Urban Infrastructure

Gurgaon civic body plans streetlighting, potable water facilities for 34 villages

Tuesday, 22 September 2009 10:36 administrator

Indian Express 22.09.2009

Gurgaon civic body plans streetlighting, potable water facilities for 34 villages

Proper streetlighting, provision of clean drinking water and functional sewage treatment plants might still elude many of those living in urbanised Gurgaon, but may soon turn into reality for 34 villages around the Millennium City.

The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon has engaged a private company to conduct a village-wise survey to gauge local needs.

The civic body has already ordered 140 high mast lights to be set up at the 34 villages. “The plan is to install two to six (as per requirement) high mast lights in these villages. These lights can illuminate a large area and are easier to maintain. The other benefit is that such lights offer minimum ground-level obstruction,” a senior municipal official said.

The independent consultant will submit the survey report by October-end, after which village-wise planning will be carried out, the official added.

Also, the civic body plans to involve locals in the project by setting up citizen supervisory committees to oversee the work.

“We will make the final payment to the contractors only after these committees give us their approval on the work,” the officer said.

The municipal body also plans to install sewage treatment plants at 11 villages to meet the requirement for the next 30 years.

These include villages like Begampur Khatola, Sihi, Tigri and Tigra among others. Water will be recycled at these plants and used for purposes like horticulture and washing.

“It is the Haryana Urban Development Authority’s responsibility to provide sewage facilities to both the urban sectors and the adjoining villages. These 11 villages, however, have never had an STP so far. We will now connect the outflow from these villages to the main HUDA line,” chief engineerY S Gupta said.

The municipal body also plans to provide a separate line for potable water to these villages.

“There will be two separate connections with different colour coding to differentiate between recycled and drinking water lines. We will provide the drinking water line either through the boring wells within the villages or connect with the HUDA main line,” the official said.

The projects would be functional by January at the earliest next year, the official said.

The details of cost would be worked out only after the survey report is in, but funds were not a problem, the official assured.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 September 2009 10:45

No feet for city pedestrians

Saturday, 19 September 2009 05:04 administrator

Deccan Chronicle 19.09.2009

No feet for city pedestrians

September 19th, 2009

By Our Correspondent

Bengaluru, Sept. 18: The city’s footpaths have been usurped by construction companies, religious shrines, small-time vendors, trees and even electric posts. And some major roads never had a pavement to begin with!

The dire situation faced by pedestrians in the city was brought to light by a report of the Centre for Infrastructure, Sustainable Transport and Urban Planning (CiSTUP), which had been approached by the state government to think of ideas to make city roads accessible to pedestrians.

A report on pedestrian policies has also been submitted to CiSTUP and the organisation will revert back with their recommendations.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior CiSTUP member said, “The policy has been drafted after consulting several stakeholders. Once the CiSTUP submits the revised report to the government, it will work on implementing the same.”

“The traffic policies introduced during the last few years have been motorist-centric. It did not account for the pedestrians, who constitute a majority of road users. Our current emphasis is on pedestrian mobility and accessibility. The new policy will be implemented as soon as possible,” the member added.

Traffic experts point out that the encroachment of footpaths will make the task more difficult.

“Clearing the encroachment on the footpaths is a pending issue and the government has to think of rehabilitation ideas to solve the problem,” said additional commissioner of police (traffic) Praveen Sood.

“We have said time and again that pedestrians must not be ignored in our policy planning. Almost 60 per cent of those who die on the city roads are on foot at the time. Riders of two-wheelers are also a high-risk fatality group, accounting for 30 per cent of the deaths. Safe pedestrian crossings, underpasses and skywalks are a must in some busy areas in Bengaluru. More resources also have to be mobilised by the government to ensure that pedestrians can walk safely on the roads in the city,” the additional commissioner added.

Traffic police propose flyovers at several places

Friday, 18 September 2009 01:06 administrator

The Hindu 18.09.2009

Traffic police propose flyovers at several places

HYDERABAD: The city traffic police have identified 23 busy junctions where it has become necessary to build new flyovers to ensure smooth flow of vehicular traffic.

In a communication to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) a few months ago, it has urged for a proper study of the traffic flow pattern to take up works at the earliest.

The Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) has pointed out in his communication to GHMC Commissioner that the capital has 20 lakh vehicles and everyday close to 500 new vehicles are being added on to the roads. He also stated that the current 11.62 per cent of the road network area is “highly inadequate” for free flow of traffic and is resulting in frequent hold ups in various places resulting in tremendous hardship to the commuting public.

Flyover from the intelligence office in Lakdikapul to Mahavir Hospital (1.6 km) is among the top priority work according to the traffic police.

Other flyovers it had suggested are from: RTC Crossroads to Indira Park crossroads – 1.5 k.m., Pratibha Bhavan (towards Taj island) to Phool Bagh (towards Osmangunj) – 0.8 k.m., Yousuf & Co (towards Abids) to Vikranti theatre (towards Jambagh) – 0.3 k.m.

Bhashyam School to Indian Institute of Health & Family Welfare, S.R. Nagar junction – 0.9 k.m., Swarna Jayanti Complex, Maitrivanam to Chermas, Ameerpet – 1.5 k.m., Vivesvaraiah statue, Khairatabad to Vidyut Soudha & Raj Bhavan road – 0.3 k.m., Hyderabad Tent House, Mettuguda Crossroads to Railway Officers Club – 1 k.m., Alexander Road, Patny Crossroads to Mahaboob College 0.35 km.

