Namma Metro

On Monday, when Namma Metro rattled down the tracks on CMH Road, hundreds of excited shop owners and shoppers perched on building terraces sent up a huge roar of applause into the air.

But Ahmed, who owns a commercial complex, was cold to the cheering -- his vacant building stared him in the face.

Among hundreds of shops that have been disturbed due to the Metro alignment on the stretch, Ahmed's newly built complex has had no takers since 2003. Why? Because of rumours about land acquisition by Metro and subsequent construction work.

"It's a 16,000 sqft commercial space that would have easily fetched me about Rs 8 lakh to Rs 10 lakh rentals per month. 

Thanks to the Metro, I have lost out on crores of rupees. Since businesses have seen a dip in the area, who will want to set up shop here? Metro will certainly benefit Bangalore, but what about our livelihoods?'' asked Ahmed.

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) organised the test trial run which took the residents living along Byappanahalli to CMH road stretch by surprise. Two runs happened successfully in the noon with three coaches having BMRCL staff and Metro workers on board. A loco-pilot from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was at the wheel.

As the glossy train glided over the elevated stretch, for a moment, the shopkeepers looked awestruck and forgot their anti-Metro protests. In the Reach I sector between Byappanahalli and MG Road, CMH road traders protested the most as the project would affect their businesses.

More than 1,500 shops are situated on CMH Road and the stretch which was once touted as the next 100 feet road of Indiranagar, has seen a 75% dip in business ever since Metro work started. "We are happy that Metro has finally rolled out. But traders are unhappy over the chain of events due to which the area has been reduced to shambles. Now Metro is over and another problem of parking has cropped up. The police have banned parking on the road, so where do shoppers park their vehicles?'' asks CMH Road Shops and Traders Association president Imtiaz Ahmed.

While the rentals and land prices in any commercial hub rise periodically, it is the otherway round on CMH Road. The rentals have dropped, some traders have shifted their business out of the area and landlords cannot go in for rental revision. "Some shops have suffered so badly that since the past two years, traders have not been paying their rents. They have entered into agreements with their landlords that the rents would be paid only after the Metro is commissioned. Landlords have no choice but to agree,'' said the association president.

Meanwhile, it's top class

The structural viability of Metro is upto the mark. According to the chairman, state task force for quality assurance in public works, Prof C S Vishwanatha, Namma Metro's structure and quality of infrastructure functional efficiency is far superior to Delhi Metro as well as Chennai Metro. "We keep inspecting the project and give our feedback to BMRCL from time to time.

The organisation has not compromised on quality and safety issues. The freak mishaps that occurred are normal and usually happen when massive projects are underway, more so, when road spaces are narrow,'' Vishwanatha explained.

One among the many suggestions put forth by the task force and complied with by the BMRCL was switching over from ordinary concrete to self compacting concrete which is more superior in quality. Meanwhile, BMRCL managing director N Sivasailam is positive about commissioning the project in January.

Namma Metro!

Know About Namma Metro!

With the IT revolution sprouting from Bangalore, there has been an increase in the floating population and a corresponding increase in the daily traffic congestion thanks to the inadequate public transport. The gap between the requirements and the available facilities has always been a bane for the daily commuter - but come April 2012 and the cosmopolitan city will sport a new feather in its cap, as the Namma Metro project comes live.

Here’s a peek into the Bangalore Metro and what it has to offer for the daily commuters.

Snaking Through the City - The Routes

The Metro will serve as a connecting link for all the important commercial and residential areas of the city. The total length of the service covers 42.3 kilometers, with the East-West corridor measuring 18.1 kilometers and the North-South corridor being 24.2 kilometers.

The East-West corridor starts from Byappanahalli and goes via Indira Nagar, M.G. Road, Vidhana Soudha, Majestic, Magadi Road and Vijaynagar to Mysore Road. The North-South corridor, at a length of 24.2 kilometers, starts at Nagasandra and goes via Rajajinagar, Malleshwaram, Majestic, City Market, Lalbagh, K.R. Road, and Jayanagar to Puttenahalli. Along this route, the tracks for 8.822 kilometers will be underground (near the Vidhana Soudha) and the rest of the route would be elevated. The total number of Metro stations set up is 32.

The Fare

Around 820,000 commuters are expected to travel through the Bangalore Metro every day and the fare has been fixed at 1.5 times the BMTC bus fare, and this has been done so that all commuters can enjoy a traffic free and comfortable ride. The minimum fare will be INR 10 for a one-way trip.

The tentative fare table has been given below:

Tickets for the journey from Byappanahalli can be availed in four types:

Station From/To	Byappanahalli	Swami Vivekananda Road	Indira Nagar	Ulsoor	Trinity	MG Road
	A	B	C	D	E	F
A	10	10	12	12	14	15
B	10	10	10	12	12	14
C	12	10	10	10	12	12
D	12	12	10	10	10	12
E	14	12	12	10	10	10
F	15	14	12	12	10	10

1. Contactless Smart Tokens (CST): Tokens are to be touched on the pad near the entry gates at the Main Entry and slots will be provided in the Exit Stations where they can dropped after use.
2. Contactless Smart Cards (CSC): These tickets provide discounted fares and can be bought for INR 50, which is non-refundable.
3. Group Tickets:  These are paper tickets and they can be issued to a group of ten members travelling between same stations.
4. Integrated Metro-Bus Ticket: Available at both Metro and bus stations, you’ll be able to take up any bus or Metro within the city for the stipulated time, increasing your commute options.

