- Minister flags of air-conditioned bus
Hundreds stared at the sleek, glistening red air-conditioned bus. Some wanted to have a feel of the comfortable interiors while others wanted to be part of its maiden ride. The Tata Marcopolo bus was flagged off on Sunday by transport minister R Ashok at the Kempegowda bus stand.The Marcopolo bus looks similar to the Volvo, but has a few distinct features. At present, the company has offered two models free of cost for Bangalore. If the bus becomes popular, more will be bought soon. The minister said the government has provided land and industrial facilities in Dharwad for the largest manufacturing unit of this bus; it will soon be up and running.
- Residents rue magic box on Sankey Road
The magic box and mini-flyover on Sankey Road were built to ease the traffic congestion, but they've made life miserable for residents on Palace Cross Road. The one-way rule there hasn't helped either and they'd rather have the traffic police revert to the original routing.Residents want reversal of the one-way rule on the cross road and installation of signals on the Palace Cross Road to cut down speed of vehicles. They'd like vehicles coming from Mount Carmel College (MCC) to go on to the main road rather than get into Palace Cross Road and then on to Sankey Road.
- 67% projects in Karnataka are no-show
Is 'Destination Karnataka' more on paper than on the ground? A study of the large projects with lakhs of crores of investment announced over the past six years reveals that almost 67% of them are 'no-shows'.Every few months, government bodies like the single-window agency and the state high-level clearance committee (SHLCC) announce they have cleared a host of companies making investment in the state.
- Nod for Yeshwantpur, RV Road extensions
The government has approved 8.7-km extension to the north-south corridor of Namma Metro. The urban development department (UDD), through an order dated October 21, cleared the extension, subject to obtaining the Centre's clearance.The two stretches to be covered under the extension: Yeshwantpur to Hesaraghatta (5.6 km) and RV Road terminal to Jaraganahalli on Kanakapura Road (3.1 km).
- K'taka: Nandi Infrastructure freed of BMIC judicial probe
The promoters of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project, Nandi Infrastructure Developers uttered a sigh of relief when the Karnataka Government on Tuesday, Oct 7 decided to rescind previous BJP-JDS-Coalition Government's decision for a Judicial probe into the allotment of land for the project.Briefing newsmen after the cabinet meeting, Minister for Home Dr V S Acharya said that the previous coalition government had ordered for a Judicial probe into the controversial allotment of over 20,000 acres of land to Nandi Infrastructure developers, the promoters of the Bangalore-Mysore highway corridor project.
- 10 new reservoirs to solve water woes
Here is some good news for those who have been waiting for regular Cauvery water supply in the newly added areas of the BBMP. The BWSSB has identified sites for setting up as many as 10 new reservoirs in these areas, which means, water supply will no longer be limited only to borewells. - Activists slam BBMP chief of road committee
The expert committee constituted to review the BBMP's road-widening project is facing flak over alleged non-compliance with the court's directive. Yellappa Reddy, former environment secretary and chairman of the committee, has come under fire for allegedly keeping citizens away from the committee's proceedings. - 20-point agenda for city's revival
For citizens concerned about their city, here's yet another forum. You can voice your concern on social and civic issues, along with Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, scion of the erstwhile Mysore royal family, Girish Karnad, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Ramachandra Guha and other wellknown residents.Janswara, a non-political organization headed by Wadiyar and formed in June, was formally launched here on Monday. Wadiyar said the idea is to identify problems and propose solutions. The organization's 20-point programme will help create a manifesto to be given to the government every three months. Members will meet the chief minister with the manifesto by October.
- Work to begin on November 1
Work on the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) will begin on November 1 from the Mysore side. This will be a Rajyotsava gift for Mysoreans, NICE MD Ashok Kheny said on Tuesday. He said the project will be completed by December 2009. The implementing agency is looking at awarding the 10 km work per contractor . Work on building townships along the expressway will also be taken up simultaneously. - WAY TO GO
Bangalore Inc has welcomed the Yeddyurappa government's move to clear the few nagging hurdles before the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMIC). Business leaders told TOI the project must be speedily completed .BMIC has had a bumpy ride so far - battling over two dozen court cases in both the state high court and the Supreme Court with the latter finally directing the government to complete it without creating more hurdles. "The project is absolutely essential for citizens of Karnataka and this government must ensure its completion without succumbing to political pressure," said T V Mohandas Pai, director, Infosys. "The project , when completed, will provide great economic benefit to the state and improve the morale of industry. Currently, morale is low because of politics surrounding the growth of infrastructure ."
