Latest news with #DULT
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Serious risks to Namma Metro structures, more traffic chaos: What DULT found in its review of Bengaluru's tunnel project
The proposed 16-km underground tunnel road between Hebbal and Silk Board junction in Bengaluru could threaten the structural safety of Namma Metro tunnels and worsen traffic congestion unless major design and mitigation measures are implemented, according to the Karnataka Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT). The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) submitted the feasibility study report of the proposed north-south corridor for review and approval by the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) in July 2024. The DULT, which serves as the secretariat to the BMLTA, conducted a technical review of the proposal, following which several observations were documented for the BBMP's consideration. On structural safety, the DULT has said, 'The proposed alignment intersects with multiple Metro lines and may cause stress interference which can impact the Metro tunnel's structural performance.' The review highlights several locations where the underground tunnel will either cross or run in close proximity to the alignments of Metro Phase 2 and Phase 3A. These locations include Marigowda Road, Dairy Circle, NIMHANS, Wilson Garden, Guttahalli Main Road, 8th Main Road in Sadashivanagar, Corporation Circle, KR Circle, and Palace Road. According to experts, stress interference in this context refers to the changes in underground pressure and stability that can occur when a new tunnel is built close to an existing Metro tunnel. For example, at Marigowda Road, the DULT's review states, 'the proposed alignment of the underground tunnel intersects with the proposed Metro Phase 3A (Hebbal–Sarjapur line), which may cause stress interference which can impact the metro tunnel's structural performance.' At Dairy Circle, the proposed alignment of the underground tunnel intersects with the proposed Metro Phase 2 (Gottigere–Nagawara line), which may cause stress interference and impact the metro tunnel's structural performance, the review says. Similarly, the DULT flags stress interference and lateral displacement to existing and upcoming Metro networks near NIMHANS, Wilson Garden, Guttahalli Main Road, Sadashivanagar, Corporation Circle and KR Circle. The review also notes several traffic issues the tunnel, proposed for four-wheelers only, could create. On Jayamahal Main Road, the agency warns, 'Ramp construction, without undertaking land acquisition and provision of proper weaving area prior to the ramp, will lead to choking of Jayamahal Road.' In Sadashivanagar, accommodating an exit ramp on the existing 8th Main Road is not feasible, as it will cause road congestion and excessive traffic delays, the review says. For Palace Road and Basaveshwara Circle, the review cautions, 'The feasibility report should assess the additional traffic that would come to the junction if the tunnel ramp were constructed and if the junction would be capable of handling the additional traffic without impacting the surrounding roads.' 'At KR Circle, the proposed exit ramp will lead to additional traffic to the already congested KR Circle, exacerbating congestion and creating merging conflicts… such impact analysis has not been carried out,' the review states. Near Corporation Circle, the review indicates that traffic exiting from the tunnel road will increase the traffic load at nearby junctions, such as Coffee Day Junction and Queens Junction. On Siddapura Road near Ashoka Pillar, the agency notes that there may not be adequate width to accommodate the proposed entry ramp and weaving area and that the impact of the proposed ramp on Ashoka Pillar Circle, considering the additional traffic that would need to pass through the circle, needs to be assessed. As for Marigowda Road, it says, 'the proposal to accommodate an exit ramp needs to be examined considering the width available, impact on existing traffic and impact on nearby junctions like 13th Cross Road… the presence of an exit ramp will worsen the situation.' 'Sizing of the ramp should be determined based on scientific demand assessment… otherwise, the tunnel proposal will only create more inconvenience to people and lead to a more chaotic traffic situation at surface level.' The review states that the proposed project does not align with the objectives and goals of the approved Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for Bengaluru. Further, it says that the project does not align either with the BBMP's Climate Action Plan or National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP). Despite several noted discrepancies, Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited has proceeded with global tenders for the tunnel road project.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Did BBMP ignore DULT's concerns on Tunnel Road?
