Traffic channel turns traffic stopper

Traffic channel turns traffic stopper

Deccan Herald

Holding up traffic to give way to the VIPs visiting Bangalore only adds to the problem.




Thirty to 35 minutes to cover a distance of 2.5 to 3-km! Traffic does not move, it crawls on Airport Road from Domlur Layout entrance to Airport during peak hours everyday, except on Sundays.

With repair works being undertaken on Old Madras Road, Airport Road where a number of IT firms, hotels and hospitals are located, has been witness to massive flow of vehicular traffic. Nearly 3,000-3,500 vehicles criss-cross the Intermediate Ring Road, Airport Road and Indiranagar 100-ft Road junction during peak hours (8.15 am to 10.30 am and 5 pm to 9.30 pm).

With more domestic and international flights being operated from Bangalore Airport, vehicular traffic has increased manifold on this stretch. The 3-km distance between Domlur Layout entrance to Airport, which can otherwise be covered in less than 10 minutes takes 30-35 minutes during peak hours. Reason: non-completion of Airport Road flyover. The Indiranagar 100 feet road-Airport Road and the Intermediate Ring Road connecting Koramangala has been bearing the brunt of the enormous traffic flow due to the non-completion of the Airport Road flyover.


The non-completion of the flyover has led to congestion on several adjoining roads - Domlur Layout 7th cross road, Indiranagar 100-feet Road, Intermediate Ring Road connecting Koramangala, Manipal Hospital junction, Murugeshpalya junction.

Adding to the plight is the frequent movement of VIPs. “We have no other option but to block vehicular movement two or three times a day due to VIP movement,” a police officer said.

Six traffic signals, including three automatic traffic signals makes this stretch a motorist’s nightmare. At each signal, there is a traffic pile-up and vehicles move at a snail’s pace. Motorists spend 8 to 10 minutes at each traffic signal. Ambulance drivers rushing a patient in an emergency situation to hospitals too vouch for the fact that driving through the dense traffic on this stretch is a nightmare. A U-turn that was earlier provided to vehicles moving towards Airport from Domlur near a petrol station near Kodihalli was closed recently, providing some relief to the motorists.

“You can literally walk up the three-km stretch to the Airport in 15 to 20 minutes instead of using a two-wheeler and four-wheeler to reach the airport in 30-35 minutes, according to Rajeev, a IT professional. Widening the road on either side by 10-feet is the only option, according to a traffic police inspector.

“We need broad roads. Providing sufficient time for pedestrian crossing is also essential, especially near the Airport Road flyover,” Raghavendra, a resident of Domlur said. In addition, steps should be taken to ease congestion at the junction of Domlur Layout 7th cross road on Airport Road and Domlur bus depot road, he said. A traffic signal should be installed to regulate traffic or a policeman should be posted on 24-hour duty to man the junction, another resident said.



OFFICIAL SPEAK

M A Abdul Saleem- DCP (Traffic-East)

Vehicular movement on Airport Road has witnessed a three to four fold increase over the years. Adding to the plight of the enormous traffic is the VIP movement. The non-completion of the Airport Road flyover is the primary reason for the traffic holdups. Unless the flyover is completed, traffic congestion will persist.

As an interim measure to ease the congestion, we have banned the movement of private buses, goods vehicles between 8 am and 11 am and between 4 pm and 8 pm every day. Widening the road has to be taken on priority as the existing road cannot accommodate the heavy traffic. Constructing a flyover from Domlur entrance to Airport is one of the solutions to ease the congestion.


CITIZENS SPEAK

Janakiram Jhony, social worker and husband of Domlur Corporator Y L Rajalakshmi:

Traffic is enormous during peak hours at the junction of Domlur Layout 7th cross road on Airport Road.

Construction of a flyover from Domlur Layout entrance right up to the Airport is the only solution to reduce the congestion.



Suresh N, manager, Tristar TVS motors, Indiranagar 100-feet road:

VIP movement affects smooth vehicular flow on Airport Road. At times, traffic is blocked for 20 minutes to ensure the safe passage of the VIP. VIP movement should be banned. In addition, movement of trucks and heavy vehicles should be prevented during peak hours.



Reeba Manoj, Manager, Enrst and Young and resident of Diamond District, Airport Road:

One of the reasons for the traffic congestion at the Airport Road is the non-completion of the Airport Road flyover.

The congestion at other junctions on Airport road also need to be eased immediately to ensure smooth flow of traffic.



M D Murali, Badminton Coach, Indiranagar Club:

At times, the traffic police switch off the traffic signal lights and resort to manual control to clear the rush near Indiranagar 100-feet Road-Airport Road junction. Automatic traffic signal lights should be functional 24/7. Traffic police should prevent parking of vehicles on the road side.