No goodies at this mall junction

No goodies at this mall junction

Deccan Herald


Among the various bottlenecks that the city traffic has to impatiently put up with, the area around the T-junction on Hosur Road, near the Forum mall, seems to be the particularly long neck of a full bottle.

As traffic comes on to the flyover at the Central Silk Board junction, it seems to heave a sigh of relief – from the last few kilometres of highway, which are rather congested. But right after the flyover, bus drivers who seem to think that the bus-stop is in the middle of the road – causes them to slow down.

The one-way that follows clears things up for a stretch. But only till the nightmare begins, at the Checkpost junction.


From there, the traffic can only crawl on for a long way. In fact, at the signal near the Forum, the motorist may have to wait for 20 minutes to half an hour as the signal alternates between red and green several times, with a monotonous regularity that quite belies the motion of the traffic.

The scene is equally bad in the road that comes from the direction of Koramangala police station. The junction at Majid-e-Mamoor is the first hindrance, where vehicles appear to be at chaotic cross-purposes.

From there till the signal lights is a long way. Sometimes, during the peak hours, the only signs of movement towards the signal are the two-wheelers leaking past the edges of traffic, over the pavements in front of Raheja Arcade.

At the signal itself, the engines of heavier vehicles scream in first gear as they try to clamber over the inclining road, making it somewhat more difficult to clear the traffic briskly.

Coming to the signal on Hosur Road from the direction of M G Road is also a painful experience. The side road that branches off towards Koramangala used to be a useful short-cut, but now everybody seems to have thought it a rather good idea, so there are the occasional traffic jams there too.

Part of the strain is because the whole area around the junction has developed into a commercial hub.

There is the Forum itself, where people come to shop and generally ‘hang out’ everyday, and more so during the weekends, which explains the line of cars and motorcycles that wait to enter the gates. Besides, auto rickshaw drivers who wait for customers also crowd the road outside.

A few companies also have their offices in the same line as the mall.

Most of their employees have trouble getting to their workplace because now U-turns or right turns are no longer allowed for those coming from the direction of MG Road.

There are also other commercial establishments, like Monday To Sunday and Raheja Arcade.

Besides, there is Cafe Coffee Day, Food World, a few small eateries and a host of other such places for people to spend money and time for the benefit of the economy.

The presence of colleges in a one kilometre radius – Christ College and Jyothi Nivas – contribute to a significant share of the traffic. People working in the many companies that have their buildings near Dairy Circle and the many more in Koramangala, also add to the many thousands who commute between various parts of the City and places like Koramangala, Indiranagar, Madiwala and so on.

Buses that ply between the City Market or Majestic, and small towns and villages outside the city also contribute to the problem.

POLICE SPEAK

Panchakshari, Traffic ASI Audugodi: The traffic is terrible especially in the evenings; and now because of the Forum it gets worse. Half the problem could be solved by broadening the roads, by taking half of the footpaths off. They are unnecessarily broad. Railings must also be put along them to prevent people from spilling onto the road.

CITIZENS SPEAK

Riyaz, who recently opened a shop near Coffee Day:

Near this signal, by about 5 pm the jam starts, and then it goes on. A flyover might be a good idea, but I’m very apprehensive about any plan like that, if I look at the airport road flyover. We pay lifetime tax and cesses and this is what we get. Indians have a great level of tolerance, I can tell you.

Shibu, who owns several bakeries

The traffic jams around the junction often stretch up to Hosur Road. You can get stuck for an hour or two also at peak time. Basically this one-way and other Bangalore one-ways are pretty bad. I heard that schools and offices were to change their timings to take the press off the roads. If that happens it will be good.

Vinod, who works in IBM customer service

It is pretty bad when it comes to coming here in a four wheeler. I know because I have one. But it is equally bad for the two wheelers also. It might help to build a flyover.

One ways, well Bangalore is full of one-ways anyway.

Sonia, who comes to the Forum

It gets very crowded often, especially in the evenings.

I’m from Mumbai – though I’ve been here for two years what still strikes me is that the roads here, are too narrow.

Something should be done about that.

In Mumbai, often one side of the roads are as broad as both of the roads here.