BENGALURU: The Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), secretariat to the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA), in its review report, raised concern over traffic projections in the BBMP's feasibility study report for the proposed Tunnel Road project, warning that the current forecasting method is 'rudimentary' and risks overestimating demand. The BBMP had submitted the feasibility study report of the proposed North-South corridor in July 2024, for review and approval by BMLTA. In its review submitted in November 2024, DULT noted that the Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) estimates failed to consider the impact of several ongoing and planned mobility projects. These include Metro Phase 2A and 2B connectivity from Central Silk Board to Hebbal and the airport Phase 3 and 3A lines overlapping with the Tunnel Road's alignment and the suburban rail network linking Chikkabanavara-Baiyappanahalli and Heelalige-Rajankunte. The upcoming Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR), Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) plans were also ignored. DULT recommended the use of scientific travel demand models that account for the cross-impact of such projects, ensuring realistic demand estimation before proceeding. The review had given 14 observations and recommendations that highlight the gaps involved in the project. Satya Arikutharam, an independent mobility expert, said, 'The feasibility study did not conduct any meaningful traffic studies or modelling. In fact, BBMP hastily removed the flawed final feasibility report from its website in April 2025. What were they trying to hide?' 'The government should enquire as to how BBMP proceeded to detailed project report (DPR) work without waiting for or addressing DULT's serious observations. The feasibility study is a planning scam that needs to be uncovered,' he added. 'Ignoring the impact of upcoming new sanctioned Metro services in the next two-three years as well as BSRP, which includes a dedicated corridor between the heart of the city and the airport terminal, is indeed an extremely serious lapse,' said Rajkumar Dugar, founder of Citizens for Citizens (C4C). 'Major benefits of freeing the roads will happen by drastically and quickly improving all three modes of public transport -- bus, metro and rail. A massive project like Tunnel Road being handled in such a unilateral manner is against the interests of the city,' he added.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Time of India
80-year-old files court petition seeking more footpaths on Bengaluru roads
1 2 Bengaluru: Enough is enough — or so he thought. After 11 years of appeals, complaints, invoking of the RTI Act, and meeting several officials from multiple govt departments, Bengaluru resident Vijaykumar D V, 80, has filed a PIL in the high court against the state govt, BBMP and DULT, seeking to have enough footpaths in the city to make its roads safe for pedestrians. In his PIL, Vijaykumar has urged the court that a special purpose vehicle or an empowered committee be created to enforce a judicial order to address the issue. "Bengaluru's roads don't even guarantee the basic right to walk safely," he said. "This is not just about footpaths, it's about accessibility, equality, and dignity." Vijaykumar had moved to Bengaluru from Chitradurga when he was 69. Once here, all he was looking forward to was the sombre somnolence of a superannuated man. Instead, Vijaykumar was forced to risk his life and limb every single day -- just trying to get to the nearest bus stop on Tank Bund Road, Mico Layout, a walk that should ideally take no more than 10-15 minutes. With no proper footpath and only narrow drains covered haphazardly with stone slabs, Vijaykumar was forced to walk on the busy roads with traffic whizzing by. "For more than a decade, I tried everything — from RTIs to meeting BBMP officials, but nothing changed. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Filing a PIL was my last resort," the Mico Layout resident said. Sharing further details of the circumstances that led him to filing the PIL, Vijaykumar said: "Back in June 2014, near Binnypet Garden on Tannery Road, I saw a man using crutches and a visually challenged woman struggling to walk on the road because there was no footpath. That imagery never left me. I realised I was not alone, grappling with this ordeal." In 2019, when he met the engineer in charge of the area and the then BBMP commissioner, the officials admitted in writing that construction of footpaths was not a discretionary matter, but a legal obligation. Yet, nothing changed. According to Vijaykumar, BBMP continues to prioritise projects for traffic movement. "They spend crores on roadworks, flyovers, and underpasses. But what about the basic right to walk safely? What about senior citizens and persons with disabilities? Even today, what passes for a footpath are just open drains, with some stone slabs thrown on top unevenly," he said.
