Infrastructure

Oflate there has been this keeness, or maybe even passion, to know more and keep track of the various infrastructure projects happening around India. I have been enjoying looking at master plans, architects impressions, project updates of various projects. It all started off with the Bengaluru International Airport - a project that I am very excited about and one that I have been following for about a year. The website is a simple yet informative website providing all the required details of the project including monthly updates on progress and pictures.

The airport is a big improvement from what is currently in use and that is enough reason to be excited about. I was proud of the fact that the project was going to schedule and was ready on schedule, but disappointed that the airport has not yet been commissioned because of some PILs. The airport is about 30 kms from the heart of Bengaluru. Although there is a National Highway that runs through from Bengaluru, it is not good enough in terms of capacity to cater to the increased passenger and freight traffic. The Government has come up with a stop gap plan of "installing" underpasses at every intersection along the highway to ease the traffic woes, but that is just insufficient. The construction of the planned train link and road expressway have not even commenced. It is indeed a problem , as no one wants to spend 2 hours to get to the airport and then take a flight that takes just as long or even lesser time. Taxis and Volvo buses have been organised but are quite expensive, especially for domestic passengers flying budget airlines. A more viable road link and a train link are a must.

The Government is to blame and so is BIAL (Bangalore Intl Airport Ltd - a PPP undertaking). The Government was caught sleeping (as always) and BIAL did not press enough to have the connectivity looked at. The various PILs make total sense but what irks me is the fact that they have come so late, infact just days before the launch of the airport. Where were these petitioners before that? Why wait to the 11th hour to take action?

A result of this delayed litigation means the launch of the airport is stalled and India is once again in World news for the wrong reasons. BIAL is enduring huge losses and I am sure will collect all of this by means of taxes from us once they are open. It is frustrating to see the existence of World Class infrastructure that is not being used. In my opinion, opening the airport and then living through the hassles for a while will ensure pressure on the Government (a new one at that) to get their act together. I cant wait to see BIAL take-off.

The other infrastructure projects that I am having a close watch on are :

Namma Metro (Bengalurus Metro network)
Delhi IGI Airport (GMR Group)
Hyderabads New Airport (GMR Group)
The Clover Interchange at Kathipara Junction, Chennai
The Peripheral Ring Road Project and NICE road in Bangalore
and a few more random Road projects.

Being a Bengalurean, infrastructure wise, I am very excited and cant wait for 2011 when I think Bangalore will be a better place to live in. With the Metro Phase 1scheduled to be rolled out by then and the Peripheral Ring road, Airport Phase 2, Hosur Road and MonoRail to be completed around then too, it is exciting times ahead. I only hope that projects are run to schedule and that teh new Political power (if any) takes keen interest to puch Bengaluru to the next level. On my last trip to India I drove on a small completed stretch of the NICE Peripheral Road and the roads were no different to the Freeways I drive on in Melbourne. That should justify the excitement.

PS : I struggled to call Bangalore as Bengaluru.

My latest Passion

Until about 5 years ago, going on a plane was a novelty for me. I had done it only a few times then and cherished each flight. Now, it is a more a thing of routine.

In the last few weeks i have developed a passion for flying planes, thanks largely to my housemate who is a qualified pilot. Thanks again to him that he has a pilots joystick and the Microsoft Flight Simulator on his Lappy. He has been teaching me to fly and I am loving it.

I started off with a Cessna (proppelor driven) 2 seater aircraft. While taking off was quite easy, landing was the difficult bit. After a few crashes and some bad landings, i have started landing smoothly and the confidence in flying is really high. Although the Simulator is nothing more than a Simulator, i hear that the real thing is not very different, except for the fact that we are flying along too and life is at stake :D:D:D.

Chennai to Tambaram and back has been my regular route on my practice runs. After gaining confidence in handling the aircraft, I have taken off from various locations in the world including Melbourne and New York. At New york, i took off on an amphibious aircraft from the water and flew low under a bridge at about 200 ft, which is a manouvre I am proud of :D:D:D:D The other exciting thing i did was to fly at night and look for a runway and land safely!!!!

Yesterday we decided to do some landmark searching and I took off from Agra in search of the Taj Mahal. We flew alongside what we assumed to be the Yamuna but just couldnt spot anything like the Taj. Nevertheless it was a great experience.

A week or so ago, i dared to fly a Learjet and surprised myself with a great landing. The Jets are sooper fast in comparison to the Cessna and the handling was much much steadier.

Upping the ante, I am looking fwd to flying in bad weather and flying based on direction and communication from the ATC. I am getting there!!! When i have the time and the money I sure will fly a real plane!!! For now, Simulator rocks!!!!

If you wondered about why I havent blogged in a while, I have been busy flying over Melbourne or Chennai, or under a bridge in New York!!!!!