Latest news with #BMRCL
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Varthur requires Metro transit, say Bengaluru residents as officials push for flyover
Bengaluru: What most residents of Varthur area want is a mass transit solution, but Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd (KRDCL) is moving forward with the construction of a flyover. Locals say Metro connectivity suits the area's growing population more than a flyover. At present, KRDCL has taken up road-widening work on the SH-35 (state highway) from Varthur to Gunjur, covering 1.9km. The road will be expanded from 30 metres to 100 metres in width. Alongside this, the corporation has proposed building a flyover from Vinayaka Theatre to Varthur lake. However, residents are opposing the plan, questioning the need for a flyover over such a short stretch. While the total cost of the project is Rs 482 crore, around Rs 190 crore is being spent just on the flyover. Although the chief secretary recently visited the site and asked officials to consider Metro connectivity, residents claim that despite the matter still being under discussion, pillars for the flyover have already started coming up near Varthur lake. They also allege that the work began before land acquisition was completed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Nueva oportunidad en Miami para inversionistas con $300,000 dólares Financiación Empresarial Más información Undo Residents say the project, aimed at easing traffic congestion, is flawed both technically and socially. One of the primary concerns is the lack of community engagement. "Not a single public consultation has been held. Stakeholders, including landowners, small traders, and displaced residents, have had no voice," rued a resident. BMRCL has already proposed a feasibility study for a 68km Metro line running from Kalena Agrahara – Bannerghatta National Park – Jigani – Anekal – Attibele – Sarjapur – Varthur – Kadugodi Tree Park. The study is said to be completed. Gangadhar BM, president of Varthur Nagararika Hita Rakshana Vedike, said: "The flyover is just for a very short stretch, but so much money is being spent. A lot of people commute through this stretch to reach IT parks. The road is filled with cars because of poor public transport. If we get a Metro instead of a flyover, it will be helpful — half of the traffic and pollution will be reduced. But I don't know who is making these plans. No govt officials or engineers are listening to us, nor are they using their brains." "We are tired of writing letters, including to the chief minister, deputy chief minister, chief secretary, KRDCL, BBMP and BMRCL. We haven't received a single response. Now we can see the flyover works slowly starting, even without completing land acquisition... Such unplanned developments cannot be entertained." Susheelamma N, the new MD of KRDCL, said: "There are a lot of hurdles and complications with land acquisition here. I have visited the area and will try to get things moving. I'm not sure about the Metro proposal as we didn't get any response from BMRCL about it. If the Metro comes on this stretch, we'll write to the govt and proceed accordingly."
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Mohandas Pai slams Bengaluru metro authorities over Yellow Line delays, calls work culture ‘lousy'
Former Infosys CFO and civic commentator Mohandas Pai has sharply criticised the Bengaluru Development Minister and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) over the latest setback in the launch of the Yellow Line of Namma Metro. Pai, known for his outspokenness on Bengaluru's urban infrastructure issues, took to X to express his frustration over what he called a 'very bad lousy work culture' and demanded accountability from those responsible for the repeated delays. Also Read - Truck driver killed in Mangaluru, authorities clamp down to curb communal tensions In a scathing post tagging Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Pai wrote: 'Minister @DKShivakumar, what is happening? Is there no value in deadlines? Delay after delay! Is there any management at all? They are letting you down very badly again and again. Please suspend the official responsible. Very bad lousy work culture. This could have been done long back.' Pai's outburst comes amid yet another delay in the launch of the 19.15-km Yellow Line corridor, which connects RV Road to Bommasandra. Initially expected to be operational by mid-2024, the project is now facing a likely pushback to late July or August, according to a Deccan Herald report. Also Read - Kamal Haasan's 'Kannada was born out of Tamil' comment sparks huge political outrage ahead of film release The latest hurdle stems from critical issues with the train signalling system. BMRCL officials confirmed that Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) approvals are still pending due to glitches detected in software datasets during the review by Siemens India Ltd, the contractor responsible for the signalling system. 'Train operations rely entirely on software. Even a small error triggers the system's fail-safe mode,' a senior BMRCL official explained. Though BMRCL has reportedly completed all other statutory tests, the ISA certification remains a key requirement before the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) can give the final clearance for operations. This fresh delay is particularly embarrassing given Deputy CM D K Shivakumar's public assurance that the Yellow Line would be operational by May 2025. However, with a history of missed deadlines, the project is once again in the spotlight — and under intense public scrutiny.
Mint
7 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Bengaluru's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw opts for metro travel over luxury car, accompanied by ‘Namma Metro friend'
Bengaluru billionaire Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw ditched her luxury vehicles for a ride on the city's metro this Tuesday, opting to travel via the Namma Metro purple line to escape Bengaluru's notorious traffic congestion. Sharing her experience on the social media platform X, the Biocon Limited founder expressed surprise at the efficiency of the metro journey and praised the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation for providing a 'great ride.' Shaw was accompanied by her friend Jennifer Erich, whom she referred to as the 'Iron Lady at Exxon Mobil.' Erich, according to her LinkedIn profile, holds the position of Geoscience Manager at Exxon Mobil's Bengaluru Technology Centre. 'Took the purple line from Whitefield to Vidhana with my Namma Metro friend Jennifer Erich, the Iron Lady of Exxon Mobil. Such a quick way to avoid traffic. Great ride. Thanks BMRCL,' Mazumdar-Shaw wrote on X. Jennifer Erich responded to the post by saying she was happy to have introduced Namma Metro to Shaw. 'So happy to be your Metro Mentor!! Thanks so much for joining me at my office today,' she replied. Online audiences expressed strong appreciation for Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's humble and relatable gesture. 'Great to see famous personalities doing this and sharing - very important to have more people take public transport,' wrote one person. 'When the affluent, influential, and elite embrace public transport, it catalyzes systemic investment and inspires emulation among the masses, dismantling car-centric aspirations and heralding a shift toward sustainable urban mobility,' another said. What is Namma Metro? Namma Metro, commonly referred to as Bengaluru Metro, is the rapid transit network serving Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka. The system is managed by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), a partnership between the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka. Currently, Namma Metro operates two lines: the purple line and the green line. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is not the first billionaire to opt for public transport. In 2023, real estate tycoon Niranjan Hiranandani took a Mumbai local train to 'save time and beat the traffic.'
