The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), which is seeking a feedback from people on nine route options to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), has received suggestions from more than 1,000 people in just 10 days.
Urban planners, however, feel that BMRCL was not right in seeking a public consensus without providing complete information on the pros and cons of all the nine options.
In mid-September this year, BMRCL uploaded nine alternative routes for the airport link, which included the distance, expected time of completion, cost and projected ridership.
A BMRCL official said: "We receive about 20 to 40 mails each day and the total number of suggestions is more than 1,000. All of them would be compiled in a month for further evaluation," he added.
Of the nine options, five routes are extensions of the proposed Nagawara line (which is part of the Phase II Namma Metro Project) to the airport. However, each alignment is different. Transport consultancy RITES, which prepared a feasibility report for BMRCL, has also suggested two routes from Yeshwantpur and one each from Mehkri Circle and the proposed KR Puram line.
So, which of them is the most convenient Metro route to the airport? V Ravichandar, a city-based civic evangelist does not want to make a guess. "This decision is better taken by the BMRCL rather than the uninformed public. There is a need to look at many factors including land acquisition and development of the area. This is not available on the public domain," he pointed out.
Biocon chairman Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who is vocal about civic issues, too felt that seeking public consensus wouldnt entirely serve the purpose, as suggestions could be influenced by their proximity to Metro stations. "BMRCL should take expert views based on practicality of the proposal. However, there's nothing wrong in seeking a feedback from the public as long as decisions are taken quickly," she noted.
Meanwhile, urban mobility expert Sanjeev Dyamannavar wanted a Metro line that provides a seamless ride between the city and the airport, without making air-travellers change the Metro line at the inter-change station. "The routes from KR Puram and Yeshwantpur are not ideal as they are not direct lines to the airport.
Besides, there is no Metro connection to the proposed Metro route to Mehkri Circle from the city," he said, and suggested any route from Nagawara as it would directly connect the airport from the city.
According to sources, the Nagawara-Bellahalli-Yelahanka Town-Airport (Alternative - 9) has been recommended. Considering the proposed steel flyover to the airport from Chalukya Circle, there is pressure to extend the KR Puram line, which in the long run, will also connect Central Silk Board on the ORR. However, no decision has been taken so far.
DH News Service
Urban planners, however, feel that BMRCL was not right in seeking a public consensus without providing complete information on the pros and cons of all the nine options.
In mid-September this year, BMRCL uploaded nine alternative routes for the airport link, which included the distance, expected time of completion, cost and projected ridership.
A BMRCL official said: "We receive about 20 to 40 mails each day and the total number of suggestions is more than 1,000. All of them would be compiled in a month for further evaluation," he added.
Of the nine options, five routes are extensions of the proposed Nagawara line (which is part of the Phase II Namma Metro Project) to the airport. However, each alignment is different. Transport consultancy RITES, which prepared a feasibility report for BMRCL, has also suggested two routes from Yeshwantpur and one each from Mehkri Circle and the proposed KR Puram line.
So, which of them is the most convenient Metro route to the airport? V Ravichandar, a city-based civic evangelist does not want to make a guess. "This decision is better taken by the BMRCL rather than the uninformed public. There is a need to look at many factors including land acquisition and development of the area. This is not available on the public domain," he pointed out.
Biocon chairman Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who is vocal about civic issues, too felt that seeking public consensus wouldnt entirely serve the purpose, as suggestions could be influenced by their proximity to Metro stations. "BMRCL should take expert views based on practicality of the proposal. However, there's nothing wrong in seeking a feedback from the public as long as decisions are taken quickly," she noted.
Meanwhile, urban mobility expert Sanjeev Dyamannavar wanted a Metro line that provides a seamless ride between the city and the airport, without making air-travellers change the Metro line at the inter-change station. "The routes from KR Puram and Yeshwantpur are not ideal as they are not direct lines to the airport.
Besides, there is no Metro connection to the proposed Metro route to Mehkri Circle from the city," he said, and suggested any route from Nagawara as it would directly connect the airport from the city.
According to sources, the Nagawara-Bellahalli-Yelahanka Town-Airport (Alternative - 9) has been recommended. Considering the proposed steel flyover to the airport from Chalukya Circle, there is pressure to extend the KR Puram line, which in the long run, will also connect Central Silk Board on the ORR. However, no decision has been taken so far.
