Traffic signals don't function, who cares?

Is the AP state govt serious about improving traffic flow in Hyderabad? If you think 'yes', (by looking at the hurriedness for the metro rail, then you are mistaken. Traffic police and GHMC asked for Rs. 25 cr to improve the signalling system. GHMC also asked for diverting the lakhs of rupees collected every month by traffic police as fines from vehicle users. It now goes to the state govt. The state govt allocates only Rs. 10 cr that too from GHMC funds. The latter backs off. Hell with the traffic, who cares? We only love the metro! - CR

GHMC backs off traffic management project

S Bachan Jeet Singh, Express News Service,  20 Dec 2011

HYDERABAD: The proposed Hyderabad Traffic Integrated Management System (HTRIMS) to improve traffic signaling system effectively in Greater Hyderabad limits has hit a roadblock as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has decided to back off from the project. A few days ago, GHMC Commissioner M T Krishna Babu had written a letter to Sam Bob, Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD), informing that the corporation was in no position to bear the burden of this project.

The MAUD had sanctioned Rs 10 crore from the GHMC funds to install and maintain effective traffic signaling system to the Police Commissioner, Hyderabad under the 100-day action plan. But the funds never materialised.

The GHMC, in association with the Hyderabad Traffic Police, had proposed the advanced traffic signaling system called HTRIMS. The project comprises design, site preparation, supply, installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance and operation of traffic signals in GHMC and it was envisaged for a period of five years from the date of commissioning of HTRIMS project with a tentative cost of Rs 25 crore. There are about 220 traffic signals functioning in the city for smooth flow of traffic.

The GHMC wanted the state government to either divert the funds that are collected by way of challans by the Traffic Police to the HTRIMS project or said the project may be funded directly by the government.

The state government launched a 100-day action plan this year with the main aim of improving civic amenities in the GHMC by improving sanitation, roads, water supply, power and traffic. In response to this, Additional Commissioner, Traffic made a proposal to the government and requested sanction `25 crore to carry out various measures intended to improve traffic flow in the city.

The government after studying the matter accorded sanction to release an amount of `10 crore from the GHMC funds to install and maintain effective traffic signaling system and other measures aimed at improving traffic flow in the city. But the funds haven’t been released till date prompting the GHMC to back out of the project altogether.

Good News - GHMC refuses to take up Metro rail works

Some good news by default. I wish the GHMC sticks to this stand. Any small move is hugely welcome to stop this scandalous project. With the MIM party likely to take up the Mayor's post from December onwards, I hope the issue of the Metro corridor-2 thru the old city will become an issue. - C.R
GHMC won’t take up metro rail civic works: Panel

Times of India, Hyderabad| Nov 25, 2011.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/GHMC-wont-take-up-metro-rail-civic-works-Panel/articleshow/10862294.cms 

HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) standing committee has rejected to take up civic works on the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) corridors. A resolution to this effect was passed by the standing committee meeting on Thursday. 

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) members raised objections over the issue of civic works like formation of footpath, construction of storm water drains on the Musheerabad-RTC Crossroads- Narayanguda stretch to be taken up at a cost of Rs 11 crore after widening the roads for Hyderabad Metro Rail. Metro corridor-2 from JBS to Falaknuma passes through Musheerabad and Narayanaguda. The road is being widened to 100 feet by the GHMC, but funds for land acquisition are being released by the HMR. "Why should the GHMC spend Rs 11 crore for HMR's works? HMR should release funds for these works," the MIM members pointed out. 

The MIM members also said the rail developer, L&T, would get good ad revenue once the road would be widened and metro rail becomes operational. The members demanded a resolution should be passed demanding 50% advertisement revenue from the developer after metro trains become operational. Agreeing on the concern, the standing committee adopted a unanimous resolution on the issue.

Many hurdles to the metro

‘Relocate religious structures on metro rail corridors’

Times of India, Hyderabad, 23 October 2011

Hyderabad: Traffic police have asked Hyderabad Metro Rail and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation authorities to first remove bottlenecks, including religious structures, on the three metro corridors and alternative routes before initiating civil works. 
    Traffic police officials told STOI that the carriageway along the metro corridors would shrink drastically and there was an urgent need to first widen roads and remove bottlenecks so that traffic could move freely during metro rail construction. 
    A study done by the Hyderabad traffic police had identified hundreds of religious structures, including temples, mosques, chillas and others on the median or along either side of the roads. The issue was also brought to the notice of chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy during a review meeting. 

  http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIH/2011/10/23&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Ar00603&ViewMode=HTML

Widening of Hi-Tec City-Madhapur road for Metro Rail

Some important / interesting items in the story published in today's ToI about the widening of HiTec City - Madhapur road widening for Metro Rail Project:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Hi-Tec-City-Madhapur-road-to-be-widened-for-metro-rail-project/articleshow/9263619.cms

• This road has been very recently developed. In spite of the very recent development, there has not been any planning for contingencies / future growth etc.
• In the master plan prepared by the cyberabad development area it was proposed as 120 feet. That meeans the land was available with the Govt. to make it 120 feet or needed to be acquired to make it 120 feet. Had that acquisition happened at that time, the expensess would have been less.

Now, who is going to pay for the widening ? Is it going to be GHMC who will compensate the property owners or the HMR ?
This clearly shows the utter lack of planning in city development.