One-way ticket to nightmares

One-way ticket to nightmares
Deccan Herald

Even as vehicle users struggle to understand the latest direction reversal on the one-way St Mark’s Road, two days after the traffic police effected the change, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation commuters find themselves trapped in the one-way mesh too.

The bus routes, directed towards South-East Bangalore, crossing Brigade Road and Baldwin Girls School on Richmond Road, have been given a miss. Instead, buses going towards Lal Bagh, Jayanagar and BTM Layout, will go via Mallya Hospital to directly connect Richmond Circle. The worst affected are commuters travelling from Residency Road, M G Road, Brigade Road and parts of Richmond Road.

The bus routes affected are 13A, 13 B, 13C, 13D, 27, 27E, 20, 29, 32, 32E, 37, 34, 37E, 210, 210G and 210F. Three bus stops, on Madras Bank Road, Brigade Road after Opera House junction, and outside Baldwin Girls School on Richmond Road, have been affected, said N A Khan, Assistant Traffic Manager of BMTC. The change in routes were effected on January 3.

Commuters like Anamika Murthy, who was waiting for a bus on Wednesday on Brigade Road, fear that their travel back home will be a tiresome affair. “I usually take a bus to BTM layout as I work late. But with this arrangement, I will not even have access to a bus stand. Since Residency Road is one-way, I have to take a long detour to reach Shantinagar bus stand from where I can get a bus,” rued Ms Anamika.

‘Ambiguous change’

Manjunath, a resident of Jayanagar, who was also waiting for a bus on Brigade Road, is angry at the “unannounced, ambiguous change in BMTC routes.” He said, “Bus stops get shifted but we are not informed about it. The entire area around Brigade Road up to Vellara Junction has been taken off the bus route.”

According to Mr Khan, the transport corporation had no choice but to make these changes following the change in the one-ways. “We have shifted our routes from east to west. The traffic police did not consult us when they made these changes. Now we are helpless,” he said.

Meanwhile, BMTC Managing Director Upendra Tripathi said a meeting will be held on Thursday to discuss and confirm the new routes.

Traffic police reacts

Deputy Commissioner of Police M A Saleem pointed out that the BMTC can continue using the same routes, the difference being that instead of connecting to Residency Road on Aashirwadam junction, it can do so on Cash Pharmacy junction.

“The buses can move on Residency Road from Cash Pharmacy and turn right at Opera House junction on Brigade Road,” Mr Saleem suggested. He said he would speak to BMTC authorities regarding the matter.