Indian Roads Thread

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 01 Apr 2013 18:25

Sachin wrote:How ever the bad effect of this is that these express trains as become a refuge for the local commuters. This becomes a problem for genuine reserved ticket holders.

Sachin,

My experience was that the vast majority are non-ticket moochers. Commuter trains run but it is the moochers who pile into the express coaches. Most of these folks appeared to be GoK employees and acted like they were using another of 'their' belongings. The railways stop because there is a spate of chain pulling otherwise.
When folks get on the 'special' condition bandwagon, I always point out that kanyakumari is just down the road and rarely has this sort of problem. Even NHAI did not have any problems acquiring land.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 02 Apr 2013 23:45

For a state which boasts about 100% literacy, and a high rating in very many global indexes I am finding a group of people who really dont know how to prioritise things and view things on a more long term basis. We see very many complaints on every thing be it roads or rails. But if 100% literacy is a mark of intelligence* , then the same group can also think about solutions? I dont see it happening. Today Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is implementing a very strong labour reform (more jobs for local Saudis). The demand in Kerala, is pretty much that GoK and GoI should bulldoze KSA to revoke these laws. I am yet to see these folks having any other option to say make the state less dependent on KSA.

And I am waiting for the day when Bengaluru is less dependent on the USA for its pay-check. I heard that the demand for H1-B is high this year. The quota will get over by the end of this week itself. People living in glass houses should be wary of making comments about the plight of lesser folks. Some gumption I say.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 03 Apr 2013 07:06

bengaluru is not kerala(a full state). even if all 2 million indians are deported from massa (of which a subset is tied to bluru) the city still has internal industries like textiles, drdo, plastics, chemicals, machinery, govt etc. it wont die. also - a huge number of KL tech people are settled in bluru and by implication tied to khan paycheque.

I do find it a bit unusual that a highly literate state on the sea coast with millenium of trading experience with africa , middle east and far east is unable to develop more internal economy like say MH, Guj, TN has done from roughly the same locational and historical advantages. KL also apparently never had the despotic zamindari system and the travancore kings were progressive vs much of the rest of princely states. KL should be comparing itself to these states and not feel good comparing to some landlocked , economically broken state further in the interior.

set some higher goals for itself. literacy will by itself not generate income and growth, and even in an area like BPO/KPO which needs little infra but high literacy, KL Is not a superpawa.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 03 Apr 2013 07:17

KL never invested in higher education, and even now it lags in that measure compared to southern states. TN and KA got leg up right from Madras Presidency days. The comparison is not fair. People from KL first went to Malayasia/Singapore like they do now with Gulf. Even before that to Sri Lanka. I am talking about people at the bottom end of skill sets.

Among all the states doing well, perhaps only Gujarat can claim to stardom on its own, even there they have benefited from Mumbai generated wealth or proximity to it during initial days perhaps.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 03 Apr 2013 08:51

the KL govt seems to be quite good about various things like interior roads, police, controlling the liquor trade etc. with gulf investors having big pockets like Yusuf ali and many others, I dont see why some big scale pvt universities like PSG/Manipal/RV group seen in KA/TN belt cannot come up in KL as well.
one of the things that distinguishes the south from the "bad northlands" is people who are wealthy for generations (religious trusts, politicians, land barons) and industrial magnates have historically invested in public education from school to university level. there are many examples from new age barons to pukka 100yr old industrial families who started from workshop level. so whatever be the src of the money, it ends up as a permanent social benefit.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 03 Apr 2013 11:46

Bade wrote:And I am waiting for the day when Bengaluru is less dependent on the USA for its pay-check. I heard that the demand for H1-B is high this year. The quota will get over by the end of this week itself.