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru billionaire Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw tries Namma Metro and leaves her review
Bengaluru-based billionaire Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw decided to forgo luxury cars and tried travelling in the metro on Tuesday. The founder of Biocon Limited took the Namma Metro purple line to beat the city's infamous traffic and was left surprised by her experience. In a post shared on the social media platform X, Shaw said that travelling in the metro was a quick way to avoid traffic and thanked the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation for a 'great ride'. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw was accompanied by her friend Jennifer Erich, whom she described as the 'Iron Lady at Exxon Mobil'. According to Erich's LinkedIn profile, she is a Geoscience Manager at the American oil and gas company's Bengaluru Technology Centre. 'Took the purple line from Whitefield to Vidhana with my Namma Metro friend Jennifer Erich, the Iron Lady of Exxon Mobil. Such a quick way to avoid traffic. Great ride. Thanks BMRCL,' Mazumdar-Shaw wrote on X. Jennifer Erich responded to the post by saying she was happy to have introduced Namma Metro to Shaw. 'So happy to be your Metro Mentor!! Thanks so much for joining me at my office today,' she replied. Social media viewers were also full of admiration for Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. 'Great to see famous personalities doing this and sharing - very important to have more people take public transport,' wrote one person. 'When the affluent, influential, and elite embrace public transport, it catalyzes systemic investment and inspires emulation among the masses, dismantling car-centric aspirations and heralding a shift toward sustainable urban mobility,' another said. Namma Metro, also known as Bengaluru Metro, is the rapid transit system serving Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka. It is operated by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Karnataka. The Namma Metro currently has two operational lines - purple and green. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is not the first billionaire who has tried public transportation. In 2023, real estate magnate Niranjan Hiranandani took a Mumbai local train to 'save time and beat the traffic'.
Hans India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Train service from Bengaluru to Tumakuru considered better than Metro
Bengaluru: A view is gaining ground that it is better to implement a suburban railway project than a Metro project between Bengaluru and Tumakuru. Considering the project cost, high fare, work delay, environmental degradation, experts have suggested that it is better to expand the rail or suburban rail project than the metro. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has already submitted a feasibility report to the government regarding the metro extension project from Madavara in Bengaluru to Tumakuru. A 56.6 km line is being constructed from Madavara to Shira Gate in Tumakuru, and 26 new stations have been identified. Currently, the metro project cost is estimated to be Rs 540 crore per km. However, the cost of the suburban rail project will be only Rs 105 crore per km. The 57- km stretch with 26 stations requires an estimated cost of Rs 30,780 crore. The construction cost of the 148 km Bangalore Suburban Rail Project is Rs 15,767 crore. A few months ago, Namma Metro fares were increased by 71 percent. This has become a huge burden on passengers and has made many people give up on Metro travel. Currently, a one-way metro journey of 26 stations costs Rs 80. The journey from Shira Gate in Tumakuru to Majestic metro station covers 43 stations. As per the current estimates, the fare for this journey can be set at around Rs 150. The journey takes approximately one and a half hours. The maximum fare in the train is Rs 25. Currently, you can travel from Majestic to Tumakuru in an hour in the MEMU train for just Rs 20. Metro projects have not been completed and commercial traffic has started within a decade. The more the work is delayed, the more the project cost will increase. Also, the Metro work will make the traffic between Tumakuru and Bengaluru even more difficult. If a railway project is made, the existing track can be built next to it and the trains can be run. A six-coach train can accommodate 286 people sitting and 1,340 standing. More than 1,800 people can travel in a suburban train. Currently, our metro is running at a speed of 35 to 40 km per hour. Trains are running at a speed of 80 to 90 km per hour. Also, carrying big luggage is prohibited in the metro. Also, since the train also has toilet facilities, there is no need to pay separately for this. Many trees have already been felled by the metro project in the city. Environmentalists are worried that the metro expansion will also have an adverse effect on the environment. The Karnataka government's idea of extending the metro to Tumakuru is foolish. Instead, the focus should be on completing the pending routes at the earliest and further strengthening the network in Bengaluru. Metro is a solution for intra-city connectivity, not inter-district connectivity, says Tejaswi Surya, MP, Bengaluru South. The extension of the Metro to Tumakuru will not benefit the passengers. Instead, it will be a loss to the government exchequer. Rajkumar Dugar, railway activist and founder of Citizens for Citizens, says that if the railway connectivity is strengthened instead of the Metro, the public can travel at a lower cost.
