Rough cut for Tender sure roads
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Vinay Baindur
Nov 10, 2014, 10:19:17 PM11/10/14
to CAF2, Hasire Usiru, janaravedike, the Accomodating City
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/Bangalore/Civic/Rough-cut-for-TenderSURE/articleshow/45103362.cms
Rough cut for TenderSURE
Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Nov 11, 2014, 04.00 AM IST
TenderSURE
work on Cunningham Road has widened the pavement to such an extent that
motorists complain that there's hardly any space for vehicles on the
road
Stung by protests over shrinking roads, Reddy calls meeting to trim pavement width
Slammed by the public for the shrinking of roads in the Central Business District (CBD) under the TenderSURE project, the state government on Monday announced that it would "go back to the drawing board and redesign the project by reducing the width of the footpaths". Bangalore in-charge and Transport Minister R Ramalinga Reddy admitted that TenderSURE, which was touted as a capital-intensive, yet low-maintenance road project, was beginning to cause traffic bottlenecks by shrinking the size of the carriageway.
TenderSURE, envisaged by a few prominent civil society members, aims to redesign and re-develop seven important roads at a cost of Rs 10 crore per km. Work has commenced on Cunningham Road, St Mark's Road, Vittal Mallya Road, Commissariat Road, and Museum Road in the first phase. Richmond Road and Residency Road will be taken up next. In their attempt to make these roads world-class, the project designers have ended up downsizing the carriageway by 1.5 to 2 metres, and instead, increased the width of pavements. As a result, motorists using CBD roads are complaining of slow-moving traffic. Bangalore Mirror was the first to warn about the shrinking roads in its report (CBD can be TenderSURE bottlenecks will stay, BM, October 15) last month.
BBMP YIELDS TO POLITICOS
TenderSURE promoters defend the design by pointing out the importance given to pedestrians and cyclists. But corporators and bureaucrats maintain that such a design doesn't suit high-density traffic roads. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) seems to agree with the latter since it has now taken a U-turn and has decided to cut the width of the footpaths.
Reddy confirmed the move. "It is true that TenderSURE roads are causing bottlenecks across CBD. We did not envisage this problem when the design was in the drawing board. We have now decided to reduce the width of the footpaths. The project is already under progress in five major CBD roads and is yet to be taken up on the outskirts. Contractors who are yet to take up work on the outskirts have been directed to reduce the footpath size with immediate effect. That leaves the roads where work is now underway. I have called for a meeting of officials to discuss solutions to reclaim the carriageway lost to footpaths," he said.
He said henceforth the footpaths will adhere to the standard width recommended by the Indian Roads Congress. "Accordingly, we will manage all utility gear within that framework. Had there been a lane system on city roads, everything would have fallen in place. But our motorists are given to driving and riding in a haphazard manner. Hence, the size of the footpaths will be reduced to decongest bottlenecks in various parts of CBD."
DISASTROUS MOVE
It would be disastrous to reduce the size of footpaths under the TenderSURE projects. Pedestrians are at the heart of the TenderSURE project. The government should understand that pedestrians represent a bigger vote bank than motorists.By reducing the width of the footpath, it is kicking pedestrians out of the whole project. Instead of TenderSUREroads, they should be called BBMP Roads. Cities like Singapore and London levy congestion fee on motorists, and focus on motor lane reduction. In contrast, we are looking at pedestrian lane reduction! —V Ravichander, Urban Planning Expert
CONSULT THE TAC
The decision to reduce the width of the footpath must be strongly condemned. The parameters for the TenderSURE project were cleared by the High Court-appointed Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Any change has to be brought before the TAC for approval. The reduction is a technical matter and has to be supported by a study. Has the minister or BBMP conducted any study? If the TenderSURE roads are causing bottlenecks, then what about those roads which create bottlenecks without it? If the TAC is not involved, it is possible that the court may intervene. —R K Misra, Member, BBMP's Technical Advisory Committee
Slammed by the public for the shrinking of roads in the Central Business District (CBD) under the TenderSURE project, the state government on Monday announced that it would "go back to the drawing board and redesign the project by reducing the width of the footpaths". Bangalore in-charge and Transport Minister R Ramalinga Reddy admitted that TenderSURE, which was touted as a capital-intensive, yet low-maintenance road project, was beginning to cause traffic bottlenecks by shrinking the size of the carriageway.
TenderSURE, envisaged by a few prominent civil society members, aims to redesign and re-develop seven important roads at a cost of Rs 10 crore per km. Work has commenced on Cunningham Road, St Mark's Road, Vittal Mallya Road, Commissariat Road, and Museum Road in the first phase. Richmond Road and Residency Road will be taken up next. In their attempt to make these roads world-class, the project designers have ended up downsizing the carriageway by 1.5 to 2 metres, and instead, increased the width of pavements. As a result, motorists using CBD roads are complaining of slow-moving traffic. Bangalore Mirror was the first to warn about the shrinking roads in its report (CBD can be TenderSURE bottlenecks will stay, BM, October 15) last month.
BBMP YIELDS TO POLITICOS
TenderSURE promoters defend the design by pointing out the importance given to pedestrians and cyclists. But corporators and bureaucrats maintain that such a design doesn't suit high-density traffic roads. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) seems to agree with the latter since it has now taken a U-turn and has decided to cut the width of the footpaths.
Reddy confirmed the move. "It is true that TenderSURE roads are causing bottlenecks across CBD. We did not envisage this problem when the design was in the drawing board. We have now decided to reduce the width of the footpaths. The project is already under progress in five major CBD roads and is yet to be taken up on the outskirts. Contractors who are yet to take up work on the outskirts have been directed to reduce the footpath size with immediate effect. That leaves the roads where work is now underway. I have called for a meeting of officials to discuss solutions to reclaim the carriageway lost to footpaths," he said.
He said henceforth the footpaths will adhere to the standard width recommended by the Indian Roads Congress. "Accordingly, we will manage all utility gear within that framework. Had there been a lane system on city roads, everything would have fallen in place. But our motorists are given to driving and riding in a haphazard manner. Hence, the size of the footpaths will be reduced to decongest bottlenecks in various parts of CBD."
DISASTROUS MOVE
It would be disastrous to reduce the size of footpaths under the TenderSURE projects. Pedestrians are at the heart of the TenderSURE project. The government should understand that pedestrians represent a bigger vote bank than motorists.By reducing the width of the footpath, it is kicking pedestrians out of the whole project. Instead of TenderSUREroads, they should be called BBMP Roads. Cities like Singapore and London levy congestion fee on motorists, and focus on motor lane reduction. In contrast, we are looking at pedestrian lane reduction! —V Ravichander, Urban Planning Expert
CONSULT THE TAC
The decision to reduce the width of the footpath must be strongly condemned. The parameters for the TenderSURE project were cleared by the High Court-appointed Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Any change has to be brought before the TAC for approval. The reduction is a technical matter and has to be supported by a study. Has the minister or BBMP conducted any study? If the TenderSURE roads are causing bottlenecks, then what about those roads which create bottlenecks without it? If the TAC is not involved, it is possible that the court may intervene. —R K Misra, Member, BBMP's Technical Advisory Committee
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