Road plans good only on paper: High court

August 14, 2013

Rosy Sequeira, TNN |

MUMBAI: Trying to cover up for its shoddy job so far, the BMC on Tuesday told the Bombay high court that it is working towards utility mapping and coordinated placement of underground cables to ensure conditions of roads did not suffer in future.

The BMC explained its proposals to the HC, which took a suo motu cognizance of potholed stretches in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai. “Your paperwork is good but results are not there,” the HC told the civic body.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Tuesday told Bombay High Court that it is working towards utility mapping and coordinated placement of under ground utilities to provide for good roads in future for Mumbai.

Highways leading to Mumbai were excellent but one realizes “you have entered the municipal limits by looking at the condition of the roads”, a division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha observed. “All of us want proper roads. Property prices are so high, people cannot afford to buy flats in south Mumbai. They stay far away and commute the distance. Roads are the arteries of a city. If you give good roads, people don’t mind staying 50km away,” said Justice Shah, adding that good roads cut down , adding that smooth roads and good connectivity can cut down on commute time.

Defending the civic body, municipal commissioner Sitaram Kumar claimed that indiscriminate digging of roads to lay underground cables for services such as phone, water, gas, electricity and petroleum led to potholes. “We have 1,941 km roads in Mumbai and every year, we have to allow digging of 400-450km, either to lay cables or repair them,” he said. When the judges asked if the ducts could be laid in such a way that roads did not have to be dug up every time service providers had to work on cables, Kunte said they had come up with two measures that might solve the problem-utility mapping and coordinated placement of utility cables. “We are working on a road map. Once we get our hand on the utility problem it will be an enduring solution,” said Kunte. The judges asked what civic bodies across the world did to maintain roads. “There is coordinated placement of utilities. Whichever city manages utilities properly, has cut down on digging,” said Kunte.

The civic chief said tenders were awarded, as mentioned by the Standard Technical Advisory Committee rules, only to the lowest bidder, meeting all criteria. “Your paperwork is good but results are not there,” Justice Shah riposted, questioning if the BMC could pay contractors over five years, settling only 20% of the cost per year so that the shoddy firms could be exposed. “The contractors will have to hike prices but you are assured of quality,” said Justice Shah.

The judges also questioned why all agencies, such as MSRDC and MMRDA, could not jointly award road contracts. But MMRDA commissioner U P S Madan said the agencies worked under individual boards and the BMC under the Standing Committee. The judges also questioned why all the agencies, such as MSRDC and MMRDA, could not jointly award road contracts. But MMRDA commissioner U P S Madan said it was difficult as state agencies worked under individual boards and the standing committee approved BMC contracts. MMRDA’s additional metropolitan commissioner Ashwini Bhide said the BMC maintained 85% roads, while the state agency had absolutely new roads. The size of tender packages was another reason why the MMRDA attracted bigger players and could construct quality roads, she said.

While urban development department state principal secretary Shrikant Singh blamed improper draining of water for asphalt stretches not stabilizing, Advocate General Darius Khambata said there was no agreement on the technology to surface different roads.

The HC added Mira-Bhayander and Vasai-Virar civic bodies as party to the case and directed the BMC, TMC and NMMC to submit their action plans at the next hearing on September 5.

He added that the city had been undergoing transformation and the constant installation of waterlines, sewerage, Metro and Monorail utilities, natural gas and IT worsened the road condition.

He said utilities is a major problem and there is a move towards a master plan for it in future including ducting and other methods.

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

 

Maharashtra may approach Centre, World Bank over Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link project

August 14, 2013

Clara Lewis, TNN |

 

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is considering four options for constructing the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) after the latest round of bidding failed to elicit interest from construction firms.

 

The MTHL is a 22-km sea link between Nhava and Sewri that will connect Mumbai to the hinterland and offer a quick getaway to Pune, Nashik and Goa.

 

The four options under consideration include a direct cash contract wherein the government foots the bill; the developer constructs the sea link and is paid back in annual installments; taking up the project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) where the Centre will bear 35% of the cost, the state government 15% and the implementing agency (MMRDA) will bear 50% of the cost; and approaching either the World Bank or the Japan International Cooperation Agency for a loan on the lines of the loan for the Mumbai Urban Transport Project.

