Jammed Junctions: Khoday's Circle

Traffic goes in circles at Khoday’s Circle

The provision of pedestrian underpass between Kempegowda bus stand and the City railway station, some years ago, has kept the roads free of jaywalkers, but the intensity of traffic has been increasing.
Deccan Herald

The Khoday’s Circle, situated near the Divisional Railway office, is an interjunction of various arterial roads in the City with the traffic of Bangalore West, a densely populated residential, commercial and industrial area, passing through this circle.

The Bangalore City railway station and Kempegowda bus stand, which encompasses city, state and inter-state bus stands is located close to the circle contributing to the traffic density.

The Gubbi Thotadappa Road (also known as City Railway Station Road) which stretches from Cottonpet Circle (near Shanthala Silk House) to Khoday Circle, is perhaps the only road in Bangalore City which has three lanes. One of the lanes takes the flow of traffic from the Gubbi Thotadappa Road towards Bangalore West (Rajajinagar, Magadi Road and Vijayanagar), passing through the two-laned road underbridge.

The middle lane of Gubbi Thotadappa Road takes the flow of traffic coming from Bangalore West and going towards Kempegowda bus-stand and Cottonpet.

The third lane takes the flow of traffic towards Anand Rao Circle and to Seshadri Road. The Seshadri Road also has flow of traffic coming from Bangalore West side.

The flow of traffic is smooth throughout the day except at peak hours. The traffic is intense from 10 am to 11.30 am and from 5 pm to 7.30 pm, leading to traffic jams around the circle. However, Mr M T Naik, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-West Division) says Khoday Circle is a well-designed traffic circle that ensures smooth flow of traffic. However, there is intensity of traffic with as many as 2.5 lakh vehicles moving during the peak hours in the morning and evening, he says.

He says the construction work of a flyover at Modi junction and an underpass near Sujatha theatre on Dr Rajkumar Road and the consequent diversion of traffic has led to increase of traffic at Khoday junction. Besides, the road underbridge near the circle is narrow and needs to be widened.

The Circle is monitored by traffic policemen, working in shifts from 6 am to 10 pm, he added.

Grade separator

BMP also plans to extend to extend the ongoing grade separator near Sujatha theatre till Anand Rao Circle to decongest traffic in the entire stretch. If done, the existing bottleneck near Khoday circle will get cleared permanently, officials said.

POSSIBLE CURE

Widen the road under bridge near the circle.
Synchronise the signal lights at all junction in Bangalore West.
Extending Rajajinagar grade separator till Anand Rao circle.
Construction of extra carriage way.
Reducing the gradient of all roads leading towards the circle.