Hellish Roads 8: Ananda Rao Circle

Traffic going in circles!
ANANDA RAO CIRCLE
Times of India

Ananda Rao Circle is a crucial junction, connecting five busy roads. It is in fact a lifeline for those coming from north Bangalore, including Rajajinagar, Yeshwantpur and Malleswaram. With the Subashnagar bus stand, City railway station, several theatres and commercial complexes (in Majestic) in and around the circle, traffic jams are a daily affair.

During peak hours, even two-wheelers get stuck for over an hour. While some roads have been made one-way and BMTC buses diverted, congestion hasn’t eased. Confusion reigns during peak hours — from 9 am to 11.30 am; 4 pm to 7.30 pm.

1 Some respite from the chaos. Seshadri Road, between Khodays Circle and Ananda Rao Circle, is being widened. All vehicles are presently being diverted towards the junction due to work on the underbridge at Nehru Circle (near Shivananda Circle). Once that is completed, volume of traffic on the stretch will be less. Vehicles will be diverted to Race Course Road (towards JD office); towards Maurya Hotel junction to join Seshadri Road.

2 What are the problems? Majority of vehicles from north use . volume of traffic gets clogged at the junction though there are traffic lights. After the junction, Seshadri Road narrows for a short stretch till Maurya Hotel junction. Race Course Road (towards JD office) gets clogged with the present two-way traffic, though BMTC buses have been banned on the stretch.
Vehicles being diverted towards the junction due to underbridge work at Nehru Circle.
Subedar Chatram Road, leading towards K.G. Road junction, is wide but there is no regulation with pedestrians occupying most of the road.

3 What do the police say? Main problem is traffic being diverted from Nehru Circle. Work is expected to be completed within 20 days. Road-widening too will be over between Khodays Circle and Anand Rao Circle. Vehicles, including BMTC buses, will be diverted to Subedar Chatram Road via Swastik Circle and towards Shivananda Circle. While adequate signals will be set up, traffic personnel will also be deployed, says DCP traffic (west) M.T. Naik.

EXPERT OPINION
Traffic expert Prof M.N. Sreehari

• Flyover should be constructed at the junction, at least for two roads.
• Since roads are wide enough, dedicated lanes can be marked for buses.
• Buses shouldn’t be allowed to take left turn onto Subedar Chatram Road. The sharp curve slows down speed of the bus, and leads to traffic pile up.
• Buses can be allowed to take a turn at Maurya Hotel junction after Ananda Rao Circle, towards Race Course Road.
• Work on railway culvert by Nehru Circle should speed up.
• With a bus plying on roads at the junction every seven seconds, dedicated lanes will improve traffic situation.