GHMC head office to Old Gandhi Medical College, Liberty – 0.4 k.m., Bahadurpura police station to Nehru Zoological Park – 0.9 k.m., Seven Temple, Bowenpally to Cantonment playground & towards H.P. Petrol Pump – 0.5 k.m., RTA Office, Trimulgherry to Football ground – 0.5 k.m., Wesley College bus stop, Rasoolpura to Begumpet police station – 0.6 k.m.

Road No.1/12 junction, Banjara Hills to Banjara Hills function hall to Hotel Taj Banjara – 0.6 k.m., State Bank of India, Karkhana (Trimulgherry) to Apollo Hospital, Vikrampuri – 0.6 k.m., Jubilee Hills check post to App Labs, Road No.2/Banjara Hills – 0.6 k.m., Musi River Bridge – Tilaknagar Railway Bridge – 0.3 k.m. & towards Nallakunta vegetable market – 0.37 k.m., Himmatpura junction, Shahalibanda to Badhaka Jaad (towards Charminar) – 0.6 k.m., Moosarambagh, Malakpet to Chaitanyapuri towards Dilsukhnagar – 2 k.m., DMRL Crossroads towards Santoshnagar & L.B. Nagar – 0.6 k.m., Kandikal Railway Gate towards Chandrayanagutta – 0.55 k.m., & Uppuguda Railway Gate towards R.P. Colony – 0.55 km.

Phases

GHMC has already initiated process to construct the first and the last two mentioned flyovers. They are under various phases of design preparation, tenders finalisation, etc. But, considering its current financial state, it’s doubtful if other works can be taken up in the near future.

Besides, for some proposed flyovers under Secunderabad Cantonment jurisdiction, getting permission of the Defence Ministry for land acquisition and other issues is going to be tough.

Last Updated on Friday, 18 September 2009 01:07

MC to repair Sec-17 parking lots

Thursday, 17 September 2009 06:34 administrator

The Times of India 17.09.2009

MC to repair Sec-17 parking lots

TNN 17 September 2009, 02:35am IST

CHANDIGARH: Municipal corporation is all set to start repair work and cleanliness campaign for all parking lots falling in Sector-17, a prime commercial sector of the city.

There are 13 parking lots, including paid and free ones, in Sector-17, where intensive cleanliness campaign will be embarked on from Thursday.

Engineering wing officials and workers of medical office of health (MOH) would jointly take part in the campaign that would be inaugurated by commissioner of the civic body Roshan Sunkaria.

According to information, the condition of the parking lots has become pitiable, as heaps of garbage, dilapidated condition of the lots and non-functional lights can be clearly seen in the parking lots of the commercial hub.

Giving details, senior official of the civic body, on condition of anonymity, revealed, “The campaign is being carried out following a number of complaints from public. And things had come to our notice through official inspections. The condition of the lots, especially of the underground parking, has grown grimmer.”

Speaking about future actions, he added, “We would run a thorough campaign in other areas as well after completion of the one in Sector-17.”

The civic body has given the underground parking in Sector-8 to the market welfare association of Sector-8. Now, they would be running the parking lot and would take care of the entire lot on their own.

Earlier, it was lying vacant, as no contractor had come forward to take that parking lot during the auction.

CP to get eight new subways

Monday, 14 September 2009 16:17 administrator

The Indian Express 14.09.2009

CP to get eight new subways

In a bid to make Connaught Place and its surrounding areas pedestrian friendly, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided to construct eight new subways in the Outer Circle, besides redeveloping the existing subways before next year’s Commonwealth Games.

Engineers India Limited, the consultant company hired by NDMC for its CP redevelopment project, invited bids last month for work on the subways. According to a senior NDMC official, three bids have been shortlisted but the civic body is yet to decide who will be awarded the tender.

According to the proposal, a road level pedestrian subway will be constructed between K-Block and Yusuf Zai Market. While seven underground pedestrian subways will be constructed between Gopaldas Building and M-Block; Statesman House and N-Block; Railway Colony and H-Block; H-Block and Chelmsford Road; P-Block and G-Block, Baba Kharag Singh Marg and J-Block. One underground subway will also be constructed on K G Marg, connecting the area to the Outer Circle.

These subways, according to NDMC officials, will be based on modern designs. “The subways will have granite floorings and staircases. The existing outer façade of the existing subways will also be restored,” a senior NDMC official said.

The subways will also be connected to the central cooling mechanism that is to be installed in CP. Installation of escalators and a security system complete with closed-circuit television cameras is also on the cards. The escalators will be installed in the existing and new subways, which will also have ramps for the disabled.

The proposal is a part of the CP redevelopment plan, which includes the restoration of all 16 blocks, and the redevelopment of neighbouring areas like Hanuman Mandir, Palika Bazaar and Shankar Market. Work related to the construction and redevelopment of subways is expected to begin next month and the subways are expected to be ready by August next year.

“While an extension of the deadline could be required considering that the whole CP redevelopment project has been delayed because of the time taken to get all clearances, all the old subways will be restored and at least five of the new subways will be ready before the 2010 Games,” the official said.

Last Updated on Monday, 14 September 2009 16:27

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