Underpasses that are good for nothing

There are underpasses and flyovers galore that haven’t met the expectations of the travelling public. The Cauvery junction underpass and the BDA flyover on the Airport Road should rank high on this list of underperformers.

The BDA flyover was meant to ease traffic, but it has over the years posed more problems. Many pedestrians and motorists are finding it tough to pass through the flyover and reach their destinations owing to increased traffic congestions and jams.
Halim, a resident staying near the flyover, says: “The flyover hasn’t helped much. The traffic is as dense as before. I would say the movement of vehicles was better before it came up. In the morning and evening peak hours — between 8 am and 10:30 am and 5:30pm and 7:30 pm — traffic moves at a very slow pace. Moreover, the underpasses are always chock-a-block with buses and trucks.”

Under the flyover, there is a small pedestrian pass which is hardly used by the public. Arun W A, a frequent commuter along the stretch, says: “The pedestrian way is good and free from traffic, but then it is not of much use as people still have to cross the road and walk all the way to another lane bustling with vehicles. Also, one pedestrian way is not sufficient; it would be good if there’s another similar pass. Many a time, I have seen a few two-wheeler riders passing through the pedestrian way which is a complete violation of the traffic law.”

Devaraj, an autorickshaw driver who frequently passes through this traffic bottleneck, says, “Besides the vehicular congestions we face, there is a lot of dust and air pollution. Before the flyover came up, vehicles used to move slowly, but then the lane looked more neat and organised. Now, there is a lot of chaos everywhere. There is no place to walk, as the entire stretch of the flyover is crammed with vehicles.”

Besides motorists, even pedestrians find crossing the road difficult. Jayalakshmi, who lives in the vicinity, says, “It takes at least 15 minutes to cross the road as it is a busy junction. Sometimes, I use the pedestrian way; but at night, it’s unsafe as I see some drunkards sleeping and loitering around. More traffic constables should be deployed to monitor the place.”