Bangalore, world's tech hub to have world's best mass transit system
Harish Baliga
Apr. 28, 2006

Bangalore will have world's best mass transit system.

India's government has approved the construction of a mass transit railway system in the southern city of Bangalore to ease traffic congestion in the booming technology hub.

According to media reports, Cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday approved the Bangalore Metro Rail project to be built over the next five years, a government statement said.

It said the 33-kilometer (20-mile) network is expected to cost rupees 64 billion (US$1.45 billion; A1.2billion) and is expected to be ready by 2011. Most of the lines will be underground.

"The main objective of the project is to provide a reliable, safe, energy efficient, comfortable, affordable, and nonpolluting rail-based mass transit system for Bangalore City," said the statement issued late Thursday.

The Bangalore metro network was first proposed in 1982 as the city showed the first signs of growth. But the project got delayed because of political wrangling and problems of acquiring land in the crowded city.

Many of the world's largest technology companies including Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp., Oracle Inc., America Online, Yahoo and Google Inc., have their offices in Bangalore. But most of the city's residents complain that Bangalore's potholed roads and choked streets make driving in the city a nightmare.

Most big Indian cities lack adequate public transportation systems.

Bangalore will be the third city to get a modern, air-conditioned mass transit system. The eastern metropolis of Calcutta was the first Indian city to get a mostly-underground train network in 1984.

The capital, New Delhi's part-underground, part-elevated mass transit rail system is also partially operational, covering nearly 60 kilometers (40 miles) in routes crisscrossing the northern and central parts of the city. More lines are being built.

India's financial capital Bombay has a vast network of railway lines and bus routes. Although affordable for most people, the trains and buses are overcrowded and not air-conditioned.

Bangalore, world's tech hub to have world's best mass transit system
Harish Baliga
India's government has approved the construction of a mass transit railway system in the southern city of Bangalore to ease traffic congestion in the booming technology hub....
READ MORE>>

Price fixing probe will not help, Indian and Chinese economy must be slowed down through outsopurcing tax to lower the oil price
Harish Baliga
President Bush called for price fixing probe in Petrol markets. But the price fixing is actually happening in India and China.
READ MORE>>

Patni's Q1 Revenues up 31% at US$ 130 million (Rs. 5,776 million)
Media Release
Patni Computer Systems Limited (Patni), a global IT services provider, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended 31 March, 2006
READ MORE>>

Chines Airlines eye Indian stewardesses
Media Release
Some stewardesses from India will serve on flights operated by China Eastern Airlines (SSX:600115, HKSE:0670) between Shanghai and New Delhi in the coming week-long labour day holidays from May 1 to 7, company sources said on Wednesday.
READ MORE>>

MORE ARTICLES >>