The Men Behind the Metro

The team behind the Bangalore Metro has worked endlessly with heart for the past few years to bring the plan to life. Mr. N. Sivasailam has led the project from the front with able inputs from D.D. Pahuja, Director (Signaling & Electric/Rolling Stock) and B. S. Sudhir Chandra, Director (Project and Planning).

Some Quick Facts on Namma Metro

• Each train will have three coaches and will have a carrying capacity of 1000 passengers.
• A dry test run was conducted from Byappanahalli to CMH road on the 27^th of December, 2010.
• Namma Metro will be launched on the 20^th of October, 2011, at 10.30 am.
• There will be 32 metro operators overall, and among them five will be women.
• The State Bank of India has launched its ATM-cum-transit card which can be used for cash transactions and to board the metro.
• The project received funds of INR 1447 crore from the Central Government and INR 1807 crore from the State Government.

DOODH SAGAR between Karnataka

Away from the pristine beaches, Gothic churches that unfold the grandiose of erstwhile Portuguese era, not all are aware of Goa’s rich and bounteous flora and fauna. Predominately relegated to lesser  ranks during the rainy season, many tourists debunk places around Goa stating ‘off season’. But for any adventure  freak, the touted ‘off season’ in Goa unfolds a sequence of destinations which would test their endurance on par with any other adventure locations in India.

Gifted with the bounteous wealth of nature, Goa boasts of rich natural vegetation. Sandwiched between the  Arabian sea and lofty Western Ghats, the eastern areas of Goa within the jurisdiction of Sanguem, Ponda, Canacona  are often compared with the tropical forest of Amazon and Cango for their rich biodiversity. The rainy season or the  sidelined ‘off season’ unveils the sylvan beauty of Goan forests. Though not easy to explore, the forest areas with  steep valleys, thick fog and heavy rains sets up a perfect ambiance for the seasoned rain trek for trekkers.

Rain trek, even though not as popular as any other packages of Goan tourism, is a refreshing experience to  encounter the wilderness from a close quarter and the cheapest means of enjoying the nature in Goa. Trekking along  the Konkan railway lane cutting might hills and thick vegetation, offers you the guided way to a certain level. Pitch  dark railway tunnels spanning several kilometers, pounding rains all through the trek, chilling weather, unique  wildlife and bewitching beauty of water falls will charge you with an utmost energy level.

Perched amidst the Bhagwan Mahaveer wildlife sanctuary the Doodh Sagar water falls, which is around 60 kms  from the Goan capital Panaji and 30 kms from Margao. Cascading from a height of 600 ft in three different phases,  the Doodh Sagar falls is said to be the boundary between Karnataka and Goa. Like any other falls in the Southern  plateau, Doodh Sagar too treats you with exquisite charms in its full flux especially during monsoon and post  monsoon. The beauty of the falls, similar to the idyllic Eden basking atop lofty mountain cliffs, appears like a stream  of milk converging deep inside the earth amidst lush green forest from a distance.

Provided with relatively good infrastructure, the falls is well linked by road and rail network. However, for any trekkers,  the rail lane offers a memorable experience. People often trek to the falls in two different routes. A few find it easy to  trek from Madgaon (Goa) side while a few wish to trek from the Castle Rock (Karnataka) the last railway station from Karnataka side.  But trekkers starting from Madgaon will have better advantage over others in capturing the beauty of the falls as they trek parallel to the falls from a distance spanning a few kilometers. Be prepared to save yourself from leeches and sliding hillocks.

Frequent trains plying between Belgaum and Madgaon will drop you close to the trek route. Starting from  Madgaon side, trekkers begin their ardous trek from the Sonalim station which is around 15 km before the Doodh Sagar station and 10 km before the falls. The  stretch interspersed with railway tunnels, passing by streams, tall trees of evergreen rain forest and heavy rains will  make you run for the cover. Braving the odds till a considerable distance will lead you to makeshift huts of railway  gang men. Hailing from the native hamlets around by, these workers will explain you the ‘folk tale’ which lent the  name ‘Doodh Sagar’ to the falls.

According to these men, a powerful king lived atop the mountains of Western Ghats along the Goan frontier. His  palace was built with pure ivory and embellished with precious stones and beautiful gardens of exotic flowers.  Towards the end of the forest which marked the boundary of his palace, there was a huge lake used by the princess  for bathing. The princess while bathing had the habit of sipping sugared milk served to her in a golden kettle. Once,  while she was bathing in the lake a prince of the neighbouring kingdom passed by and stopped at the lake after  hearing chuckling voices. Noticing his presence the princess poured the entire milk into the lake to shield her body  from the glances of the stranger! The lake water mixed with the Sugared milk by the humble princess till falling  down as a cascading stream of milk or Doodh Sagar!

