Dear Nagini Prasad,
I agree with that opinion that one cannot simply copy the best practices in different countries without actually taking into consideration the economic, cultural, social and
environmental paradigms in our state.
Thank you for your very informative mail.
warm regards
SM Krishna

----- Original Message -----
From: "nagini prasad"
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 1:57 PM
Subject: Learning from Infrastructure Experiences Abroad

To:
Sri S.M. Krishna
Chief Minister
Government of Karnataka
Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore

December 22, 2003

RE: Learning From Infrastructure Experiences Abroad

Respected Sir,

As a frequent traveller between Bangalore and Mysore, both for work and leisure, I have been following with interest the developments surrounding the Bangalore
Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) Project. Having lived abroad (primarily in the west) for a significant portion of my life, I have had the experience of short driving times, smooth driving, freeways, expressways and highways. I have also had the experience of excellent public transport systems. Having experienced the roads in India after my return here, I can appreciate why some people here may want a taste of what they perceive the west has in terms of road infrastructure. However, in the same breath, I add that perhaps one of the most dangerous and damaging approaches to (infrastructure) development is, as they say in the United States of America, the 'cookie-cutter' approach.

India is unique in terms of its land area, population, population distribution, land use patterns, primary livelihoods and culture, such that what has worked in the USA (it has been claimed by promoters of BMIC that the project was modelled on the Columbia, Maryland town-planning model), Singapore (I recall if I am not mistaken, your own interest in making Bangalore like Singapore) or Australia (I recall from a past press report that Mr. Dharam Singh and/or State officials visited Australia this year to study their infrastructure development with a view to applying it in Karnataka) will *not* work in India. This is not to say that there aren't elements of infrastructure development in these and other countries that we cannot apply, albeit with some local alterations. The State of New South Wales in Australia for instance has an excellent rail network.

People living at the base of the Blue Mountains in Sydney's west (about 70 kms from the CBD) can reach the CBD by train in 45-50 minutes. There is a toll motorway/highway combination connecting the mountains to the CBD, however due to the ease of use of the train system, the frequency of the trains and their timeliness, it would not be an exaggeration to say that most commuters travel this distance by train. These people can afford the expressway toll (approx A$2.00) however due to the excellent public transport (rail/bus) network, they choose to travel to work or for leisure, by public transport. Singapore I believe, limits the vehicle density in its city centre via a user pays toll system at certain times of the day. The USA's highways and freeways, multi-laned and vast, are often prone to congestion and become mere parking lots during peak times and holidays.

From personal experience I believe an improvement in the public transport system (train,bus) in places such as Los Angeles and Washington D.C. for instance, would certainly be beneficial for travellers, and, the environment. Unfortunately the car lobby in that country is so powerful in shaping policy that this may never materialise, something I hope does not happen in India. Apart from the danger of simply copying other countries whose economic, cultural, social and environmental paradigms are totally different to ours, one has to consider the viable alternatives in the local scenario. For years there have been reports of a doubling of the rail tracks between Bangalore and Mysore. There are several major towns with associated infrastructure already along the rail line which could potentially be developed further if population distribution and counter-magnets to Bangalore are the goal. Doubling the tracks would reportedly involve minimal land acquisition and would cut travel time to perhaps less than 2 hours between Bangalore and Mysore. Another proposal which KRDCL is reportedly involved with is the 4-laning of SH-17 with straightening of its curves. This too would involve significantly less land acquisition, cost a fraction of the amount of the BMIC expressway, and would serve a similar purpose. I say all this after having travelled by rail, bus and car between Bangalore and Mysore several times, and, with a need to do so well into the future.

On a related note, the Bangalore city bus service seems to be making improvements and having travelled by bus in Bangalore, I appreciate such moves. I recently also read that commuter train services may begin around Bangalore's outskirts, which prima facie, seems a welcome move. In a country in which a large portion of the population simply cannot afford private car travel, it seems to make sense to prioritise projects that improve the scope and quality of public transport options (bus and rail) while minimising negative economic, social and environmental impacts, in order to improve the quality of life of not only those at the higher end of the socio-economic spectrum, but, *across* this spectrum. Certainly, this should be the way of the future, to ensure a more equitable society for our children.

The Karnataka High Court's recent decision to quash land acquisition for the BMIC townships is in my opinion, a welcome move. This significant move presents an opportunity to reconsider the options before us, especially in light of several analyses which have found that without the townships, the expressway component of BMIC will simply not be financially viable.

Sincerely Yours,

Nagini Prasad
Bangalore

Copies To:
-Shri T. R. Baalu, Union Cabinet Minister (Environment & Forests), Government of India -
-Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India
-Addl. Director (Scientific), Ministry of Environment & Forests, Southern Cell, Bangalore
-Principal Secretary, Dept. of Ecology, Environment and Forests, Government of Karnataka
-Principal Secretary, Public Works Dept., Govt of Karnataka
-Chairman, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, M G Road, Bangalore 560001