 

Senior MMRDA officials said within a month the proposals will be placed before chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who also heads MMRDA.

 

The project was proposed in the 70s. However, the first serious attempt to build the bridge was made in 2008 but it fell through because of a dispute between the Ambani brothers. For the third time the government failed to get any bids for the bridge.

 

The project was to be developed on a build-operate-transfer basis in which the developer was to quote a price with interest, which he would recover in 35 years after building the link over five years. To address some of its financial risks, the Union finance ministry has sanctioned viability-gap funding to the tune of Rs 1,920 crore for the project.

 

A source said one of the reasons that no bid was made for the project was the uncertainty over the proposed international airport in Panvel. “If the airport does not take off then the projected 60,000 vehicles traversing the bridge daily will also not happen which makes the project will become unviable,” said a source.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

Transfer of govt land for metro made easier

August 14, 2013

TNN |

 

PUNE: The Central government has approved a proposal to facilitate smooth transfer of government land for speedy execution of metro projects across the country.State urban development department officials said the decision means that metro projects in cities like Pune could be extended to fringes in the future and seek government land for the same. “The process to get government land was technical and required many clearances. Now, if the state government and the local governing body want government land for metro project, the Centre will approve the same without any delay,” said a state UDD official.

According to the proposal, metro companies formed by the state and local governing bodies will be treated under rules that are applied in the case of Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSU). This will allow transfer/ alienation of land including defence land to metro rail companies having 50:50 partnership with the government of India and the state government concerned, on the same pattern and terms and conditions as applicable to PSUs / statutory bodies.

 

As per this decision, ongoing and future metro rail projects will be facilitated to get completed within the approved cost and time with subsequent project benefits to the people.

 

“The state cabinet, in June 2012, gave its nod to the Pune metro project, approving the 14.925-km elevated route from Vanaz to Ramwadi. The cabinet also decided to form the Pune Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC) for the implementation of the metro project. The government decision on land will definitely benefit the city as there are plans to extend the metro in Pune Metropolitan Region,” said the UDD official.

 

However, land acquisition, which has often stalled several projects including the Bus Rapid Transit System in Pune, will not be a problem for the 14.925-km elevated route of the Pune metro rail project from Vanaz to Ramwadi.

 

About 18.44 hectares land is required for 15 elevated stations and a depot in Kothrud.

 

Of the total land requirement, 14 hectare belongs to the government and the PMC and four hectare is held by private owners. The 14.925 km stretch is planned on roads that are 30m wide and hence no more land acquisition is necessary to construct this metro route.

 

 

Source- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

Delhi: Cars, cars everywhere, just no place to park

August 14, 2013

Darpan Singh, Hindustan Times  New Delhi,

Water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink: Samuel Taylor Coleridge had famously written in his poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Were he to write on Delhi’s parking problems, he would have probably started: Cars, cars everywhere, just no place to park.

True, the growing number of cars and finding a place to park them is one of Delhi’s biggest urban nightmares. It has also led to a host of other problems — traffic congestion, encroachments, no walking place, quarrels, road rages and even murders.

Sample this: Parking has consumed nearly 10% of the city’s urban land and green and open spaces. In stark contrast, the share of the capital’s forest cover is just 11%.

And it’s just not about a chaotic present. Worse is in store in the future. The constant addition of cars — 1.6 lakh are registered in a year — means Delhi needs an area as big as 310 football fields to accommodate them every year, studies at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) have shown.

From 39.40 lakh vehicles in 2002-03, the number has risen to 74.38 lakh in 2011-12, an 88% increase. All this for cars that remain parked for 90% of the time, meeting only 14% of Delhi’s travel needs.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/Popup/2013/8/14_08_13-pg04a.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It is physically impossible to find parking space in Delhi. As the number of cars in Delhi grows, the space available for people gets squeezed, and the human living environment gets overrun. Cars are like an invasive species that out-competes people for space,” global parking expert Mark Gorton told HT.

