Hopes of seamless transport in Bengaluru pinned on BMLTA
The Hindu
Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority — which will bring agencies, such as BMTC, BMRCL, traffic police, BBMP, and BDA under one umbrella — is expected to improve coordination and planning among different transport and infrastructure development agencies
Much before starting commercial operations, the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Railway Terminal at Baiyappanahalli hit headlines for its “airport-like look’ and “world class” amenities, including a centralized air-conditioned system. More than ₹300 crore was spent to build the terminal — which can handle over 50,000 passengers a day — in order to decongest other busy railway stations in Bengaluru.
Though the state-of-the-art facility has been operational for six months, connectivity remains a major concern. The approach roads can’t handle such big volumes. The civic body’s proposal to build a “rotary flyover” at a cost of ₹300 crore has remained on paper.
The authorities have been ridiculed for coming out with connectivity plans after operationalizing the terminal instead of doing it in the conceptual stage.
The lack of seamless access among different modes of travel is not new. The non-integration of the metro station and the railway station at Yeshwanthpur, as also the different modes of transport at Majestic are just two examples.
After a gap of over three years, the Bangalore Development Authority recently resumed the work of adding more lanes to the Hebbal flyover. In 2019, the project was stalled after the BMRCL raised objections that construction of additional loops would come in the way of expansion of phase III, and integration of various modes of transport. The BDA then decided to redesign the project.
Considering these issues, the State government decided to constitute the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) for the regulation of development, operation, maintenance, monitoring, and supervision of urban mobility within the Bengaluru metropolitan area.
“The National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), 2014, recommends that cities with a population of more than 10 lakh have Unified Metropolitan Planning Authority,” said Manjula V., Commissioner, Directorate of Urban Land Transport.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”