- NICE told to furnish details
Furnish all technical details and take land -- seems to be the State Government’s stand on the controversial Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project.The new BJP Government, which has decided to abide by the Supreme Court order on the project, has sought technical details on the proposed peripheral road from Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE), the promoter of Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC).
- Karnataka to get 100 MW of power from Chhattisgarh
Power-starved Karnataka has been promised 100 megawatt of energy by the Chattisgarh government.Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh met Karnataka Power Minister K S Eswarappa and gave an assurance to this effect, sources in Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) said.
- SC sweeps aside last roadblock to BMIC
The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Election Commission order, issued during the assembly polls, directing the state government to withhold permission to the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises project.Governor Rameshwar Thakur’s executive committee in April gave the green signal to BMIC promoters Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises to go ahead with the project. As the decision was taken when the assembly elections were in progress, the EC directed the government of Karnataka, then under President’s rule, to withdraw its order. The government acted accordingly.
- Cut power only for one hour: BJP
Power cuts in Dakshina Kannada district will not last more than an hour. Mangalore MP D V Sadananda Gowda announced this while taking part in the district-level vigilance and monitoring committee meeting here on Wednesday.Gowda instructed Mescom officials to stop unnecessary power cuts and ensure round-the-clock power supply till November.
- No approval, yet Rs 3 cr granted to Bidar airport
The proposed airport project at Bidar is not yet cleared by the Airports Authority of India, but already the State government has released Rs 3 crore for the construction of temporary sheds at the site. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced the release of the funds at Basava Kalyan, on his visit recently, responding to an appeal for the same by deputy commissioner Harsha Gupta. - Bangalore to get exclusive funds for development
This Silicon city of the country will be earmarked exclusive funds in the 2008-09 budget for infrastructure development, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said .Initiating a discussion on 'Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure Development' here, he said ''as promised in the BJP's election manifesto, Bangalore, which has earned name as the IT hub of India, will get a separate fund for infrastructure not only to attract more investments to the city, but also to overcome the congestion, including traffic, now faced.''
- BSY seeks Rs 5000 crore grant for Bangalore
The Karnataka Government has sought an ad-hoc grant of Rs 5000 crore from the Centre to help it launch a major upgradation of infrastructural facilities in Bangalore city. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today said that he had made a request with the Finance Minister P Chidambaram, during his meeting here on Monday. - High-speed railway corridor gets Centres approval
The Railway Ministry has agreed to the State government’s suggestion to set up a high-speed railway corridor between Bangalore and Hubli and Hubli and Pune besides extending it to Mysore from Bangalore. - Budget 2008: Infrastructure funds cut, no special grants to projects
Infrastructure facilities in the City received a raw deal in the vote on account presented in Parliament. Compared with the last years budget allocation for urban infrastructure here, this time allocation has come down by 15.06 per cent. - 3 elevated corridors for Bangalore
For the traffic-weary, here is some cheering news. To reduce traffic congestion and travel time in Bangalore, the authorities have planned to build three elevated high-density corridors (road-over-roads) stretching 21 km. But wait. The much-hyped Rs 800-crore tunnel road proposed between Minsk Square and Hebbal flyover may give way to one corridor.BDA commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda told TOI: “If the BBMP takes up the proposed elevated corridor from Minsk Square to Hebbal flyover, there will be no need for a tunnel road on the stretch. Moreover, a tunnel road project is time-consuming and a costly affair.’’
- Students ask Bangalore motorists to be patient
It was a different Sunday outing for about 100 students in the city. They took to the streets holding placards with a unique message - requesting motorists to be patient. Tomorrow's road users set an example on what individuals can do to improve traffic.The walk started at Gandhi statue on MG Road and concluded at Richmond Town. Students of Baldwin, Bishop Cotton, Sacred Heart and Cathedral schools came out with creative messages. They shouted slogans like: "We love Bengaluru, not Galeejuru (dirty city)" and "Let's stop pointing fingers at others".
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