Every one applying for H1-B from Bengaluru is not a Kannadiga or a local from the state. Bengaluru has been liberal in allowing people from all parts of India to come and join the IT industry out here. Even the most intelligent (off course being from the 100% literate state) have to queue up for H1-B after joining an IT company here. Now dont ask me why no IT company ever decided to open shops in Kerala, even when the people out there say that 100% literarcy = 100% intelligent & smart

.

To rub it on, among these H1-B aspirants from 100% literate state, there would also be many who were in SFI/DYFI who would have been yelling "Down with Capitalist America" a couple of years back

. Now hypocrisy is in the blood of a commie, so we should leave it for the time being.

KL never invested in higher education, and even now it lags in that measure compared to southern states.

Part of it could also be because Kerala for decades together kept away any sort of private investments. Every thing had to be in public sector, and that included houses of education. The net result was that people went to KA and TN to get higher education. And colleges and universities in these states minted money.

Among all the states doing well, perhaps only Gujarat can claim to stardom on its own, even there they have benefited from Mumbai generated wealth or proximity to it during initial days perhaps.

Saar, your own friendly neighbourhood CITU fellow would not like this statement. How can you even sympathise with Gujarath, where communal riots happen every single day?

. Gujarat may have benefited because of its closeness to Mumbai, but it would not have happened without Gujaratis actually putting their minds and leveraging it. Kerala too was proximate to Chennai which was a hub during British Raj. Trade relationships existed with other countries even before. There was also a time when Kerala was also much more self sufficient, even when people may have migrated to Ceylon/Penang etc. I dont think during all these time the state actually survived on revenue from expatriates.

Since this thread is about roads, I don't want to go on with this OT for ever. Mathrubhumi daily had a good article on another white-elephant in Kerala, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. The uniqueness being that it is the only loss making state RTC in South India. 100% literacy just does not seems to bring in the business acumen to get this white elephant in some decent shape. Pretty much every malice when it comes to work culture, ethics infect this organisation. This is a born and brought up state managed establishment. No capitalist ever touched and polluted it. No foreign investor/share holder messed up with it. It has always been controlled by ministers from the state. Now can this organisation be turned around? Then I feel Kerala is reorienting its strategies for the better.

Singha wrote:set some higher goals for itself. literacy will by itself not generate income and growth, and even in an area like BPO/KPO which needs little infra but high literacy, KL Is not a superpawa.

Amen. Infact this pretty much echoes the thoughts shared by a lady colleague of mine nearly 10 years back. That 100% literacy claims and comparisons with already basket cases like Bihar and UP is not going to help the state in the long run.

habal · Post by **habal** » 03 Apr 2013 12:57

the KL govt seems to be quite good about various things like interior roads, police, controlling the liquor trade etc. with gulf investors having big pockets like Yusuf ali and many others, I dont see why some big scale pvt universities like PSG/Manipal/RV group seen in KA/TN belt cannot come up in KL as well.

1. Kerala govt/s, have been inaffective at finishing various projects. For eg, the main state highway in Kerala (as compared to National highway) is the Main Central Road, or MC Road, aka SH 1. It is quite decent in between Chengannur to TVM. And in between Ettumanoor to Cochin. The 40-50 kms in between are sheer shambles. This slows road traffic network considerably and it is difficult to pass through/across the state in any hurry. It is sheer pain to traverse this section of the road.

3. Same issue is in Railways when a rail network adjacent to this troubled area (between Chengannur & Mulanthuruthy) is still lying in Single-line, the traffic on this lines are tremendous, both in terms of passenger and goods. Yet there is no movement on behalf of the state govt to fasten up affairs and force the hands of the recalciterant Chennai HQ of SR by acquiring land and putting pressure on centre to finish up this 40-50 kms of single line which would give tremendous advantage to the state and speed up rail network considerably. Yet on purpose of some vested interests (no other explanation), decades just gallop by and nothing ever happens to this section wherein work is always carried out at snails pace.

4. Over the MC Road there are a few sections in Chengannur town that have only single lane bridges, that is traffic stops and vehicles are only allowed to go in a single stream. And in other sections this is a 4 lane or 6 lane highway. So everything jamps up at this bottleneck, again there is no sight here of a bridge even under works. Totally callous, dheela, and chaddi hanging around the ankles attitude by state govt and state level politicians. No intention to pick it up either.

5. The Congis gave up considerable leverage on the CPI(M) on the issue of murder of T. P. Chandrashekaran (a CPI(M) rebel) to maximum extent, and they have let them go free now. All evidences in this case would implicate a whole gang of CPI(M) leadership right from bottom to very top, but after loosening this grip over the probe. With the result all the eyewitnesses are one by one turning hostile and retracting. The CPI (M) is now beginning to squeak again, and is raising it's head and strike flags slowly. They had received a body blow, and just a push would have sent them down the tubes at that point. Also to consider here is that there are various ethnic based entities in Kerala (SNDP & NSS) who have absolutely no regard for Congis. Their leaders speak very arrogantly, and in demeaning terms in referance to the Congis, and are very dismissive about them especially because the Congis now have no tall leaders in the state, but they hold the CPI(M) is some fear, especially because they use abusive language in addressing these folks. So maybe the UDF thought that to hold these ethnic entities at bay, it is better to allow some leeway for the commies.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 03 Apr 2013 13:28

it sounds like assam in a way - another literate state, full of proud individuals, human rights, big talkers, cultural pride vs bigger neighbouring states seen as overbearing. "oh we are not like the biharis and bongals" stiff upper lip attitude.

perhaps both lack the ruthless business class and socio-political willingness to tolerate huge income gaps & exploitation that seem to mark out fast growing states and countries.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 03 Apr 2013 16:48

Sachin, both you and Singha missed the context for H1-B reference. You were referring to gulf expats asking Indian govt to influence the 10% reservation that is being put in place for Saudi nationals. We have had similar request during H1-B quota reduction from 100k to 65k to keep the quota levels. Both groups want to influence the laws in another country. It is hypocritical of you to bring in Kannadiga vs Mallu into this discussion. It shows your regionalism and stereotype creation, like you always do for every thing that relates to Kerala. Bangalore is a brand for IT-Vity in this discussion not a representative symbol for Kannadigas.

Though it has its place too in a different context of discussion.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 03 Apr 2013 17:32

Bade wrote:It shows your regionalism and stereotype creation, like you always do for every thing that relates to Kerala.

Well being a true blue Mallu, I am stereo typing the same gang of people who never hesitated to stereo type whole groups of people as dumbos, fascists, communalists and education wise inferior

. I am reminded of a proverb in Malayalam; that of a person having Filariasis hiding the bad leg in a sand pit, and then insulting others having the same disease.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 03 Apr 2013 18:56

That must reflect the company you keep of mallus. By generalizing to the entire state, you are just being the self appointed drain inspector for Kerala.

Good going buddy !

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 03 Apr 2013 18:58

Sachin got my point. Prior to BB the Commies destroyed all private enterprise in WB, didn't allow new private investment, hankered for public sector investment which the Congress never gave and happily ruled with the slogan "kendrer chokranto" (Central conspiracy). The public brought the propaganda that all the evils of WB were due to conspiracy of Congress, Center, USA, Britain, imperialist, capitalist, etc, etc. They also introduced the culture of "cholche na, cholbe na" which is difficult to transliterate but basically means "we will not allow anything". So if you try to do anything in WB even a small road some people will gather around with flags and say "cholche na, cholbe na". So nothing gets done in WB. Mamata has done the same thing. So Bengalies like the culture of "cholche na, cholbe na" and send their kids to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi or USA, UK for education and jobs. This is what I meant by "percolation of Commie culture". Can't say about KL, but WB needs decades of Commie-less economic activity to get its work culture back and say "cholche, cholbe" which loosely means "things will work". Assam OTOH is landlocked, isolated, wracked by insurgency, etc, etc. Assam cannot be compared with WB or KL.

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 03 Apr 2013 19:05

Post-liberalization a 100% (actually 93-5%) literate state with very low population growth rate should zoom to the stratosphere.

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 03 Apr 2013 19:15

I read an article by a Keralite (well educated judging from his English) on Rediff a few years back where he argued that manufacturing is all about class exploitation and cannot be compared with such jobs in the developed world where workers are financially well off and so Kerala doesn't need industry. Similar nut cases exist in WB too and is "percolation of Commie culture".

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 03 Apr 2013 19:15

Singha wrote:it sounds like assam in a way - another literate state, full of proud individuals, human rights, big talkers, cultural pride vs bigger neighbouring states seen as overbearing. "oh we are not like the biharis and bongals" stiff upper lip attitude.

perhaps both lack the ruthless business class and socio-political willingness to tolerate huge income gaps & exploitation that seem to mark out fast growing states and countries.

Assam has to play second fiddle to Calcutta for the spoils. Every part of a large country cannot see identical development, else would we need to have mega cities. If you look at Bengaluru and Mysore, both have similar advantages in colleges and climate. Yet, Blr trumps Mysore. Mysore is no where near Pune levels being a similar town with a long history of education and benign rulers. It is probably no better than Kochi or Tvm in terms of IT-Vity density. I am no shrill for KL, and see no need to replicate what KA and TN has done in every other state. Each state has its own strength, weakness and uniqueness it has to cater to. With a large literate

population without higher education the KL govt has to make sure that they are gainfully employed. There are no written rules of economics which says they all have to be gainfully employed in KL. Wages and benefits will decide where they go.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 03 Apr 2013 19:51

Yaa Arraah!

Badeji is proposing 'deterministic' economic models. A region opts for economic models that are suitable for them at the pace they prefer and so on...

I think KL reached its sweet spot by having a section of its population go to deserts, another section become teachers/nurses to spread the truth all over India, another section become the govt and its employees, and the native groups settle in the agri field with Rubber, Coconut and Tea farms. Everybody is happy. Sooner than later this balance will be disturbed when one or two groups are forced to return home due to changing weathers in their remote homelands.

Sachinji +1 on both counts - KL style literacy is 'feel good' literacy, but looks like it works for KL. In AP almost every MP/MLA has a private Engg/Medical college owned by them.

When I entered the ITVity Brand-Tvdm was at par with Chennai after BLR, well ahead of HYD. Somehow they lost that position post 1996 and by 2000 they became a thrid-tier ITvity city.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 03 Apr 2013 20:19

Tvm lost the race long before it started, as it did not have a captive population to jump start the race. Both Blr and Chennai had loads of educated folks to join the IT-Vity gravy train. But this train like the Gulf train also has a limited life span. People will have to re-invent themselves each generation, or roughly every 20+ years with newer initiatives, when the older battered generation is forced into retirement by the market forces. Laws of nature are more powerful than laws of economics.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 03 Apr 2013 20:26

Not to stereotype but KL types do very very well outside KL and look down on the locals who stayed back. I’m not sure why this is but its been this way for a long time. You would never see a Tamil, Andhra or KA type doing the same. IMHO this explains most of the dynamic of why so many KL types leave and then look down on their brethren.

Also KL has many many institutes of higher education, the reason so many KL types went outside for education is strikes and excessive demand. Keralites, unlike most of India, look at higher education as a status symbol. Even a peon will have a BA.

I would not look down so much on KL. As a whole India has just begun its journey up the economic ladder. On a per capita basis Keralites are as wealthy or even wealthier than Gujarati’s. And to be honest there are very large groups of Gujarati’s outside India remitting money back like Keralites. IME KL locals work just as hard as anyone and have an extraordinarily high quality and standard of living. That is worth celebrating.

