Skip to Content

Latest posts

Not my fault

3 August 2007 - 12:10am — silkboard

It costs Rs 5000 and there is no online version available, not even a summarized one. So while I am yet to read Bangalore's Masterplan-2015, newspapers have been supplying bits and bytes on it. Of them recently, this one caught my attention. Apparently, with CDP-2015, Architects, planners and engineers face the threat of losing licences if they fail to report violations of building byelaws, and they are not happy with it:

"By bringing in this clause, the authorities, they allege, are shifting the burden of enforcing the laws to architects, town planners and engineers."

Alright, government bashing is fashion of the day. But I fail to see the rationale behind general expectations that everything is the responsibility of "officials". (Actually, I find this word "officials" pretty amusing, will save that for a later post).

BIAL Official Updates August 2007

2 August 2007 - 8:15pm — tsubba

Official Updates of Construction during July 2007
The construction of new Bangalore Airport has now reached the 26th month starting August 2007. The total project progress is now approximately 80%.

Lanes, Are They Useful?

2 August 2007 - 5:46pm — tsubba
Traffic

Can lane discipline really reduce traffic jams? Are lanes of any use? Given how things are, not as they are designed, and not unless they put some thought to it.

BBMP's online promise

1 August 2007 - 8:19pm — silkboard

Did you know that Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has an online RTI system to accept queries for information? Select who you want to ask, what you want to know, your details and it should give you a registration number. Then, use this registration number to check status of your query. I am guessing that the usual RTI query deadline of 30 days will apply, so you should get responses.

GHMC's equivalent for Bengaluru, BBMP doesn't have such a system. But don't be disappointed, it may be on its way. Recently, a note appeared on BBMP's RTI page that says such a system is being deployed. Pretty good. But hang on, BBMP hasn't set good precedents on online interaction front.

Candle Light Vigil To Save Hebbal Lake Bangalore

31 July 2007 - 10:00am — admin
Lakes

Some students of the Mallya Aditi International School, Bangalore are taking lead and organizing a candle light vigil on Saturday, August 4th, 2007 at 6:30 p.m to save the Hebbal Lake. All you need to bring is candles and sense of care to save the lake.

[Background: Home to thousands of birds and source of livelihood to hundreds of people, the Hebbal Lake, is set to make way for a floating restaurant and other recreational activities all in the name of preservation. Some say this recreational center violates zoning regulations. Before that, is privatization of Bangalore's lakes the only route available to LDA for preserving them?]

Banerghatta Road to Hosur - shortcut?

31 July 2007 - 9:23am — silkboard
Traffic
We all know how bad the area round 19th main intersection is. (marker #1 in the map below). So it is not a surprise, that a shortcut to get to Hosur Road is getting pretty popular. I am guessing markers #2 and #3 are it. Or is it a set of roads further south, someone correct or confirm please.
Javascript is required to view this map.

Report from Devanahalli

30 July 2007 - 2:55pm — silkboard

Srivathsa mailed in this report from his drive to Devenahalli yesterday:

"Drove yesterday to Devanahalli on some other work. The road after Hebbal flyover is in pretty good shape. There are no real bottlenecks there - but a number of potential accident zones. The real bottlenecks are at Cauvery theatre, then the stretch along UAS or just before that. Very narrow roads with a number of right turns and intersections. Some serious de-bottlenecking needs to be done along this stretch.

Once past Hebbal - a grade separator is needed at the entry to yelahanka town. Of course a really bad accident will probably have to happen before something gets done. Then along the way there are a number of intersections where grade separators as well as pedestrian overpasses are needed. They also need to plan some elevated U-turns.

Govt considering booting NICE for BMIC

29 July 2007 - 11:28am — shas3n

In a not-so-unexpected move, the Govt announced that it plans to replace NICE as the contractor for BMIC with a new consortium called GIC. (Source DH, VK)

"GIC has put forth a proposal indicating that it would accept the terms and conditions of the framework agreement of April 3, 1997 signed between Karnataka and NICE and would pay the cost of existing infrastructure as evaluated by an independent agency while taking over the project on as-is-where-is-basis."

A new secretary to 'oversee' BMIC project

28 July 2007 - 1:31am — silkboard

Came to know today that state government has created a post to keep tabs on BMIC. Neither the tone of the news piece nor the situation suggests the move is to speed track any decisions on the project. Perhaps it is more to watch over babus like Mr Sridhara who was pulled up recently for transferring KIADB land to NICE.

Bangalore Encroached

27 July 2007 - 8:41pm — tsubba

A motely crew of legislators headed by MLA AT Ramaswamy have discovered that in and around Bangalore, an entire Mysore has been encroached upon by the country's who's who. And thats just the half of it.



about seo