Focus needed on Metro Stations...

Dear Ravi,  nobody has focussed on the stations as you say, you have raised a very important issue regarding the metro,we should be looking at the station designs at the earliest, because stations are the interface to the commuters.  I suppose we can ask BMRC for stations designs?  I am game for it, need to see how we can lay hands on the stations designs for analysis.

Today on bmrc site i observed tenders floated for north(yeswanthpur-peenya) extension and south( RV road station-puttenahalli cross) along with 3 nos. of elevated stations with each tender.  BMRC has invited tenders for both via-duct and stations  together  in a single package for the extensions.

Vinod

psaram42 seems to be meeting the same guy! Is it by design? ;-)

" In Delhi Metro users feel that shops and cafes at stations are not used much..

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/57125/state-art-stations.html

So shouldnt we use design and use the space inteligently?

This space comes at a primium and wise usage is very necessary..a coffee shop with seating will involve about 300 sqft space by itself...instead a take-away joint will be small and affordable!

Hope its understood..maybe not..the trees are already cut on Nanda road! --sigh--

Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) has signed a first-of-its-kind joint venture with realty firm Mantri Developers to develop a multi crore commercial hub-cum-metro station at Malleshwaram, north Bangalore. 

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/railways/Blore-Metro-Mantri-sign-pact-to-develop-commercial-hub/articleshow/5688310.cms

So who sets the rules here?

What if the developers build the station in such a way that it will force all commuters to pass through the mall every time they need to get to the station?

How are the rules being made/bent to allow private property for public usage??

This had to happen at some point, & I'm not sure anything is wrong with this new development, except that information to the public has beenscanty (Perhaps to avoid PILs & the ensuing delays).

Fact-1: Ph-1 of the Metro is said to cost over 10,800 crs, which is nearly 70% in excess of 2006 projections. Such mammoth investments cannot be sustained entirely with govt funding & loans. Private funding is the only other available option.

Fact-2: As is known to all, most metro systems (in & outside India) find it hard to operate only through revenues from fare collections. Some form of real estate revenue is also used to sustain such systems in the long run.

Fact-3: DMRC has gained experience with leasing of metro real estate to supplement it's income. Mumbai Metro (& Mono) are being built on PPP models. Hyderabad is also exploring ways to tap private investment for it's Metro. Thus, the state & central govts willbe spared from meeting expenses entirely on their own for construction, thus saving public money.

Fact-4: It isn't unusual elsewhere in the world for travellers (air, metro, inter-city train or even bus) to encounter many commercial establishments at airports, metro or train stations or even at bus terminuses.

So, what's the big deal ? We have just gotten used to govt subsidy for too long & for just about everything. They cannot be expected to fund every expensive infrastructure project, particularly when costs are excessive to deliver optimum quality. When elevated toll roads, flyovers & highways are being built with private capital,what is the harm in using similar sources to fund Metro construction ? I think we will see a lot more of this for Ph-2 since scarce public money cannot be funneled into such mega projects - get the private parties to fund it & dish out some largesse to them in return & get the best in town !!

There are benefits too - BMRCL will earn 1% for 30 years, followed by 5%. Land will still belong to BMRCL, Mantri is spending 35crs for the station, etc.
Thus, it does seem a fair enough deal on the face of it, though I'm not an expert on financials !

If Mantri can assure 1% of the revenues..they would surely have planned for lot more revenue generation for themselves..apartments costing 1Cr upwards etc...and mall space..etc...they will think only like builders!

What is the expertise they have for putting up a public metro station ? To that extent, BMRCL themselves are at best in various stages of construction of metro stations only..

We have seen lot of short comings  at BIAL which is a PPP and built  by 'experts' in that field..and what can be expected of an apartment builder here!

Shouldn't there be transparency in the plans at least here? 

Its not that PPP's are unwelcome, but putting down detailed clauses for these agrements are very important..to safe gaurd public interests!

The last thing anyone wants is public in hurry to catch a train getting slowed down because of an unattended shopping trolley or other over zealous shoppers!

We dont need a mall with a train station...maybe a train station with  a mall!

or rather they dont get it in the first place??

 The biggest mall with the many many checkout counters is already in news for the bad reasons..specifically with traffic issues..

So what should we expect from them when they build a metro station!?

Its absolutely important that BMRCL protects commuters interests and does everything for the passengers..not the mall dud's!

Please sign this petition.

Unless Byappanahalli is well connected to ITPL and Sarjapur/Silkboard, Metro E-W line will be less useful.

https://www.change.org/p/hon-ble-minister-of-transportation-buses-to-itpl-and-silkboard-from-byappanahalli-metro-station?recruiter=197783131&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink