Namma Metro work speeds up; snarls slow down traffic

As the Namma Metro construction activities on the RV Road-Bommasandra line gain momentum, Bommanahalli traffic has gone out of gear.

The work, which began 2 months ago, is expected to get completed in 2020. It is estimated that over 3 lakh employees travel on this stretch as most of the IT/BT, Manufacturing and Textile units have offices in this corridor.

"There are not many alternatives through which we can divert traffic to reduce congestion. Travel time will be more till the construction is over," said a traffic cop. He said that vehicles towards Begur road can take Hongasandra road from Garebhavipalya to reduce the congestion in this signal.

Deepak, who travels from Audugodi to Hosur road every day, said he used to take half an hour to travel earlier during peak hours. Now he takes one hour due to the traffic. "Sometimes the stretch from silk board to Bommanahalli sees heavy traffic during the rush hours." Said Deepak.

"My travel time has almost doubled after this work started. Since it is going to take minimum three years, I am planning to shift my house close to my office" said Nimisha who travels every day from Jayanagar to Electronic city for work.

The unregulated entry of heavy vehicles during peak hours, cabs and other private vehicles stopping at randomly near Bommanahalli junction intensifies the congestion.

Pedestrians suffer

As the service road has been taken over for metro work, techies working in AMR tech park and the students of Oxford Engineering College and Dental College are struggling to reach their destinations.

"Every time I reach office from the bus stop, I feel like a warrior that has won a battle," said Smitha, a techie who works in AMR tech park.

"Few vehicles can pass through the narrow service road, but the motorists don't follow lane discipline and we are unable to walk through the crammed space," said Harsh, a student of Oxford College.

The residents of the Greenage, Satwa, and Rajarajeswari apartments have also raised the same concern. "My children usually come alone on the main road after school, due to roadblocks, I go to the bus stop to pick them up every day", said Hanumanthappa a parent.