Bengaluru Metro Phase 3 bypasses crowded areas
, ET Bureau|
Feb 20, 2018, 10.09 AM IST
BENGALURU: Namma Metro’s network for Phase 3, announced in the Karnataka Budget for the first time, has shocked citizens and transport experts alike. The network has apparently left out many important areas suggested in the pre-feasibility report. Instead, the Budget has proposed metro corridors in sparsely-populated areas of the city.
Friday last, chief minister Siddaramaiah announced in the Assembly that a detailed project report would be prepared for Bengaluru Metro Phase-3.
Providing sketchy details of Phase 3, he said the 105.55-km network will have seven lines: JP Nagar-KR Puram via Hebbal (42 km) and Magadi Road Toll Gate-Kadabagere (18 km), both of which were part of the now-shelved Light Rail Transit System project. The other five are either extensions of the Phase II network or new lines.
While traffic load on the 6-km Ibluru-Carmelaram and the 10-km Bommasandra-Attibele stretches is high and warrants metro connectivity, what came as a shock was the inclusion of these four lines: Gottigere-Basavanapura till NICE Road (3 km), RK Hegde Nagar to KIADB Aerospace Park via Bagalur (22 km) and Kogilu Cross to Rajanakunte (13 km).
The Budget completely skipped any metro link on the Old Airport Road between Trinity Circle and Hope Farm Junction although the BMRCL had proposed it in the pre-feasibility report. Experts believe that the controversial pod taxi project’s alignment could be the cause for dropping the metro on this stretch.
RK Mishra, Bengaluru Vision Group member, said he would submit a memorandum to Bengaluru development minister KJ George demanding metro connectivity on the Old Airport Road and extension of the Whitefield Metro up to Hoskote Road and Koramangala.
Urban evangelist V Ravichandar called upon the BMRCL to publicise the traffic analysis report, based on which the Phase 3 alignment was prepared. “Some of the roads that were announced do not seem to have high traffic. There is also a difference between the earlier feasibility report and the current announcements. Why did the state government drop the earlier alignment?” he asked.
The Phase 3 network invited negative comments on social media.
BMRCL MD Mahendra Jain maintained that the Phase 3 alignment, as announced in the state budget, is not final. “We did not conduct any exhaustive study. Changes will be made during the preparation of the DPR by taking into account the traffic projections. We will drop some lines and add others based on technical feasibility and commercial viability (ridership),” he said.
Friday last, chief minister Siddaramaiah announced in the Assembly that a detailed project report would be prepared for Bengaluru Metro Phase-3.
Providing sketchy details of Phase 3, he said the 105.55-km network will have seven lines: JP Nagar-KR Puram via Hebbal (42 km) and Magadi Road Toll Gate-Kadabagere (18 km), both of which were part of the now-shelved Light Rail Transit System project. The other five are either extensions of the Phase II network or new lines.
While traffic load on the 6-km Ibluru-Carmelaram and the 10-km Bommasandra-Attibele stretches is high and warrants metro connectivity, what came as a shock was the inclusion of these four lines: Gottigere-Basavanapura till NICE Road (3 km), RK Hegde Nagar to KIADB Aerospace Park via Bagalur (22 km) and Kogilu Cross to Rajanakunte (13 km).
The Budget completely skipped any metro link on the Old Airport Road between Trinity Circle and Hope Farm Junction although the BMRCL had proposed it in the pre-feasibility report. Experts believe that the controversial pod taxi project’s alignment could be the cause for dropping the metro on this stretch.
RK Mishra, Bengaluru Vision Group member, said he would submit a memorandum to Bengaluru development minister KJ George demanding metro connectivity on the Old Airport Road and extension of the Whitefield Metro up to Hoskote Road and Koramangala.
Urban evangelist V Ravichandar called upon the BMRCL to publicise the traffic analysis report, based on which the Phase 3 alignment was prepared. “Some of the roads that were announced do not seem to have high traffic. There is also a difference between the earlier feasibility report and the current announcements. Why did the state government drop the earlier alignment?” he asked.
The Phase 3 network invited negative comments on social media.
BMRCL MD Mahendra Jain maintained that the Phase 3 alignment, as announced in the state budget, is not final. “We did not conduct any exhaustive study. Changes will be made during the preparation of the DPR by taking into account the traffic projections. We will drop some lines and add others based on technical feasibility and commercial viability (ridership),” he said.
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