexes of the city a passenger train bound to Arakonam comes to a screeching halt at an unscheduled stop. Utilizing the brief stoppage, dozens of decently dressed people mostly from IT background get down and start walking towards their workplace by hiking on and around the railway tracks. Whereas, typical travellers in the train will be wondering by having question mark expression on their faces i.e have this people have gone crazy ? what are they up to ?
Actually, the effort of mini-hiking is negligible if compared with positives i.e. reaching their workplace with just an hour ride from Majestic(SBC) by-passing all major notorious traffic bottlenecks Kundanahalli, Marathahalli, Richmond, HAL and Graphite-India. If you can’t believe here’s the GPS log captured during train travel from Majestic to Whitefield. Distance=23.3 km, Time=42 mins, Max Speed=127.6kmph; the stats which is impossible to emulate when you travel by road between Majestic-Whitefield :)
It’s the frugal transport system followed by techies who reside around Majestic and work in Whitefield. All these things happened because of inept town planning by local administration, the commute time by roads from heart of the city to whitefield has increased 2x times over last 2-3 years. They planned for IT hubs but they forget to create livable residential hubs. And the people residing in old and traditional localities have no option to make "long commute" part of their life ...”
Now that RITES final report is before you for consideration, it is time the CRS project is taken up for final approval ASAP. RITES report makes it abundantly clear that CRS is the need of the Bengaluru City to mitigate its un planned growth and spread the growth to nearby towns. More importantly the economic considerations that City planners and administrators like you look for making an informed decision. It is ample clear from RITES report that CRS investment are very economical compared to any other mass transit system that is being built currently and planned for the city.
I do not want to lengthen this letter as by now enough information has been illustrated in this letter, as well as emails and petitions that made it you. By now it must be clear to you and all the other officers who are entrusted to consider the CRS project, importance, urgent need and financial requirements of CRS proposal for Bengaluru. In this background, I humbly make a request to you to accord your approval to this project in the upcoming meeting on November 17th, 2012.
With your active backing, we are sure that the implementation of a commuter rail system for Bengaluru can start at right away. The value and Return of Investment in commuter rail will be enormous, even in terms of goodwill from the large population covered. I strongly urge you to lend the full weight of your office towards this cause.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further information.
Thanking you and I remain,
Sincerely,
Khader Basha Syed
CC:
1) Principal Secretary, IDD
2) Commissioner, DULT
Lets hope for the best
With the upcoming meeting I sincerely hope that we get to hear some positive news on CRS. Keep us posted guys!
Arvind