Whether you believe it or not. But the tale by the locals will take you to a different world and thus further enriching   your trek. A few people will also introduce you to medicinal herbs and plants available around. A few species of  aromatic plants and creeps will catch you by surprise. But for nature’s sake do not pluck them but enjoy the aroma  and beauty. Further, an hour trek from the shelters of gang men will bring you right under the falls! But all along the  way whenever the forest canopy opens you to broad daylight, the view of the falls transforms to be a large canvas for  the shutterbugs. Click as much as you want, till your camera card goes full! If you are lucky enough the passing by  trains on the backdrop of falls atop the tall bridge will get you the frame of your life.

But once you reach the falls, keep away all the optical instruments, accessories etc safely wrapped in polythene.  Because your enjoyment and ecstasy should not inflict you with huge losses. Two watch towers one in front of the falls  and another next to the falls will cover you from getting drenched. However, if you are determined to get drenched  then be careful and stand on the tracks while keep your ears open to the chugging sound of train from either side. Get  drenched till you are satisfied. Once you are done with water exercises, sit at a crucial point enjoy the cascading  beauty and unknowingly your mind will be engulfed in the myth you had listened to initially.

Though there is no hospitality services around, the station master house at the Doodh Sagar station will offer you  some respite. You will get a few cups of tea and crispy local cookies with which you could ward off the chilling cold  for a while. Catch a train towards either the Castle Rock or Madgaon and board the train without any ticket as the Doodh Sagar station does not have ticketing facility. Travel free of cost upto Kulem towards Goa or Castle Rock towards Belgaum and then buy a ticket. Despite the single conectivity through rail lanes, the popularity of the falls especially during rainy season, has spread across just by the teams of trekkers who visit every year.

Mumbai

 

          The earliest historical reference to Mumbai was during the late Magadha empire, when it was a group of islands which was home to group of fishermen, where a group of Buddhist monks had set up an outpost. The islands passed from one empire to another for the next two millennia, until the maritime trade empire of the British began to develop this natural harbour on the west coast of India into a city. Over the course of the next four centuries, the city has grown by a series of land reclamations which now link the original islands into one mass.Today Mumbai serves the dual role of being the financial capital of India as well as the home to India’s highly popular film industry. It is a vibrant, bustling metropolis with an indomitable spirit.

Reaching Mumbai    
By Air

Mumbai?s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport receives both domestic and international traffic to the city from a large number of airlines. It is the busiest airport of the country, and handles at least 45 landings and take-offs per hour. The two domestic and two international terminals are connected to each other by shuttle services.

By Road
Mumbai is accessible from all parts of the country by road, with several national highways passing through the city. The neighbouring city of Pune can be reached via the Pune expressway. Standard and deluxe long distance buses are available at the State Transport Terminal, located opposite Mumbai Central Railway Station. It is also possible to hire cars to move around the city and its suburbs.

By Train
Mumbai is the headquarters of the Central and Western Railways. The city possesses an impressive rail network connecting the city with all parts of India. Depending on which part of the city you wish to reach, there is the option of embarking or disembarking from several stations in the city ? Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal, Mumbai Central, Church Gate, Dadar and Kurla.

Monuments in Mumbai
Marine Drive
Also known as the Queen?s Necklace, the Marine Drive is a road running along the sea shore from one end of the city to another, passing several beaches along the way. It is one of the busiest roads in Mumbai, and it is a pleasure to take a walk or drive down this very popular route.

Chowpatty Beach
Chowpatty Beach is where the common man comes to spend a fun evening and sample delicious snacks like bhelpuri, pao bhaji, chuski and chutney sandwiches. During the months of August and September, the beach transforms itself and comes alive as thousands of devotees come to immerse their idols of Lord Ganesha marking the end of the Ganpati festival.

Hanging Gardens:
The picturesque Ferozshah Metha Gardens, popularly known as the Hanging Gardens is built over three huge reservoirs that store water before it is cleaned and pumped back into the city.

Bangalore

Bangalore
The garden city of India, today, is a rapidly expanding metropolis. Situated 10,000 metres above sea level Bangalore, capital of the southern state of Karnataka, is known for its mild and comfortable climate. The last 10-12 years has seen Bangalore develop into the Silicon Valley of India with several multinational IT and Software companies having set up shop here. As a result the city is now connected by air, rail and road to all major cities of the country and has direct international connections to many cities worldwide.

Bannerghatta National Park
Situated 22km from Bangalore the park is situated in picturesque surroundings with a variety of fauna. The park is spread over an area of 100 sq. km. and features lion and tiger safaris and a snake park. Other attractions include bisons, elephants, baboons, panthers, jackals and lion-tailed monkeys. The facility is open from 9am ? 12pm and 2pm ? 5pm on all days of the week except Tuesday.

Channapatna
This little town is a centre for wooden toys situated 60km from Bangalore. Everyone here seems to be involved in some ways in the making of colourful little toys of lacquer.

Mekedatu
Mekedatu is a beautiful picnic spot about 98km from Bangalore, with a spectacular view of the river Cauvery. The river flows majestically through a deep ravine, on top of which is a chasm around 5 metres wide.

Indian tours

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