Mint
01-06-2025
- Health
- Mint
Learning to ride a bicycle as an adult
Gift this article "This is what we call the death grip," Parag Patankar, the volunteer guiding me, said, not unkindly. He was right. Unconsciously, my arms had become ramrod stiff and I was holding the bicycle handlebars tightly, as if for dear life. My feet were firmly planted on the ground but I was a bundle of nerves as I sat astride the bicycle and viewed the gentle slope I was to go down with trepidation. "This is what we call the death grip," Parag Patankar, the volunteer guiding me, said, not unkindly. He was right. Unconsciously, my arms had become ramrod stiff and I was holding the bicycle handlebars tightly, as if for dear life. My feet were firmly planted on the ground but I was a bundle of nerves as I sat astride the bicycle and viewed the gentle slope I was to go down with trepidation. When other people turn 40, they set glamorous targets like running a marathon or going on an arduous trek. I decided to learn to ride a bicycle—child's play for those who know it but no less intimidating than summiting a mountain for adults like me who don't. Unlike driving, formalised avenues for adults to learn cycling are not aplenty. Online searches led me to Bangalore Bicycling School (BBS), a completely volunteer-led effort to teach adults how to cycle for free. It was an initiative which, I learnt later, was completing a decade this year. I messaged the phone number mentioned on the Facebook page, filled up a Google form and showed up at 8am on a Sunday at the designated spot in Bengaluru's Cubbon Park. That phone number belonged to Dr Ali Poonawala, a 68-year-old urologist and one of the moving spirits behind BBS. The wiry doctor will invariably be at Cubbon Park on Sunday mornings, as he has been for the last 10 years, guiding both the adults and children. Also read: Finding the music that you love BBS, he says, came about somewhat organically, a culmination of multiple factors. One was the 'Cycle Day" organised by Karnataka government's Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) around 2012-13, where a street would be cordoned off for cycling and other street activities. There, Dr Poonawala and a few fellow cycling enthusiasts noticed that there were adults who wanted to cycle but had never learnt. Around the same time, DULT also facilitated free cycle rentals in Cubbon Park to promote the activity. BBS kicked off lessons with those cycles. In those early days there would be the occasional Sunday when it would be just Dr Poonawala, the bicycles and a couple of banners donated by DULT. But he persisted. Dr Poonawala's resolve to teach adults was strengthened by something he had noticed while on holiday in Kodaikanal, where families would rent cycles near the lake. 'The father and children would go off on cycles, while the mother would be left behind. I would feel upset because that's not how it should be—everyone should be cycling together." What he had seen was yet another reflection of the gender gap in cycling in India. According to Census 2011, only 4.7% women used bicycles to commute compared to 21.7% men, among the working population. Another analysis of cycling internationally found that on average, 'females were one-tenth as likely to cycle compared to males in Indian cities". The learner demographic at BBS also bears this out. Patankar, the instructor I first met and a regular volunteer, estimates that 80-90% of students are women. 'We've tried asking why. What we've seen is, some women just did not get the chance to learn when they were young—perhaps no one in the family thought it was important to teach them. If they had male siblings, the boys went out and learnt from their friends," says Patankar who, in true Bengaluru tradition, is also the co-founder of a software product firm. Other volunteers include professionals spanning software, real estate and finance sectors. Reflecting on his comment later, I realised this was true for me, too—my brother learnt to cycle from his friends while I did not. Patankar broadly categorises the adult students into three. Those over 50 for whom learning to ride is typically a bucket list goal. Those aged 30-50, whose motivation may be fitness, for errands in the vicinity or to join family and friends who ride. And those below 30, who plan to graduate to a scooter. On his part, Dr Poonawala describes a typical learner as someone aged 35-40. 'She feels she's been left out, looks online and finds us." Again, me. Regardless of the category, Patankar says BBS provides a safe space. The need for this was again reinforced by Dr Poonawala's personal experience, when his wife, Dr Fatima, wanted to learn cycling over a decade ago. 'I felt I was missing out on a lot of fun because he loves cycling," says the 67-year-old who adds it took her several sessions, multiple trainers and cycles till that 'eureka moment" when she could do it on her own. Dr Poonawala jokes that husbands are the worst teachers but the experience, he says, taught him that adult learners need a safe, non-judgemental space. The group has developed training manuals and a teaching process that continues to evolve. The biggest hurdle for an adult learner, as I can personally aver, is the fear of falling. 