Thursday, April 16, 2009

Lalbagh Trees or Namma Metro? Protest Against Metro at Lalbagh


I captured A Good Discussion Which Was Going On Between A True Metro Lover And A True Lalbagh Lover:

True Metro Lover:
Damn these tree huggers.
Metro will prevent thousands of cubic metres of harsh Diesel fumes everyday.
or are they working for the Saudi Oil ministry?

True Lalbagh Lover:
Hi..

its not like we are saying , never have the metro. we're saying..do u really need to keep the station in lalbagh? cant we take it underground? also what was the level of public consultation before routes etc are decided. Is it too much to ask for, that bangalore's public be consulted before important projects like the metro are finalised.

Here are also some facts about metro which you should think about - 
The Metro Phase 1 will be ready 5 years from now. 

Metro Phase 1 costs 9000 crores.

Yet, it will carry only 10 lakh passengers, just 12% of the population of Greater Bangalore in 2012. The BMTC already carries 38 lakh passengers daily. 

Traffic congestion will be far worse, because only a very small part of Bangalore is going to use the Metro, but the infrastructure will eat into existing road space. 

Commute time will not be reduced for most residents of Bangalore, because of the 'Swastika' nature of the Metro alignment. This alignment has already failed in Los Angeles, USA.

The city’s aesthetics will be largely ruined. Some of the city's best landmarks (like Lalbagh and Nanda Road) are going to vanish. 

Many businesses, homes, public spaces and streets are going to be destroyed. 
If Metro has to be extended to the whole city, there will be continuous construction for the next 100 years, impacting nearly 3 generations.



True Metro Lover:
also what was the level of public consultation

before getting into online debates, please keep yourself well-informed. It would be embarrassing for the plaintiffs(the Trees) to be have inadequate counsel pleading their case!

Our scumbag politicians didn't guesstimate the routes, it was done by a professional consultant.

cant we take it underground

Every kilometre of underground track section costs 125Million Dollars.
keeping it economically viable and available for poor sections of the society is more paramount than a bunch of replaceable Trees.

just 12% of the population of Greater Bangalore in 2012. The BMTC already carries 38 lakh passengers daily. 

Again, keep yourself well informed. You seriously think that BMTC would work towards undermining the Metro's importance?
1) No competition on routes,
2) BMTC would only act as a feeder for the Metro which will be the Piece De Resistance of Bengaluru's public Transport.

Commute time will not be reduced for most residents of Bangalore

Oh yes it will, I live far from the nearest Station, which is CMH road. And I can still make it to Vijaynagar quicker, greener and safer on the metro than any other "Dino-fuel" transport.

because of the 'Swastika' nature of the Metro alignment. This alignment has already failed in Los Angeles, USA.

Lets be rational. I have yet to study how this geometry is unsatisfactory in other cities, but what I do know is that LA is home to the richest of all Americans. Even wannabe actresses serving burgers can still afford a 1200$ run down Honda Accord.

Lets never compare LA with Indian cities.

Many businesses, homes, public spaces and streets are going to be destroyed. 

Well, consider them brave heroes making a small contribution for the good of the larger "Colony"


Bottomline, I love trees and greenery just as much if not more than you "activists".
I'd love to picnic in breezy farms on the outskirts under wide shady trees with a bottle of Vodka and Donne biriyani. And I do.

But Bangalore is too damn polluted right now to even breathe safely without inhaling carcinogens.
Electric cars and electric Mass transits are the only way to get rid of polluted air in Bengaluru.

Tree huggers are penny wise and pound foolish.


True LalBagh Lover:
Will metro take our road traffic?

Have you have ever entered the Nanda road from south end circle? if so have u felt the difference of having tree lined road ?

Yes we need Metro , But cant we avoid the tree felling? these are full grown tree, and to bring up the tree to this level how many more years we need? what about the polution caused by the vehicles till then?

u r saying metro will just throw out all vehicles on the road r u sure? 

Tree lovers are not anti development but all they are saying is let us be responsible when trees are cut is that all tree huggers are saying.

Me too have been working with ESG and Hasiru Usiru team for a while and our contention is not only metro route , any place for that matter. All tree lovers are saying work out modalities where we can minize the impact, but authorities care a shit.

Just consider this incident.

When road widening work started, authorities wanted to aquire some land both side of the road and cut off the trees along with the road and widen it. But when ESG and other gave a alternative solution like when u r aquiring the land for road, consider aquiring couple of feet more for the trees too authorities did not care.
But ESG went to the court court gave verdict to accomdate trees also, then authorities listened !
So there is alternative, but authorities are just dumb and does not want to take pain ! so tree loveres are there pinch them now and then thats all

YES WE TOO NEED METRO as it will reduce considerable level of pollution.


True Metro Lover:
1) Will metro take our road traffic?

2) u r saying metro will just throw out all vehicles on the road r u sure? 

Dear Sampath, Please understand that most decisions and results are simply not Bistable. meaning there is rarely a simple yes or no for many an end result. most of the results fall in the Gray area. But just How black or how whitedo you want the Gray area to be is what this discussion is about.

The truth is usually in Degrees.. A greater mix of electric mass transits compared to fossil fuel burning alternatives is in everybody's best interests.

I can understand how you might feel nostalgic or even protective about a bunch of old upright, brown wooden gifts of nature. but seriously guys, get a room.

Emotion needs to be put aside for everybody's convenience. 
proposed alternative of taking the system underground is not Viable.


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