Which brings me too… …to my mind it is a GOOD thing that all our states are so different. You never know when a particular economic model will strike it rich. If you had come to TN 40 years ago you would have said that the social reform movements are creating so much strife that the place is doomed. Yet today that same model has created and is creating incredible amounts of wealth.

End of my OT.

Now if only they can get these tolled NH’s going, I imagine sweeping through the lakes of Kuttanad and having lunch at a Udipi in Ernaks with dinner at a tea estate in Munnar.

habal · Post by **habal** » 04 Apr 2013 09:06

what is interesting, from a purely philosophical point of view is that stereotypes seem far too commonplace in India. Other parts of the world too, each country has their own stereotypes because each nation is imho a karmic pit. People with similar 'karmic balance' end up in similar societies. And that is categorized into states/castes/countries etc. This is some new perspective that I have been developing since some time. And as a country progresses along the economic ladder, this point of view gets more interesting.

Because as per your karmic balance, you are supposed to suffer or enjoy a certain state of harmony. And you can't get out of that quickly, even if you want to. So then how does economic progress balance out with this fact. So more the general economy of such a state progresses, the more people will be jealous, and more they will bitch about, eventually balancing out the economic uplift and generally settling into a similar state of karmic pit as they found themselves previously. This is how nature balances itself out.

so finger pointing, and accusations of stereotypes would be quite interesting if seen from this light. Gods are very sentient beings who constantly find new ways to amuse themselves.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 04 Apr 2013 09:26

Please stick to the thread topic.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 04 Apr 2013 15:10

NH widening: Court asks official to explain delay
Nuggets..

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Monday directed the Project Director, National Highways Authority of India, to appear in person before the court on April 2 to explain the delay in widening the stretch between Walayar and Mannuthy on the National Highway 47.
.......
The court was told that around 88 per cent of the land had been handed over to the NHAI.
.......
The petitioner argued that the public was facing hardship and inconvenience, including accidents, because of the bad condition of the road. Nothing had been done in the last three years, at least after the agreement with Thrissur Express Highway Limited.

However, the Public Works Department Deputy had submitted in an affidavit that it was the duty of the NHAI to see that the stretch was fit for vehicular traffic. The NH State Wing had no infrastructure to do the maintenance work. The NH wing of the State had not received any amount from the NHAI after 2007-08 for repair.

HC asked NHAI official to explain why no action had been taken for starting the works on the land already taken over by them.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 05 Apr 2013 05:02

Eviction for National Highway 47 work to be completed by May 31, HC told

The Special Land Acquisition Officer of the NH 47 widening project on Tuesday submitted before the Kerala High Court that more than 291 occupants residing along the Mannuthi-Vaniyampara stretch will be evicted by May 31.

The Special officer appeared before the court in person and informed the court that out of the 39 hectares of land required for widening the road, 35 hectares have already been handed over to National Highways Authority of India. The remaining four hectares are occupied by more than 291 private parties. The authorities have taken steps to evict the persons.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice K Vinod Chandran considered the case and directed the land acquisition officer to see to it that the remaining acquired land is handed over to the NHAI by May 31. The project director of the NHAI was also present before the court.In an affidavit, Thrissur District Collector P M Francis had stated that the Collector’s presence is needed only when forced eviction is needed.

It required a public petition by a citizen to even make NHAI move on repairs. I guess NHAI stand is no repairs till we get a wide stretch. Both sides to blame here if they have done no repairs since 2007-2008.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 05 Apr 2013 05:26

Renamed National Highways based on N-S and E-W alignment.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... tic%29.jpg

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 05 Apr 2013 08:56

^ Finally. Interesting thing is in massa N/S corridor has odd numbers and E/W even. In India it is opposite. Something to remember.

Next thing is to make all of them 4-Lane and add emergency services.

Good stuff!

