JOIN USMotorists, traffic cops edgy over closure of Cubbon Road
Closing down the stretch will hit travellers, but the worst affected will be the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses.
Buses bound for HAL, Marathahalli, Electronics City, Sarjapura, Bellandur, Bannerghatta, Jayanagar, Banashankari, Kumaraswamy Layout and other places from Shivajinagar bus stand are sure to feel the heat.
"Once the road is closed for Metro construction, we will have to ply via Ambedkar Veedhi and Corporation Circle to reach our regular destinations. However, we will not be able to cover many bus stops if the new route is adopted," said a BMTC official.
After the Balekundri Circle (Indian Express bus stop), all buses take a left turn at Minsk Square to drive either straight on Queen's Road or proceed via Cubbon Road. However, after the closure of the route, travelling will be tricky.
H C Rajashekharaiah, Assistant Traffic Inspector, BMTC, said with the complete shutdown of the road, buses will have to take longer routes. Also, it would result in traffic congestion as buses will be forced to ply on narrow roads.
The two-way traffic will become imperative on the narrow Bowring Hospital Road. Similar will be the case with Infantry Road, said a BMTC official.
Central Street, Link Road, St Mark's Road among others will also have to be opened for two-way vehicular movement. This has burdened the traffic police, as they have to manage traffic on different lanes in addition to leaving a separate path for light motor vehicles.
Two-wheelers from Majestic and its surrounding areas will have to take a right turn at Infantry Road and connect to BRV Junction via Central Street before joining Anil Kumble Circle through Link Road, Govindaiah, a traffic policeman, said.
Heavy vehicles should take a right turn at Medinova Hospital on Infantry Road to join Cubbon Road, he added.
To enable easy movement of vehicles on Infantry Road, the traffic police are planning to ban parking on the road.