The urban sprawl of Delhi has forced more and more people to use cars. This has led to the creation of a massive car-centric infrastructure. “Flyovers, signal-free corridors and overbridges obstruct and destroy movement patterns needed to promote walking, cycling and public transport. Even more people are forced to use cars…the vicious cycle continues,” said CSE’s expert Anumita Roychowdhury.

About 1% of Delhi’s population of 17 million lives in Lutyens’ Delhi. This has pushed growth to the periphery and increased dependency on cars.

Innovations such as multi-level parking have failed to provide any relief because of the long cruising time and lower charges in surface lots.

“I don’t use multi-level lots because of the time factor,” said Nishant, 20, of Paschim Vihar.

Lack of adequate parking space also leads to all kinds of crimes. Last year, parking caused 27 cases of violence. 15 murders over parking have been reported in the last five years.

Till July 31 this year, a murder and a robbery, besides five cases of molestation, two rapes and 203 thefts have been reported at parking lots.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/Popup/2013/8/14_08_13-pg02b.jpg

Markets crammed with vehicles lead to space crunch and overcharging in parking lots — often double the normal rate. A nexus among contractors, officials and corporators ensures the practice goes on.

In residential areas, service lanes of colonies are packed with vehicles and this leads to frequent fights. Residents suffer as emergency vehicles such as those of police and fire services often get stuck.

Parking in residential areas does not cost a rupee. The absence of a parking policy due to lack of political will only add to the woes.

Then, there is no barrier-free walking, no cycle tracks and no playgrounds. Shops have poor visibility and people have a bad shopping experience. Green belts and footpaths have been encroached upon.

“The corporation is planning to convert some parks in Kalkaji into driveways. This is absurd,” said DS Mann Kalkaji F Block RWA.

“When I lived in Munirka, a neighbour had four cars and one fine day, he cut down a huge, old tree because he needed more parking space,” said Smita, 35, a resident of Mayur Vihar phase-1.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/Popup/2013/8/14_08_13-pg04b.jpg

 

Source_http://www.hindustantimes.com

Metro likely to get Rs 630 crore aid from Centre

August 14, 2013

TNN |

JAIPUR: The Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC), which aims to replicate the Delhi Metro magic in Pink City, is expected to receive financial support from the Union government. In a public investment board meeting chaired by the Union finance secretary R S Gujral, a recommendation to allocate Rs 630 crore for the Jaipur Metro, Phase -I was made on Tuesday. The final approval to the proposal will be given in the Union cabinet meeting.

 

An official explained that JMRC is seeking financial help from the Central government for the Jaipur Metro corridor-I (Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar), in the form of equity. “Out of the total amount, the government of India will give Rs 472.5 crore as equity and Rs 157.5 crore as loan,” the official said. As part of the joint venture, the Centre is expected to provide approximately 20% financial assistance in the form of equity for the entire project.

 

The announcement in the meeting was a big relief for the JMRC senior officials as the state government was not in a position to fund the entire project from its own pocket, according to sources.

 

Initially, when the project was conceived, stage-I was estimated at Rs 1,250 crore with the state government taking up just the civil work. The rolling stock and the construction of Metro from Chandpole to Badi Chaupar was planned to be taken up on public and private partnership. But later the state government decided to fund even these two on its own increasing the project cost to Rs 3,149 crore.

 

Apart from receiving funds from the Central government, the JMRC will also take Rs 969 crore loan from Asian Development Bank.

 

The loan will be used to fund development of the underground Metro corridor between Chandpole and Badi Chaupar. According to the Metro officials, the loan process is in the final stages and ADB and JMRC are expected to sign an agreement next month.

 

The senior urban development and housing (UDH) and JMRC officials in the meeting also said that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is all set to conduct the trial run of Jaipur Metro train from Mansarovar to Vivek Vihar station by next month. The trial run will be held on elevated tracks by rakes (trains having four coaches) recently purchased from Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML).

 

 

Source-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Volkswagen to showcase intelligent traffic system in city

August 14, 2013

Express news service : 

Volkswagen Group India will showcase its future mobility concepts such as ‘MicroCity’ and ‘NILS’ during the Indo-German Urban Mela (IGUM), scheduled to be held at Deccan College Ground in Yerawada here from January 11.