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 05 Apr 2013 09:57

NH7 and NH4 signs from BLR are still there .... is this a plan or has been implemented on the ground?
I dont see them on the map, NH7 is seen in himachal now

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 05 Apr 2013 12:09

Bade wrote:I guess NHAI stand is no repairs till we get a wide stretch. Both sides to blame here if they have done no repairs since 2007-2008.

Good to see some thing happening on this NH47 section between Palakkad and Mannuthi, Thrissur. The current stretch especially over the Kuthiran (tiny) Ghat section is a nightmare. Container trucks have got toppled after landing up in potholes. Private bus drivers have gone owns strikes. If the land is given and NHAI contractors do a speedy job, I feel this stretch can be completed. And then comes the next question of tolls

.

Renamed National Highways based on N-S and E-W alignment.

I have not seen this on the ground though! Most of the signs still show the NH-7, NH-47 markings. In some parts of TN (Salem->Namakkal->Dindigul route) I also see a number AH-nn. What is the advantage of changing the NH numbers based on directions? Ease of use?

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 06 Apr 2013 06:03

Singha wrote:NH7 and NH4 signs from BLR are still there .... is this a plan or has been implemented on the ground?
I dont see them on the map, NH7 is seen in himachal now

Got this info from SSC, Kerala roads thread where there is another post on the GoI gazette publication dated 2010 and the link. Wonder why it has not been implemented yet. Or if it has been done away with. Maybe it will take another 20 yrs to implement, as the various state highways authorities do not seem to care about signage anyways.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 06 Apr 2013 06:10

Sachin wrote:Good to see some thing happening on this NH47 section between Palakkad and Mannuthi, Thrissur. The current stretch especially over the Kuthiran (tiny) Ghat section is a nightmare. Container trucks have got toppled after landing up in potholes. Private bus drivers have gone owns strikes. If the land is given and NHAI contractors do a speedy job, I feel this stretch can be completed. And then comes the next question of tolls .

Why not drill through the ghats to get a straight section and no land to acquire as it is all government land. Now the environmentalists will raise flags perhaps.

It is not always true that NHAI does speedy work after LA either. The Trivandrum Bypass is a fine example of that behavior by NHAI. At other times even people who are opposed to selling their land change their minds. In Haripad town they opposed LA. So the threat from authorities was a plan to implement a Haripad Bypass. The locals quickly realized that would sound the death knell for their road side business, and soon agreed to giving away their land.

Sometimes, you have to play chicken to get your way.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 06 Apr 2013 06:21

Four-laning stuck in official lethargy

The four-laning project of the busy Kazhakkoottam- Karode stretch of the National Highway (NH) Bypass has missed the deadline on several occasions. The 30-km stretch is part of the NH Bypass Project of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in the State.

The 22-km road from Kazhakkoottam to Kovalam had been converted to two-lane years ago and land acquired for building a four-lane road and for increasing the width of the road to 45 metres along the Kazhakkoottam- Chackai- Enchakkal- Kovalam stretch. But, the NHAI is in a standstill mode now regarding the widening work and tender formalities.

The four-laning is a need of the hour in view of the traffic congestion on the two-lane stretch from Kazhakkoottam to Kovalam. The Thiruvananthapuram Bypass, that originates from Kazhakkoottam, was conceived in the 1990s to ease traffic congestion on the Sreekariyam-Ulloor stretch and to provide an alternative corridor for commuters.

It was divided into several phases, with Kazhakkoottam- Kovalam being the first. “Earlier, the National Highways Authority had delayed the project by refusing to pay the proposed rates to landowners.

Now, no one knows the exact reason for the delay in the construction of the road and in the payment of compensation to the families. People should be paid the amount that is due to them as land acquisition had been carried out here years ago,” said Jameela Prakasam MLA from Kovalam.

According to the action council chairman V Sudhakaran Nadar, the proposal to complete the National Highway as a four-lane road was finalised in 1974, with NHAI acquiring land along the stretch. The move was supported by the people as the Authority had assured high compensation for all the acquired land.

