Bengaluru: 50 more roads set for TenderSure recast

BENGALURU: For all those who have rained on TenderSURE's parade, and were shamed into silence as both St. Marks Road and yes, Cunningham Road have been transformed, there's another 50 roads in the city that will get the TenderSure makeover in 2016.

Destined for pedestrian friendly pavements and designated parking are Indiranagar’s 100 feet road, Avenue Road, Infantry Road, Kasturba Road, Brigade Road and MG Road.

Since these roads are linked to Metro stations they will be transformed into pedestrians’ and cyclists' paradise with wider footpaths and dedicated bicycle lanes. Although, what happens to these major arterial roads - almost always clogged with traffic - as TenderSure narrows down the space for cars in these commercial areas, is a whole other question.

Janaagraha sends list of 118 roads for TenderSure makeover

Amidst criticism on TenderSURE roads, a recommendation has been sent to government to upgrade 118 city roads, stretching 146 km, to TenderSure specifications to ensure streamlined flow of traffic, said Swati Ramanathan, chairperson, Jana Urban Space Foundation (JUSP).

At a media interaction on Wednesday she said the government has already announced that it would pick 50 more roads and government is at wisdom in choosing roads. TenderSURE specification roads adhere to three sacred rules — no cutting of trees, no land acquisition and streamlining the traffic flow. The utilities running beneath the road and pavement have been addressed.

The strategic criteria for picking roads are proximity to metro, bus and railway stations, to link phase one of TenderSURE and create a grid-network of roads. Each grid covers at least two kilometres. All the roads have been GIS mapped, she said.

The genesis of TenderSure road is to have transparency and strategic planning of road design. Design is like science. No designs are approved on the table and no plan has been approved in isolation. Co-ordination meeting had been arranged with all the civic authorities. The apprehension that reduced carriage width would affect traffic flow has been answered. CM appreciated the project and announced to take up 50 more roads, she added.

The JUSP chairperson said that Bengaluru was humiliated nationally when it came to the condition of roads. The JUSP has put forth the TenderSURE guidelines. This can be replicated to improve the efficiency of roads across the city. Pedestrian path has been given importance.

The government is at liberty to engage other set of people or contractors to execute the road work by keeping the guidelines as the principal. JUSP has suggested some roads, which were not suited for the specifications and has not picked any arterial roads like Bellary Road as it inconveniences public.

Thumb rule of TenderSURE

• No tree cutting
• No land acquisition
• Streamlinging traffic
• Enhancing road network
• St Marks and Vittal Mallya Road have been completed.
• 4 roads taken up under phase 1 will be completed by May 2016.
• Commissariat, Museum, Cunningham and Residency Roads will be completed by May 2016
• Richmond Road will be taken up from January. It needs 12 months to complete
• Cost escalated by 10-12 percent due to revised specification which is standard

12 posers from activists opposing road project

Members of Forum for Urban Governance and Commons protested against the TenderSURE project alleging that it does not involve public opinion and failed to answer some of the valid questions.
The activists stormed Jana Urban Space Foundation and sought answers to some of their questions like why people were not involved in public consultation, who approved 100% cost escalation and what happened to hawkers. Another question they posed was when ducts run under the road why is it under the footpath in Bengaluru?
They had even listed out about 12 questions and alleged that the project was being executed in violation of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act.  
However, the JUSP authorities turned down their request and directed them to approach government for clarifications. Though they sought reply form JUSP Chairperson Swati Ramanathan, they were asked to leave.
Kshitij Urs, one of the members, said that though there was an elected BBMP council, JUSP has directly got the project approved by the Chief Minister’s and Chief Secretary’s office.
Another member Vinay Srinivas demanded them to hold public consultation about the project when public money was being utilized to execute it. Later, they left the premises stating that they would fight at the right forum against the project. Subsequently, a jurisdictional police officer was summoned to the spot.
Swati Ramanathan said that they had barged into their office. She also said that she would not entertain any public discussion and they can approach government directly.

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