Elevated Corridors - green light

I am positive based on a small note present in TOI coverage of this that tell me that public transport angle is present - there is talk of making this as a rail cum road corridor. But then, how would this elevated rail system be different from Metro? Or would this itself be Metro Phase 2 or 3. (see this picture from CTTP)

This could either kill or form part of the proposed Core Inner ring Road idea. Just a ring around CBD was not a very good idea, N-S and E-W corridors are better long term solutions. Corridors or expressways through the city only do the job of

1. Carrying long distance traffic across the city
2. Emptying people into few designated public transit or park and ride systems inside the CBD. The North South (Madivala - Hebbal) one could sure do that.

I think in a way, this almost kills the BIAL expressway idea. The main problem, I am sure (and do hope) all elected or non elected representatives have realized by now was to get people quickly to Hebbal, or in the case of 'planned' BIAL expressway - to get to the starting point (ORR-Hennur). This N-S corridor should do that, get to Hebbal using a bus, rail or car, and switch to a BIAL bus or train. I am thinking checkin counters at Hebbal now(!).

A train on this N-S corridor with an extension till Devenahalli would provide us with good and lasting connectivity to the airport.

Still trying to understand the Kundalahalli to Kodihalli one. This should have scope to extend to Murphy Road, that would give us a networked corridor. Even otherwise, this would be a boon for Whitefield suburban area. But again, a rail on top of this elevated section - would it be a separate commuter rail system or part of Metro Phase 2/3? Where will the rail head to after Kodihalli? Will there be a BMTC TTMC nearby so that I can take the rail or drive up, and then take a Bus to CBD?

at the outset..advice from an old man..don't believe everything you read in the papers especially..

a)If it is from a politican or beuracrat .b)Especially if it is from a politicaion in the first couple of weeks of taking office. 

This is just the time  for CM to show the beuracrat who's boss and for him to show the masses( you and me) that he is a "man of vision"

Give me a break ..

am i to believe that this new government , first time in power ,had all the solutions for banglore in their backroom " research " wing and hey presto elevated roads /traffic corridors. fast trains etc all just falls into place by a press conference? 

Just wait for the beuracracy in ther own inimitable, real backroom style to start putting their brakes.

But what really upsets/mortifies me is that the the approach is no diffrenet from "lets make bangalore great thro great projects" stuff that all govrnments spill out.

how much greater it would have been ifollowing werre the statements in todays papers.

a)X crores realesed for all footpaths to be cleared and made walkable.

b)Public transport to be privatised .

c)traffic ploice empowered to cancell driving licenece.

d)or... lok ayutka now can prosecute a public servant by name. 

In a roundabout way..what I am saying is that the paradigm has not changed , just a more vocal and thrustful message ( but then anyone would have looked good after the last few years of non governance).

But untill , the paradigm of  looking at traffic /congestion in bangalore comes from a different non car philosophy , nothing is really going to change...a lot of which is mirrored on praja.

But the eternal optimist that I am  ..at least inertia has been broken. 

I always have been promoting public transport. But, these kind of freeways will attract more and more cars and may result in more and more pollution. Also, there will be mixed traffic of cars, 2 wheelers which in turn may result in accidents on the corridor because of high speeding 4 wheelers. It may also become race track on Friday nights.

I would have been happy if these corridors were identified for new metro or atleast mono tracks.

Expressway type things should be good for Buses, no doubt. In fact, on an access controlled, low turbulence, less entropic roads (because these would be better policed), buses too can zip through the city

But for the bus services plying on these expressways to make meaningful difference to the public transport fortunes of the city, it would need some planning and investment. Examples?

• Park and Ride or Transit Centers near the "exits" from these expressways
• Route planning to make use of these fast corridors. Can't just run silk board to Hebbal services, have to run them from a transit point near Silk Board to another one near Hebbal
• Provision for some system of priority to the buses. Can be a carpool/vanpool/bus only lane in each direction, or can be a time controlled bus only lane in the mornings and evenings.
• If the expressways run near other modes of public transport (Metro, Commuter Rail), plan amenities for easy interchange. This could be a bus stop on the elevated expressway with lifts to take you down straight to the Metro station.

Basically, dont go by my specific examples, but think similar.

Public transport is not just about buying more buses, or planning a lane on these corridors. It means a lot more things that need planned execution. And money for these things should come from funding of these expressway projects.

Remember what urban development ministry said recently. Transport is about moving people, and not vehicles. Subtle but big difference between the two. How does urban development ministry walk the talk? They can do that by having a people transportation checklist for any road building project they fund or approve.

BART in San Francisco and surrounding east bay has done it. Why can't the authorities at least emulate it. Be friendly to cars and rail. I wish I had a way to sketch things. The train tracks would take up the median/divider and the stations can be built along the expressway at certain exit points with parking facilities. Sure there will be lots of safety issues etc , but that can be dealt with some planning. This is all of course IMHO.

 - pradeep