Bangalore Metro Updates

In this update ...
* Demolition, Compensation & Acquisitions
* Trouble At CMH Road
* Issue of Pre-Qualification tunelling for under ground tunelling approved
* Extensions to Hesaraghatta Cross and Jaraganahalli sought
* Consultants for signaling and telecommunication system to be finalized
* Youtube animations

Demolitions, Compensation & Acquisitions

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This week, BMRC begins demolition of acquired properties for the metro project. City based structural rehabilitation engineering company, Binyas Contech Private limited, has been awarded the contract for demolition of buildings. The first buildings that will be demolished will be the 3 apartment blocks of the police quarters on Old Madras Road. This will yield 1.5 acres corridor for the project. All the 46 families living in the police quarters have already been shifted to more spacious dwellings in Byappanahalli.

The demolition of the quarters will be followed by private buildings in the Reach 1. Work on pulling down private  properties will be taken up after January 15 (after Dhanur Masa).   For buildings being partially acquired, care would be taken not to damage those portions  that are not being taken over. The portion of the building that has to be demolished, will  first be cut using sophisticated equipment. The buildings will be cut in such a way that the residents can continue living in the other portions without any problem. Any damage to the  properties would be restored or compensated for by the BMRC.

A detailed list of 130 private properties being acquired for the project in the Reach 1, has been prepared. The process of distribution of compensation has begun. S Venkatesh of 100 Ft Road, Indiranagar is the first landowner to receive compensation money for parting with his land by namma Metro project. In all, 118 private properties have been identified for acquisition for Reach I of the metro project between Chinnaswamy Stadium and Byappanahalli. These properties are mainly located on Indiranagar 100 Ft Road, CMH Road and M G Road.
Source: Deccan Herald ( Demolition Work Set To Begin , Metro Compensation Disbursement Begins ), The Hindu ( BMRC demolition work to begin on Reach I )

Trouble At CMH Road

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The BMRC has already sent final notes containing details of valuation of 17 more properties to be acquired on Indiranagar 100 Ft Road to KIADB which is the nodal agency for acquiring land for the Metro project. The KIADB will inturn issue notices to landowners. Once the KIADB receives the consent letter from the property owners, the compensation money will be handed over to the respective property owners. Landowners who might not be satisfied with the award, or are not ready to give their consent, could take legal action.

On December 6th, 2007 employees of BMRC performed bhoomi pooja opposite of Sowmya Textiles on CMH road to start the work. As the residents and traders learnt about it they gathered within no time and staged a protest. Workers and officers of BMRC had to flee the scene.  Mr Imtiaz Ahmed, president of CMH Road, Shops and Establishment Association, said many property owners on CMH Road have moved the court seeking realignment of the Metro Rail and the hearing is still going on.

On December 18, 2007, the CMH Road Shops and Establishments Association took out a rally from B M Sri Circle to Adarsha Theatre protesting the announcement of road widening work on CMH road by BMRC.

A platoon of policemen were deployed to prevent any untoward incident and had to block the road for entry of vehicles from Halsoor to 100 ft Road, as over a hundred traders shouted anti-metro slogans and demanded that the ‘Namma Metro’ be realigned on the Old Madras Road.

Pramila Nesargi representing the traders said, the BMRCL should wait for the decision of the High Court before commencing work on CMH Road. Ms Nesargi alleged that the BMRCL has not obtained clearance from the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Environment and Forests before beginning work. She threatened that the traders would commit suicide or immolate themselves if the BMRCL begins construction work on the CMH Road.
“The matter is pending before the court. We have been, time and again petitioning the BMRCL, to reconsider alignment of the Metro on CMH Road. BMRCL Chief V Madhu fears the court will decide against the Metro. So, the BMRCL has hastened its decision to begin the work,”
“This is the last time that we will issue a stern warning to the BMRCL. We will not allow them to enter CMH Road. We will meet the governor shortly to press for our demands,”

The shops were opened later, in the evening.
Source: Deccan Herald ( Metro Compensation Disbursement Begins,  Metro Work on CMH Road Stalled,  Metro: CMH Road goes 'silent' )

Underground Segments

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The Board of BMRC has approved the issue of pre-qualification tender for underground tunnelling  and also the issue of tenders for rolling stock and signalling and telecommunications.

