Rajajinagar underpass two-way now

Rajajinagar underpass two-way now
The Times of India


Bangalore: Three years after they began work on the Rajajinagar entrance underpass, civic authorities have finally managed to open up the underpass, two-way.

The whole last week saw a toss between the BMP and the police authorities on deciding a suitable day for opening up the underpass as a thoroughfare for citizens. In fact the police had also written a letter to the BMP asking if work was through so as to throw it open completely.

For the record, the underpass was inaugurated and declared open by the CM a fortnight ago.

On Friday however, citizens heaved a final sigh of relief as they could travel from Anand Rao Circle to Rajajinagar and beyond without having to take the circuitous route from the Binny Mills area to Rama Mandira.

For the last three years, it had been a one-way with a narrow constricted path for commuter movement. To facilitate pedestrian movement across the stretch, the BMP even constructed a subway near SJR college, which remains unused.

Here’s the caveat they didn’t declare — the entire stretch from Sujatha theatre till Anand Rao circle still needs plenty of civic upgradation. Adjacent to Sujatha theatre, a bridge needs to be extended to segregate traffic. BMP officials say that while designing the underpass, this was not thought of but it was a point that they deemed necessary only after construction. After Rs 15 crore has been expended?

That’s not all. Further up, the railway underbridge near Khoday’s circle needs to be widened, similar to the long and lengthy work undertaken at Nehru circle. The entire road leading to Khoday’s circle needs to be straightened, a massive amount of work considering that the underpass takes a vehicle density of 10,000 PCUs (passenger car units). This needs to be done in tandem with the South Western Railways, and traffic plans for the realignment are apparently being worked out.

A major valley that takes in storm water drains has to be redesigned.

The opening up of the underpass is just the beginning. The underpass was designed ostensibly to reduce travel time, congestion and long queues at signals. Wait and watch.