Urban News

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Urban Infrastructure

CNR Rao Circle underpass to be ready by January

Tuesday, 26 November 2013 10:29 administrator
Print PDF

Deccan Herald         26.11.2013

CNR Rao Circle underpass to be ready by January

Half done BBMP Commissioner Lakshminarayana inspects the progress of the CNR Rao Circle underpass in Bangalore on Monday DH photo

Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner M Lakshminarayana has said that the CNR Rao Circle underpass will be completed by the end of January 2014.

During the inspection of the underpass along with other BBMP officers on Monday, Lakshminarayana said the work had gained momentum after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s inspection in September: “The project is being jointly executed by the East Coast Constructions and Industries (ECCI) and Madhava Hytech at a total cost of Rs 30 crore. Work amounting to Rs 21 crore has already been completed.” He also said the carriageway of the underpass connecting Malleswaram and Yeshwantpur will be operational within the next 15 days.

The Commissioner also inspected Okalipuram junction where a signal-free corridor project has been proposed. He said the State government has given its nod for the project and soil testing activity for the project had begun. “We have obtained permission from Anil Kumar Agarwal, Division Railway Manager (DRM), South Western Railways and Rs 70 crore has been deposited with the Railways,” Laxminarayana added.

Chairperson of BBMP’s standing committee for major works B Somashekar, who was present during the inspection, told Deccan Herald: “The CNR Rao underpass work started in the year 2010 and was supposed to end by December 2013 as per Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s directions.

However, due to factors like rains and problems with the previous contractor, the project was delayed. About 70 per cent of the work has been finished. Once the Y-shaped underpass is operational, it will ensure smoother traffic flow towards Yeshwantpur-Malleswaram and Yeshwantpur-Mekhri Circle.We are sure that the project will be completed by January.”

 

MC to switch on smart street lighting

Monday, 25 November 2013 11:57 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India            25.11.2013

MC to switch on smart street lighting

CHANDIGARH: Having failed to improve the functioning of the street lighting system throughout the city for the past several years, MC is all set to launch a new Intelligent Smart Street Lighting System (ISSL) in the city. This system, which has set an example, as far as conservation of energy in concerned, is successfully running in Hyderabad and Akola (Maharashtra) in India, besides Sri Lanka. Chandigarh will be the first city in northern India to launch this system.

The Hyderabad-based Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) "a consultancy agency" will make a preliminary assessment of the existing system of street lighting in Chandigarh, with a detailed energy audit of 40 electric points; identify various feasible options to move towards an efficient smart street light system, both technically and financially; design the street lighting system for 40 points; prepare a plan for scaling up for the entire city; and also prepare a request for the selection of a competent agency to effectively implement the system.

 

PMC to construct 35 public urinals in Patna

Friday, 22 November 2013 10:29 administrator
Print PDF

The Times of India      22.11.2013

PMC to construct 35 public urinals in Patna

PATNA: Men peeing in public are a common sight on the city streets. But are they really to blame? Where is the nearest public toilet?

While the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) authorities appear to look the other way, Patna residents rue their lot. The crowded Station Road, Boring Road, Hathwa Market, Kankerbagh, Mauryalok Complex, Raja Bazaar, Nala Road, Kadamkuan, Khaitan Market... Locality after locality is without a loo.

Locals complain about foul smell emanating from the surrounding areas. "There are few toilets in the vicinity, but most of them are not at all maintained," complains Hemant Mahesh, a shopkeeper on Station Road.

Meghna Kumari, a student, said, "The worst sufferers are women, but the civic body is not taking the problem seriously."

Even the PMC's Empowered Standing Committee keeps asking at its meetings why the municipal administration was sitting on the proposals for construction of toilets. When TOI queried about the number of public toilets in the city, PMC commissioner Kuldip Narayan retorted, "Numbers! Do you think the existing toilets are in good enough condition for being used?" He, however, admitted the city did not have too many toilets and they were in such a pathetic condition that one could not use them.

As per Section 255 'public latrines and urinals' of Bihar Municipal Act 2007, the municipality shall, by itself or through any other agency, provide and maintain at convenient places a sufficient number of public latrines and urinals for use by the public and such public latrines and urinals may be so constructed as to provide separate compartments for each sex.

According to sources, the total number of public toilets in Delhi is around 1,800 while Mumbai has over 1,100 public urinals. But Patna, having a population of 16.83 lakh (census 2011) has less than 100 public urinals. "Patna with its present population needs at least 500 public toilets but the city has only 90 and odd public toilets, including general, deluxe and Sulabh International toilets," said a senior PMC official.

The city has 32 deluxe public toilets constructed and maintained by Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited and 58 general ones constructed and maintained by PMC. While 25 of the PMC's public urinals are under New Capital circle, only six are under Kankerbagh circle, 19 under Bankipore circle and eight under Patna City circle. Sulabh International has few public urinals near Gandhi Maidan.

Narayan said, "We have a proposal to construct 30 to 35 more public urinals across the city. We are also planning to rope Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited in this project."

The question remains: whether the additional 35 urinal would be enough for a city as big as Patna.

 
More Articles...


Page 28 of 181