Tweaking traffic for tranquility of a few

The southern end of 18th Cross in Sadashivanagar, the preferred address of influential politicians, has been closed for vehicular movement for the last one month. Based on ‘oral instructions’ from senior officials, the Sadashivanagar traffic police have erected barricades blocking vehicular movement.

Motorists, who earlier used 18th Cross road to reach Mekhri Circle, will now have to negotiate the narrow U-turn after the Cauvery Junction, only to ensure privatised movement for a few residents.  

The 18th Cross has palatial bungalows belonging to politicians and businessmen, including Energy Minister D K Shivakumar and MP D K Suresh.

“For three years, the traffic police had closed this road owing to pressure from a few residents. After a protest, it was reopened and the then Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) refused to close the road for traffic from the southern end. Later, some residents pressured the BBMP commissioner to widen the road,” Mallikarjun L S, a resident of Sadashivanagar, told Deccan Herald.

The BBMP swung into action and road widening was done, allegedly without calling for tenders.

“I had filed a complaint with the Lokayukta about this when it was proved that the widening work was done without any work order and only on oral instruction by the BBMP commissioner.However, the Lokayukta case was closed with an advice that I may approach the court. Despite having widened the road, approximately a month ago, the road was again closed for traffic that too unofficially,” Mallikarjun said, adding that the traffic police replied to his queries under Right to Information Act that there was no written complaint from anyone for the last two years.

Complaints

DCP Traffic (East) M N Baburajendra Prasad said that the road was closed from one end since there were complaints from some residents. “It is a temporary arrangement since we received complaints from residents that there is heavy traffic throughout the day. There is no official complaint or notification, but we have put up barricades on an experimental basis,” he said.