The authority is expected to award the contract by May 2008 with the time frame of 33 months  to complete the tunnelling and laying of tracks along the 9.15kms of underground segments on  both the east-west and north-south corridors. The underground segment of the alignment is  expected to be completed by September 2011 and the entire Phase I of the Metro project is  expected to be ready by December 2011.

Tunnel boring machines will be used for underground tunnels to allow for tunneling without  surface disruption.  The consortium, which will take up the tunnel project, will have to use  tunnel-boring machines. (These machines are expected to bore 15 meters/day. At this rate for  9150 meters of the project will require 610 days for 1 machine.) 

The 9.15 km underground tunnel portion will cost the BMRC Rs 1,250 crore and will have seven stops on both North-South(4.5 kms) and East-West corridors(4.65 kms).

North-South Corridor
Swastik Theatre near Seshadripuram to Victoria Hospital near City Market (4.5 km)
Stops at three stations: Majestic, Chikpet, City Market
East-West Corridor
KSCA near MG Road to Leprosy Hospital behind City Railway Station (4.65 km)
Stops at four stations: Majestic, Central College,  Vidhana Soudha, Minsk Square

There will be twin tunnels that will allow trains to ply in opposite directions. At Majestic Interchange, the trains will crisscross each other, with East-West corridor  trains running above North-South corridor trains, which will be 20 metres below earth surface. There will be a concourse to allow passenger movement — exit and entry, change of  trains assisted by elevators and escalators.
    
Studies are simultaneously being carried out by global consultants to track groundwater  table, utility lines and other geophysical features like soft earth and rock. As the trains  will run 15 to 16 metres below the surface in tunnels, there shouldn’t be any worry of  disturbing the underbelly according to V Madhu MD, BMRC.
Source: ToI Dec 29th (Full Steam Ahead), The Hindu( BMRC board approves issue of tender )

Extensions

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The BMRC Board has cleared the detailed project report prepared by DMRC and sought the State government's approval to the proposal to extend the Metro rail from Yeshwantpur to Hesaraghatta Cross (5.6 kms) and R V Road Terminal to Jaraganahalli (3.1 kms).

The extension will cost around Rs 1,100 crore, which might be shared by the State and the Central governments. If approved by the government, the total length of Namma Metro (comprising both north-south and east-west corridors) will go up to 41.7 kms from the present 33 kms.

Once the State government approves it, the BMRC will approach the Centre for its clearance.

Extension of Metro till Hesaraghatta Cross and Jaraganahalli will not only benefit people living in those areas, but help connect Metro with the proposed Monorail.
Source: Deccan Herald ( Nod sought for extending Metro )

Signalling

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The BMRC will shortly finalise international consultants for the installation of signaling and telecommunication system in the metro. The consultants are required to design, manufacture, supply, installation, test and commissioning of signalling, train control and communication systems.

Signalling & Telecommunication System
The signalling and the communication system in the Metro Rail is a significant aspect of the rail system. The telecommunication system forms the backbone on which communication with passengers, the train driver, the operations trained staff and for advertisements and display is based.

The signalling and telecommunication system will consist of onboard train control, monitoring, diagnosis, communication, and onboard-to-ground communication for remote maintenance and dynamic updating of the operational parameters and passenger information system, audio and video announcements.

BMRC is looking at the state-of-the- art signalling and telecommunication system for Bangalore Metro.

The seven consultants who have been shortlisted are Siemens Ltd, Larsen and Toubro, Alstom Projects India Ltd, Bombadier Transportation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Westing House Rail System and Union Switch and Signal Pvt Ltd.

The shortlisted consultants will be adjudged by the 'SysPra,' a French consultant, who are working with BMRCL for on the signalling and telecommunication system. Once the criteria for the systems are satisfied in about two weeks the consultants will be finalised according to V Madhu.
Source: NIE ( Metro Rail to finalise new signalling, communication system )

Metro Animation (SUTECH Solutions)

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