[fordday]

Originally Posted by am1m

The covid shutdowns were a golden opportunity for IT firms to move permanently to a remote or hybrid model and to save their employees the misery of commuting on that road in the future. The past 2 years was more than enough time to make that model work and iron out any process issues.

Our company, a very big MNC in Ecoworld, admitted in townhall meetings that so much has been invested in real estate, it will all go to waste if employees are allowed to wfh permanently .

[condor]

Originally Posted by am1m

I'm wondering why that wasn't obvious to all IT companies way back itself when the metro plan was announced. .... And anyone who has worked along the ORR around Bellandur-Marathalli knows how bad the traffic was even before metro construction.

The govt had actually initiated a communication to the companies in that stretch to extend WFH for 2 years so that the employees, and also other users of the ORR dont face the hardship of travel while the metro construction progresses.

The covid shutdowns were a golden opportunity for IT firms to move permanently to a remote or hybrid model and to save their employees the misery of commuting on that road in the future. .

Acutally, to control costs, companies enter into long term agreements/contracts with the landlords, so that the prices/rents are controlled. No one foresaw the Covid situation, and this standard practice of long term agreement has boomeranged. No one had seen it coming.

[sagarpadaki]

Originally Posted by condor

Acutally, to control costs, companies enter into long term agreements/contracts with the landlords, so that the prices/rents are controlled. No one foresaw the Covid situation, and this standard practice of long term agreement has boomeranged. No one had seen it coming.

Rent cannot be saved since that is a fixed expense.The office space are leased for minimum 5+ years. The land lords are happy they are not impacted. What the companies have saved on big time is transport(bus,cab,TT), water, electricity, food and the associated maintenance costs for the upkeep of the office space. Basically, the variable expenses.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by condor

The govt had actually initiated a communication to the companies in that stretch to extend WFH for 2 years so that the employees, and also other users of the ORR dont face the hardship of travel while the metro construction progresses.

Yes, that was quite a good idea I thought. But the government was forced to clarify that it was merely 'an advisory' after pressure from the IT companies (and no doubt the builders who own the IT parks!)

Anyway, am guessing most companies will go for a hybrid model at least where all employees need not come in everyday. Looking at the width of that road now with the metro construction I really don't see how that kind of pre-covid traffic can really be managed otherwise.

[drive2eternity]

My favorite thread

As mentioned earlier, the lease agreements were signed well before covid and have ensured the moolah keeps flowing into the builders' coffers. Anyone visited Ecoworld recently? I did, there are 2 more huge towers coming up. Beat that.

As for the ORR between Marathahalli and Iblur junction, it was, is and will be a royal mess for the unforeseable future and yet there is no action on decongesting. Recently noticed a few new commercial properties (small/medium sized) have sprung up on the service lanes near Bellandur. There is just no end to construction.

[binand]

Originally Posted by sagarpadaki

The office space are leased for minimum 5+ years.

Originally Posted by drive2eternity

As mentioned earlier, the lease agreements were signed well before covid and have ensured the moolah keeps flowing into the builders' coffers.

Lease agreements usually have exit clauses. Even I knew enough to have one when I was leasing office space in Bangalore - and big companies with expensive lawyers will almost always ensure that. Typical lease agreements have a lock-in period of maybe 1-2 years followed by 2-3 months notice for a no-loss exit from the lease.

"We have an office lease, so we want our staff to return to office" is a smokescreen. I don't expect it to trigger a US-style antiwork avalanche here in India but there will be repercussions.

[TRR]

Originally Posted by UMe

As per the news report, the Peenya flyover is opened for light traffic.
Any first-hand information about this?

Yes, its been opened. Had been on a small bike ride on the BLR-MLR highway today and used the Peenya flyover on the way. As the news reports say, heavy vehicles are prohibited and only cars, autos and two-wheelers are being allowed. Not sure for how long this will be the case, but there was traffic police presence at both entry points of the flyover and they have added barricades to further restrict entry to the flyover, effectively making the entry point much more narrow. This led to a bit of traffic clogging up at the entry points, but nothing more than 10-15 seconds of waiting if you're in a 4-wheeler.

[atnyia]

Took a drive from Sarjapur Road to electronic city. For a Sunday, traffic was almost pre covid on Sarjapura Road. Slow movement from Wipro till the fire station.

Even last Saturday it took almost 25 minutes from Wipro to ring road.

Not sure whether to celebrate or to worry about ‘the return to normalcy’.

[itwasntme]

A few airborne pictures of the STRR while landing at KIAL / VOBL. This is the Devanahalli to Hoskote section:



Noted that apart from the WIP flyovers, large sections of the unfinished road were being used by LMVs & HCVs alike.

[itwasntme]

The Yelahanka Police Station / Galleria Mall flyover work is now in full swing pillar excavation on the median + 2 lanes (each way) cordoned off near the Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan intersection.

Getting very crowded during peak times. Please factor this in.

[itwasntme]

Couple of updates:

Mekedatu march in BLR between 1 - 3 March:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...le65083814.ece

Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway project completion by Dasara 2022:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...le65083909.ece

Hope they have a sensible 120 km/hr speed limit and not set it at 80?

[audioholic]

The Whitefield EPIP would dread earlier, and the same stretch of road which was once a haven for bottlenecks and endless jams

https://youtu.be/RCNroMTaroM

Once the station work is complete this area would be more beautified, with wider roads, better junctions and lot of space for all those haphazard parkers and reckless miji buses and TTs to play around, compared to the two lane roads earlier.

[adisan]

Another Bengaluru flyover runs into problems (Deccan Herald report)

The South Western Railway (SWR) has started fixing the MES overbridge built across the Yeshwantpur-Tumakuru line five years ago, months after the BBMP detected structural issues in it. The repair is being undertaken without blocking vehicular traffic.

[atnyia]

Originally Posted by atnyia

During the November unseasonal rain, the road from Sarjapura until the Decathlon railway overpass has been decimated. Travel time on this patch has increased from 12 mins to 20 mins.
Good roads are as much news in Bangalore..

Thanks to VP visit, potholes have been filled overnight from Dommasandra till Decathlon. For example, Kodhati gate crossing has been in bad condition from at least last three years. Now, it is fixed. Wishing for VIP visits in every nook and corners of the Uru. Perhaps the only way administration works here.

[ShreyG]

Hi Guys. Wanted to check on whether there is any news or update on the Koramangala flyover from Ejipura signal to Kendriya Sadan. A few months back I had seen some quick progress being made but things seem to have stalled once again. Last I remember reading was some HC orders to file an FIR against Simplex. Guess now it is into its second 5 year yojana of misappropriation.