Efforts on to 'wring' eight traffic bottlenecks in City

The City traffic chief has identified eight major hurdles that are causing hardships both to the traffic cops and the commuters who are stuck in these ‘bottlenecks’ for at least 40 minutes during peak hours.

The KR Puram hanging bridge junction tops the list followed by BEL Circle, Bannerghatta Road, Silk Board junction, Marathalli stretch, NGEF junction, Platform Road and Mysore Road stretch.

Speaking to the Deccan Herald, M A Saleem, Additional Commissioner (Traffic & Security), said: “More than eight policemen, including a sub-inspector and two assistant sub-inspectors are posted at a single point near KR Puram hanging bridge to handle the huge traffic jam. There are two major bottlenecks on this stretch –– one opposite KR Puram Railway Station and the other near the Muttu Mariayamma temple (at the entrance of the hanging bridge).”

The KR Puram junction is a major traffic intersection of Bangalore East division. Vehicles coming from highways and inner ring roads pass through this stretch. It is also a major industrial hub as steel and cement factories and software tech parks like ITPL are situated in and around this place. Vehicles ranging from heavy duty 20-wheeler trucks to other goods carriers and passenger vehicles take this route.

KR Puram Traffic Inspector Umesh says the traffic flow in the mornings for the last few days is better after the railway authorities gifted 14 sqft of their land. But on the opposite side of the road, especially during evening peak hours, clearing the traffic is a daunting task.

“Unless the road is widened, there is no way the traffic flow can be eased. Our bosses are constantly in touch with their higher-ups to speed up the work and we are keeping our fingers crossed,” he added.

The problem near Muttu Mariayamma temple is the bus stop that is right at the entrance of the hanging bridge.

APSRTC, KSRTC, BMTC, private buses and cabs line up here adding to the traffic chaos. Once a dedicated bus bay is constructed, traffic can be regulated easily, the inspector pointed.

The BWSSB and BBMP have set March 10 as the deadline to complete the repair works near Binny Mill.

A major drainage work is in progress near Binny Mill railway underpass. Till its completed, this stretch will continue to be a problem.

Elevated road

BEL Circle, Gorguntepalya (till CMTI) is another stretch that needs immediate attention.
Presence of two railway  crossings (Madras Engineering Services) and heavy flow of vehicles towards Tumkur Road is a major cause of worry.

Police inspector Manjunath says, “Every 20 minutes, there is either a goods or a passenger train that passes through the railway crossing causing frequent traffic jams.”

According to experts, a 2.5-km elevated road is the only solution to this problem.
Once this elevated road comes into existence, in just three minutes, vehicles can move from Gorguntepalya to Hebbal flyover.

When asked about the traffic problem on Mysore Road, Saleem said: “We are doing our best and taking necessary precautions to ease the flow of traffic in this area. I am in touch with the BMRCL, the BBMP, the BWSSB and the BDA as their projects are in progress. Till the road widening, flyover/underpass at Nayandahalli and Metro works are completed not much can be done regarding the present traffic jams.”

Gridlocks

* Bannerghatta Road (near Sagar Hospital)
* Silk Board – 16th Main stretch
* NGEF Junction
* KR Puram – below hanging bridge.
* Marathahalli – Kundalahalli (Graphite India Junction)
* BEL Circle – Gorguntepalya to CMTI.
* Vatal Nagaraj Road – Platform Road
* Mysore Road stretch