Elaborating on the key features of ‘MicroCity’, Alexander Skibbe, head, corporate communication, Volkswagen Group, said, “It is an intelligent traffic system which makes using passenger vehicles in cities easier and more appeasing for customers. The MicroCity is a mobility hub that is more than simply a car-park and comes with integrated vehicle-rated services such as charging stations and vehicle rental stations.”

He added, “This hub is enhanced with shops and other useful services. The logical combination of mobility, services and concentrated parking zones in Micro-Cities would provide lasting relief for overcrowded cities.”

Skibbe said ‘NILS’ is a single-seat electric concept vehicle designated to address future individual mobility requirements. “NILS is a very compact car that requires extremely little space. It is only 3.04 m long and just 1.39 m wide from wheel-to-wheel, and a mere 1.2 m tall.

“This concept car features an Aluminum space frame, wing doors and free-standing wheels. It has a performance of a sports car, yet travels with zero emissions,” he said. Volkswagen will also organise plant tour of their Chakan facility through their pavillion at IGUM, and visitors can book plant tours of any of the designated places during the five days of the event.

Source-http://m.indianexpress.com

Intelligent traffic system for e-way to cost Rs 44 crore

August 13, 2013

Vandana Keelor, TNN

 

NOIDA: IIT-Delhi has approved a sum of Rs 43.6 crore for an intelligent traffic system (ITS) on Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. The move  comes in the wake of a safety audit by the Central Road Research Institute.
According to the report, the e-way is a deathtrap for pedestrians and two-wheeler riders. Speeding cars and light commercial vehicles are the primary cause of road accidents here. Having received the nod from IIT, Noida Authority is gearing up to invite global consultants to launch the project in a month’s time.

Officials said ITS is expected to monitor and manage traffic flow on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. “Once implemented, the system will minimize road accidents on the expressway,” Rama Raman, chairman and CEO, Noida Authority, said.

Once the technical and financial go-aheads are received and tenders finalized, the project will be completed in 12-18 months’ time. “The system will reduce travel time, improve traffic regulation and surveillance and reduce operational costs and incident reaction time,” Raman said.

The system will help measure traffic data in real time, detect incidents and congestions automatically and inform road users about travel time, road closures, diversions, rerouting and all major events. “Important features would include a control room, emergency call box, message signboards, CCTV cameras, speed cameras, automatic number plate readers, VID camera and meteorological data system,” said Sandeep Chandra, the technical head for the project who also holds charge of traffic in the city.

Since its inception in 2002, the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway has been the site of hundreds of deaths. Around 25 people have lost their lives while hundreds have been injured in the last six months.

Cameras would be placed at a height of 14 metres to detect movement up to a distance of 280 metres. “Large LED display boards will caution motorists about road and weather conditions. All stationary vehicles, speeding vehicles and getaway vehicles will be recorded. In the first phase, safety devices like reflective signboards, median markers and road studs will be installed between the Noida entry gate and Mahamaya flyover,” Chandra said.

The most important feature of the system will be reduced response time to an accident. ITS will guide road users to adapt speed to ensure smoother flow of traffic and help coordinate policing and emergency services. “The expressway will be under surveillance 24/7 which will help curb crime on the e-way,” Raman said.

 

Source-http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Dwarka subway now open to public

August 13, 2013

Santosh Sonawane, TNN |

NASHIK: Citizens would no longer have to fret about walking across the busy eight-lane Dwarka junction as district guardian minister ChhaganBhujbal on Saturday inaugurated the Dwarka Subway that was under construction for more than two years.Nashik Lok Sabha MP Sameer Bhujbal also attended the inauguration function.

The guardian minister said the subway would be a great utility for the pedestrians, especially school students, who previously had to walk across the busy eight-lane Dwarka junction each day.

He added that measures would be taken for the subway’s maintenance and security personnel would be deployed to prevent any untoward incident and encroachment.

