Will the city station for the high-speed elevated train for the new international airport, proposed at the Police Parade Grounds, choke traffic on the surrounding major roads?
No, according to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The DMRC, which has prepared a detailed project report, has told the government traffic on MG Road, Cubbon Road and Residency Road will ease considerably once the new airport becomes operational in March 2008.
“There is no need for re-thinking on the location of the city station at the Police Parade Grounds. It is an ideal location and there won’t be any increase in traffic on surrounding roads,” a top official in DMRC told Deccan Herald.
How will the traffic ease? “Nearly 20 per cent of present traffic flow on these roads is towards HAL airport. With the new airport at Devanahalli becoming functional, this traffic will get diverted to Bellary Road. Once the Bangalore Metro Rail is commissioned, the traffic flow on roads surrounding Parade Grounds will come down further,” the official said quoting a DMRC’s traffic survey.
Though DMRC had proposed the Parade Grounds for setting up the station, the State Executive Committee, comprising the Governor and his three advisors, had raised doubts over its feasibility. It was feared locating the station there would increase traffic on surrounding roads. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation too had expressed similar apprehensions and recommended Byappanahalli.
Lung space
The Executive Committee, therefore, had summoned DMRC Chief Sreedharan to explain the pros and cons of the proposal. “In fact, the Executive Committee had come up with a new location, at LRD Park, but the government was advised against it, as the Park is one of the prominent lung spaces of the City,” the DMRC official said.
The train project is estimated to cost around Rs 4,000 crore, and people can travel to the new the airport within 25 minutes. Besides one of the stations located in the centre of the city, there will be two other stations -- at Hebbal and Yelahanka -- before reaching the airport.
Walkways
The DMRC has also suggested some short-term and long-term measures to ensure smooth traffic in this area, like - converting walk path between Chinnaswamy Stadium and the Parade Grounds into a six-lane road, constructing road over bridge and road under bridge at key traffic junctions, introducing one-ways, etc.
New Bangalore Airport.
Need high speed train from Cant. Railway station to New Bangalore Airport.
Cant. Railway station center and connect
to all incoming train from various location.
Think and implment.
by robert wintle on 12/22/2007 3:42:17 AM
I Dont think anything will ease congestion in Bangalore in atleast 50 years. By then it will have caused havoc with the system and the rail might bring temp relief but no way reduce traffic. The flyover were supposed to end traffic madness but it in fact its made it worse. Ask the daily commuter he will tell you and not some geek from Delhi. We need to focus on the future and make sure roads are wide enough in new building layout's so we do not face similiar problems in future is the only w
by sandeep on 12/21/2007 3:12:38 PM
Murali is absolutely right. This train service has to be integrated with the metro. This is what happens in all the major cities of the world. In fact if this train (as part of the metro) starts from Kormangala, there will be another corridor for the Metro that will run North East - South East to complement the existing North-South and East-West routes.
by Anil Heggade on 12/21/2007 6:16:25 AM
Hi, Iam only wondering why the proposed metro is not touching HAL airport. Instead of routing via CMH road, Indiranagar where the traders are opposing ,I think the authorities should consider taking the metro rail from Bayapanahalli through BEML, HAL airport(where old unused rail line exists) and then through present airport road.
It is important and vital that the old HAL airpport is linked to the new Devanahallai airport, which unfortunately authorities have overlooked till date.
thanks
by murali on 12/21/2007 3:04:47 AM
What I really fail to understand is that why is this train is not being integrated with Metro. Worldwide all airport express is integrated with Metro and more likely integrated with the main railway system so that people can easily transit with in city and out side. If Majestic is mail multi modal transit location in Bangalore (Long distance train, Metro Interchange, Long distance Bus), then why not start airport express from Majestic.
