Bus stops near traffic signals to be shifted shortly

Traffic cops ask BBMP to move 127 shelters to ease congestion

The Bangalore City Traffic police have asked the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to shift 127 bus stops across the City as they are located either in the middle of the road or near traffic signals, causing inconvenience to commuters and motorists.

“We have identified a few bus stops that are near traffic signals and have asked the BBMP to shift them to avoid traffic inconvenience,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Security) B Dayananda. He said a meeting was held last week where the matter was discussed with the officials concerned.

“We had a meeting with the BBMP where the BBMP Commissioner M Lakshminarayana and other Palike officials were present.”

Dayananda said that they would not set a deadline but only hope that the work is done at the earliest.

Lakshminarayana said that the letters would be sent out on Monday to all the private companies that maintain these bus shelters. 

Savitha Ramesh who travels from Lalbagh to Ashoka Pillar said, “All the buses stop near R V Teachers’ College bus stop. There is a provision for free left turn. But, we cannot take a turn as buses line up one behind the other.”

The main bus stops that are to be moved include the one opposite the Chinnaswamy Stadium; the bus stops on either side of the road near the Sadashivanagar police station; two bus stops on Dr M H Marigowda Road; one near the Nimhans junction and another near the main entrance of Lalbagh.

The list given by the Bangalore City Traffic Police also includes bus stops located at Coles Park junction; near Thimmaiah Road and Queen’s Road junction; near Prasanna theatre on Magadi Road; BEML in Indiranagar; two near the outer ring road junction at Ramamurthynagar; near the Minerva Circle, near 5th main road in Vijayanagar and Peenya 2nd stage.

Vinay Sreenivasa of the Bangalore Bus Prayanikara Vedike said the fact that the BBMP takes care of bus stops is itself unconvincing and, whenever there is an issue with bus stops, the blame game begins.

“It is important to collect public opinion before doing anything of this sort as they must even think about the passengers’ convenience,” Sreenivas added.

“After they changed the bus stop on Richmond Road, commuters have been put to inconvenience. They have to walk a long stretch to reach the bus stop,” explained Sreenivasa who hopes that people will not face problems after the 127 bus stops are shifted.