Median relief
Since Nisho and I had cribbed about the vanishing ORR medians few weeks ago, thought I should post an update. We had left complaints on BCP website, and were told that the medians will soon be redone as part of BTRAC. So about over a month ago, they did start working on them!
BTW, I see considerable road work happening here and there in south Bangalore. Those thin brick like medians on many interior roads, fresh and bright lane markings on some as well, some roads getting re-surfaced, some widened – seems like someone is on the job.
Wish they would start some parking enforcements on some of these re-done roads as well. Otherwise, the road widening projects turn into parking lot projects – people just start using the extra width for parking.
I was just gonna post an update on this but you beat me to it… :-)
Yes, it does seem like someone’s on the job but it’s really saddening to see some bikers still trying to cross over the median wherever they can find a lil’ space. Today morning I also saw a truck crossing over the median even though the road was dug up to put in the bricks. But anyways, on the brighter side, things are looking brighter now… :-)
Things have been indeed brighter since a year and a half. Seems like u r trying to remove your dark glasses now!
Liked your small dig there Anon. If you go by the announcements, things have always been bright at Bangalore :)
And look at us, we are getting happy at getting things that are like **basics**. Who does 80 kmph 6 lane road with no median?
Our rank low expectations, and classic middle class tolerance – shall I call it indifference (“whats the point, we are all making good money” types) – are the reasons our public servants take us for granted.
I saw a pedestrian get crushed by one of these median jumpers (b/w Innovative and Intel), that is where some of the anger is coming from.
Be positive, but please, be real as well.
Make that ‘unsuspecting’ pedestrian, who BTW, had no sidewalk available as there is none, so was walking on the edge of the road.
Yup – if announcements of plans were to be a measure of a country’s success, we would be #1. Cynicism aside, I did see a number of roads where they have put up and putting up medians.
I just wish they would do small stretches at a time and finish them rather than dump material over long stretches. Some of these are real hazards. In the night and in the rain, someone could easily hit one of those. (I can see a couple even in the picture!)
I also read some more of the announcements from the DCP that they were “planning” to make school zones safer. At least they recognize the need now. I used to ride a cycle back home sometimes when I was in school – from Museum Road to my house in HAL. Can you imagine that now?
Appropriate post to sound my long-running query! have you guys noticed that our roads are always laid over and over again (I know that sounds quite obscene but my intention is anything but that :-). My concern is, our government lays the road over and above an existing road – I’ve rarely seen roads being dug first and laid from scratch (good exception/ example: Koramangala 80 feet road).
So, this over laying lands us in another trouble – the medians get smaller and at one point becomes non-existent, allowing BMTC buses to cross them easily, if need be. So what do we do? We raise fresh medians like Silkboard has captured here.
But what about the shops/ houses/ establishments on either side of the road? Won’t they run the risk of flooding in case of a massive rain since they will eventually become low-lying areas thanks to the amazing ‘growth’ of our roads? I’m sure they cannot match the growth of the roads and medians every now and then!
I know of one of my relatives’ house in Chennai that went through this evolution and they’re now forced to demolish it and build it afresh.
Rightly said Karthik.
Just wait for another two years and you will find all these medians begin to ‘grow’ small…. once again!!!!!!
I think the biggest problem with our city is ‘law enforcement’.Blackberries and cameras will not help unless our officers have the right attitude and the right powers to deal with offenders.
Lets hope btrac-2010 will make things better for bangalore.
SN, on the subject of police and enforcement, I predict that police reforms initiated by Supreme Court last year will be a significant change maker. Will be a huge thing if it happens, sad to see that some states are dragging their feet over it.
Karthik, good point! Though I am curious if the budget and terms for relaying the road take care of medians, drains and footpaths as well. If it doesn’t, then what a waste. Thats kind of like serving a meal with just plain rice, no saaru or palyaa :)
Yes lots of work being done. However, what’s the use of nicely marked lanes when no one respects them?