Core Ring Road (ICCR) as BRTS

I don't think the idea was floated with bus transport in mind. but wouldn't go as far as saying this is a car-lobby thing. You do need 'corridors' to move goods, and cars/vans across and deeper into the city - basically to segregate long distance traffic from short haul ones. But these big elevated road projects should get lower priority than public transportation projects.

I am guessing that the goal of this 'road corridor' through the city would be to 1) take people going across town quickly through the heart of the city without requiring them to skirt around via ring roads, or to 2) drop people deeper into the city from outskirts. When seen that way, ICRR just by itself (an island) is pretty pointless. Like you said - it has to be networked with other 'corridors'. Connect it to something like BMIC Link road, or to that planned elevated road from Silk board junction to Shoolay circle, or an extension of the elevated road being done over Tumkur Road (Nelamangala tollway). I think CTTP does have some of these things on mind.

However, easing Frazer Town to Lalbagh road commute via BRTS route touching ICRR sounds interesting, lets see your route maps. CTTP doesn't talk of any BRTS routes inside the city (all are either on or outside of ORR) because of the assumption that dedicated lanes aren't possible in the interior city. But looking at the magic boxes, our planners should think again.

Anyway. I think its time we question each and every transportation project that doesn't do anything substantial for the cause of public transportation. I say "susbtantial" because we will be told that all new roads are available for use by the buses as well, and just that argument is not good enough.

Hi All,

I think the CRR is presently shelved as it is unviable - there had been a news report earlier (when BBMP budget had been presented) that due to very high costs & difficulties with algnements, the project might be scrapped, & no allocation was made for this in the budget.

I dont know if yeddy will bring it back on line !

Transmogrifier:

BRT has faced serious setbacks in Delhi, not to mention several other cities overseas because the sight of road lane/s nearly empty, with infrequent bus movements whilst traffic is crawling adjacently is psychologically not acceptable to people within those vehicles.

Another aspect is that there will be costs & some disruption to develop BRT tracks, though costs are about a tenth or even lesser when compared with Metrorail. Nevertheless, such costs & disruption still need to be justified & must result in substantial benefits, such as reduction in car use, primarily & returns in financial terms & this is linked to patronization levels.

In Bangalore (& other Indian cities, particularly large metropolitan cities), traffic volumes already being very high resulting in indiscipline & chaos, the idea of controlling movements with gates may not work & might pose serious obstacles to other free flowing traffic. It might, in fact result in negation & cancellation of the BRT idea. This is especially true in Bangalore, with only 4-lane arterial roads, & an excessive no. of vehicles, even denser than most other Indian cities.

The only way I see BRT being pushed through, without ruffling too many feathers, is to use up only one lane, that too, an extended central median on 4-lane roads. On 6-lane (& bigger) roads, two lanes can be considered, based on these experiences, & gauging the level of resistance. By then, the Metro construction would have progressed & provision for efficient feeder services would be needed, if the Metro is to be made successful.

In Delhi, the Metro - in practical terms, has been more of a city-image builder than as a beneficial utility provider, since patronization levels are still very low & nowhere near projections or capacities. Road traffic volumes have still not come under control, though this may change by 2010 with phase-2 coming up.

TS - the clipping of NY that you posted was interesting. Instead of a row of central piers that are the hallmark of Indian flyovers, elevated roads & Metro corridors, if such steel prefabs are built with supports along the sides, the space between those supports beneath could be used for priority services such as BRT, ambulance, etc. However, there are also disadvantages - corrosion is high in the tropics, so using steel may not be a great idea. Also, road widths in bangalore may not permit such construction.