“However, once the land acquisition was over, the authorities failed to pay the families on Nettathani- Karode stretch,” he said. {so who is at fault ?}

People say that the authorities had come out with a compensation package which didn’t include all the families on the stretch. The people in the Kottayal, Thamaramkulam, Chenkal and Karode panchayats are yet to receive the compensation amount and are facing several hardships in this regard even now.

“As per the scheme charted out years ago, some of the land owners were paid an amount which was three times the market value,” alleged Sudhakaran Nadar.

“The people also say that the 3D notification issued by the NHAI had failed to include the details of those who possess three cents of land and less. People are worried over this matter,” said Jameela.

I have seen the vacant stretches of land on both sides of the Kovalam Bypass since the late 90's. So there is truth to the statement that NHAI has been sitting on its arse and doing nothing for two decades or more now. They are collecting toll on the 1+1 lane stretch near the Technopark area.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 09 Apr 2013 20:30

A Road in Hyderabad. If we can solve the Parking and pedestrian problem, the roads should be reasonably un-congested.

hnair · Post by **hnair** » 10 Apr 2013 04:30

Bade-saar, that Trivandrum bye-pass road you are talking about is a curious cat. It is not NHAI alone that needs to be fully blamed, but a combination of state govt lethargy as well as unrevised DPR etc. As per their policy since NDA govt's Golden Quad times, apparently NHAI divvies up projects in states in segments of 180-200kms or so for bidding. So you cant have piecemeal segments like the 42 odd kilometers of the road you mention above, even if land is available/acquired

There are two segments to it (till TN border):
1) Kazhakoottam - Kovalam (22 km)
2) Kovalam/Kottukal to Karode (border with TN - 20 km).

From the above, the #1 stretch of land has been acquired since like, late 80s or so. But #2 stretch till TN border has not been acquired yet by NHAI, though the notifications of LA intent to land owners have been issued for decades. Funds were never allocated for acquisition of#2 above, (until last month) because of the 200 km bidding parcels and since Kerala NH work was not part of the original Golden Quad (except for the port connectivity spur to Kochi). Sometime last year, the NHAI was convinced to de-link the 42kms from the general parcel and move forward

The final 3G(3) notifications for LA of segment#2 were finally issued on 27-Mar-13 via local newspaper ads. Exactly 4 days before expiry of the process deadline.

This de-linking needed Grand Kommissars of Dil-e-Kab-e-net to nod their head every so slightly. Still keeping fingers crossed, till the first dozers rumble in...

(btw, that toll you mentioned near Technopark is for the Aakulam bridge not for the stretch)

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 10 Apr 2013 05:47

Hnair, that explains why the toll amount was low before the Akkulam bridge, couldn't have expected NHAI to be so kind.

I guess then the chunking in ~100+km also explains the state of the NH-47 segment between Palakkad and Trichur with its unresolved LA issues, but showing some progress now over the last week as per news reports.

Is NHAI going to do the 42km of the Trivandrum bypass or does it become a state responsibility now ? I did that route to get to Nagecoil on way to Madurai and the 1+1 lane road was in good condition. But LA beyond the 40km could be a problem. It is narrow and winding, though a good surface till it meets up with NH-47. I may have taken SH-91 from Poovar, all I remember is we did not touch balaramapuram and neyyatinkara. We may still have taken one of the earlier left turns to join NH-47, than be on SH-91 all the way to the NH.

hnair · Post by **hnair** » 10 Apr 2013 22:23

Bade-saar, there are two alignments to the segment from Trivandrum till TN border. NH forks at Technopark junction. The old one, which enters the city and goes via Karamana/Balarampuram and the new one, which is the bye-pass we just talked about. The old one has already been handed over to State govt and notified as a State Highway. The State govt are yet to do any LA to increase the width to four-lane, as was the plan. Sordid story as usual.