'That fear grows as the person gets older," says Dr Poonawala. Unlike children, adults can also come with other inhibitions and, possibly, baggage involving previous attempts. I had mine. The last time I tried to learn, I accidentally bumped into a senior citizen, leaving both of us traumatised. It was only in my recent conversations that I found out that my then trainer, Anil Kadsur, was one of the founders of BBS who, unfortunately, died a year ago. It somehow felt right that I was trying again with something he had helped launch. Despite their inhibitions, learners keep turning up—including women in their 60s. On a phone call, Annapoorni (she requested that only her first name be used), who is now 74 and describes herself as a 'health freak", recalls feeling nervous on the way to her first lesson. Acquaintances who heard about her derring-do questioned why the then 66-year-old wanted to learn 'at this age". But within three-four sessions and despite a fall, she learnt to ride. 'I was over the moon," she says, the excitement in her voice palpable even eight years later. Other memorable alumni include a group of women working in garment factories, who were taught in an initiative with Greenpeace. However, Dr Poonawala regrets that there were no follow-ups on the non-profit's part about whether the women continue to ride. In general, tracking whether learners keep cycling has been a challenge. 'Of the thousands who have gone through BBS training, what fraction would be riding regularly? I struggle with this question," says Patankar, who estimates it would be a small share who cycle even once a month. Dr Poonawala says the lack of follow-up is a criticism levelled against them but adds that the volunteers have their limitations. With classes only on Sunday mornings, a cherished time, there is also a churn among trainers. Attempts to replicate the model in other parts of the city have typically not endured for longer than a year because of this. Currently, about three-four instructors come every Sunday from 8-10am, to assist 10-15 learners at various stages. Dr Poonawala and Patankar say they persist out of their passion for cycling and to 'increase their tribe". It helps that some alumni also volunteer. Among them is Aman Sabherwal, a 35-year-old finance professional. On a visit to Cubbon Park, she was convinced by Patankar to get on a bicycle for the first time since she was in an accident when she was six years old. Sabherwal says she volunteers whenever she can. 'That feeling of seeing others riding freely on their own and that smile on their faces makes me happy," she says. I know that smile. It's the same one I flashed towards the end of that first session when I found, to my utter surprise and elation, that I was finally riding a bicycle, all by myself. Indulekha Aravind is an independent journalist. She posts @indulekha_a. Also read: 'I Am on the Hit List': A deep dive into Gauri Lankesh's murder Topics You May Be Interested In
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Bengaluru's commercial streets go pay & park way
Bengaluru now has 1.25 crore vehicles, with almost every person owning vehicle. However, parking facilities have not kept pace with this increase, leading to severe parking shortages –Official The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to implement a pay-and-park system in the city's commercial areas. In the first phase, the system will be introduced on 14 streets, including prominent ones like MG Road, Brigade Road, and Commercial Street. The system will involve charging fees for parking on these roads, with the management being outsourced to a contractor. Following this, vehicle owners will be required to pay fees to park their vehicles on these streets. The new system is part of the city's 'Parking Policy 2.0', developed by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), which aims to extend the pay-and-park system across all city official said, 'As the city's population grows, so does the number of vehicles. Bengaluru now has 1.25 crore vehicles, with almost every person owning a vehicle. However, parking facilities have not kept pace with this increase, leading to severe parking shortages. New buildings are not being designed with adequate parking spaces, and many buildings do not offer parking spaces proportional to the number of units. As a result, vehicles are often parked on streets, exacerbating traffic congestion.'DULT estimates that providing parking for just 50% of the city's vehicles would require 13,000 acres of land. If the current rate of vehicle growth continues, Bengaluru will see four times the number of vehicles in the next decade, further straining the city's tackle this issue, DULT has introduced a comprehensive parking management plan, hoping to reduce private vehicle usage and encourage the use of public this plan has not yet been fully implemented. The city's traffic problems, especially in commercial districts, continue to worsen due to insufficient parking provisions. As part of the new initiative, commercial buildings are now required to have separate parking arrangements or reserve basement levels for parking. However, adherence to this regulation remains anticipates an annual revenue of ₹7 crore from the pay-and-park system in the first phase, with the scheme being implemented on 14 key commercial streets. Roads like Church Street, St Mark's Road, Museum Road, Lavelle Road, and Kasturba Road are already covered under this system. Private contractors have been given the task of managing these the new system, two-wheelers will be charged ₹15 per hour, and cars will be charged ₹30 per hour. However, the pricing has been criticised for being expensive. There is also a lack of clarity regarding how much will be charged for vehicles parked for more than an had previously contracted a private company, Central Parking Services, to implement a smart parking system on 85 commercial streets in the city centre. Although some roads saw the introduction of parking fees, the system was later suspended. The future of smart parking remains uncertain.
