Underpass to ease Cantonment station jam

Underpass to ease Cantonment station jam
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: By January-end, those using the Jayamahal Road and the Miller’s Road will heave a sigh of relief as the Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) will provide them with a new railway underpass very close to the existing railway underbridge near Cantonment railway station.

This underpass project costing Rs. 2.26 crore is under implementation with no publicity. The railways have approved the project and awarded the work contract to Swamy and Company but the entire cost will be borne by the BCC.

According to BCC Commissioner Jyothiramalingam, the box-like concrete structure has been fabricated outside and it will be pushed inside after excavating the railway embankment. ‘‘This technology will neither affect train traffic nor cause any convenience to motorists,’’ the Commissioner said.

The Jayamahal Main Road approaching the railway line adjacent to the Bangalore Palace grounds will lead to the underpass. A new road will be formed from the underpass junction up to the Vasanthnagar Main Road adjoining the Kodava Samaj building. But it is not known how the police would regulate the traffic from the Cunningham Circle on the Miller’s Road once the underpass is opened.

Jyothiramalingam also stated that a similar underpass was opened near Shivananda circle just a week ago and another one has been put to use near Mahadevapura. The BCC has entered into several agreements with the railways on taking up a number of railway underbridges and underpass works.

The BCC, according to the agreement, will bear 50 per cent of the cost of the underbridges and the remaining will be borne by the railways. However, the entire cost of the Cantonment railway station underpass will be borne by the BCC.

New railway underbridges being taken up will be at Byappanahalli Cross, Gangondanahalli and Mathikere. Another box-like concrete underpass will be built near Bapujinagar.