Chhagan Bhujbal also spoke to police officials about security in the subway. Bhadrakali police station’s senior inspector Ramesh Patil said, “The guardian minister and I discussed the need for installing gates at the subway’s five entry and exit points, which could be shut at night. The police have already asked the company that constructed the subway to construct the gates.”

The MP, on his part, suggested the subway’s 165-metre long and 3.5-metre high walls could be painted on by artists.

The subway’s construction work began around May 2012 and frequently caused traffic snarls at Dwarka intersection. The activity left only about 30% of the road for vehicles to pass. The 6.1-km elevated corridor was also being constructed around the same time.

The subway has been constructed as pedestrians had to cross the four lanes each of the highway and the service road at Dwarka junction. Also, the four ramps at the junction are used by heavy vehicles for ascending or descending the elevated corridor.

Noida to streamline traffic with E-challan

August 13, 2013

Vinod Rajput, Hindustan Times  Noida,

To better its existing traffic management system by curbing rampant traffic rule violations, the Noida authority on Monday, decided to introduce electronic (E) challan facility soon.

The authority has roped in telecom major- Airtel for this ambitious project, which will also be helpful in implementation of intelligent traffic management (ITS) in future.

“E-chalan will enable traffic police to issue an instant chalan of a traffic violator. The moment a vehicle found violating any of the traffic rules like- traffic signal jump, rash driving and recklessly changing lanes etc, then police control room will get an SMS with the help of high-tech CCTV cameras installed on traffic poles at all traffic signals,” said Manoj Kumar Rai, officer on special duty (OSD), the Noida authority.

  The Noida authority chairman Rama Raman on Monday had a meeting with assistant regional transport officer (ARTO)- Rajesh Singh, and airtel officials including Noida authority traffic cell to brain storm over the project at its sector 6 office.

To ensure smooth travel to thousands of daily commuters, and regulate city’s burgeoning traffic, the authority has already numbered each traffic pole installed at existing 69 traffic signals.

“We will give hand-held devices to traffic police to issue E-Chalan. After Delhi, Noida will be the first city in NCR to have E-chalan facility,” said OSD.

The authority has formed a team consisting of traffic police and traffic cell officials to identify two busy traffic signals, where trials will be conducted.

“If trials will be successful, then in next 2 months, this facility will be implemented in entire city to ensure better traffic regulation. The authority want to ensure that commuters do not face traffic jam,” said OSD.

Officials maintained that it is on way to build a road-map to make way for implementation of intelligent traffic system (ITS), which will work to monitor and regulate city traffic in a high-tech manner ahead.

 

Source-http://www.hindustantimes.com

Delhi: After delays, e-challan finally sees light of day

August 13, 2013

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times  New Delhi.

 

The much-awaited e-challan project of the traffic police has finally kicked-off in the city though the official inauguration of the project will take place at the end of this month.

“We made all 1,200 e-challan devices operational a few days ago. However, certain technical glitches remain which are being sorted out. We hope to formally launch the project by end of the month and make available the e-payment option in the devices,” said Anil Shukla, additional commissioner of police (traffic).

On Sunday, the police issued 2,239 e-challans to traffic violators in the Capital.

The e-challan has replaced a traffic policeman’s age-old challan book. It aims to help the police catch repeat offenders as it will be linked to the central database and will provide the policeman a record of previous traffic violations, if any. Traffic police claim the device will enable them to raise at least Rs. 120 crore per annum through e-challans, about three times the average annual amount of Rs. 45 crore.

With the launch of this project, Delhi has joined the league of Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai, where such a system is already in place, though sources said the devices are showing some glitches like heating up and connectivity problems.

The hand-held devices have been distributed among policemen in all traffic circles and are together likely to generate nearly 2,500-3,000 challan receipts every day, said a senior traffic police official.

The police have also received a go-ahead for the e-payment gateway from the ministry of home affairs and have tied up with State Bank of India for the facility, said officials.

The e-challan project had faced a number of administrative and technical roadblocks. These included the machine malfunctioning due to weather conditions and the inability of policemen to operate the devices.

 

Source-http://www.hindustantimes.com

 

« Previous PageNext Page »