The new one (bye-pass) is part of Indian NH network and hence is NHAI. My bet is on the SH fork not moving an inch till this govt falls, despite grand announcements (including one, day before yesterday). I am willing to lose my bet, but probably wont

If this state govt tries to convince Center that it will do the 42km NH segment too, that will be catastrophic for all sides, especially the state govt - there will be an armed revolt. For such is the trust in current state govt's capabilities at the grassroots

Currently, after the current 2 lane road ends, you continue on a non-NH road (near that stone-quarry where you get a nice vista-point view of distant Lighthouse and sea) to Vizhinjam, then do a left before Kottukal (Vizhinjam-Balaramapuram road) and rejoin the old alignment (the segment that got handed over to state). But that will change once the straight as arrow alignment gets completed

vasu raya · Post by **vasu raya** » 12 Apr 2013 16:03

RamaY wrote:
A Road in Hyderabad. If we can solve the Parking and pedestrian problem, the roads should be reasonably un-congested.

Some things that are too obvious, pedestrian walkways are mostly encroached by telas, shop access ways with steps forcing the peds to walk on the road, sometimes trees planted in the middle of the ped paths. Whether any govt. institution takes the encroachment seriously is a open question. Trees can be uprooted and shifted in places where they are blocking.

Parking will have to be done in the backside of shopping areas, that can be made possible by one-ways enforced by one way road spikes able to trap even bike tires as shown below, then multi-storey parking lots have to be built, fees regulated etc

btw, they are already introdced in desh,
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... affic-cops

Most roads can then have a lane wide footpath, some with both footpath and (parallel) parking spots, of those some can be occupied by telas with permission with trash bins, still leaving atleast 2 lanes for one side traffic

Wonder if temples and Masjids placed bang in the middle of the road can be elevated so traffic flows below as can be seen with a number of footover bridges

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 22 Apr 2013 05:35

No help for victims of road accident in Jaipur

A man clutching his four-year-old son sat on the road next to the bodies of his wife and infant daughter, desperately in need of assistance, but nobody stopped to help. The callous indifference of those who drove by - 18 cars passed without stopping according to some reports - has made Kanhaiya Lal Raiger's accident an international headline.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 22 Apr 2013 05:42

the only way to solve parking problem in the congested areas now is either ban their use or build multi-storied parking space. why scramble for solutions? massan infrastructure is just pure and simple road model for all nations.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 22 Apr 2013 05:44

People who can afford cars, can pay for parking too. No parking space, no permits for shops and malls.

Bade · Post by **Bade** » 22 Apr 2013 06:04

http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/k ... ostpopular
If this is the attitude of the educated and well to do, what reforms is going to help with road etiquette and safety. People look at all these as birthrights and matter of privilege.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 22 Apr 2013 06:24

Bade wrote:No help for victims of road accident in Jaipur
A man clutching his four-year-old son sat on the road next to the bodies of his wife and infant daughter, desperately in need of assistance, but nobody stopped to help. The callous indifference of those who drove by - 18 cars passed without stopping according to some reports - has made Kanhaiya Lal Raiger's accident an international headline.

Bade,

That was heart rending to watch. No one deserves that in their moment of need. I hope more folks come forward and tell their stories. Society must be sensitized to what its responsibility is. Often times folks don't know what to do in such situations and drive on to avoid getting entangled. Society must be taught what to do.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 22 Apr 2013 07:06

^ very sad.

The laws must be changed (if not done already) for private hospitals to accept accident/criminal cases irrespective of police presence or not. Same with witness process in criminal cases.

Once that is done, there should be a massive education campaign to inform public about the changes in law and new processes.

Only then the public will become more responsive.

Somewhere else read the report that some stretch of NH came up with a hospital insurance program for road accidents for upto Rs40,000. Not if this enough but it should be adjusted to cover atleast 3days of emergency care, whatever it is.

Then we will see a noticeable improvement on the ground.