Metro-Phase II is on target

Namma Metro-Phase II is under way. Tracks are being laid on the 72-km line at a cost of Rs 455 crore.  The construction of the elevated line (viaduct) and stations along the line are all right on track.

Building up an elevated line from Yelachenahalli to Anjanapur and Nayandahalli to Kengeri and stations on the stretch are all in their final stages. In Peenya, the BMRCL has 21,500 square feet of land that will be provided free to manufacturing contractors.  

The decision to go ahead with Phase II was because the third rail system proved its quality, according to officials. (Bangalore Mirror)

When Vidhana Soudha premises became public

The guarded Vidhana Soudha became a public space with Namma Bengaluru Habba, a carnival and open street day, last Sunday. “From kamsale to concerts and classical music to Dollu Kunitha; Bengaluru Habba had something for everyone; Tourism department’s event draws huge crowd; Vidhana Soudha was jam-packed by evening; Visitors were happy to walk inside the premises of Vidhana Soudha which had been thrown open to the public”, according a report in The New Indian Express.

Will Brand Bengaluru be hijacked as the ruling party’s symbol of ‘development’?

Now namma ooru has a new and interesting identity badge that puts it in the global tourists’ list of major cities. As it is the first logo designed for an Indian city, it aims to give Bengaluru a brand identity on par with New York, London and Amsterdam. Bringing in a mix of Kannada and English, it reflects the city’s ethos too, giving a glimpse of its gardens, innovation, technological prowess and start-up culture – perhaps even an electoral edge for the ruling party. (LiveMint)

Rubber sheets to lay new roads?

There is an interesting mix of ‘tiki tar’ bituminous rubber sheets that have replaced the usual gravel-sand mixture to lay new roads. Check them out in a 300m stretch in the Madiwala underpass. The new mix will help the roads to remain in good condition for seven to eight years. (TOI)

White topping of roads suspended for a while…. and only in some areas

Citizens have protested the traffic snarls caused by BBMP’s white topping projects on roads. So guess what? The BBMP will suspend work on white topping for a while, but prioritise work on roads that have alternative routes! (The Hindu)