Meeting with BMRC MD, Mr N Sivasailam

Please count me in, too. Naveen

I will not be able to make it, unless there is a skype facility of some sort. But my main question to Mr N Sivasailam would be over the overall pace of work on Namma Metro. I understand a few months back the major stumbling block was high commodity prices. Now that commodity prices are back at earth levels, why can the pace of work on Namma Metro be expedited? Why can't an ambitious target of completing Phase I by 2010 instead of 2011 be set?

I am in Bombay on Oct 30 and 31 and can't make it. Srivathsa

Weekday, but a BMRC meeting should be worth a half a day off from work! Hopefully we get to ask about and understand the 'real' status of the project, and various amenities (incl. interfaces w/ other local transport) we have been discussing here. Ravi

Was trying to consolidate all the comments we have been discussing on BMRC for the last few weeks on these blogs. 1. Schedule (mcadambi, ravi ..): This seems to be the top priority of lot of people. What is the progress to date, is it as per plan and what is the cause for delay. Anything that can be done/is being done to pullin schedule. I would like to go one step further and suggest they put in their top level project tracking chart on their website (I hope for a project of this magnitude they have such things :) 2. Mode Integration There are two aspects 2a: Stations (silkboard, ravi, others) : Are there planned bus bays, parking and facility for paratransit (auto rickshaws, cabs) at each of the station. Can the station design be shared with us for us to give feedback. 2b: Feeder services (silkboard, others) : What are the plans for feeder services, make the last mile connectivity and increase the METRO usage. 3. Route alignment (Naveen, Vasanth, Suhas ...) : Multiple thoughts here a: METRO is the backbone and should have good geographical coverage. Had suggested it should be based on a grid structure in the CTTP review feedback, Am going to bring that up here b: Naveen had suggestion on phase 2 alignment should be via whitefield and other high density zones - will try to dig it up, but will help if you could send it across) c: Vasanth had comments on the Kanakpura not being so widely used as for eg: the electronic city, so need to relook at that or maybe deprioritse d: Also want to suggest surface based METRO (which is much cheaper) planned right now in areas where development and densification has not happened (like along PRR) e: What is their current plan of alignment 4. High speed rail link (Devesh ..) Doesnt seem to pass the sanity check. May not be the best use of big money. Wouldn't it be better to extend the yelhanka METRO line to Airport instead. Am not sure we should be asking questions on monorail to him. But we can if we get time. This is on the top of my head - please feel free to add/comment.

Suhas

I strongly believe that good architecture pays for itself many times over in the life of a building. I would like to respectfully ask Mr N Sivasailam the reasoning behind the wholesale change in station designs. Cost is obviously the reason, but I would like to understand the scale of the saving - marginal (~10%) or substantial (50%). Also would like to request him that for significant stations in the remaining segments, open architectural competitions should be held to get the best possible designs. Like I said, not for all but only a few significant one - especially Majestic.

Ashwin - good point. But I would add that good architecture need not be costly - infact it can be cost effective.

Suhas

Had to leave for Singapore last night. Will be back only by weekend. Hope you will have a fruitful meeting. Thanks, Ravi