DH News Service
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL), which is seeking a feedback from people on nine route options to the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), has received suggestions from more than 1,000 people in just 10 days.
Urban planners, however, feel that BMRCL was not right in seeking a public consensus without providing complete information on the pros and cons of all the nine options.
In mid-September this year, BMRCL uploaded nine alternative routes for the airport link, which included the distance, expected time of completion, cost and projected ridership.
A BMRCL official said: "We receive about 20 to 40 mails each day and the total number of suggestions is more than 1,000. All of them would be compiled in a month for further evaluation,” he added.
Of the nine options, five routes are extensions of the proposed Nagawara line (which is part of the Phase II Namma Metro Project) to the airport. However, each alignment is different. Transport consultancy RITES, which prepared a feasibility report for BMRCL, has also suggested two routes from Yeshwantpur and one each from Mehkri Circle and the proposed KR Puram line.
So, which of them is the most convenient Metro route to the airport? V Ravichandar, a city-based civic evangelist does not want to make a guess. "This decision is better taken by the BMRCL rather than the uninformed public. There is a need to look at many factors including land acquisition and development of the area. This is not available on the public domain,” he pointed out.
Biocon chairman Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who is vocal about civic issues, too felt that seeking public consensus wouldn't entirely serve the purpose, as suggestions could be influenced by their proximity to Metro stations. "BMRCL should take expert views based on practicality of the proposal. However, there’s nothing wrong in seeking a feedback from the public as long as decisions are taken quickly,” she noted.
Meanwhile, urban mobility expert Sanjeev Dyamannavar wanted a Metro line that provides a seamless ride between the city and the airport, without making air-travellers change the Metro line at the inter-change station. "The routes from KR Puram and Yeshwantpur are not ideal as they are not direct lines to the airport.
Besides, there is no Metro connection to the proposed Metro route to Mehkri Circle from the city,” he said, and suggested any route from Nagawara as it would directly connect the airport from the city.
According to sources, the Nagawara-Bellahalli-Yelahanka Town-Airport (Alternative - 9) has been recommended. Considering the proposed steel flyover to the airport from Chalukya Circle, there is pressure to extend the KR Puram line, which in the long run, will also connect Central Silk Board on the ORR. However, no decision has been taken so far.
DH News Service
Urban planners, however, feel that BMRCL was not right in seeking a public consensus without providing complete information on the pros and cons of all the nine options.
In mid-September this year, BMRCL uploaded nine alternative routes for the airport link, which included the distance, expected time of completion, cost and projected ridership.
A BMRCL official said: "We receive about 20 to 40 mails each day and the total number of suggestions is more than 1,000. All of them would be compiled in a month for further evaluation,” he added.
Of the nine options, five routes are extensions of the proposed Nagawara line (which is part of the Phase II Namma Metro Project) to the airport. However, each alignment is different. Transport consultancy RITES, which prepared a feasibility report for BMRCL, has also suggested two routes from Yeshwantpur and one each from Mehkri Circle and the proposed KR Puram line.
So, which of them is the most convenient Metro route to the airport? V Ravichandar, a city-based civic evangelist does not want to make a guess. "This decision is better taken by the BMRCL rather than the uninformed public. There is a need to look at many factors including land acquisition and development of the area. This is not available on the public domain,” he pointed out.
Biocon chairman Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who is vocal about civic issues, too felt that seeking public consensus wouldn't entirely serve the purpose, as suggestions could be influenced by their proximity to Metro stations. "BMRCL should take expert views based on practicality of the proposal. However, there’s nothing wrong in seeking a feedback from the public as long as decisions are taken quickly,” she noted.
Meanwhile, urban mobility expert Sanjeev Dyamannavar wanted a Metro line that provides a seamless ride between the city and the airport, without making air-travellers change the Metro line at the inter-change station. "The routes from KR Puram and Yeshwantpur are not ideal as they are not direct lines to the airport.
Besides, there is no Metro connection to the proposed Metro route to Mehkri Circle from the city,” he said, and suggested any route from Nagawara as it would directly connect the airport from the city.
According to sources, the Nagawara-Bellahalli-Yelahanka Town-Airport (Alternative - 9) has been recommended. Considering the proposed steel flyover to the airport from Chalukya Circle, there is pressure to extend the KR Puram line, which in the long run, will also connect Central Silk Board on the ORR. However, no decision has been taken so far.
DH News Service